2000 4.0 manual running hot
 

Hi all. I searched around and couldn’t find anything but I’m sure there must be info I’m not finding.
my ranger is running hot. I just put a new radiator after attempting to flush the system the petcock was clogged on the old one. I dismantled the plastic sides and got all the gunk out (there was a lot of cake) it just wouldn’t hold water i even tried a liquid gasket all around I just mangled it too much, but it was fun trying. Sooo new radiator is in. New thermostat in. Radiator Fan runs fine but I’m still running hot. The AC will blow hot temperature gauge is almost maxed out after warming it up. I saw 1 wire coming from a pin and I thought I figured it out that some previous owner or a mouse chewed a wire but that apparently is the SENDER 😂 after reading the forums. Sooo. What should I check next. I still haven’t found the SENSOR location yet. Should I find the SENSOR? and how do I check that?
many advice is appreciated

I don't know where Ford relocated the senders and sensors on the different years' 4.0l.
On some of the 4 cylinder engines, the temperature reading is cylinder head temperature.
I am glad both are in plain sight on my '05.

However, since your system was horribly neglected (cake in the tanks), the likelihood of your entire system being clogged is high.
Also, you don't even know if the water pump's impellor is intact.

Is the engine actually running hot?
Or is it just the temp gauge?

From 1986 and up fuel injected Rangers have a temp sensor(ECT) and a Temp sender

ECT sensor is only used by the computer, 2 wires, 5volt sensor, usually a green and grey wire

Temp sender is only used for temp gauge on dash, 1 or 2 wires, 12volt, red/white wire(and maybe a black/white wire as well), these have been used since the 1940s for dash temp gauges
If the sender wire(red/white) is grounded the temp gauge will go to HOT

Neither controls temperature, just reports it

On a 2000 4.0l these are both located next to each other, behind the thermostat housing on the lower intake

Cold engine
Remove rad cap
Top up radiator if its low
Start engine
Watch rad cap opening
Might get a burp of coolant out at start up
Coolant level should just sit there, if it starts to overflow then you have a blown head gasket or cracked head, not a guess, for sure