Don't Get Burned Out by a Repair: Board Damage or Part Defect?
It’s something that plagues even the most casual repair artists. You get a phone in (or back in for warranty) and it’s doing something that you can’t quite pinpoint. Is it the replacement part that’s defective, or is it the board? With summer season cranking in full force, outside drops and water damage are a common occurrence at workstations around the country, and we’ve got a couple of helpful tips for determining if it’s board damage, or a part that’s causing the trouble.
First off, and this is more of a reminder than anything, we can’t recommend enough that you fully test the device you’re looking at, prior to doing any work at all. Make careful notes on the symptoms, factors, and what works and what doesn’t, to protect yourself against any sort of at-fault situation before you get stuck having to replace something that was wrong with the device in the first place. This way, any board damage that could have occurred prior to it being opened will have been documented, and could save you the cost of a new one in the event that the old one can’t be repaired. This can also be helpful if the repaired device comes back in for warranty work, so you can compare and assess the current issue with the one that was previously repaired. If you’ve tried the same repair multiple times with the same results, it is likely that board damage is the culprit, and you won’t be out extra inventory. (Not sure where to start? No problem. We’ve got you covered here.)
It is also a good idea, when digging into a repair, to preserve the original parts, if at all possible. Testing devices with OEM parts is a great way to differentiate defects from board issues, and keeping a few pieces that you know are functional around is a neat and effective way to do just that. We’re not saying you should hang on to every single home button and prox sensor flex that you remove from a device, but we definitely recommend keeping a few functional screens, batteries, cameras, etc around for popular models, so you’ve got something original to compare symptoms to, should a previously repaired device come back in. If it’s doing the same thing with an OEM part that it does with a replacement, it could be a board thing, and not a defect.
Next up, develop a list of best practices to prevent tech damage to the board during common repairs. Simple steps like using plastic tools instead of metal to disconnect flex cables, using MILD heat to loosen any adhesives (this is why we love heat pads!), and removing/disconnecting any power source at the earliest possible opportunity can prevent scratching, overheating, or frying a board, and saving you replacement costs for easy mistakes.
If issues do occur, it is important to use good and trusted assessment methods. Always test alternate or original parts, and if you think it might be a part defect versus a board problem, it’s wise to test the part in question on a device that you know is good. Examine components with a microscope to pinpoint burn or solder damage. Look for fit, connection, adhesive, and other telltale signs of part issues right off the bat to prevent future warranty repairs. Again, those spare OEM pieces that you know are working can really come in handy in situations like this, and the better testing you perform will result in a more accurate diagnosis. Tester devices can be purchased on our site as “Power On Defective- Salvage”, or acquired along the way from customers looking to upgrade. It is a great idea to keep tester devices for the more popular models (especially iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, due to the still-prevalent Touch Disease issues), not only for determining board damage, but for pre-testing any replacement parts before you do the repair.
Last of all, we recommend that you do not attempt to repair a device that is likely to fail. iPhones with bent or cracked frames, extensive water damage, or brutal drops aren’t likely to get better over time, only worse as the board further corrodes or exhibits issues. Touch Disease should also be considered on iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models, as while most of the affected devices have already gone back to Apple, Touch IC issues found in these models can still be diagnosed as Touch Disease, and cannot effectively be repaired without microsoldering.
Keeping these handy tips in mind next time you tackle a repair can save you (and your customer) time, money, and the occasional headache when trying to determine a defective part, or a damaged board. Stay tuned for more helpful tips, tricks, and industry trends right here, and on our social channels. Stay cool this summer, and remember, we’re with you every part of the way!
