HP 2500 L Service Manual

							EN 6 Troubleshooting199
Pages print, but all 
colors do not print or 
the pages are 
completely blank. One of the print cartridges might be 
low or empty.
Run an engine test (see page 205) and see if all four colors print. If 
not all colors print, replace one or more of the print cartridges. If the 
engine test is successful, replace the formatter.
If the printed pages are completely 
blank, the file might have blank 
pages.  Check the file to make sure that it does not contain blank pages.
A print cartridge might be low or 
empty. Check the printer control panel for a Supplies Status message, 
print a Supplies Status page, or use the embedded Web server to 
see the levels remaining in the print cartridges. Replace any print 
cartridges that are low or empty. Messages are not created for non-
HP print cartridges.
If you are using non-HP print 
cartridges, one or more print 
cartridges are low or empty. The 
control panel lights do not indicate 
low or empty for non-HP print 
cartridges. Replace one or more of the print cartridges.
Font DIMM  might be selected but the 
font DIMM is not physically installed in 
the printer. (This issue only applies to 
printers using an Asian-language font 
DIMM.) In the settings for this printer, clear the 
Font DIMM check box on 
the  Configure  tab if no font DIMM is installed in the printer. Select 
the 
Font DIMM check box only if the font DIMM is physically 
installed in the printer. If you think that the font DIMM is installed, 
make sure that it is installed correctly.
The paper curls when 
exiting the top output 
bin.  The paper needs to print to the 
straight-through paper path.
Open the rear output door to print to the straight-through paper 
path. Remove each sheet as it exits the printer.
The stack was slightly curled when it 
was placed in the tray. Turn the stack over in the tray.
The paper does not meet 
specifications. See the user guide for information about print-media specifications.
If you are printing on light media, the 
Type setting might not be correct. Select 
Light in the  Ty p e  i s  field in the printer driver.
Table 27. Solving general printing problems
Symptom Possible Cause Solution 
						

							200Troubleshooting C9706-90926
The printer prints, but 
the text is wrong, 
garbled, or 
incomplete.The interface cable is loose or 
defective.
Disconnect the printer cable and reconnect it. Try a print job that 
you know works. If possible, attach the cable and printer to another 
computer and try a print job that you know works. Finally, try a new 
cable.
The printer is on a network or sharing 
device and is not receiving a clear 
signal. Disconnect the printer from the network or shared drivers and 
attach it directly to a computer with a parallel or USB cable. Print a 
job that you know works. 
The wrong driver was selected in the 
software. In the 
Print or Printer Setup  dialog box, make sure that the 
HP Color LaserJet 2500 printer is selected as the printer and that 
the appropriate port is selected.
The printer driver is malfunctioning. Print a page from the HP Color LaserJet 2500 Series Toolbox. If the  page prints, then the problem is in the printer driver. Uninstall and 
reinstall the printer driver.
The program is malfunctioning. Try printing a job from another program.
If the printer is connected to a 
computer, the operating system is 
malfunctioning. Check the operating system. If you do not know how to use the 
method below, see the documentation that came with the 
computer.
Note: This method works with Windows 98, NT 4.0, and 2000 (and 
computers with these operating systems must be connected to a 
parallel cable).
Restart the computer. When it beeps during startup, press 
F5 and 
select  Command Prompt Only . At the C: prompt on the computer, 
type 
Dir>LPT1 and then press  ENTER. (This assumes that the 
printer is connected to LPT1.) If the Go light comes on at the 
printer, press  ( G
O) to print and eject the page. If the page prints 
correctly, then the operating system is malfunctioning.
Font DIMM  might be selected but the 
font DIMM might not be physically 
installed in the printer. (This issue 
only applies to printers with an Asian-
language font DIMM installed.) In the settings for this printer, clear the 
Font DIMM check box on 
the  Configure  tab if no font DIMM is installed in the printer. Select 
the 
Font DIMM check box only if the font DIMM is physically 
installed in the printer. If you think that the font DIMM is installed, 
make sure that it is installed correctly.
Table 27. Solving general printing problems
Symptom Possible Cause Solution 
						

							EN 6 Troubleshooting201
Solving PostScript (PS) errors
The following situations are specific to the PS language and might occur when several printer 
languages are being used.
Note To receive a printed or an onscreen message when PS errors occur, select this option in the PS 
printer driver or the embedded Web server.
Symptom Possible Cause Solution
The job prints in 
Courier (the printer 
default typeface) 
instead of the 
typeface you 
requested. The requested typeface is not 
downloaded. A personality switch 
might have been performed to print a 
PCL job just before the PS printing 
job was received.
Download the font you want to use and send the print job again. 
Verify the type and location of the font. Download the font to printer, 
if applicable. See the software documentation.
A PS error page 
prints. The print job might not be a PS job. Make sure the print job is a PS job. Check to see whether the 
program expected a setup or PS header file to be sent to the 
printer.
VM Error This is a PS font error that occurs 
when you are using several fonts.

