Just had a customer bring in a M2 MBA A2681 that had had a screen replacement in April at another repairer. Since then, she has been getting intermittent kernel panics. It's an aftermarket screen, and of course it fails in diagnostics as the calibration hasn't been done. The error in the panic log is "No device added after powering on the rails".
It seems the original repairer has swapped the board and the screen to other MAC's, and said that it isn't a screen issue. From what I understand, by doing a quick search on Google, this is in fact a screen issue. The panic relates to the TCON controller not responding after a power state change is what I understand. Comments I've seen are that only a screen replacement will resolve it. It also appears to happen on genuine and aftermarket screens.
I was actually unable to reproduce this, so I have no idea if Apple have fixed it in software (this MAC was on 15.5), if it's a firmware thing on the TCON or what. Apple don't usually publicise these kind of hardware fixes in the release notes. Interested to hear what others experiences are on kernel panics on this model.
At this point, I kicked her back to the original repairer and explained that this appears to be a common issue on this model. Easiest thing is to put the original screen back on and get Apple to change it. If the kernel panics still remain, then it's up to them to resolve or exchange the entire machine. But I'm told the original repairer will fit a genuine screen but how he does the calibration I'm not sure. He might be part of the IRP, don't know. But the self repair portal is not available in Australia so that isn't an option.
He also charged her $800 for the screen replacement of an aftermarket screen (they are around $200 on Aliexpress), and gave her some BS this was the way to go as the aftermarket screens are more durable. Hence why I batted this back to him.
It seems the original repairer has swapped the board and the screen to other MAC's, and said that it isn't a screen issue. From what I understand, by doing a quick search on Google, this is in fact a screen issue. The panic relates to the TCON controller not responding after a power state change is what I understand. Comments I've seen are that only a screen replacement will resolve it. It also appears to happen on genuine and aftermarket screens.
I was actually unable to reproduce this, so I have no idea if Apple have fixed it in software (this MAC was on 15.5), if it's a firmware thing on the TCON or what. Apple don't usually publicise these kind of hardware fixes in the release notes. Interested to hear what others experiences are on kernel panics on this model.
At this point, I kicked her back to the original repairer and explained that this appears to be a common issue on this model. Easiest thing is to put the original screen back on and get Apple to change it. If the kernel panics still remain, then it's up to them to resolve or exchange the entire machine. But I'm told the original repairer will fit a genuine screen but how he does the calibration I'm not sure. He might be part of the IRP, don't know. But the self repair portal is not available in Australia so that isn't an option.
He also charged her $800 for the screen replacement of an aftermarket screen (they are around $200 on Aliexpress), and gave her some BS this was the way to go as the aftermarket screens are more durable. Hence why I batted this back to him.
