M255dw print streaking. 3 vetical lines about 1/4 wide, 2 inches apart.

[nighthhawking]

M255dw print streaking. 3 vetical lines about 1/4 wide, 2 inches apart. Looks like a faded color lines. Up to date firmware. Took pretty new genuine cartridges out and shook them side to side, no change. Printer has about 1400 pages run through it.  Ran a cleaning page, no change. Ran print quality page. Slight streaks. Thnx.Just in front of prop main line.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @nighthhawking 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

The vertical faded lines you're seeing on your HP Color LaserJet M255dw are likely caused by toner buildup or contamination on the imaging drum or transfer components—not the cartridges themselves. Since cleaning pages and firmware updates didn’t help, deeper maintenance is needed.

Here’s a focused guide to help restore clean output:

1. Inspect the Imaging Drum (Inside the Toner Cartridge)

Even with new cartridges, the drum surface can develop toner residue or scratches:

• Remove each cartridge one at a time.
• Gently rotate the green or blue drum roller visible on the bottom.
• Look for repeating marks, streaks, or toner buildup.
• If any drum shows damage or contamination, that cartridge may need replacement.

 

2. Run the Print Defect Sample Page

This helps isolate which color is causing the streaks:

• On the printer control panel, go to Setup > Reports > Print Quality Pages > Print Defect Sample Page.
• Examine the page for vertical lines and note which color band they appear in.
• This identifies whether the issue is with cyan, magenta, yellow, or black.

 

3. Clean the Transfer Belt and Fuser Area

These internal components can cause repeating vertical streaks:

• Power off the printer and unplug it.
• Open the rear access panel and gently inspect the transfer belt (shiny surface under the cartridges).
• Use a dry, lint-free cloth to gently wipe any visible toner residue.
• Avoid touching the belt directly with fingers.

If you see toner buildup or streaks on the belt, this confirms transfer contamination.

 

4. Try Swapping Cartridges (If Available)

If you have access to another set of cartridges:

• Swap one cartridge at a time and print a test page.
• If the streaks disappear after changing a specific cartridge, that one may have a defective drum.

 

5. Update Drivers and Recheck Print Settings

Sometimes driver-level settings affect output:

• Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
• Right-click your M255dw > Printing Preferences.
• Set Print Quality to Normal or Best.
• Avoid “EconoMode” or “Draft” settings.

Let me know what you observe on the defect sample page or drum surface. I can help you isolate whether it’s a consumable issue or a deeper mechanical fault.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[nighthhawking]

Couple of questions. On my M255dw the Reports menu does not have Print Quality Pages/ Print defect Sample, only Reports/Print Quality Page, which is the second picture. Also, I see the transfer belt, but only a little of it. It looks perfect what I can see of it.  Can it be rotated to see the whole thing? Thnx.

[Hawks_Eye]

Thanks for replying @nighthhawking 

My apologies for the delayed response.

Thank you for the follow-up and for checking the Reports menu and inspecting the transfer belt. I understand how frustrating it is to see persistent streaks despite using genuine cartridges and running cleaning procedures. 

Let’s clarify your observations and guide you through the next steps.

About the Reports Menu

You’re absolutely right — on the HP Color LaserJet M255dw, the Print Defect Sample Page is not listed separately. Instead, the Print Quality Page includes color bands and alignment patterns that serve the same purpose.

• Examine the color bands on that page closely.
• If the vertical faded lines appear consistently in one color (e.g., cyan), that points to a specific cartridge or drum issue.
• If the lines span multiple colors, it may be related to the transfer belt or fuser.

Viewing the Transfer Belt

The transfer belt is partially visible through the cartridge bay, but it cannot be rotated manually.

• It moves only during printing, so full inspection isn’t possible without disassembly.
• However, if the visible portion looks clean and smooth, that’s a good sign.
• If you see repeating streaks on printed pages that match the spacing of the visible belt area, it may still be worth cleaning gently with a dry, lint-free cloth.

Next Steps

Since you’ve already:

• Updated firmware
• Used genuine cartridges
• Run cleaning and print quality pages
• Inspected the visible belt

The next best step is to swap one cartridge at a time (if available) and reprint the quality page. This helps isolate whether a specific cartridge’s drum is causing the issue. 

Even new cartridges can have subtle drum defects that only show during printing.

If you’d like, I can walk you through how to interpret the color bands on the Print Quality Page to pinpoint the source of the streaks. Just let me know what you observe there — we’ll get this narrowed down together.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[nighthhawking]

It can be seen on the print quality page I supplied in my post that the streaks are in all colors. The transfer belt looks perfect as far as I can see, which is not very much of the belt. Any way to clean the drum and belt completely? Thnx.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hello @nighthhawking,

I understand how discouraging it feels to see those streaks across every color, even after trying cleaning pages and inspecting what you can of the transfer belt. 

Thank you for carefully checking the quality page and sharing your observations—it really helps narrow down the possibilities. 

Since the streaks appear in all colors, the issue is more likely tied to shared components such as the transfer belt or fuser, rather than a single cartridge.

Here are the next steps you can take:

 

Step 1: Clean Accessible Areas

• Power off and unplug the printer.
• Remove all toner cartridges and gently shake them side to side to redistribute toner.
• With cartridges removed, use a dry, lint‑free cloth to carefully wipe away any loose toner you can see inside the cartridge bay.
• Avoid touching the green/blue drum surfaces directly with your fingers.

 

Step 2: Transfer Belt Care

• The transfer belt cannot be rotated manually; it only moves during printing.
• You can gently wipe the visible portion with a dry, lint‑free cloth to remove loose toner.
• Do not use liquids or solvents, as they can damage the belt.

 

Step 3: Fuser Area

• Open the rear access door.
• Inspect the fuser rollers for toner buildup or streaks.
• If you see residue, gently wipe with a dry cloth. Do not use moisture or abrasive materials.

 

Step 4: Isolate with Test Prints

• Reinstall cartridges and print another Print Quality Page.
• If streaks remain across all colors, the transfer belt or fuser is the likely source.
• If streaks lessen after cleaning, it confirms toner contamination was contributing.

 

Step 5: Reference Guide

For detailed instructions on cleaning and maintaining your LaserJet, you can refer to:
HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw - Improve Print Quality

When you print after cleaning, watch for subtle changes in the streaks—lighter marks or reduced frequency are signs that toner residue is being cleared. If the streaks persist unchanged across all colors, the transfer belt or fuser may need replacement, but the above steps will help you get the clearest output possible before considering that.

Regards,

Hawks_Eye