HP Laserjet 5MP Error Light

[Daennea]

Our much loved and lightly used HP Laserjet 5MP printer has suffered a variety of errors - crinkling pages, unable to pickup from first the lower tray and then the manual feed tray, so we took it in to see a printer repairman. He ordered a complete maintenance kit and - per him - replaced the fuser, transfer roller, tray 1 p/u roller, pickup roller, and separation pad and cleaned it. However, after the replacements, he could no longer get it to operate normally (before, it would run, try to pick up the paper, and fail).

Now, on start up, the printer runs through the usual sequence of warmup lights, then stops with the ERROR status light highlighted.
Per the HP service manual, this indicates either a "recoverable error" or "20 MEM OVERFLOW" - but we have the optional memory installed (16 MB total) and did not have problems with memory before we took it in (repairman is trying to sell us more memory). Also, when trying to print from our Mac G4 (OS 10.3.9 - it has always had smooth interaction with the printer), the error message pops up "printer has a paper jam." The same error message pops up trying to print from a PowerBook G4 (OS 10.4.11).

Pressing the Reset and Go buttons makes it blink the ready light a few times and then revert to the ERROR light. I've replaced the toner cartridge with one that previously worked, if streakily, with no effect.

We assume that the repairman installed *something* incorrectly, but we aren't sure where to start looking. Could anyone offer any suggestions on where to look or what the status light could mean? My father thinks it must be a sensor.

We've checked the fusor sensor (the one that looks like a hook) and it seems to operate correctly.

[Big Al]

Not many of us have ever seen one of these, much less worked on one. It was likely a mistake to invest any money in it. Now that you have spent the money it kind of sounds like you may have a seating problem. Try reseating the memory. Then try removing the memory. If you can reseat the formatter that is worth a try. The formatter will be the printed circuit board where the Centronix printer cable plugs in.

Al

[Sheppard]

More than likley when the top cover was removed it knocked the memory dimm loose or damaged it. (the extra memory is behind a trap door on the side and should be removed before top is removed)Since this is a 5mp (m=macintosh and has extra memory)it requires extra memory to boot up. I would check the memory dimm first for proper seat, if does not fix it remove the network pcb (where you plug the mac network cable in) and the extra memory dimm. Now you have a normal 5p and should boot up, if this works you will need to buy another memory dimm. The paper jam message is a generic error on the mac because it does not know what the real problem is. Bob Winchester (hello Big Al)

[Daennea]

Hmm, we tried reseating the memory, then removing it - as Sheppard said, the printer would not then boot up. It's back visiting the printer repair guy again, as he agreed to take another look at it (free!). I will try Sheppard's suggestion when we get it back, if the printer repair guy's proposals don't work out.

Al - I admit, for what we've invested, we could have almost bought a refurbished 5MP. However, we have lots of refillable cartridges for it (the highest cost of operating a printer today, it seems), plus it has nice sharp print (unlike the Brothers piece-of-junk I bought subsequently), runs with our "newer" Macs without needing drivers installed, almost never struggles to print items (unlike above Brothers), and is compatible with the older Macs on our network (OS 9.2.2 and earlier). And, after reading other testimonials to 5Ps and 5MPs on the internet, I'm not sure why ours is having so many problems!

[redcow]

Make sure that the printer works, before the tech runs out of your house!!!
Test it to your satisfaction before you let him go.

[deannavaldez]

Make sure that the printer works, before the tech runs out of your house!!!
Test it to your satisfaction before you let him go.

Best buy a new one

[ridered74]

I just had to work on one a month ago that would act like it was going to print, everything would start making noise like it was going to print but the pickup roller would never click as it does right before paper is pulled in. It ended up being a bad laser.

Good luck with yours!

[Daennea]

Thanks for the advice and good wishes - I thought you might like to hear that the printer repairman called on Thursday with the news that the HP 5MP was printing! :D We had started exploring other options (i.e., buy a refurbished 5MP), so I was very excited.

Apparently, he had not correctly positioned/set a little sensor right at the front of the printer - beneath the plate under the printer cartridge (who knew there was a sensor there?) - and so when, in frustration, he took it all apart and put it back together, he corrected the position of the sensor and the 5MP stopped saying there was a paper jam. We brought it home yesterday and hooked it back up to the network today - the 5MP is now running better than it has in years.

I would recommend our printer repairman on 5MPs (after taking ours apart entirely and putting it back together twice, I think he is practically an expert) - so, if you're ever out in Montana with your 5MP or 5N that needs a tuneup, I would be happy to provide his name. :)

[redcow]

Just how good and reliable could he be?
He gave you back a printer that he "said" he repaired, with a sensor that is misaligned.
So, he never took the time to run paper thru the printer to see if it actually was working.