Isolating print quality problems

To help isolate print quality problems, print the print quality test pages, but first make sure the standard tray is loaded:

1. Turn the printer off.

2. Load letter- or A4-size paper in the standard tray. Load the paper stack toward the back of the tray as shown with the recommended print side facedown. Notice the maximum fill line on the side of the tray to guide you. Do not overfill the tray.

   

Print the print quality test pages:

1. Turn the printer off.

2. From the printer control panel, hold down and the right arrow button while turning the printer on.

3. Release the buttons when CONFIG MENU appears.

4. Press the arrow buttons until Prt Quality Pgs appears, and then press .

   The print quality test pages print.

5. Press the arrow buttons until Exit Config Menu appears, and then press .

   Resetting the Printer appears briefly, and then Ready appears.

Blank pages

Try one or more of the following:

• Remove and reinstall the toner cartridge.

• Remove and reinstall the photoconductor kit.

If the printer still prints blank pages, it may need to be serviced. For more information, contact Customer Support.

Characters have jagged or uneven edges

If you are using downloaded fonts, verify that the fonts are supported by the printer, the host computer, and the software program.

Clipped images

These are possible solutions. Try one or more of the following:

Check the guides

Move the width and length guides in the tray to the correct positions for the paper size loaded.

Check the Paper Size setting

Make sure the Paper Size setting matches the paper loaded in the tray.

Gray background

• For Windows users: From Print Properties, select a different Toner Darkness setting before sending the job to print.

• For Macintosh users: From the print options, Copies & Pages, or General pop-up menu, choose Printer Features, and then choose the setting needed from the Toner Darkness pop-up menu.

• From the printer control panel Quality menu, select a different Toner Darkness setting before sending the job to print.

Ghost images

These are possible solutions. Try one or more of the following:

The photoconductor kit is defective

Replace the photoconductor kit.

Check the Paper Type setting

• For Windows users: From Print Properties, make sure the Paper Type setting matches the paper loaded in the tray.

• For Macintosh users: From the Print dialog, make sure the Paper Type setting matches the paper loaded in the tray.

• From the printer control panel Paper menu, make sure the Paper Type setting matches the paper loaded in the tray.

Incorrect margins

These are possible solutions. Try one or more of the following:

Check the guides

Move the width and length guides in the tray to the correct positions for the paper size loaded.

Check the Paper Size setting

Make sure the Paper Size setting matches the paper loaded in the tray.

Check the Page size setting

Before sending the job to print, specify the correct page size in Print Properties, the Print dialog, or the software program.

Paper curl

These are possible solutions. Try one or more of the following:

Check the Paper Type setting

• For Windows users: From Print Properties, make sure the Paper Type setting matches the paper loaded in the tray.

• For Macintosh users: From the Print dialog, make sure the Paper Type setting matches the paper loaded in the tray.

• From the printer control panel Paper menu, make sure the Paper Type setting matches the paper loaded in the tray.

The paper has absorbed moisture due to high humidity

• Load paper from a fresh package.

• Store paper in its original wrapper until you use it.

Print is too dark

These are possible solutions. Try one or more of the following:

Check the darkness, brightness, and contrast settings

The Toner Darkness setting is too dark, the Brightness setting is too dark, or the Contrast setting is too high.

• For Windows users: From Print Properties, change these settings.

• For Macintosh users:

  1. Choose File > Print.

  2. Locate the drop-down box under the Orientation pictures, and then click the down button.

  3. Click Printer Features.

  4. Change the settings for Toner Darkness, Brightness, and Contrast.

• From the printer control panel Quality menu, change these settings.

The paper has absorbed moisture due to high humidity

• Load paper from a fresh package.

• Store paper in its original wrapper until you use it.

Check the paper

Avoid textured paper with rough finishes.

Check the Paper Type setting

• For Windows users: From Print Properties, make sure the Media Type setting matches the paper loaded in the tray.

• For Macintosh users: From the Print dialog, make sure the Paper Type setting matches the paper loaded in the tray.

• From the printer control panel Paper menu, make sure the Paper Type setting matches the paper loaded in the tray.

