CarMD recently released new information about the cost of car repair, and it revealed that Arizona is number five on the list for most expensive repair states in the nation. In fact, the top five states – Wyoming, Utah, California, Montana, and Arizona – are all western states. Many western states are home to national parks and popular, but remote, higher elevation driving destinations, which could be a reason why repair costs are so high west of the Mississippi.

Many of the Western climates, such as the dry desert land of most of Arizona, have higher amounts of airborne dust, making it much more important to change air filters regularly. If you put off changing your car’s air filter, you put your car’s mass airflow sensors at risk. On average, this can be a $400 repair compared to the $10 to $50 it can cost you to do it yourself or to take it into an auto repair shop.

Summer road trips will also cause your car to be more in need of general maintenance and repairs, no matter what state or part of the country you live in. Read on to learn the top three general maintenance repairs you should perform on your car to prepare for the summer months…

1) Maintain the coolant system. Have the radiator pressure tested, and your hoses examined for cracks and bulges. If you can’t remember the last time your water pump was replaced, or the pump has more miles on it than what the manufacturer recommends, then it’s a good idea to get a new one. Also make sure to replace your engine’s coolant, even if things look ok under the hood.

2) Check the air conditioning. This should be a no-brainer, but some people might assume everything is working fine on that end. During the hot summer months, your AC system is working overtime, especially during long, hot commutes, such as a road trip. So take the time to make sure everything is in shape to keep you cool!

3) Protect you car’s interior. Protect the inside of your car from sun and heat. If you have leather seats, get a leather conditioner and go over the seats to prevent cracks and dry spots. Also, vinyl dashboards are particularly susceptible to variations in temperature. Keep protectant wipes in your glove box, and use them regularly. To keep everything crack free.