so when my car was in traffic today it started overheating completely and found the radiator fan wasn't working. it would come on for a brief second after i started the car but that was it

i was told that by hotwiring or fusing or whatever the two wires that go into the thermo switch that it would be a temporary fix, but that just made things worse. by doing that the engine light came on and the radiator fan wouldn't even come on for that brief second


i assume i damaged the wires but all i had was a dull knife to work with
is it my thermo switch thats bad?

by the way i drive a 98 ex coupe
thanks

 

most likely thermostat gone bad