Print Quality Problems; Items To Be Confirmed Before Image Quality Troubleshooting - Dell 3130cn Service Manual

4.3 Items to be Confirmed Before Image Quality Troubleshooting

Print Quality Problems

Customers may need your help determining the cause of print quality issues such as streaking, fading,
or dropouts. Here are some questions that may help you determine why your customer's printer is not
printing optionally. First, confirm the following items to understand customer's operating condition.
1. Does your customer's print media fall within the Printer Media Guidelines? (Go to 1.5 of this
chapter and refer to "Printer Media Guidelines").
2. Is there enough toner?
3. Has the printer been cleaned recently?
Checking printer condition
Toner
Low toner can cause print quality problems such as fading, streaking, white lines, or dropouts.
Have your customer print a small document from a different application to replicate the problem and
verify the amount of toner available for printing. When your customers print a document, the Laser
Printer Status Monitor should display a dialog box that estimates the amount of toner left in the car-
tridge.
If the toner is low, your customers can something extend the cartridge life by removing the cartridge
from the 3130cn, gently shaking it from side-to-side, and replacing it (Rocking the print cartridge from
side-to-side loosens toner that may get stuck).
Cleaning
Paper, toner, and dust particles can accumulate inside the 3130cn printer and cause print quality prob-
lems, such as smearing or toner specks. Clean inside the 3130cn to prevent these problems.
Prior checks before troubleshooting
Check the following items if any print quality problems occur before going to each troubleshooting.
Those actions may solve problems easily and simply.
If the any problems below have occurred, check and take actions described in each item.
1) Color is out of alignment:
a) Clean inside of the printer.
b) If you install a new black print cartridge and a Print Head cleaning has not been done, this
problem will happen. Clean inside of the printer.
2) Print is too light:
a) The toner may be low. Confirm the amount of the toner and change the print cartridges if nec-
essary.
b) Set the Draft Mode check box to off in the Advanced in the printer driver.
c) If you are printing on an uneven print surface, change the Paper Type settings in the Tray
Settings menu.
d) Verify that the correct print media is being used.
e) The print cartridge may need to be replaced. Change the print cartridge.
3) Toner smears or print comes off page:
a) If you are printing on an uneven print surface, change the Paper Type settings in the Tray
Settings menu.
b) Verify that the print media is within the printer specifications. (Go to 1.5 of this chapter and
refer to "Printer Media Guidelines").
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Chapter 1 Troubleshooting