M 277dw LaserJet Pro: Thick Toner Blocks All over Transfer Belt

[555555Lisa]

I am still having trouble after troubleshooting everything under the sun and hoped you could give advice before I have to drag this to a repair shop or throw it in the trash which I really don’t want to do.

PROBLEM: Large thick rectangle
blocks of cyan, magenta and yellow toner keep appearing on the transfer belt.

TROUBLESHOOTING:
- Firmware is up to date
- Already printed like 20 cleaning pages and ran all reports
- Replaced transfer belt
- Cleaned transfer belt assembly roller very well.
- Brand new genuine HP ink cartridges

The toner tray does seem to go into the printer funny where it is slightly lopsided in the left hand side but when I close the door it seems to lower and settle evenly on both sides. The toner tray is about the only thing O can think of at this point unless the laser itself is bad or a fuse of some sort.

It looks like something is telling the printer to print giant blocks of color but it’s not transferring to the paper at all it is staying stuck to the transfer belt. I am wondering should I do a factory reset to erase any and all previous data causing it to lay all of this toner on the transfer belt.

I looked into issues with the printer printing the wrong thing all together since I never sent a print job telling it to print massive rectangle blocks of blue, pink and yellow. I seen that software was the problem behind this so now I am wondering if this issue isn’t coming from HP failing to support the firmware on older printers rendering them useless. Apple does this constantly so why not HP? Faulty software seems to be the thing that makes the most sense right now… Since I never sent the print job of large color rectangles and the toner dropped these shapes onto the transfer belt the only mystery is why is the paper not fusing the toner onto the paper? Then that makes me think the fuse assembly is off also or since the print job wasn’t sent from my printer the printer wasn’t technically told to transfer the image onto the paper???  I might try plugging this WiFi printer directly into my laptop to see if the wireless connection could also play a roll in this. Thoughts on any of these theories?

It truly doesn’t seem like a spill because they are perfectly formed rectangles or blocks of toner. I am baffled and I don’t know if taking it to a print shop will be helpful or just cost me money unnecessarily since I have gone through all the typical troubleshooting steps already myself…

I really hate throwing things away and wish these companies at the least make these printers in a manner in which they can be repaired as well as keeping up with driver updates. I am clueless right now.

[Sneha_01]

Hi @555555Lisa,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like you’ve done a thorough job troubleshooting your printer, and I can understand your frustration. Here are some additional thoughts and steps to consider before resorting to a repair shop or throwing it out:

1. Check the Toner Cartridge Installation

• Ensure that the toner cartridges are seated correctly and that there are no obstructions. Sometimes, if the cartridges aren’t fully engaged, it can cause improper toner transfer.

2. Inspect the Transfer Belt Assembly

• Since you’ve already replaced the transfer belt, double-check the installation. Ensure there are no protective tapes left on it or any debris that could affect its function.

3. Evaluate the Laser Unit

• The laser unit might be malfunctioning or dirty. Check for any obstructions or dust on the laser lens, as this could cause improper imaging.

4. Examine the Fuser Assembly

• If the fuser assembly is not working properly, it can prevent toner from fusing onto the paper. Check for any signs of damage or wear. If the fuser isn’t heating up correctly, it might need replacement.

5. Consider Software and Driver Issues

• If you suspect software issues, it could be helpful to uninstall and then reinstall the printer drivers. Make sure you’re using the latest drivers directly from HP’s website.

6. Direct Connection Test

• Connecting the printer directly to your laptop via USB can help rule out any network-related issues. If the problem persists with a direct connection, it points more towards a hardware issue.

7. Factory Reset

• Performing a factory reset can be a good idea to eliminate any software glitches. Just make sure to note down any settings you want to keep, as this will restore everything to default.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support

[555555Lisa]

Thank you Rachael for your very thorough answer. Sounds like I have some work ahead of me here. I will check and comment back to what the issue was for others and I guess for you if you were curious.

The giant blocks of color are a mystery and it may be several things wrong here. The fuse and laser is my suspicion at this point. Thanks!!

[Sneha_01]

Hi @555555Lisa 

I'm sending out a private message to assist you with the next course of action. In order to access your private messages, click the private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your profile Name.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571 

HP Support