HP LaserJet 4V faded/lined print

[laci6662]

Hello,

I have a problem on my LaserJet 4V, the printouts are faded and has thin horizontal (landscape A4) lines on it, even with the highest density setting.

(Pic. 1-2 PCL Demo page, printed from test menu, pic. 3-4 fully black page, printed from PC).

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/3752/hpim0841.jpg
http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/9354/hpim0842.jpg
http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/6332/hpim0843p.jpg
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/593/hpim0844i.jpg

I've tried 2 OEM HP C3900A cartridges, they printed exactly the same (as on the pictures).

I've tried to clean the cartridge contacts (on the HVPS and on the cartridge itself), but had no effect.

Than, I've measured the grounding of the drum, it seemed fine, 1.9 Ohms between the printer chassis and the drum.

I also measured the developing BIAS with the highest print density it was -525V, and -343V with the lowest density.

I've cleaned the laser scanner optics and the polygon mirror, with no effect.

I've cleaned the transfer roller with a piece of cloth (despite it looked pretty clean, just a low amount of toner on it), had no effect.


Any idea what else this could be? Any input would be greatly appreciated!


Thanks,

[cs_steve]

Those OEM cartridges have been discontinued for several years now, so if those cartridges are truly OEM they would be old stock, and possibly faulty. (Just saw this a few weeks ago with a client who had faulty OEM cartridges that were old stock.)

The two potential causes for this kind of defect are usually transfer roller or toner; so I would try a good quality aftermarket toner cartridge first, and if it doesn't improve try a different transfer roller.

Alternatively --> it is an old printer, and good quality parts are hard to find for this model. I would say if you're going to be printing for the long-term you would be much better off investing in a newer model like the LaserJet 5000 or 5100 series; they're more modern and better supported -- and you can still purchase OEM parts.

http://www.printertechs.com/printer/refurbished-hp-laserjet-5000.php
http://www.printertechs.com/printer/refurbished-hp-laserjet-5100.php

[laci6662]

Thanks for your reply, you're right, theese cartridges are from an old stock, one of them were made about 2001, the another about 2003.
I had to change the cleaning blade in both cartridges, beacuse, they were faulty after theese years, grey background/ghost images appeared on the printouts.
This solved the problems above, but the printouts are still pretty bad (as you can see on the inluded pics.).

Is that the drum, or another part of the cartdirge that can grow old, and cause faulty images like theese?


I know it's an old printer, I've got an LJ 8100DN for daily use, but this was my first LaserJet and I just want to refurbish it, and keep it as a working historical piece of laserprinting. :)