I'm having a problem where my Civic overheats some of the time. I recently took it in to get an E-Test and it started overheating durning the test. The mechanic said the rad fan wasn't turning. I guess that's why it doesn't overheat whenever the car is out on the highway, just after a long drive when idling at a light or in stop and go traffic.

Anyway, I disconnected the fan and connected it directly to the battery with jumper wires and is started to spin so the motor is fine. The next thing my Haynes manual says to do is check the thermal fan switch. According to the book, the switch is in the bottom of the rad, but mine has no switch. A couple years ago the rad was replaced and I'm wondering if the new one wasn't for the same model and now I don't have the thermal switch to turn the fan on.

I really don't care if the fan comes on only when it's hot, or if it's on all the time. Is there a way I can get some power from remote (only on when the key is turned to Accessory or even On) somewhere close to the fan?

I'm not sure at all about the wiring in a civic, but you should indeed be able to send a relay wire to the ignition switch (where you put your key in) and use that to switch 'on' the fan, because I'm sure it would be a pain in the arse to remember to put an independent fan switch on and off every time you drive!

Good luck.