Blank Pages or Color Shifting/Drop offs on the Right Side of Print Jobs

All pages printed are completely blank, with no background or a sub-set of color planes, including the engine print test. Since blank pages can have several root causes, make sure that all troubleshooting steps have been taken. Root causes include the following:

The alienation bar(s) is not seated properly

Damaged print cartridges

Print cartridges are not seated firmly into the cartridge slot

Orange tape has not been removed from the print cartridges

Mylar on toner shutter is stuck

Similar issues with color shifting and/or color drop offs may have a similar root cause with the alienation bar not being seated. See Figures 1 and 2 for sample color shifting defects.

Figure 1: Color shifting and drop off

Figure 2: Color shifting

No parts are required at this time

Turn the printer on and wait for it to come to a READY state.

Open the top and front covers. Do not open the ETB.

Defeat the front cover interlock switch. See Figure 3. (Insert a folded piece of paper to keep the interlock switch pushed in.)

Figure 3: Front cover interlock switch

Wait for the printer to come to READY again.

Open the ETB.

Remove all the print cartridges.

With the ETB open, enter DIAGNOSTICS mode.

Enter the COMPONENT TEST menu and execute the test for the ALIENATION MOTOR.

Watch the color cartridge alienation bars inside the printer chassis move up and down. See Figure 4.

Figure 4: Color cartridge alienation bars1 - Color cartridge alienation bars

Verify that both bars are moving up and down.

If one of the bars does not appear to move, push in on the top of the black bars for the black cartridge, then check the movement of the color bars again. This issue has typically been seen with the black bar for the black cartridge on the right-hand side (if facing the front of the printer. See Figure 4, call-out 1).

If you cannot get the bar to begin moving during the component test, turn the printer off.

With the power off, move the bar(s) around and verify that both alienation bars are flush against the printer chassis. (With the power on, the alienation motor prevents the cams from moving freely).

Turn the printer on and perform CALIBRATE NOW after the printer comes to READY.

NOTE: During shipping, one or both cartridge alienation bars are becoming unseated and freezing up in the disengaged position. So far it has been the smaller piece of the bar for the black cartridge and on the right had side of the printer (if you are facing the front of the printer). This prevents the toner from being delivered to the print drum, and causes blank pages.

© 2005 Hewlett-Packard