HP LaserJet IIP - Need repair help

[JJ Jones]

We have a weird problem on 2 HP Laserjet IIP printers. If you run a
continuous print-test (Hold down Alt + Test for 5 seconds), the first
page comes out very faint. But each successive page gets darker and
darker until about the 10th page is almost perfect.

It's strange because we've had several of these printers for many years
and now 2 of them are doing the same thing.

I tested their cartridges on a good printer, and the cartridges are
fine, so the cartridge is not the problem.

Does anyone have any ideas of what the problem is? We're trying to get
some idea of the cost of repairing these things, and whether it's
worthwile.

[Charles Howse]

In message <1118411879.289771.98670@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>, JJ
Jones <jamesjonathanjones@yahoo.com> writesWe have a weird problem on 2 HP Laserjet IIP printers. If you run acontinuous print-test (Hold down Alt + Test for 5 seconds), the firstpage comes out very faint. But each successive page gets darker anddarker until about the 10th page is almost perfect.It's strange because we've had several of these printers for many yearsand now 2 of them are doing the same thing.I tested their cartridges on a good printer, and the cartridges arefine, so the cartridge is not the problem.Does anyone have any ideas of what the problem is? We're trying to getsome idea of the cost of repairing these things, and whether it'sworthwile.

Its almost certainly not worth repairing them. IIRC if you pull down
the front cover and look sort of centre top inside just above the toner
cartridge there is a brightness slider, fiddling with that may help.

--
Timothy

[Ben Myers]

My wild guess is that the fuser warms up just enough to make it through the
power-on diagnostic test, but not warm enough to really burn the image onto a
page. With each successive page printed, the fuser gets warmer and warmer. I
suspect either the fuser or the power supply for the fuser.

Though very old and very reliable, these printers are not worth the cost or time
to repair. Next thing you know, another part will wear out. I recommend
replacing with a reconditioned LaserJet 5 or LaserJet 4000 series model. Both
are pretty good on space occupied, both get lots of pages out a single toner
cartridge.

The newer LaserJets (and Dell and Lexmark) are victims of the games now played
by all printer manufacturers. Toner cartridges have low capacity, so your
wallet gets sucked dry replacing cartridges regularly. The printer mfrs have
seen what cash cows the inkjet cartridges are, so they've done the same with
laser printers... Ben Myers

On 10 Jun 2005 06:57:59 -0700, "JJ Jones" <jamesjonathanjones@yahoo.com> wrote:
We have a weird problem on 2 HP Laserjet IIP printers. If you run acontinuous print-test (Hold down Alt + Test for 5 seconds), the firstpage comes out very faint. But each successive page gets darker anddarker until about the 10th page is almost perfect.It's strange because we've had several of these printers for many yearsand now 2 of them are doing the same thing.I tested their cartridges on a good printer, and the cartridges arefine, so the cartridge is not the problem.Does anyone have any ideas of what the problem is? We're trying to getsome idea of the cost of repairing these things, and whether it'sworthwile.

[Daniel Ganek]

Ben Myers wrote: My wild guess is that the fuser warms up just enough to make it through the power-on diagnostic test, but not warm enough to really burn the image onto a page. With each successive page printed, the fuser gets warmer and warmer. I suspect either the fuser or the power supply for the fuser. Though very old and very reliable, these printers are not worth the cost or time to repair. Next thing you know, another part will wear out. I recommend replacing with a reconditioned LaserJet 5 or LaserJet 4000 series model. Both are pretty good on space occupied, both get lots of pages out a single toner cartridge. The newer LaserJets (and Dell and Lexmark) are victims of the games now played by all printer manufacturers. Toner cartridges have low capacity, so your wallet gets sucked dry replacing cartridges regularly. The printer mfrs have seen what cash cows the inkjet cartridges are, so they've done the same with laser printers... Ben Myers On 10 Jun 2005 06:57:59 -0700, "JJ Jones" <jamesjonathanjones@yahoo.com> wrote:We have a weird problem on 2 HP Laserjet IIP printers. If you run acontinuous print-test (Hold down Alt + Test for 5 seconds), the firstpage comes out very faint. But each successive page gets darker anddarker until about the 10th page is almost perfect.It's strange because we've had several of these printers for many yearsand now 2 of them are doing the same thing.I tested their cartridges on a good printer, and the cartridges arefine, so the cartridge is not the problem.Does anyone have any ideas of what the problem is? We're trying to getsome idea of the cost of repairing these things, and whether it'sworthwile.
I highly recommend the HP 5. They're inexpensive and a real work horse. The 5N has a
built in JetDirect card. A duplexer and large capacity paper tray are also very useful.
Altho, it does come std with a 250 sheet tray (half a ream)

You could replace a number of IIP with a single 5N.

/dan

[Andy Hill]

"JJ Jones" <jamesjonathanjones@yahoo.com> wrote:We have a weird problem on 2 HP Laserjet IIP printers. If you run acontinuous print-test (Hold down Alt + Test for 5 seconds), the firstpage comes out very faint. But each successive page gets darker anddarker until about the 10th page is almost perfect.It's strange because we've had several of these printers for many yearsand now 2 of them are doing the same thing.I tested their cartridges on a good printer, and the cartridges arefine, so the cartridge is not the problem.Does anyone have any ideas of what the problem is? We're trying to getsome idea of the cost of repairing these things, and whether it'sworthwile.
Most likely the charge transfer roller. They do deteriorate after a while, and
the symptoms don't sound consistent with a High Voltage PCA or DC Controller PCA
problem. If you do your own labor, it'd probably be worth it -- the part
itself is <$20, IIRC.

[FredBear]

See Andy Hill's reply, that would be my guess too (transfer charge roller),
fairly cheap part and still available. BTW if you change it yourself be sure to
avoid contaminating the roller with oils from your fingers.
Failing that the fuser or power supply are the probable culprits and they would
be very expensive to replace (probably not worth it).
You can be sure that the problem occuring on two printers at the same time is
coincidence since the failure occurs with an internal printer test.
Tony

"JJ Jones" <jamesjonathanjones@yahoo.com> wrote:We have a weird problem on 2 HP Laserjet IIP printers. If you run acontinuous print-test (Hold down Alt + Test for 5 seconds), the firstpage comes out very faint. But each successive page gets darker anddarker until about the 10th page is almost perfect.It's strange because we've had several of these printers for many yearsand now 2 of them are doing the same thing.I tested their cartridges on a good printer, and the cartridges arefine, so the cartridge is not the problem.Does anyone have any ideas of what the problem is? We're trying to getsome idea of the cost of repairing these things, and whether it'sworthwile.

[JJ Jones]

Everyone: Thanks for your help!