Bear in mind that there is more than one "temp sensor" on that car. the one that is larger in diameter and has a boshe style clip on plug with 2 terminals is the temp sensor for the computer and fuel injection system...not your problem...if you ask for a temp sensor that may be what the ultra-informed parts department guys bring you...just make sure thay aren't confused...which if they are anything like the guys at my place will involve lots of slow clear speaking. the one that goes to the guage is much smaller than the engine temp sensor (at least the hex nut part that your wrench grabs)and will have a single (orangish to yellow wire on it) and will be attached with a female wire connecter end to the sensor. in that general area on the engine there are 3 sensors, the engine temp sensor, the guage temp sensor, and what I think is either a knock sensor or an oil pressure sensor(the only one coming out of the block aka the lowest on the engine...also has a one wire connection). The one closest to the front of the engine is the guage sensor and it is directly under intake runner #2. it goes into the HEAD...not the block. If your coolant level is really low that may explain why it looks to you that this sensor doesn't go into coolant. the passage in the water jacket portion of the head that this sensor sits in is not very deep (maybe 1 inch or so) but I assure you that it must be in the coolant to function. the sensor also sits very high on the engine so if the coolant level is low that is where it will show up first....just a possibility. good luck