here are the symptoms I have noticed:
grey smoking at idle (bad 02 sensor i think, CEL)
i got a CEL 17 also, which means thermostat or engine coolant temp sensor
my car does not overheat
my heater takes a while to get warm air to blow
my car has been smoking out of exhaust for a while, before, when I checked my coolant, it has been full, today it was real low?

When I get paid friday, I'm going to get a new thermostat (160 degree?) and take it somewhere to find out which 02 sensor has gone bad.

the CEL blinks like this:12-21-21-17-55
I just hope my headgasket did not blow.
But, do you guys think this is the thermostat? And where is my coolant going? Like I said, the exhaust has been smoking for a while, and the coolant just now disappeared. Could it somehow be related to the cold weather? Thanks for any help.

edit: i have not noticed any oil mixed in the coolant

1996 Eagle Talon ESi

intake, apexi N1 exhaust, hi flow cat
17" hyperblack exel tz-7's
next: AFX UDP and 60 mm throttle body

Check for any obvious leak(s). It's possible that the thermostat is bad. If the heater takes a while to warm up, then I wouldn't change to a 160* t-stat just yet, until you find out the problem. If the coolant level is low, it could take a bit longer for the heater to warm up.

___________
Kon C

"Sometimes, a man has to do what a man has to do."