DIY repairs and electronic parts – where do you usually source them?

[lostintheether]

Hi everyone,

I've been getting more interested in repairing and modifying Onewheels instead of replacing parts whenever something goes wrong.

For older boards especially, I think finding the right electronic components can sometimes be more difficult than doing the actual repair. Things like MOSFETs, voltage regulators, capacitors, connectors, sensors and other small components aren't always easy to identify or source.

I'm curious what everyone here does when repairing an older board.

Do you usually:

buy the exact replacement component?
look for an equivalent part with similar specifications?
salvage components from another board?
or simply replace the entire controller/BMS?

I'm particularly interested in how you identify equivalent components when the original part is no longer available.

For DIY builders and people who have repaired older XRs or Pint/Pint X boards, what has been the hardest electronic component to find?

Would be great to hear some real-world experiences.