HP Laserjet 1100 - Faded printing - Help please

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Dandelion

Somehow my HP Laserjet 1100 developed this fading effect on each
page that I print from every program. The print-out on left and
right side of the page is sharp, but the center part, a bit off
center toward right, is faded. Go to
http://www.geocities.com/web378/index2.html to see what I'm
talking about.

I've already shaken the tone. But that's not the cause as it
didn't help.

Help please.
 
Dandelion said:
Somehow my HP Laserjet 1100 developed this fading effect on each
page that I print from every program. The print-out on left and
right side of the page is sharp, but the center part, a bit off
center toward right, is faded. Go to
http://www.geocities.com/web378/index2.html to see what I'm
talking about.

I've already shaken the tone. But that's not the cause as it
didn't help.

Help please.
Click to expand...

Can you take a high quality scan of the internal test page (push the button for
2 seconds) and make it available, I think I know what this is but the test page
will help me be more sure.
Tony
 
Can you take a high quality scan of the internal test page (push the button for
2 seconds) and make it available, I think I know what this is but the test page
will help me be more sure.
Tony
Click to expand...

Thanks for helping. I just uploaded a test page in 300dpi.
http://www.geocities.com/web378/index3.html

BTW, to print the test page, just press and let it go of the
button. Press and hold for 2 seconds doesn't produce a test
page, at least that is how on mine.
 
You might have some dust, or something on laser glass. You can remove laser
and check bottom side glas or inside the laser mirrors
 
I belive that bottom laser glass is dirty, you can try to reach bottom glass
by hand and clean in without disassembling the printer, with dry cloth.
 
Dandelion said:
Thanks for helping. I just uploaded a test page in 300dpi.
http://www.geocities.com/web378/index3.html

BTW, to print the test page, just press and let it go of the
button. Press and hold for 2 seconds doesn't produce a test
page, at least that is how on mine.
Click to expand...

There are 3 possibilities.
First the laser scanner lens is dirty (as mentioned by someone else), you can
see the lens if you know what you are looking for. Remove the cartridge, look
inside the printer upwards towards the top and you should see a slot that runs
right across (a torch helps), recessed inside that slot is the lens, you can
clean it with a soft dry cloth gently bunched up and pressed into the slot -
run it across the length of the slot a few times.
If that does not fix it then either the scanner assembly has failed or the ECU
(Engine Control Unit) has failed. Both of these would be too expensive to
replace, cheaper to buy a new printer. This printer does have a habit of ECU's
failing but hopefully the lens is dirty.
Let us know how you get on.
Tony
 
How to reach bottom glass by hand? Where is it located?


I now found there are some black particles on the light green
piece on the toner cartridge, right where the faded print area
corresponds to. I guess the black particles are toner particles
and the light green piece is the photosensitive drum. Before I
get a paper towel or a dry cloth to wipe it clean, can I do that?
 
There is only one glass that you can get at on this printer without removing
the scanner assembly and dismantling it so I am not sure what the other poster
is referring to when he says "bottom" glass. The glass is recessed behind the
slot in the inside and top of the printer (the slot is in a metal plate), you
can use a cotton bud or bunched up soft dry cloth to clean the glass gently, no
pressure will be needed and no liquid either since the problem will be toner or
dust on the glass.
There is no repetitive pattern to either of the pages you have provided that I
can see and if the drum was the problem I would expect to see a repetitive
pattern.
Try an engine test - Open the small cover at the lower back of the printer and
you will see a small button, press this button and the printer will print a
page that will be either a series of vertical lines or a solid black page, if
there is a repetitive nature to the print defect (ie it repeats down the page)
then the drum may be the problem.
Second test to do is to print a page that shows the problem and stop the
printer by opening the front door when the paper has moved about 6 inches.
remove the toner cartridge, don't touch the paper but look at it inside the
printer. Is the problem obvious on the page? If it is then you have an imaging
problem and this is either the scanner or the toner cartridge. Remove the
paper, it will have loose toner on it. Clean the scanner lens as mentioned, if
that does not fix it then replace the toner cartridge, if that does not fix it
the problem is either a failed (not dirty) scanner assembly or a failed engine
controller.
If the second test shows no problem on the part of the paper you can see inside
the printer then the problem is a failed fuser (not very likely).
Tony
 
I now found there are some black particles on the light green
piece on the toner cartridge, right where the faded print area
corresponds to. I guess the black particles are toner particles
and the light green piece is the photosensitive drum. Before I
get a paper towel or a dry cloth to wipe it clean, can I do that?
Click to expand...


Temporarily replacing the toner cartridge is always a good first thing to try
for any such printing problems.
 
Wayne said:
Temporarily replacing the toner cartridge is always a good first thing to try
for any such printing problems.
Click to expand...

Yes, if you have one.
The print examples however do not look like a cartrdige problem to me and it is
much cheaper to clean the lens than buy a cartridge and then find out it was
dust on the scanner lens.
Tony
 
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