I had the local Jiffy Lube type place hook it up and swap it out..... for a pretty coin or two. :redface2:
OverdrivePrime is correct that you can't put just straight coolant into your engine; you have to mix it with water. It's so strong that if you do put it in straight it'll soon start eating/corroding the engine parts they come in contact with. A lot of car manuals will call for a mix ratio of equal amounts of coolant and water/1 part coolant to 1 part water. However, some mechanics I've spoken to say that it's perfectly safe and that you can go for a 2 to 1 ratio of coolant to water or even a 3 to 1 ratio.
If all you had to do was fill up your coolant tank you can go to most hardware stores and buy a bottle of pre-mixed coolant (it will be 50-50 mix). I keep one in the trunk of my car as part of my emergency kit. Trust me man, it's worth it to learn how to do some of these smaller fixes yourself. At the store, a bottle of premixed coolant should cost you no more than 20-25 bucks, I'd say. If you want, you can buy a bottle of straight coolant (which will be even cheaper), keep it in your trunk along with an extra bottle of water and just mix it yourself if the need arises. Compare that with the cost of going to a mechanic.
Your car manual will say where your coolant resevior is. If that light ever comes on again you can just pull over and refill it yourself. Just be SUPER careful when removing the cap, as the contents are VERY hot and are put under pressure while the engine runs. Let the engine sit for a few minutes first before you attempt to remove the cap. When you do open it, do it SLOWLY, moving it bit by bit, and make sure you're protecting your hands with a glove or some thick rags. Once it's off, fill up the resevoir until it's full, replace the cap (making sure it's on straight and that it's secure). You can then turn the engine, let it run for a minute to let the new coolant circulate and you'll be good to go. As long as your coolant resevoir cap is properly secured and you don't have any leaks anywhere else in your cooling system, you shouldn't have to worry about having to constantly refill it. If you find that you DO have to repeatedly refill the coolant yourself then you've most likely got a leak and you'll most likely have to bite the bullet and go to the mechanic.
