Whining noise when pages are printed

[paulri]

My P1102w is 2.5 years old. I've had a few problems with teh wireless angle, but it has always printed just fine. 

The last couple of weeks, I've been hearing a slight whining noise when a page comes out of the printer, kind of soft but still high pitched.

Is this symptomatic of anything?

[tonerspills]

What is the toner level? Sometimes as the toner cartridges get near their end of life, they can start making noise due to wear from rotation on the drum.

Any gear, bearing, or drive motor can start making noise as a printer ages, usually its the printers toner cartridge or fusing unit- If your print quality is still ok, i wouldn't worry with it to much, but you may start looking and budgeting for a potential replacement- with smaller desktop printers its usually cheaper to replace the unit rather than have a tech come out.

[paulri]

My browser interface says I have less than 50 pages, and that has to be true--I'm at just over 1900, on toner that normally gives me 1500-1600 pages. As soon as it starts streaking I'll replace it, and then report back. I didn't think that it might be toner, because I just replaced it, but I have printed up quite a lot this last week, so that very well might be it.

THanks.

[paulri]

Just replaced the toner last week, and this is the third time I'm hearing this noise. So its not simply old ink/toner--it must be something else.

I'm sincerely hoping it isn't the sign of the printer breaking down. I've only had this 2 years.

I can live with the noise, if I have to, but I'd love to get rid of it if I can.

[davidzuts]

Odds are the laser/scanner motor is starting to show its age. It can be repaired by not sure is worth the time and effort. What you need to do is a google search for the service manual and then look up the procedure to remove the laser/scanner. If you think you can do it, then remove the assembly and open it up and you will see a small motor mounted on a circut board. It will be sort of chome in color. You need to remove that little board and then remove the clip that hold the round piece that turns so you can remove from the shaft. You then clean off the rod of the round piece and then put one very very small drop of synthetic oil down the hole where the rod goes. Spin it a couple of times and put everything back together and it should have a little less noise. If it does not then odds are the laser/scanner assembly need to be replaced.

[paulri]

Hmm that is sounding like it is more involved than I want to get--never dug into the innards of the printers like that.

Well looks like I'll be listening to teh noise from here on out.

OK thanks anyways everyone.