text not printing, only lines

[1505nprinter]

Bought refurbished HP1505n laser printer a year ago, hardly used it but first new cartridge leaked toner. Cleaned roller and inside printer with air and vacuum, also used isopropyl alcohol swabs to clean roller. Now printer will not print any text but only 5 or 6 horizonal arrow lines partially across top of every page. Total printed pages less than 75 since new cartridge installed.  Is this a sign of a bad drum or roller or something else?  TY

[Meghana_10]

Hello @1505nprinter, Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding the HP LaserJet P1505n Printer

We appreciate the opportunity to assist you and are glad we could help work toward a resolution. We hope our support has been valuable.

To help us get started on resolving your issue, could you please try a few troubleshooting steps provided below so that I can assist you further?

Replace the print cartridge first.

• HP says vertical lines/repetitive defects can mean the photosensitive drum inside the print cartridge has been scratched or the print cartridge is defective.
• If toner leaked from the cartridge, that strongly points to a faulty cartridge.

1. Check for toner contamination inside the printer.
   • HP notes that loose toner or repeated marks can come from toner inside the printer.
2. Do not use compressed air or a vacuum inside the printer.
   • HP documentation says to use a dry, lint-free cloth to remove dust and toner inside; using a vacuum or other device can damage the product.
3. Avoid touching sensitive rollers.
   • HP warns not to touch the long black sponge roller in some LaserJet models because it can reduce print quality.
4. If a new genuine HP cartridge does not fix it, the printer may need service.
   • HP states that if print defects continue after cartridge replacement and cleaning, internal parts may need repair/service.

Take care and have an amazing day!

[1505nprinter]

Is it possible to attach a photo of the lines that are appearing on the page?  They are HORIZONTAL lines not vertical lines and the top 3 are wider and darker than the rest which fade as it moves down the page. There are a total of 10 lines.  The first line appears 5/8 in from top of page, the next 2 lines are 7/8 in apart (because they are thicker) and the rest are 1 in apart.  There is a white area at 4 1/2 in from the left page edge  on all the lines.  The top 3 lines are widest in the middle where the white area is and they taper down or diminish in height to sharp points at the right edges, but have another white break at the left almost to the edge of the page. After the top 3 heavier lines the rest appear thin (1/16 in high) and fade out from being darkest in the middle and fading out to white by 3 inches on the left and by 2 in on the right.  It is a strange looking line pattern.  No lettering (or text) will print at all. The inside was cleaned with soft air blowing from the exhaust side of a vacuum cleaner (hose was reversed to the back instead of the vacuum suction port).  This was a gentle breeze to remove all traces of spilled toner from a defective cartridge which was leaking toner.  A soft cloth was used to clean the side walls of the printer inside, no rollers were touched, I believe I was mistaken about using alcohol on this printer (that applies to a different printer, a Brother printer, that was being cleaned at the same time). Sorry for the confusion. The printer has a new HP toner cartridge which as I stated before has been used only for "testing" after the machine was cleaned out. I've only made maybe 20 test print pages, but the lines are always the same and the rest of the page is blank - no text will print no matter what document or pdf I've tried to print. What should I do next?  I'm happy to send pics if someone can explain how to do that. Thank you.

[Deep_World]

Hi @1505nprinter,
 

Thanks for your response and thank you for the detailed description of the issue. Based on what you’ve shared, the repeating horizontal lines and absence of text indicate that the printer is not transferring the image properly to the page. Since you’ve already replaced the toner cartridge and cleaned the inside, here are the next steps we recommend:

Here are few Troubleshooting steps you can try :

• Check the drum unit: Even with a new toner cartridge, if the imaging drum is scratched or contaminated, it can cause repeated horizontal lines.
• Run a cleaning cycle: Most HP printers have a built-in cleaning function accessible from the printer’s control panel or software. This can help clear residual toner buildup.
• Inspect the transfer roller: If toner leaked previously, the transfer roller may have toner residue or damage. Avoid touching it directly with bare hands, but check for visible marks.
• Update or reinstall drivers: Since no text is printing, it’s possible the issue is software-related. Reinstalling the HP printer driver may resolve communication errors.
• Try a different print source: Print a test page directly from the printer’s menu (not from your computer). If the lines still appear, it confirms a hardware issue.

About Sending Photos : You can attach photos of the printed pages by using the attachment option in this chat window. Look for a paperclip or “upload” icon, then select the image file from your device. Once uploaded, we’ll be able to review the print quality more closely.

I hope this helps.