Table 7-20

Smeared Print/Improper Fusing

 

 

 

Possible Cause

Action

 

 

Fuser levers not in place.

The Fuser Assembly has shipping levers

(All LJ4, some LJ4+, N/A on LJ5)

that must be lowered during the setup

 

 

process. See Chapter 3 for instruction on

 

 

how to lower the fusing levers.

 

 

Media. The media may not be acceptable

Verify that the media meets

for laser printing. Heavy paper stock is a

specifications as shown in the HP

common cause of smeared print and

LaserJet Family Paper Specifications

improper fusing.

 

Guide.

 

 

Dirty Fuser Assembly. The print smears if

Replace the Fuser Assembly and clean

the Fuser Assembly is dirty.

the printer.

 

 

Bent Static Teeth. If the static teeth are

If the teeth are bent or defective, replace

defective, the print could smear prior to

the Static Teeth Assembly.

the paper entering the Fuser Assembly.

 

 

 

Worn Gears. If the drum and paper are

Replace the Toner Cartridge.

not moving at the same speed the

 

characters may smudge.

 

 

 

Foreign object in paper path. Something

Remove any foreign material. Try a new

is smearing the unfused toner image on

Toner Cartridge.

the surface of the paper.

 

 

 

Orange Packing Spacers not removed.

Remove Orange Packing Spacers.

Some HP LaserJet 4 only.

 

 

 

 

Table 7-21

 

 

Distorted Print

 

 

 

 

 

 

Possible Cause

Action

 

 

Paper Path. If the paper does not move

Examine the paper transport rollers

at a uniform speed, the print image will

along the paper path for wear. Replace if

be affected. Characters that are either

excessive wear exists. Inspect and

too tall or too short (in the direction of

replace the Toner Cartridge, Drive Gear

paper motion), are usually a result of

Assembly, Main Motor, or Fuser

drive mechanism problem.

Assembly as necessary.

 

 

Laser/Scanning Assembly. Wavy,

Replace the Laser/Scanning Assembly.

irregular-shaped characters, or irregular

 

line margins in the scan direction of

 

printing are usually a result of a defective

 

Laser/Scanning Assembly.

 

 

 

 

7-42 Troubleshooting