The Nissan Path

I'm looking for the temp sensor (the one the ECU uses). I found the sender for the gauge. All the documents I find say the sensor should be right next to it. I see where it should go, but that port is blanked off.

Was the 2000 different than other years?
Where else should i look?
Thanks

did you ever get an answer to this ? my book shows me only 1 sensor, but if there is 2 I would like to also know the placement of the second