The toner cartridge may be defective

Replace the toner cartridge.

Print is too light

These are possible solutions. Try one or more of the following:

Check the darkness, brightness, and contrast settings

The Toner Darkness setting is too light, the Brightness setting is too light, or the Contrast setting is too low.

• From the printer control panel, change these settings from the Quality menu.

• For Windows users, change these settings from Print Properties.

• For Macintosh users, change these settings from the Print dialog and pop-up menus.

The paper has absorbed moisture due to high humidity

• Load paper from a fresh package.

• Store paper in its original wrapper until you use it.

Check the paper

Avoid textured paper with rough finishes.

Check the paper type setting

Make sure the paper type setting matches the paper loaded in the tray:

1. From the printer control panel, check the Paper Type setting from the Paper menu.

2. Before sending the job to print, specify the correct type setting:

   • For Windows users, specify the type from Print Properties.

   • For Macintosh users, specify the type from the Print dialog.

The toner is low

When 88 Cartridge Low appears, order a new print cartridge.

The print cartridge may be defective

Replace the print cartridge.

Skewed print

Check the paper guides

Move the guides in the tray to the correct positions for the paper size loaded.

Check the paper

Make sure you are using paper that meets the printer specifications.

Toner fog or background shading appears on the page

These are possible solutions. Try one or more of the following:

The toner cartridge may be defective

Replace the toner cartridge.

There is toner in the paper path

Contact Customer Support.

Toner rubs off

These are possible solutions. Try one or more of the following:

Check the Paper Type setting

Make sure the Paper Type setting matches the paper loaded in the tray.

Check the Paper Texture setting

Make sure the Paper Texture setting matches the paper loaded in the tray.

Toner specks

These are possible solutions. Try one or more of the following:

The toner cartridge may be defective

Replace the toner cartridge.

There is toner in the paper path

Contact Customer Support.

Transparency print quality is poor

Check the transparencies

Use only transparencies recommended by the printer manufacturer.

Check the Paper Type setting

Load transparencies, and make sure the Paper Type setting is set to Transparency.

Streaked horizontal lines

These are possible solutions. Try one or more of the following:

The toner may smear when paper is fed from a specific source

From Print Properties, the Print dialog, or the printer control panel, select another tray or feeder to feed the paper for the job.

The toner cartridge may be defective

Replace the toner cartridge.

Make sure the paper path is clear

Paper could be caught between the photoconductor kit and the fuser. Check the paper path around the fuser area.

CAUTION—HOT SURFACE: The fuser and the inside of the printer near the fuser may be hot. To reduce the risk of injury from a hot component, allow the surface to cool before removing paper from this area.

Clear any paper you see.

There may be excess toner in the paper path

Contact Customer Support.

Streaked vertical lines

These are possible solutions. Try one or more of the following:

The toner may smear when paper is fed from a specific source

From Print Properties, the Print dialog, or the printer control panel, select another tray or feeder to feed paper for the job.

The toner cartridge is defective

Replace the toner cartridge.

Make sure the paper path is clear

Paper could be caught between the photoconductor kit and the fuser. Check the paper path around the fuser area.

CAUTION—HOT SURFACE: The fuser and the inside of the printer near the fuser may be hot. To reduce the risk of injury from a hot component, allow the surface to cool before removing paper from this area.

Clear any paper you see.

There may be excess toner in the paper path

Contact Customer Support.

Solid black or white streaks appear on transparencies or paper

These are possible solutions. Try one or more of the following:

Make sure the fill pattern is correct

If the fill pattern is incorrect, choose a different fill pattern from your software program.

Check the paper type

• Try a different type of paper.

• For transparencies, use only ones recommended by the printer manufacturer.

• Make sure the Paper Type setting matches what is loaded in the tray or feeder.

• Make sure the Paper Texture setting is correct for the type of paper or specialty media loaded in the tray or feeder.

Make sure the toner is distributed evenly in the toner cartridge

Remove the toner cartridge and shake it from side to side to redistribute the toner to extend the life of the cartridge, and then reinstall it.

The toner cartridge may be defective or low on toner

Replace the used toner cartridge with a new one.