HP COLOR LASER 150NW print fading

[SzTibor429]

HP COLOR LASER 150NW print is fading on the left side of the paper around 5 cm-s wide along the entire paper length. All colours are affected. (It should not be a specific toner issue.) There are no spots on the fading. It fades evenly along the whole paper but only the left 5 cm wide band. The remaining part of the paper (right 15 cm band) looks good. I attach a test page below. I tried to remove the toners and the drum. I could not see any dust or damage on them. Does anyone have an idea what the problem could be?

 

[Raj_05 · Accepted solution]

Hi @SzTibor429,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

The fading issue you're experiencing with your HP Color Laser 150NW could be due to several potential causes. Since it affects all colors and is consistently happening on the left side of the page, it points to an issue with either the transfer belt, the laser scanning unit, or possibly misalignment in the print components. Here are a few suggestions to investigate.

Transfer Belt Issue

• The transfer belt is responsible for moving the toner from the drum to the paper. If there is dust, wear, or an alignment issue with the belt, it could result in fading on one side of the page. Inspect the transfer belt for any signs of uneven wear or obstruction. A cleaning or replacement may be necessary.

Laser Scanning Unit

• If the laser scanning unit is misaligned or obstructed, it can cause uneven toner distribution, leading to fading on one side. Unfortunately, this component is internal and may require a professional technician to inspect or realign.

Drum Unit or Toner Cartridge

• While you've checked the drum and found no visible damage, there could still be an internal issue causing uneven toner application. It could be worthwhile to try replacing the drum unit if it’s older or heavily used. Ensure the toner cartridges are correctly installed and seated well.

Paper Path or Environmental Factors

• Ensure there is no debris in the paper path causing uneven pressure on the page as it passes through the printer. Additionally, check the environmental factors like humidity or temperature in the room, as these can sometimes affect toner adhesion, particularly if one side is more exposed to external conditions.

Firmware/Software Issues

• Sometimes, print quality issues can be due to outdated firmware or print drivers. It might be worth checking for updates for the printer's firmware and ensuring that the print driver is the latest version.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4

HP Support 

[SzTibor429]

Hi Alden4,

Thank you for your answer. Numerous disassembly, parts cleaning and reassembly finally helped. Maybe the toner collection unit was the one that I emptied and cleaned and after that the print quality became much better. Now only a small area on the bottom left side has some fading. The printer is just over a year old and has barely been used so far. (Even the factory ink was not completely used up.) I didn't want to immediately start replacing a part worth half the price of the printer.

Best regards,
Tibor