
Solving print quality problems
Dirt inside of the printer or improper paper loading may reduce print quality. See the table below to troubleshoot problems.
| Condition | Suggested solutions | 
| 
 | 
 | 
If a vertical white streak or faded area appears on the page:
•The toner supply is low. You may be able to temporarily extend the toner cartridge life. See
| Light or faded | 
 | page 8.3. If this does not improve print quality, | |
| 
 | install a new toner cartridge. | ||
| 
 | |||
| • | The paper may not meet paper specifications | ||
| 
 | |||
| AaBbCc | 
 | (for example, the paper is too moist or too | |
| 
 | rough). See page 5.3. | ||
| AaBbCc | 
 | ||
| • | If the entire page is light, the print resolution | ||
| AaBbCc | 
 | setting is too light or toner save mode is on. | |
| AaBbCc | 
 | Adjust the print resolution and toner save mode | |
| AaBbCc | 
 | in the printer properties. See the Software | |
| 
 | 
 | Section. | 
•A combination of faded or smeared defects may indicate that the printer needs cleaning. See page 8.1.
•The surface of LSU may be dirty. Clean the LSU. See page 8.1.
| Toner spots | • | The paper may not meet specifications (for | 
| AaBbCc | 
 | example, the paper is too moist or too rough). | 
| 
 | See page 5.3. | |
| AaBbCc | • | The transfer roller or paper path may be dirty. | 
| AaBbCc | 
 | See page 8.1. | 
| AaBbCc | 
 | 
 | 
| AaBbCc | 
 | 
 | 
| 
 | If generally rounded, faded areas occur randomly | |
| 
 | on the page: | |
| Dropouts | • | A single sheet of paper may be defective. Try | 
| 
 | reprinting the job. | |
| 
 | 
 | |
| AaBbCc | • | The moisture content of the paper is uneven or | 
| 
 | the paper has moist spots on its surface. Try a | |
| AaBbCc | 
 | different brand of paper. See page 5.3. | 
| AaBbCc | • | The paper lot is bad. The manufacturing | 
| AaBbCc | 
 | processes can cause some areas to reject | 
| AaBbCc | • | toner. Try a different kind or brand of paper. | 
| 
 | The toner cartridge may be defective. See | |
| 
 | 
 | “Vertical repetitive defects” on the next page. | 
•If these steps do not correct the problems, contact a service representative.
| Condition | Suggested solutions | 
Vertical lines
| AaBbCcbc | If black vertical streaks appear on the page: | |
| AaBbCcbc | • | The drum inside the toner cartridge has | 
| AaBbCcbc | 
 | probably been scratched. Install a new toner | 
| AaBbCcbc | 
 | cartridge. | 
| AaBbCcbc | 
 | 
 | 
| Gray | If the amount of background shading becomes | 
| background | unacceptable, the procedures below may fix the | 
| 
 | problem. | 
| AaBbCc | • Change to lighter weight pages. See page 5.3. | |
| AaBbCc | • Check the printer’s environment; very dry (low | |
| AaBbCc | humidity) or high humidity (higher than 80% | |
| RH) conditions can increase the amount of | ||
| AaBbCc | ||
| background shading. | ||
| AaBbCc | ||
| • Remove the old toner cartridge and install a | ||
| 
 | new one. See page 8.3. | 
| Toner smear | • | Clean the inside of the printer. See page 8.1. | ||
| 
 | 
 | 
 | • | Check the type and quality. See page 5.2. | 
| 
 | 
 | 
 | • | Remove the toner cartridge and install a new | 
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | one. See page 8.3. | 
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
 | 
| 
 | If marks repeatedly appear on the printed side of | |
| Vertical | the page at even intervals: | |
| • | The toner cartridge may be damaged. If a | |
| repetitive | 
 | repetitive mark occurs on the page, print a | 
| defects | 
 | |
| 
 | cleaning sheet several times to clean the | |
| 
 | 
 | |
| A a B b C c | 
 | cartridge; see page 8.2. After the printout, if | 
| 
 | you still have the same problems, install a new | |
| A a B b C c | 
 | |
| 
 | toner cartridge. See page 8.3. | |
| A a B b C c | • | Parts of the printer may have toner on them. If | 
| A a B b C c | 
 | the defects occur on the back of the page, the | 
| A a B b C c | 
 | problem will likely correct itself after a few more | 
| 
 | 
 | pages. | 
•The fusing assembly may be damaged. Contact a service representative.
9.11 <Troubleshooting>