So I have all new coolant hoses and the extinct inline thermostat kit for my upcoming coolant flush. While I have all the hoses off and have better access to everything, what else should I take care of? i.e room for activities!

2004 SE with 79K miles. Here's what's I'm planning (and what's already been done):

• 7 piece coolant hose kit
• Extinct inline thermostat mod
• Water pump (FlowKooler high flow)
• Water Wetter additive
• Spark Plugs
• Check Crank Seal
• PCV Mod (DONE)
• Purge Valve (DONE)
• Power Steering Fluid Flush (DONE)
• Serpentine Belt (DONE)
• Fan/clutch (Feels good)

The wires/plugs were done about 40K miles ago but are about 7+ years old. I've been reluctant to take the intake off to get to the wires. My hands are just too meaty to get to the coil packs without taking the intake; especially with all the SAI crap everywhere.

 

With the coolant drained, it'll be a good time to inspect (and replace if needed) your coolant bottle and radiator. I didn't inspect mine the first time I drained my coolant to install a 180 OEM thermostat and the bottle cracked and spilled liquid a couple weeks later. Did the inline thermostat when i replaced the bottle since I had the whole system opened up again!

edit: Oh also remembered since you'll have your belt off to replace that and check on your idler pulleys

 

Idler pulleys are good, but at 79k you probably have another 60k of life in them. Alternator is good till 225k ish. Radiator plastics could be old and brittle, radiator coolant lines. Could consider the PS pump gasket, that is what eventually leaks.

 

Bypass the stupid throttle body heater so you actually have zero coolant system leaks after all your hard work.

 

I was thinking about just tapping in a connector to make it a closed loop. It's in my heated garaged, so it doesn't ever get that cold anyway.