. >> reporter: calpirg found 8 million californians logged on to ifixit.com last year.he most common items users wanted to primary, cellphones were number one. second were laptops. then cars, then gaming consoles. others included desktop computers, tablets, headphones, and vacuum cleaners. that's just one website. many more of us find help on youtube. >> far too often we're finding there are barriers put in place. >> reporter: the calpirg report says companies should provide customers with tools and instructions to fix their own gadgets that often make it difficult instead. >> everything from having to have a special screwdriver to open up your cellphone to not having the right part unless it's the manufacturer that's fixing the product. >> i encourage it, personally, for people to tinker. that's how i learned. >> reporter: this technician says anybody with the right toolkit can fix things like a smartphone battery. it looks daunting, but 18 screws later, the new battery goes in and we have power. chance used the battery from a third party company. apple and samsung don