Printer Faults - Whole Page Faded

The most likely cause of faded pages are print media or density settings in the computer.

Check that the computer print settings are appropriate for the media or use media like 80gsm office copy paper that definitely ought to be appropriate.

Print Settings.

To get a sample of what the printer does with no computer input print a configuration page using ordinary 80gsm office copier paper. That should give a sample of the page without computer input.

As temporary measures turn economode off if it is on. Turn the print density control on the printer.

If none of this clears the fault the issues might be:

  • Print cartridge - most likely the contacts but possibly an issue with the cartridge
  • Transfer Roller - possibly just dirty or perhaps worn out.
  • Voltages - most likely dragged out of range by dirty contacts, possibly failing
  • Laser - lasers do fade over time but dirty optics are another possibility.

Cleanliness

One of the commonest reasons why printers have fading problems is cleanliness. Laser printers might more properly be called electro-photographic or electrostatic printers. Toner powder is attracted to the working surfaces by high voltages. Toner is naturally attracted to any high voltage - including exposed contacts. The toner then interferes with contact operation acting as an insulator. Toner isn't a very good insulator and the carbon component can also act as a conductor and cause voltage leakages.

Clean the print cartridge contacts. These are often rather unimpressive - just metal plates and axle ends on the cartridge and little springs on the printer. If the cartridge or other parts of the printer has corona wires clean them.

Cartridges

If the cartridge has just been changed it is obviously the chief suspect for the faded print. If the old cartridge is available (set aside for recycling) try swapping it back in. If the fault moves with the cartridge that is interesting but perhaps not conclusive.

Cartridges do vary by batch in terms of OPC and toner composition. Manufacturers original cartridges will probably vary least but there may be a good reason to shift toner composition. For instance:

  • Some yellow toners have been found to decay and cause fuser problems rather quickly
  • The material of the OPC has been known to blister in prolonged contact with the transfer roller

A manufacturer might choose to fix that kind of problem by a change in composition without actually saying anything. A change in composition might just need a change in the user print density setting.

Refilled, refurbished and compatible cartridges are more likely to differ than originals. There is more variability in the source materials and anyone other than the original manufacturer doesn't actually know the precise composition of things like the precharge roller. There may be more need to change the print density settings. Obviously the cartridge should give good print at some setting otherwise it has not been remanufactured satisfactorily.

If the page is faded and the background is grey, or if one side has "tyre marks" the drum life might be exhausted. Most cartridges have an easily moved shutter over the drum so it is quite easy to examine it. If the drum surface looks clean and shiny it is probably good, they tend to look a bit scuffed, particularly at the edges as they age.

Transfer Roller

Examine the transfer roller, which normally crosses the base of a mono printer just where the printer cartridge reaches it's deepest point. Transfer rollers should be black or grey black and are usually made of a hard conductive foam rubber. A transfer roller can usually be lifted out, some printers have a little plastic tool to do this because the roller itself should ideally not be touched. Manufacturers would suggest not but a temporary fix for a dusty roller is to clean it up a bit with a paint-brush.

Lexmark printers have a separate pre-charge roller. This also needs examining and sometimes replacing.

Voltages

The most likely cause of a voltage fault is dirty contacts. Contacts also get bent and sometimes even broken. Actual failure of the high voltage power supply is possible but quite rare.

Laser

Lasers lose power over time. Printers often have a beam detect mechanism and may be able to compensate for reduced power over some time. Laser units seem more likely to need replacement because of polygon motor jitter than because of laser fading. Sometimes an apparent fading of the laser turns out to be dirt on the lenses caused by particles and grease in the air.