HP LaserJet 4000: toner down left hand side

[Ian]

I have a LaserJet 4000. Printed about 68000 pages. Always used genuine
HP cartridges. Cleaned the printer each time a new cartridge was
installed, per HP's instructions.

Recently, printed pages have emerged with light smears of toner about
10mm (half an inch) wide down the left hand side. Within the smears I
can see ghost images of previous pages that have already been printed.

This does not look like a cartridge problem, more a drum problem
perhaps?

Ideas anyone?

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Although HP toner cartridges are not cheap, the one advantage of them is
that much of the printing engine is contained in them. As a result,
often a printing defect can be corrected by "just" replacing the toner
cartridge.

This problem is most likely the wiper blade within the cartridge that
cleans off the excess toner has deformed from use or heat, or age, or a
positional defect, and is not fully contacting that edge of the drum to
clear it of the last image created on it.

If you have a second toner cartridge check to see if replacing it
resolves the problem. It is also possible that the corona wires (if
this laser has them accessible) may be contaminated with toner and it is
probably worthwhile to give them a cleaning (if you can get to them,
there is usually a small tool that comes with the printer or cartridge
to clean them).

Depending upon the age of the cartridge and if it is OEM or not, it may
be warranted by HP, and they may replace it free of charge to you.

Art

 

[Ian]

From: Arthur Entlich <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 Time: 13:17:22

Although HP toner cartridges are not cheap, the one advantage of them
is that much of the printing engine is contained in them. As a result,
often a printing defect can be corrected by "just" replacing the toner
cartridge.

This problem is most likely the wiper blade within the cartridge that
cleans off the excess toner has deformed from use or heat, or age, or a
positional defect, and is not fully contacting that edge of the drum to
clear it of the last image created on it.

If you have a second toner cartridge check to see if replacing it
resolves the problem. It is also possible that the corona wires (if
this laser has them accessible) may be contaminated with toner and it
is probably worthwhile to give them a cleaning (if you can get to them,
there is usually a small tool that comes with the printer or cartridge
to clean them).

Depending upon the age of the cartridge and if it is OEM or not, it may
be warranted by HP, and they may replace it free of charge to you.

Art

Thanks Art (and others). As it happens, the toner is already low, so I
will see if I can raise a mortgage and get a replacement. (To think that
these days you could buy two or three printers for the price of an HP
cartridge. What is the world coming to!).

 

[DB.]

From: Arthur Entlich <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 Time: 13:17:22



Thanks Art (and others). As it happens, the toner is already low, so I
will see if I can raise a mortgage and get a replacement. (To think
that these days you could buy two or three printers for the price of
an HP cartridge. What is the world coming to!).

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