PHOENIX — Our skyrocketing temperatures are bad enough for people, but they're also rough for electronics. If you've ever used your phone outside in the summer, you know it shuts down pretty quickly.
But right now, daily high temps in the Valley are so severe that they're causing some car safety systems to malfunction. One Reddit user posted a photo showing that their car backup camera wasn't working because it was too hot.
Others quickly chimed in to share their own stories of similar malfunctions. Several users were surprised to see it, but even more had experienced the same.
>> Live, local, breaking. Download the 12News app
It's not just Reddit users. Valley mechanics are seeing more and more heat-related "injuries" on the vehicles that roll into their shops.
"All of these cars got so much electronics on them nowadays," said Dave Martin of Martin's Auto Repair. "You know, take your laptop out there in the parking lot and start working on it. See how long it lasts before it starts wigging out."
To test it, we left a phone in a car with a backup camera out in the sun. By the time temperatures inside the vehicle hit 137 degrees, the backup camera wouldn't operate, and the phone shut down 30 degrees earlier.
"That backup camera on the very back of the car is exposed and the sun's beating on it. We're noticing that we're starting to see that the backup cameras themselves are starting to malfunction just because they're getting too hot and they're basically burning up internally," Martin explained.
Typically, electronics will turn themselves off before the heat can cause permanent damage to delicate internal systems. Honda's online manual warns users about this very issue.
Martin said that people should get their cars checked out once or twice during the summer to stay on top of any heat-related issues. It's not just the backup cameras that struggle with these temps. Everything from radiators to fuel pumps to tires can gradually break down in extreme heat.
So for now, just try to park in the shade.
>> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
12News on YouTube
Catch up on the latest news and stories on our 12News YouTube playlist here.