CP5525n, 59.00.F0. ITB Engagement Suspected (?)

[SCSInet]

I have a CP5525 that is displaying a 59.00.F0 message either immediately following boot up or sometimes shortly thereafter.  

I have been following the instructions in the service manual:

- I tested the SW5 switch and verified that it is changing state during sensor diagnostic. 

- I ran the engagement/alienation component test, but the manual doesn't really say what would be considered a successful test or not.  

- I ran a belt only test and I can hear a motor running, but the belt is not moving.  Is this bad? 

- Every so often, I do manage to get a test page printed after power on, so I am pretty sure the fuser is OK.  

After much internet searching, a lot of folks seem to say that the solenoid SL5 gets sticky and causes this.  I got down to that solenoid.  It was a bit sticky, so I cleaned all the old sticky dry rotted foam out using anhydrous isopropyl alcohol, but it has made no difference.  

 

 

But trying to be observational, I noticed something... 

If I remove the ITB assembly from the printer, I see two engagement points on the side of the ITB.  One of them, when rotated by hand, engages/disengages the rollers, and moves the "flag" back and forth (presumably to interact with SW5)  which from what I can see from the manual is as expected.  That would be the right hand "cam" on in the below photo.

The other one, towards the front of the assembly (Left in the photo), when rotated by hand, moves the belt.    I also expect this is as it should be.  By putting a pair of needle nose on this gear and gently rotating, the belt moves back and forth smoothly.

However, when I insert it into the printer and turn it on with the side door interlocks defeated,  when the printer powers up the motors during startup, I can see the drive cog/gear of the printer rotating, but the belt does not move, nor does it appear that it's gear is being rotated at all.  It seems like there should be some way of the "cog" on the ITB and the "cog" in the printer to extend towards each other to mate with each other but that does not seem to be happening.  The "cog" in the printer I can see rotating, but the belt is not moving.  

To get to that it looks like I have to really tear apart this printer, and before I do that I wanted to make sure I was on the right track, so I don't waste time tearing it down to look for a problematic mechanism.  

I will take any pictures and add any context anyone asks for.  I've spent hours searching out this issue and I spent a great deal of time taking apart this printer and putting it back together.    I apologize if this question has been answered before.  I saw a few posts that suggest a worn drive is the issue, but the pictures are so close up I can't tell whether I'm even looking at the same printer let alone the right spot. 

Thanks in advance. 

[Valsimot · Accepted solution]

The inside part of main drive assy, the pic is from the service manual so it's B/W. You see #1 and #2 on the pic they must engage together so the connecting lever can move the cog to pop out when you are closing the transfer belt door.

Check the lever going from the door toward the printer interiors is it on place or loose.

You did amazing job now getting to that solenoid and fixing it. 

The service manual can be found here if you don't have it yet.

If you removed the main drive you might missed the connection between #1 and #2 or it's something to do witl lever going from the side door to #1

[SCSInet]

AHA!  

You've answered the question...   the trouble was that I was watching this "failure" with the side door open and the interlocks defeated.  The closure of the side door is needed to mesh the "cogs" together.

I found that if I raise the door slightly, leaving it partially open, I can see the engagement take place.  If I hold the door in that position and turn on the printer, the belt moves as it should during startup.  

So you saved me from taking apart the printer again - at least for now.  

Unfortunately though, this 59.00.F0 error still appears at startup (almost always).  In the very rare occasion it does not, it either appears immediately after printing or while printing. 

I'm wondering if one of the noises the printer makes may be indicative of a problem.  I just need someone who has been around these printers before to tell me if there are any noises that are out of place.  This printer has always been noisy, but since I only had one CP5525, I never had any other printers to compare the sounds to.  It also always printed normally, so ... I always figured "Whatever, it's just a noisy printer."  

I made a youtube video of the startup so maybe someone here can tell me the the sound is normal.  

I put lots of notes in the video description.  The description indicates where in the video the noises occur so nobody has to sit and watch the whole thing.  Miraculously, this time with the camera was one of only 3 times since this problem started that I've gotten it to actually start the printer and initiate a print job, let alone finish one.  

I suspect what I call the "chatter" right at power on is bad.  The "thunking" noises that follow seem to be those levers under each toner cartridge.  I suspect that's normal.  The "thunking" the printer has done since it came out of the box.  The "chatter" I cannot remember for sure but I think that may be new.  

Anyway, look at the description in the video while watching... or listening.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMInn3lSNXs 

[SCSInet]

I don't think my video is getting noticed because I took this thread in a different direction.   You solved the engagement issue for me, so I'll mark your reply as the solution and start a different thread for the noise issue.