HP 9500 Weird Color Issue

[ArthurG]

Really weird issue here.... I am getting wide vertical stripe down the center on my paper when we print. The stripe is discolored, and actually looks like it is burned on there. The fuser was changed since this has happened, so we ruled that out. Even weirder, there is a dark multicolored mark (red, blue, yellow, etc) in the middle of the stripe, and the mark is also at the top and bottom edges is of the sheet. We also changed the transfer roller, since they exact image seemed to be showing there. No help. I may not be making any sesne with this, but it is extremely difficult to explain. I am just hoping someone else has seen something like this and can help. Any is appreciated.

Thanks.

[redcow]

Run the PQ Troubleshooting diags
See if that can narrow down the problem.
Disable Cartridge test might also help

[ArthurG]

Unsuccessful with those tips also. Like I mentioned in my 1st post, it almost looks like it's actually burning the paper. we will just continue to look into it, I have just never seen one like this before.

[Big Al]

I'm not familiar with the 9500. The formatter controls the laser(s?) so that is a possibility. Tough when you do not have a sister machine to swap parts. What does it look like when you run an engine test? The engine test comes from the main board so the formatter is not involved.

Al

[ArthurG]

We can attempt an engine test, and see what that shows. I am also going to attach a photo of a test page so you can see what we have here. It may look similar to something you have seen. Hopefully it attachs.

[MichaelTech]

Looks pretty much like a developer issue. Try a new one, if still an issue, change the H/V

[Big Al]

What is the color of the wide band? If it is black, have you disabled the cartridge check and swapped the black cartridge with, say, the magenta or cyan? If that changes the color of the band then maybe you have a bad black cartridge? Sorry, I have no idea what the band in the middle of the page might be.

Al

[ArthurG]

This was a test page I printed right before I posted the picture, but in almost EVERY other test page I printed days ago, that middle band was multicolored, as I explained in my 1st post. It would be a Cyan bar, next to it a Magenta bar, then a yellow bar, etc....
The band would be REALLY dark, but you could see the colors. This pic isnt as accurate of what we have been seeing, and its looks as if it as lightened up some. You cannot tell in the posted picture, but at both ends of the stripe, there are multicolored edges. The wide middle band is more black than anything though.

[ArthurG]

Here is the lastest picture...also a 1st timer.

[redcow]

By any chance are you getting 59.A0 errors in the event log?
One other question: I just want to verify the band of colors shown on the config page is vertical not horizontal

[ArthurG]

No, the event log shows only 54.30.00 codes.

[ArthurG]

The colors are indeed vertical. This was the 1st time they had ever filled the entire stripe like that.

[MichaelTech]

Ah, better example. Did'nt see color on the first one. 54's are relating to toners or scanner. Also halftone calibration. Is this on all printouts? If so, try cleaning the scanner mirrors. Do a half page check to see when it starts. I still suspect the ETB

[cs_steve]

I agree with MichaelTech. Most likely the transfer belt (also called ETB/ITB). Look for marks, etc. on that black belt that line up with the approximate width of this wide band.

Esp. when the print defect is in the center of the page, and prints perpendicular to the feed, it's often the ITB. (In this case the printer feeds in Landscape/horizontal, and your print defect is in Portrait/vertical.)

[ArthurG]

We initially went went that diagnoses, because when you looked at the image transfer belt, the image on the print out was the exact image on the belt. That was the 1st thing we changed, and the new transfer belt did the exact same thing, and thats what has us clueless, because you can still see it.

[redcow]

Here's something that wasn't mentioned.

The ITB cleaning blade is not latched.
1.Open the front left door.
2. remove the toner collection bottle without moving the handle. If the blade is not latched correctly, it will fall slightly when the bottle is removed. Check for this movement to determine if the blade was correctly latched.
3. lower the blade, remove and reinstall it.
4. to correctly latch the blade in place, lift the blade up with right hand and push it to the right with left hand. when installed correctly:
a). the blade should make a click(not clack) sound when installed
b). the blue handle on the blade will be parallel with the blue handles for the print cartridges
c). the toner collection bottle will fit over the blades blue handle without holding the blade in place
5. reinstall the collection bottle and shut the door
6. print the PQ Troubleshooting pages to verify the issue is resolved. It might take a few pages to clean the ITB before the images are clear.

You will also want to calibrate the printer

[ArthurG]

I have been out for a few days since the last post.... We are going to attempt this latest repair tip and I will let you all know how it goes. Thanks to all you guys who have chimed in to try to help us get this resolved. I don't use the forum often, but you guys are great whenever I do.

ArthurG

[ArthurG]

Wow, it worked like a freakin' charm! redcow you nailed it! This issue has been giving us the fits, and to FINALLY see it printing out clean prints looks great! Again, cs_steve, MichaelTech, Big Al, and redcow thank all you guys for chiming in. You all appear to be vets in this forum, and your expertise advice helped to get this job closed. Until the next time.....