Some of the common things we see

  • Physical Component Damage

    We see this far more often than most people would expect. From opening the control module incorrectly, to rough handling on the bench or a messy work area components on the control board are extremely delicate. When parts are accidentally knocked off, it becomes very difficult for us to determine what was originally there.

    In some cases, we also find that customers have removed components themselves in an attempt to diagnose the original fault. Unfortunately, once the unit is reinstalled, this can introduce additional issues, making accurate repair and testing far more difficult.

  • Modified Circuits

    This one was a little different from what we usually see. In this case, the customer’s customer attempted to change the type of EEPROM and its placement on the board. Unfortunately, during this process the data on the EEPROM became corrupted.

    As a result, data recovery or transferring the data from one unit to another was no longer possible. This was determined after we had already spent many hours reverting and cleaning up the work that had been carried out prior to the unit arriving with us.


    So we had to work out how to modify the donor data to suit, allowing the job to be completed and the unit to be returned to the vehicle. Hopefully, the owner won’t attempt this again.

  • Screwdriver slipped — now it won’t communicate.

    Yes, this has happened more than once. We have seen cases where a control unit is opened to address one issue such as an output driver not working only for the unit to no longer communicate afterward.

    In this particular case, after installing a new power supply controller inside the module, the processor began to overheat. Upon investigation, we found that one of the pins had been shorted, applying 12 V directly to the processor. This damage made the unit impossible to clone.

    After several hours of diagnostics and attempted repair work, the module was deemed beyond recovery. Imo Off it was!

Prior Repair Attempts

At Get Electronic, our repair processes are built around precision diagnostics, controlled testing, and repeatable outcomes.

To maintain the quality, reliability, and warranty standards our trade partners expect, we do not accept modules that have been previously worked on or repaired by another party.


In this case, we would offer a cloning or data modification service to allow the donor unit to work correctly with the original vehicle.

Why this matters

Once a control module has been opened, modified, or partially repaired, several critical risks are introduced:

Unknown workmanship quality – Previous soldering, rework, or component replacement may not meet electronic repair standards.

Hidden or compounded damage – Heat damage, lifted tracks, micro-fractures, ESD damage, or incorrect components

Unreliable fault diagnosis – Prior repairs can mask the original failure, making accurate diagnosis extremely difficult or misleading.

Loss of baseline condition – Without a clean, untouched starting point, we cannot validate the original fault or ensure a stable, repeatable repair.

Impact on Repair Quality & Warranty

Our repairs are built around controlled processes, known failure modes, and validated test environments.

When previous work has been attempted:

*We cannot guarantee repair success

*We cannot stand behind the repair with a warranty

*Repair time and cost increase significantly

*In some cases, the module may become non-repairable

This ultimately compromises the outcome for both you and your customer.

Why we take this approach

Our goal is to provide consistent, high-quality, cost-effective electronic repairs for the trade.

To do this properly, we must start with a clean, untouched module so our technicians can:

*Accurately diagnose the root fault

*Apply known, proven repair methods

*Validate the repair through full bench testing

*Deliver reliable, repeatable results

This approach allows us to maintain our 48-hour diagnostic workflow, reduce risk, and uphold the standard our trade partners rely on.

In Summary

We respectfully decline any modules that have:

*Been opened or previously repaired

*Had components replaced or reworked

*Suffered damage due to improper handling, soldering

Solution: We can clone the data from one unit to another to assist your customer. In some cases, the data may be corrupted; in these situations, we can modify the donor unit’s data to match your original unit, allowing it to function as a direct plug-and-play replacement.