Temperature Gauge Issue?

I have a 96 cobra and the temperature gauge is not working consistently. It will move to the correct position ever so often, but in most cases it is buried to the left of the gauge most of the time. Does the collant temperature sensor just need to be changed? Is this sensor located in the front of the engine block on the left hand side in the front section of the motor??

Car has 1800 miles on it and I think that is might just be clogged or corroded?

Can the T-stat be taken out without losing antifreeze or is this going to be a messy job?

96 cobra temp gauage issue

I changed the temperature sensor on the passenger side of the motor and I still have NO SIGNAL going to the factory gauge within the cluster at all. Is there another sensor or sending unit on the drivers side of the motor that I can test??

Really stuck here. The car has very few miles so I wouldn't think that the cluster would be bad, but I guess anything could happen. if the T-stat was stuck open, wouldn't it register once the engine was warm? I get absolutely nothing. The needle is barried to the left side of the gauge almost appearing like no signal at all is getting to it. I have replaced passenger sensor and checked all fuses. Also I have checked wiring on sensor and also checked wiring on item on the drivers side of the motor as well because I believe there is one more item in this electrical process.

The last thing I have not done is change the actual clip that plugs into the temperature sensor. Someone at Autozone has told me that the plug itself could go bad. Everything is still pretty much brand new on this car, so I am scratching my head on what it could be. I am almost ready to take it to the local Ford dealer but wanted to give you all the information to see if there is anything else I could be missing that you guys know of.........

tt96cobra