Select Unlimited Downloadable Fonts in the printer driver.
Range Check The tray settings are incorrect.

Try printing from a different tray.

Select Unlimited Downloadable Fonts in the printer driver.
Limit Check The printer is out of memory.

Reduce the complexity of the page.

Use one of the other printer drivers.

Send the print job in smaller pieces with a fewer number of 
pages.

Install more memory. 
						

							202Troubleshooting C9706-90926
Solving common Macintosh problems
In addition to the problems listed in “Solving general printing problems ” on page 197, this section 
lists problems that can happen only when using the Mac OS, versions 9.1 to OS X.
Symptom Possible Cause Solution
Problems in the Chooser
The printer driver 
icon does not appear 
in the Chooser (when 
using Mac OS, 
version OS X). The software was not installed 
correctly.
The LaserWriter driver should be present as a part of the Mac OS. 
Make sure that the LaserWriter driver is in the Extensions folder 
within the systems folder. If not, install the LaserWriter driver from 
your Mac OS CD-ROM.
The interface cable might not be of 
high quality. Make sure that you are using a high-quality interface cable.
An incorrect network might be 
selected. Make sure that the printer is on the correct network. Select the 
Network or 
AppleTalk Control Panel  from Control Panels in the 
Apple  menu and then select the correct network.
The printer name 
does not appear in 
the  Select a 
PostScript Printer  
box in the Chooser. The printer might not be ready. Make sure that the cables are connected correctly, the printer is on, 
and the Ready light is on.
The correct printer driver might not be 
selected. Make sure that the correct printer driver has been selected in the 
Chooser (for example, LaserWriter).
An incorrect zone might be selected. If the printer resides on a network that has multiple zones, make  sure that the correct zone is selected in the  AppleTalk Zones box 
in the Chooser.
The PS driver might not be installed. Verify that the PS driver is installed.
The printer might not be selected in 
the Chooser. Print a Configuration page to make sure that the printer has been 
selected in the Chooser. [Simultaneously press  (
G
O) and 
( C
ANCELJOB) on the printer.] Check the AppleTalk name of the 
printer that appears on the Configuration page.
AppleTalk might be off. Make sure that AppleTalk is on. (The button next to  Active is 
selected in the Chooser.) You might need to restart the computer to 
activate the change.
The printer driver 
does not 
automatically set up 
the selected printer 
even though you 
clicked  Auto Setup  
in the Chooser. Reinstall the printer software. See the getting started guide.
Printing Errors 
A print job was not 
sent to the printer 
that you wanted.
Another printer with the same or 
similar name might have received 
your print job. 
Check the AppleTalk name of the printer that appears on the 
Configuration page.

Make sure that the cables are connected correctly, the printer is 
on, and the Ready light is on.
You cannot use the 
computer while the 
printer is printing. Background Printing has not been 
selected.
For LaserWriter 8.6 and later: Turn Background Printing on by 
selecting 
Print Desktop  on the File menu and then clicking 
Background Printing . 
						

							EN 6 Troubleshooting203
An encapsulated 
PostScript (EPS) file 
does not print with 
the correct fonts.  This problem occurs with some 
programs. 
Try downloading the fonts contained in the EPS file to the 
printer before printing.

Send the file in ASCII format instead of a binary encoding.
Your document is not 
printing with New 
York, Geneva, or 
Monaco fonts.  The printer might be substituting 
fonts.
Select 
Options  in the Page Setup  dialog box to clear the 
substituted fonts.
USB Problems
You are unable to 
print from a 
third-party USB card. This error occurs when the software 
for USB printers is not installed.
When adding a third-party USB card, you might need the Apple 
USB Adapter Card Support software. The most current version of 
this software is available from the Apple website. 
When connected 
using a USB cable, 
the printer does not 
appear in the 
Macintosh Chooser 
after the driver is 
selected. This problem is caused by either a 
software or hardware component. 
Software troubleshooting

Make sure that your Macintosh supports USB. 

Verify that your Macintosh has Mac OS 8.6 or later.

Make sure that your Macintosh has the appropriate USB 
software from Apple.
Note : The iMac and Blue G3 desktop Macintosh systems meet all 
of the requirements to connect to a USB device.
Hardware troubleshooting

Make sure that the printer is turned on. 

Make sure that the USB cable is properly connected. 

Make sure that you are using the appropriate high-speed USB 
cable.

Make sure that not too many USB devices are drawing power 
from the chain. Disconnect all devices from the chain and 
connect the cable directly to the USB port on the host 
computer.

