Print Quality Problems

When troubleshooting printer problems, refer to this document for information about causes of print quality
issues due to component failure, not media, toner cartridge or various other reasons.
Problem

Possible Hardware Cause

Laser/Scanner Assembly is faulty (laser is not

writing to the drum).

High voltage contact springs are dirty or defective.

(Contacts are mounted on the HVPS PCA and
protrude into the toner cartridge cavity.)
High voltage power supply circuit is defective (not
supplying the correct negative voltage).
DC Controller PCA is defective. If the DC
Controller turns on the laser beam continuously,
the entire surface of the Photosensitive drum is
neutralized causing a completely black page.
Laser/Scanner Assembly is faulty (turning laser on
continuously).
Connectors between Laser/Scanner unit and DC
Controller arent seated properly or are defective.

Recommended Action

Replace the Laser/Scanner Assembly.

Inspect and clean the high voltage contacts.

If damaged, replace the High Voltage Power
Supply (HVPS) PCA.
Replace the HVPS PCA.

Replace the DC Controller PCA.

Replace the Laser/Scanner Assembly.

Inspect and reseat the connectors. Replace

cables as necessary.

Pickup and/or Registration Rollers are worn. Paper

is not being picked up consistently.

Inspect all paper path rollers, looking for

wear, cracks, or glazing. Replace the worn
rollers.

HVPS is defective.

Replace the HVPS.

OPC is not grounded.

Check for proper mounting of HVPS. Ensure

contacts are protruding to toner cartridge.

Transfer Roller is defective or incorrectly installed.

If the Transfer Roller loses conductivity, it cannot
effectively pull toner from the drum to the paper.

Inspect Transfer Roller for proper installation

and contact. If damaged, replace it.

Laser/Scanner door is not opening properly.

High voltage contact springs are dirty or defective.
The high voltage contacts are mounted on the
High Voltage Power Supply PCA and protrude into
the toner cartridge cavity.
High Voltage Power Supply PCA is defective.
DC Controller PCA is defective. The DC Controller
supplies the proper voltage to the High Voltage
Power Supply PCA.
Transfer Roller is defective.
High Voltage Power Supply PCA is defective.
DC Controller is defective (low primary voltage).

Remove and reseat the toner cartridge.

Check the Laser/Scanner shutter door for
proper operation. If defective, replace the
Laser/Scanner Assembly.
Check the contacts for functionality. If
damaged, replace the HVPS PCA.
Replace the HVPS PCA.
Replace the DC Controller PCA.
Replace the Transfer Roller.
Replace the HVPS PCA.
Replace the DC Controller.

LaserJet Fundamentals: Hardware Basics

Print Quality Problems
Page 1 of 3
4/6/06

Problem

Possible Hardware Cause

Recommended Action

Transfer Roller is dirty or worn. A worn Transfer

Roller can cause background scatter due to
improper bias voltages.

Clean the Transfer Roller using a dry, lintfree cloth. DO NOT touch the Transfer Roller
with your fingers. If the problem persists,
replace the Transfer Roller Assembly.

Buildup in the Fuser Inlet Guide.

Clean the Fuser Inlet Guide (check manual

for cleaning instructions).

Fusing Assembly is contaminated or damaged.

Static Eliminator Strip teeth are contaminated or
defective.
Repetitive defect. If the lines are repeated at a
consistent interval down the page, this is a
repetitive defect.

Fusing Rollers are dirty. Toner build-up can cause

the print on a page to smear.
The Static Eliminator Strip is dirty or is not
grounded, allowing a static charge to remain on
the page.

Fusing Assembly is defective. The print will smear

if the Fusing Assembly is not heated sufficiently to
bond the toner image to the paper.
DC Controller is defective. The DC Controller
regulates fusing roller temperature on printers
with variable fusers.

Rollers are dirty. Any dirty roller in the paper path

may result in a repetitive print defect.
Fusing Assembly is dirty or defective.
Gears are worn, causing slippage or jumping.
Transfer Roller is bad. If the Transfer Roller has
finger oils on its surface, is dirty, or is worn-out,
this problem can result.

Inspect the Fusing Assembly for toner buildup or scratches on the fuser rollers. Replace
the Fusing Assembly if damaged.
Clean using compressed air. Be careful not
to spray the Transfer Roller.
See the Repetitive Image Defect Ruler in the
manual.
Remove and inspect the Fusing Assembly for
excessive toner build-up.
Clean the Anti-Static Brush using
compressed air.

If your printer has the ability to change fuser

modes depending on the type of media used,
do so. If this does not help, replace the
Fusing Assembly.
If a new Fusing Assembly does not resolve
the problem, replace the DC Controller PCA.

Examine and clean the rollers in the paper

path. See Cleaning the Printer and Paper
Handling Accessories in the manual.
Print a cleaning page, if possible. If the
problem persists, replace the Fusing
Assembly.
Inspect the gears driving the toner cartridge
and the Fuser. Replace the Main Drive
Assembly if necessary.
Clean the Transfer Roller using a dry, lintfree cloth. DO NOT touch the Transfer Roller
with your fingers. If the problem persists,
replace the Transfer Roller Assembly.

Laser/Scanner Assembly is bad.

Replace the Laser/Scanner Assembly.

Drive gears are worn or broken. If any gear within

the drive train or paper path becomes excessively
worn or dirty, erratic paper movement can result.

Replace the defective gear or Main Drive

assembly.

Worn Pickup or Registration Rollers. Paper is not

being picked up consistently.

Inspect all paper path rollers, looking for

wear, cracks, or glazing. Replace the worn
rollers.

Not enough memory. The page is too complex for

standard printer memory.

Simplify the print job or add printer

memory.

Elements of LaserJet Fundamentals

Troubleshooting Print Quality Problems Caused by Printer Component Malfunction
Page 2 of 3
4/6/06

Problem

Possible Hardware Cause

Recommended Action

Foreign objects in beam path. Any foreign objects

will block the light from developing an image on
the Photosensitive drum.

Remove the printer cover, and inspect the

path from the Laser /Scanner to the toner
cartridge drum, looking for foreign objects in
the beam path.

Gear is broken or worn

Inspect and replace the worn gear or

assembly

Copyright Hewlett-Packard Co. 2002. This information is subject to change without notice and is provided "as is" with no
warranty. Hewlett-Packard shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages in
connection with the use of this material.

Elements of LaserJet Fundamentals

Troubleshooting Print Quality Problems Caused by Printer Component Malfunction
Page 3 of 3
4/6/06