Temp gauge does not move and stays on C no matter what.

If I'm right it can either be the:

Thermostat (which I just changed out for a brand new one...but I heard if it isn't motorcraft, it might not work right???)
Temp sensor/Temp sendor (also just replaced BOTH of these, no tape on the threads, and connection is good, tested with wire to the negative terminal)
Heater Core (I flushed this out...what more can I do?)
Radiator (flushed this out as well...??)
Water pump (seems to be turning, no noises or leaks?)

Any other ideas? I am unsure what else it could be...or how to better diagnose if my heater core/radiator/waterpump/thermostat is bad...
1989 2.3 4cylinder ranger

 

You said "tested with wire to the negative terminal" but didn't say what happened at the temp gauge?

If gauge went to HOT(key on) with the wire grounded then wire and gauge are OK
If not the wire or gauge is the problem

You use a 195degF thermostat in your engine

Is the engine warming up, i.e. does the heater blow HOT after 5 to 8minutes?

 

The temp gauge shot up to H so I determined that wire and gauge are OK.
The engine does not warm up, the heater blows the same semi cool air through the cabin even after 10 minutes running the truck.

 

After engine sit over 5 hours, overnight, before starting open the hood and spin the fan, it should not spin just barely move, clutch is cold locked
Leave hood open and start engine
You should hear the fan clutch release, a louder fan noise then way less after 5-10 seconds, shut off engine after 30seconds
Try to spin fan again, should spin easily, now unlocked
If not replace fan clutch, it is locked full time and 2.3l engine will run too cold

The 2.3l Lima engines did not generate alot of heat to begin with so it can be hard to keep them warm, in northern climates people will put cardboard in front of radiator to keep them even a little warm for the heater, lol
They also make 205-210deg Thermostats for use in those areas

 

Helpful RodD thank you!
Checked the fan after engine sat over night. It did not spin, just barely moved. I left the hood open, started the truck and listened for noise from the fan. I heard nothing and after about 30 seconds shut off the engine. Tried spinning the fan, and nothing, still not spinning, just barely moving.
So I replaced the fan clutch and repeated the process. Barely moved at first, then after running the truck about 30 seconds to a minute, I shut the truck off and tried spinning the fan. It spins freely!
Now as I run the truck for about 10 minutes, the temp gauge moved ever so slightly, if it was down just past the C at resting point, it is now JUST ABOVE the C after 10 minutes of idling the truck.

Can it be safe to assume that everything is running and working as it should and that the truck simply takes a significant amount of time to warm up? Maybe taking it for a 15 mile drive will show more signs of life on the temp gauge? (I live in Texas)
Thanks for all the help

 

Good work on the testing

Yes, go for a drive and see if temp gauge gets up above 1/3 at least with engine load

Another test is to start cold engine and feel the heater hoses and upper rad hose, both will be cold of course
Let engine idle to 5 min or so, heater hoses should be warming up but upper rad hose should still be cold, because thermostat is closed, no circulation thru radiator
If upper rad hose is warming up same as heater hoses then thermostat is open, and shouldn't be

Thermostat should only open when there is "extra heat", coolant above 185deg or so(195deg t-stat), then it only opens a little to get the extra cooling the radiator provides, in very cold weather the radiator may never be used, its only there to dissipate "extra heat"