Printing Light Pages

HP Color LaserJet 1500 and 2500 Series Printers -All of the pages of a print job have faded or light print that typically occurs down the left side of the page; however, it may appear less frequently down the right-hand side of the page. This occurs when printing a job from an application, printing one of the internal test pages (demo page, configuration page, half self-test page, or an engine test), or when printing a print driver test page. This issue may be caused by several factors:

The left-hand side of each page will appear as either light or faded print out of the box. This is typically caused by timing mechanism misalignment, or by a broken black bushing on the top-left-hand side of the carousel assembly. The left-hand side of each page will appear as either light or faded print.

Faded or light print may occur on either the left or right side of the paper after the unit has printed for a while: This is typically caused by an issue with the Imaging Drum, the Carousel Assembly, or in some limited cases with the High-Voltage Power Supply PCA.

Faded or light print may occur if the print-cartridge carousel was incorrectly installed and the timing mechanism was not properly aligned. Visually inspect the alignment and realign, replace the print carousel assembly if needed.

If possible, swap or replace the imaging drum to verify that the issue is not related to the imaging drum. Check the contacts on the drum and inside the printer to verify that they are not dirty or damaged.

1. Open the top cover.
2. Grasp the imaging drum handle and then rotate the imaging drum until the handle is horizontal.

Figure 1: Image drum

3. Lift the drum straight up and out of the printer.
4. Turn the imaging drum so that the right side is visible. Verify that the two white contacts are clean and undamaged. Verify that the silver high-voltage contact located in the imaging drum installation path on the right side of the printer is clean and undamaged.
5. Turn the imaging drum so that the left side is visible. Verify that both the gold and silver contacts are clean and undamaged.
6. If the printer is connected via a power strip or other device to the power source, plug the printer directly into a wall outlet. If the print is already plugged into a wall outlet, try moving the printer to a different wall outlet. Repeat steps 2 and 3 above, otherwise, proceed to step 6.
7. Verify the high voltage contacts are not covered by the toner catch tray.
8. Remove the imaging drum and the print (toner) cartridges.
9. Remove the toner catch tray.
10. Inspect the four high voltage contacts to the imaging drum. There are two silver contacts on each side of the printer. Verify that the contacts are not bent or dirty.
11. Reinstall the toner collection tray.

NOTE: Make sure that the none of the high voltage contacts are covered by the toner collection tray.

12. Reinstall the print cartridges and the imaging drum.
13. Print a demo page, configuration page, and Engine test to determine if the light/faded print issue is still occurring. If the issue is resolved, close the case, if not, proceed to step 4.
14. Verify that the issue occurs on the demo page and the configuration page.

Demo page: Press the GO button when the printer is in the Ready state and not printing to print the Demo page.

Configuration page: Simultaneously press and release the GO and JOB CANCEL buttons at the printer control panel to print a Configuration page, supplies status page, and the HP Jetdirect Configuration page (if installed).

Verify that the issue occurs on an Engine test.
Open Tray 1, the multipurpose tray.
Press the engine-test switch, inside Tray 1 on the left side, just below the front cover.

NOTE: The formatter must be connected to the ECU to perform an engine test. Otherwise, the printer will not print the engine test.

Figure 2: Engine test switch

The engine test page will print a series of two-inch (50.8 mm) lines in each color. If the engine test does not print correctly, print an internal test page. If the page is still black, go to the next step.
Print a half self-test functional check.

Simultaneously press and release the GO and CANCEL JOB buttons on the control panel of the printer to print out a configuration page.

Open the top cover after the paper advances halfway through the printer (about five seconds after the motor begins rotation). The leading edge of the paper should have advanced past the imaging drum.

If the printed portion of the page displays the light or faded print issue on the left or right side of the page, the cause may be related to a number of components. Send the following parts: dc controller, transfer roller, imaging drum, high-voltage power supply, sub-high-voltage power supply, and the carousel.

Imaging Drum
C9704A

Transfer Roller
RF5-4040-000CN

Carousel Assembly
RG5-6910-000CN

High-Voltage Power Supply
RG5-6960-000CN

Sub-High-Voltage Power Supply
RG5-7124-000CN

DC Controller
C9705-69003

If the issue does not occur on the half self-test functional check, send the appropriate parts listed below:

Light/Faded Print Occurs Out of the Box.

Carousel Assembly
RG5-6910-000CN

Black Plastic Bushing
RB2-9808-000CN

Light/Faded Print Occurs after the Unit has Printed for a While Description
Part Number

Imaging Drum
C9704A

Carousel Assembly
RG5-6910-000CN

High-Voltage Power Supply
RG5-6960-000CN

Visually inspect the black bushing on the right side of the carousel assembly to determine if it is broken.

Remove the imaging drum and all four print cartridges.

Visually inspect the carousel assembly to determine if it is tilted down on either side. The assembly should be parallel to the top of the printer.

Locate the silver, metal bar that runs along the top of the printer from left to right.

Locate the black bushing on the right side of the silver, metal bar.

Visually inspect the bushing to determine if it is broken.

If the bushing is broken, replace the carousel assembly and the black bushing.

Carousel Assembly
RG5-6910-000CN

Black Plastic Bushing
RB2-9808-000CN

Inspect the carousel timing mechanism, if possible, to determine if the carousel has a timing misalignment issue.

Remove the imaging drum and all four print cartridges.

Locate the raised line on the left side of the carousel.

Figure 3: Left side of carousel

Locate the recessed notch on the right side of the carousel.

Figure 4: Right side of carousel

Verify that the left and right timing points align with one another, if possible.
If the carousel is misaligned, realign, and if necessary, replace the following parts. If the carousel is damaged, replace the following parts:

Carousel Assembly
RG5-6910-000CN

Black Plastic Bushing
RB2-9808-000CN

© 2005 Hewlett-Packard