Can I fix the alignment problems my Color LaserJet CP1518ni is having? The red does not line up.

[Dean4298]

Can I fix the alignment problems my Color LaserJet CP1518ni is having?  The red does not line up.  I have installed the latest updates, etc.  Calibrating does not help.  The printer is only a few years old.  What gives?

[dallas101]

Hi Dean, did you ever get a response or did you figure out how to fix this problem?

I am having the same issue with my CP1518ni.  It makes the color images look like an old 3D image.  I have tried updating the firmware, drivers, and cleaning and recalibrating all with no luck.

Here is a picture of what all my color prints look like

[TRAP-SHOOTER]

All of my colors are also misaligned.  it has printed perfectly for almost 2 years and now everything is out of alignment.    any ideas on fixing this or did another great american company mass produce more scrap with a predetermined life span?

[dallas101]

Trap shooter I guess you were right. Predetermined life span I guess. I love how there has been no response from HP on this issue. All they want isto charge 30$ per hour to talk to you on the phone! I have been messing with mine for a while now and still have no luck. Although I did find out that I got one of the faulty blue ink toners and it took alot of spray air to clean it all out. Don't know if that started the problem or not but there was a lot of blue powder in side the printer. Hope we here something back soon!

[Bob_Headrick]

Please be aware that this forum is a peer to peer support forum, it is not a direct link to HP support.

I have a similar issue with a Laserjet cp1525nw, it was mostly corrected by removing and reseating the toner cartridges.

[Dean4298]

Thank you, Bob, for the suggestion about re-seating all the toner cartridges.  I did that several times, as I've seen that mentioned before.  I even bought a new red toner cartridge -- none of that helped.  The red still prints below everything else and makes the print jobs look crappy.

I agree that it is very frustrating that HP never mentions this in their Help or Support pages.  Outrageous, really ....  {Content Removed: legal discussion}

I always thought HP was the best printer company.  I guess not.  My next printer will NOT be HP.  I will post this on my Facebook and Twitter pages:  BEWARE OF HP JUNK!!!

[affableLJ]

I am providing you the link on a document that has information on your issue. This might help you.

Resolving Print Quality Issues

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01691481

One or More Colors Missing on the Printout

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01674423

[Dean4298]

Thank you for your help, affableLJ!  I've seen and tried the suggestions on the HP Help sites, but that stuff about using HP's Toolbox FX software and recalibrating does not help at all.  Those suggestions were useless, and they did not actually list the problem of "misaligned colors."  I'm beginning to suspect that the misalignment problems are inherent in their printers but they are not going to do anything about it.  In the meantime, they continue to sell thousands of printers using the same faulty technology to unsuspecting consumers, which is totally wrong.

[Dean4298]

Hi, Dallas101!  My HP Color LaserJet 1518ni is only about 2 years old.  That is what's so frustrating.  It is out of warranty and I do not use it much (compared to the printer/copiers we have at work).  It should not be breaking down already.

[dallas101]

Hey Dean, I might have found a solution... Boat anchor! Just kidding, but I did get it to work correctly for about 5 full color pages. I opened the toner tray and pushed each cartridge to the left as far as they would go and I got some pretty good prints out of it! But after 5 it slowly started getting blurry and the red was shifting back to the same problem. It seems there is some "wiggle" room where the cartridges sit. I will be checking for loose screws later but for now it seems I have a 5 page streak! Thank you to everyone for all your info!!!