HP LaserJet 2100M image quality problems

[skamiaman]

Hi everyone, I realized a couple of days ago that my printer doesn't do what it used to do: produce excellent printouts. I have an HP LaserJet 2100M and it is 5 years old. The printer is not used heavily, in fact I am on my first toner cartridge. I know that's probably very unusual. Since last week I observe what I believe is called ghosting. Correct me if I'm using this term in the wrong way. The text I want to print is actually printed in excellent quality so in that sense the printer works, it also seems to have enough toner. On top of that it prints some text or image objects further down the page AGAIN. It only happens with a couple of words or a few lines, it is a very light print and hardly readable but results in dirty smudgy pages. The ghosting occurs only once,i.e. there is only one unwanted repeat print on a page. The second unwanted print is separated by 96mm from the original one (I believe that is equivalent to 3.78 inch). That's all the information I can give. Can someone help me out or give me some lead on how to approach the problem, please. I would be very grateful for any help. Thanks in advance for any response and best wishes to all.
skamiaman

[rick6543]

Replace the fuser assembly with OEM only.RG5-4132

[skamiaman]

thanks Rick for your answer, I'm not sure I understand it though, what makes you think it is the fuser ?
According to the repetitive defects ruler page the "photosensitive drum" at 94mm is close enough to my measurement of 96mm, my question is: WHERE is the photosensitive drum ? is it part of the toner cartridge ?
I also have some repetitive smudge at 39mm, which could be due to the "Primary Charging Roller", could anybody please tell me WHERE this primary charging roller is ??? is it again part of the toner cartridge or can it be cleaned by myself ???
thanks for your help !

[Brian]

The primary charger is in the cartridge too.
Ghosting is very often caused by the fuser but in this case I would go for the cartridge, it sounds like the remaining toner isn't cleaned from the drum.

[JJprinter]

Hi,

I work with cartridges as a recycler and I would change the cartridge first before you mess with an expensive part such as the fuser.
Ghosting can be caused by the mag roller loosing it's connectivity which is inside the cartridge.
You could also have spent the life of the toner and are now experiencing the waste hopper portion of the cartridge causing build up on the drum unit inside the cartridge.
Simple solution and cheaper than taking the printer apart.
Cartridges only last so long they are a cosumable part.