HP LaserJet 500 color M551

[Johnson500]

LaserJet 500 M551.

I am getting dots down the side of the page when printing black and white or only printing color text. Dots are very clean round, no smudge.  Each about 1 inch apart.  

 

Cleaned everything I can find and see no specs on anything.  Prints on paper as well as on envelopes from side single feed #1.

Suggestions please.

[Valsimot]

It is the toner cartridge. 

[Johnson500]

Thank you - with a color printer, when I only print text in color, no black text on the paper, and still get the dots, is it the black toner cartridge?  As this printer has toner cartridges for each color, am I correct you are suggesting only a new black toner cartridge? So appreciate the help, I just want to order the right replacement part (especially since my black ink is fairly full).

Again, thank you.

[Valsimot · Accepted solution]

If the dots on paper are black then black toner is causing you issues.

You can remove the black toner and rotate a green drum you will probably see that dot on the drum

[Johnson500]

Thank you - that solved the dots!  Much appreciated for your help.  

Now there's a faint line down the paper - is this the new toner cartridge?  I purchased an HP cartridge, not an off brand.

(Your help is wonderful!)

 

[AkamaiRBS]

That line might go away after multiple prints. If not, remove the black toner and reinsert it a few time as it cleans a glass strip every time you insert it and there could be some artifact or toner on it that’s difficult to remove. 

also, if your toner with the dots had a lot of toner in it, you can often wipe away whatever is creating the dot with a paper towel and rubbing alcohol might help. If it’s a chip that can’t be removed, you can fairly easily replace the green drum with another drum from an identical used cartridge of any color with just 2-3 screws. It’s not too messy and you can save a few hundred dollars. I’ve done it multiple times as I had many of these units, and do it with my other HP LaserJets. I save use cartridges just for this purpose as I have multiple same units.