Check to see if more than two nonpowered USB hubs are 
connected in a row on the chain. Disconnect all devices from 
the chain and connect the cable directly to the USB port on the 
host computer.
Note : The iMac keyboard is a nonpowered USB hub.
Symptom Possible Cause Solution 
						

							204Troubleshooting C9706-90926
Rotating the print-cartridge carousel
Under normal conditions, pressing  (ROTATECAROUSEL) brings another print cartridge to the 
top position. However, if the carousel does not rotate, do the following:
1 Open the top cover.
2 Use a small flatblade screwdriver to lift up the carousel brake (callout 1).
Note In figure 108, the top cover is removed.
3 Rotate the carousel manually.
Figure 108. Rotating the print-cartridge carousel
21 
						

							EN 6 Troubleshooting205
Functional checks
Engine test
The engine test is used to verify that the print engine is functioning correctly. The formatter is 
bypassed during an engine test, so the engine test is useful for isolating printer problems. 
Because the engine test prints horizontal lines along the entire printable area of a page, it is also 
useful for checking and adjusting registration.
Printing an engine test
The engine test switch is inside tray 1, on the left side, just below the front cover.
To print an engine test, open tray 1, and then press the engine-test switch.
Note The formatter must be connected to the ECU to perform an engine test. Otherwise, the printer 
does not print the engine test.
 
Figure 109.Location of the engine-test switch 
						

							206Troubleshooting C9706-90926
Half self-test functional check 
The electrophotographic process can be subdivided into the following stages:

image-formation stage (charges the drum and writes a latent image to the drum with the 
laser)

development stage (forms a toner image on the drum)

transfer stage (transfers the image to media)

cleaning stage (removes excess toner from the drum)

fusing stage (applies heat and pressure to make the image permanent on the media)
To perform a half self-test check
The purpose of the half self-test check is to determine which process is malfunctioning.
1Print a Configuration page. (See “ Configuration page” on page 210.)
2 Open the top cover after the paper advances halfway through the printer (about five seconds 
after the motor begins rotation). The leading edge of the paper should have advanced past 
the imaging drum.
To perform other checks
If no image appears on the imaging drum, perform these checks:
1Make sure that you removed the entire length of the sealing tape from the print cartridges 
before you installed the cartridges.
2 Perform a drum-rotation functional check (see page 206).
3 Perform a high-voltage power supply check (see page 207).
Drum-rotation functional check
The imaging drum must rotate for the print process to work. The photosensitive drum receives its 
drive from the main drive assembly.
Note This test is especially important if refilled print cartridges have been used.
1 Open the printer door.
2 Remove the print cartridges.
3 Mark the drive gear on the cartridge with a felt-tipped marker. Note the position of the mark.
4 Install the print cartridge and close the printer door. The start-up sequence should rotate the 
drum enough to move the mark.
5 Open the printer and inspect the gear that was marked in step 3. Verify that the mark moved. 
If the mark did not move, inspect the main drive assembly to make sure that it is meshing with 
the print cartridge gears. If the drive gears appear functional and the drum does not move, 
replace the print cartridge. 
						

							EN 6 Troubleshooting207
Heating element check 
Media passes between the heating element and a soft pressure roller to fuse the toner to the 
media.
1Unplug the printer for at least ten minutes.
2 Verify that the thermistor connector is seated into both the printer chassis and the low-
voltage power supply.
3 Remove the heating element connector (callout 1) from the low-voltage power supply. To 
measure the continuity of the heating element, measure the resistance between the two pins 
at the end of the cable.
Note Normal resistance is 25 ohms +/- 10 ohms for the 110 V printer and 80 ohms +/- 20 ohms for the 
220 V printer.
4 If no resistance is measured, replace the fuser (see page 92).
5 Remove the thermistor connector (callout 2), and measure the resistance between J206 pins 
one and two and between J206 pins three and four.
Note Normal resistance between both pairs of pins is 370K ohms +/- 50K ohms at 20 ° C (68°  F).
6 If no resistance is measured, replace the fuser.
High-voltage power-supply check 
The high-voltage power-supply PCA provides the necessary voltages for the electrophotographic 
processes.
To check the print cartridge connection points
Turn the print cartridge over and visually inspect the two connection points on the ends of the 
print cartridge. If they are dirty or corroded, clean the connections. If they are damaged, replace 
the print cartridge.
Note Use only isopropyl alcohol to clean the connections.
Figure 110. Print cartridge high-voltage connection points 
						

							208Troubleshooting C9706-90926
Paper-path check 
If media is not being picked up or is not moving through the paper path, you might want to 
observe all of the paper-motion activities. Override the door interlock (SW301) to observe: 

motor rotation

solenoid action

pickup-roller motion

drive-roller, transfer-roller, fuser-roller and gear, and delivery-roller motion
To override SW301
Push a piece of heavy paper into the slot in the top cover (callout 1) to engage SW301.
Figure 111. Overriding SW301 
21