Print fades to one side of page

[Frankantz]

Hi,

my problem is I'm getting fade out on the right hand side of my print outs. This started happening only a month after getting the printer so it cant be the toner or drum, surely? The printer diagnostics software doesn't indicate anything is wrong.

Help would be hugely appreciated!

Frankantz

[The_Fossette]

Hi @Frankantz

Welcome to the HP Forums!

Thank you for posting your query in this forum, it's a great place to find answers.

I reviewed your post and I understand that you are having issues with the print quality.

Don’t worry, I’d love to help.

In order that I may provide you with an accurate solution, I will need a few more details.

• What is the model of your printer?
• What is the operating system you are using?
• When was the last time the printer was working fine?
• Have you made any software or hardware changes on the computer?
• Have you performed any troubleshooting steps before posting?

Looking forward to your reply and you have a great day!

Take care.

Cheers!

[Frankantz]

Hi

Thanks for the reply.

Printer is a Color Laserjet Pro MFP M277dw

Operating System is Windows 7 64 bit

Noticed fading to right side of prints about 3 months after purchase.  However strangely test print does not display same level of fading.

No software or hardware changes.

Have performed cleaning routine using the diagnostic tools.

Many thanks

[Frankantz]

Hi 

An image to explain the problem.

Btw, I have noticed on opening up the back of the printer and examining the roller feed that there might be a a spring missing on the right side that might be causing misalignment? This is the side where the smearing/fading is occuring. Should there be a spring there?

left side

Right side

Cheers

Frankantz

[Jim_Asman]

I would try taking out the toner cartridges and gently rock them to evenly distribute the toner across the cartridge. That may very well not be the problem, but it will only take a few minutes. It's worth a try .

[Frankantz]

Thanks Jim.

I did try this initially, although only on the black cartridge. I tried it again today with all the cartridges, ran a couple of cleaning cycles and ... the problem is still there.

Its almost as if the ink isn't being applied to the paper, which is why I began to suspect the roller at the back. I noticed that one side had a spring which pushes the doctor blade against the roller while the other doesn't. The gap may be tiny and almost imperceptible but just enough to be affecting the print. I may be totally wrong but that's my best guess at the moment.

[Frankantz]

The other possibility is a faulty black cartridge. I've noticed that the problem still occurs on a black and white page of text with text fading out on the right side. But I want to be sure before purchasing another.

Diagnostics Isnt flagging up anything wrong.

[Jim_Asman]

I have no idea if the apparently "missing" sprng could be a factor. We will have to wait for someone with hardware knowledge to respond.

If this is still the original toner, are they maybe those that ship with a low fill of toner and they are being depleted? Now, when you just rocked the cartridges, did that change the shape of the defect? My initial thought was that it was a problem with one of the colors, but if the text only has a problem the a single color would be less likely.

Is the defect always on the top right or does it go all the way down the page? If just the top, what happens if you rotate the image 180 degrees? 

[Frankantz]

The defect is always on the right side, and is more or less the same shape and goes all the way down the page. When I rotate the image the  fade is still on the right side.  See image below.  

What's notable is certain colours are still being printed. 

Yes, It is the original toner that shipped with the machine, but device toner status is indicating 60% black , 50% Cyan  60% Magenta. 50% Yellow.

Black toner not getting to the page?

[Jim_Asman]

It might be telling to produce solid cyan, magenta, yellow, and black pages and see where the defect appears. Actually, in the interest of conserving toner, you could probably create a page with four bars and just print that.

It may very well be that this is still under warranty and HP will pick up the tab to make this right. It is better, though, to find out where the problem resides for future reference.