HP Color Laserjet 1600 printing problems

[MyWorld]

I have the printer above and use it to print quite a bit (around 1 000 pages a month). It was recommended to me as a printer that can take the punishment.

Lately it started printing "bands" or streaks across the width of the page being printed. It does this with generic cartridges and original HP (the one doing it now is original HP).
In colour mode it throws a full spread of all the colours, but in monochrome it only throws a black streak at random places over the page.
It starts out with +/- 1 in every 20 pages but it is now 1 in 2 pages.

In the past HP Labs SA just shrugged and told me to get new cartridges, which worked once, but now the problem returned. I cannot replace a cartridge that is still 70% full just for the heck of it, at over R700 a pop for 4 cartridges, very expensive "test".

Anyone have a similar experience or know what I can do to try and rectify this?

 

[killadoob]

The only thing you can do is take it to hp and tell them to fix it, even if it is the cartridges they are surely under warranty?

i would not mention you put in generic cartridges.

 

[Venomous]

your problem most likely started by using refilled not remanufactured toners. Or otherwise you had murphy visit & you got a slightly borked but working toner.

Lasers toners have a ''waste bin'' on the one side of the toner. When toners are refilled the ''bin'' is not emptied(is emptied when remanned). Eventually the bin overflows.

That toner is now spread accross your fuser film.

WARNING!!! Never use water when cleaning that film. It will cost more than a new printer to get another one.

 

[Venomous]

your printer needs a good clean/service. After that it should be fine. (you did not mention it damaging paper, so a rough guess says it's toner)

by your own admittance the printer does a fair bit of work so it'll pprobably be glad for a bit of TLC & then serve you a while longer.

 

[MyWorld]

Here are some of the samples from envelopes we printed:

And this is the worst it has gotten so far:

your printer needs a good clean/service. After that it should be fine. (you did not mention it damaging paper, so a rough guess says it's toner)

by your own admittance the printer does a fair bit of work so it'll pprobably be glad for a bit of TLC & then serve you a while longer.

Where can one take it to be serviced? I do not trust these yahoos in Potch one bit.

 

[Venomous]

how brave are you?

Have you got a blower or compressor?
(note: NOT hairdryer or vacuum cleaner)
At least 3-5 clean soft dust cloths (oldfashioned yellow/orange)?

A few soft rags old t-shirt (no plastic print/buttons....)?
bit of meths?

 

[rwenzori]

Looks like you need a new fuser film. Should not be too expensive.

 

[Venomous]

laser fusers ARE expensive.

Last quote I got for a client's printer was over R2k.

Cheapest in the last year.. R2200. & that was for a 3 Year old mono printer..

If he can find a refurbed unit it could be cheaper..

 

[MyWorld]

I'm not afraid to use my hands, and I have all the needed tools and then some.

If there are no micro components that can get damaged then I'm game to do it myself.