HP Laserjet 5 Service Manual

							Service and Error Messages
Service errors prevent further printer operation until some action is taken. When
there is a service error, all of the lights will turn on in a steady state.Press and hold
theFront Panel Buttonto see a pattern in the lights. (The error will only be
displayed as long as this button is pressed.) Use Table 7-4, “Service and Error
Messages,” to identify what type of service error has occurred.
LEDs Description Recommended Action
ROM/RAM Error. An error was found with
the ROM or RAM. The printer believes that
the ROM is corrupted or an error has been
found in the RAM.1. Power-cycle the printer by unplugging the printer
and plugging it back in. If this doesn’t clear the error:
2. Unplug the printer, remove any optional memory,
then power the printer back on. If the message
clears, replace the memory card.
3. Replace the Formatter PCA.
Fuser Error.This indicates a fusing
assembly malfunction.
Note:Chronic fuser failures or fuser
overheating or both are indicators of an
uninterruptible power supply or battery
backup being used with the printer.
Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)
should notbe used with the printer.1. Unplug the printer for 10 minutes or more.
2. Verify that the fuser connector is firmly seated in
J102 of the DC Controller PCA and that the
thermistor connector (left of fusing assembly) is
seated into both the printer chassis and J206 of the
DC Controller PCA.
3. Remove the connector from J102 of the DC
Controller (See Figure 6-14). Measure the resistance
between pins one and two of the cable. (This
procedure will measure the continuity of the ceramic
heating element.) Normal resistance is 30 ohms +/-
10 ohms. If no resistance is measured, replace the
heating element.
4. Remove the thermistor (temperature feedback)
connector (See Figure 7-3). Measure the resistance
between pins one and two. Normal resistance is
440K ohms +/- 30K at 20 degrees C. If the resistance
is not measured replace the heating element.
5. If the resistance readings are correct, yet the error
persists, replace the DC Controller.
Table 7-4Service and Error Messages (1 of 3)
7-10 Troubleshooting 
						

							Heating Element Resistance Check
Figure 7-3
LEDs Description Recommended Action
Beam Error. There are a number of causes
for this error, and some of the causes may
be transient. (They may disappear.)1. Power-cycle the printer by unplugging the printer
and plugging it back in.
2. Make certain the Laser/Scanner Assembly is
correctly seated on the printer chassis.
3. Replace the Laser/Scanner cable (J208 on the DC
Controller).
4. Replace the Laser/Scanner Assembly.
5. Replace the DC Controller PCA.
Engine Error. The formatter and engine
are not communicating.1. Power-cycle the printer by unplugging the printer
and plugging it back in. If this doesn’t clear the error:
2. Reseat Formatter to DC Controller PCA.
3. Replace the Formatter PCA
4. Replace the DC Controller PCA.
Table 7-4Service and Error Messages (Continued 2 of 3 )
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Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting 7-11 
						

							LEDs Description Recommended Action
Scanner Error. Caused by a scanner
malfunction.1. Power-cycle the printer by unplugging the printer
and plugging it back in.
2. Ensure condensation caused by moving the printer
from a cold to a warm environment hasn’t occurred.
Allow the printer to acclimate to the warmer room.
3. Verify the two Laser/Scanner Assembly connectors
are firmly seated.
4. Replace scanner cable J207 on the DC Controller
PCA.
5. Replace the Laser/Scanner Assembly.
6. Replace the DC Controller PCA.
Formatter Error.1. Power-cycle the printer by unplugging the printer
and plugging it back in.
2. Disconnect the parallel I/O cable and try running a
printer self test. Reconnect the parallel cable if the
self test is successful and try host/printer
communications again.
3. If the error persists, replace the Formatter PCA.
Firmware Error. Note the LED pattern and the BiTronics error code.
Contact HP technical support with this information as
well as a description of what data was sent, the
errors encountered prior to the firmware error, the
condition of the printer prior to the error, and any
other information that may help isolate the error.
Processor Error.Note the LED pattern and the BiTronics error code.
Contact HP technical support with this information as
well as a description of what data was sent, the
errors encountered prior to the firmware error, the
condition of the printer prior to the error, and any
other information that may help isolate the error.
Table 7-4Service and Error Messages (Continued 3 of 3)
7-12 Troubleshooting 
						

							Image Formation Troubleshooting
Check the Toner Cartridge
Image formation defects are many times the result of toner cartridge problems. If
there is any doubt, always replace the toner cartridge before troubleshooting image
defects.
Use the following check list to ensure that the toner cartridge is still operable.
·Ensure that the toner cartridge is seated properly in the cavity.
·Inspect the toner cartridge for remaining toner.
·Check the expiration date of the toner cartridge (stamped on the cartridge box).
·Check the toner cartridge to see if it has been disassembled or refilled.
NoteThe toner cartridge’s full weight is 26.1 oz (730 grams), and its empty weight is
22.7 oz. (640 grams).
·Inspect the cartridge for leaking toner through worn seals. (If the drum has been
manually rotated it may have caused internal damage and toner spills may result).
·Check the surface of the photosensitive drum in the cartridge to see if it has been
damaged or scratched. Touching the drum will contaminate the photosensitive
surface and may cause spotting and defects during printing.
·Blurred areas on the page may indicate that the drum has been exposed to light for
too long. This causes permanent damage to the photosensitive drum. Replace the
cartridge.
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Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting 7-13 
						

							Image Defect Examples
This section illustrates some image defects and their possible causes. Since there are
many variables in the printing process, you may encounter image defects that are
not illustrated in the following examples. If you find a defect that is not illustrated,
record the probable cause along with the printing environmental conditions and save
a copy of the defect for future reference.
Each example lists, in order, the probable causes of the image defect.
Faded Print
Faded or light print may consist of a faded area, an entire page faded, or a block of
vertically aligned white streaks.
·The toner cartridge may be getting low on toner. Gently shake the cartridge to
redistribute the toner, or replace the cartridge.
·The paper may not meet HP’s paper specifications (for example, too moist or too
rough). (See theHP LaserJet 5L User’s Manualor theHP LaserJet Printer
Family Paper Specifications Guide.)
·Adjust toner density setting through your software or printer driver.
·EconoMode may be on. Turn it off through your software or printer driver.
·There may be discontinuities in the high-voltage contact points. Clean the high
voltage contact points on the toner cartridge and transfer roller. (See Figures 7-5
and 7-6.)
·Complete a Half-Self Test to verify that the image is appearing on the drum. (See
“Half-Self Test Functional Check” later in this chapter.)  If this procedure isn’t
successful, replace the transfer roller.
·Replace theLaser/Scanner unit.
·
Replace the DC Controller.
Staining
Stains usually appear as small, round, black dots that occur in the front or the back
of a page. Sometimes wide, inconsistent stains appear.
·The paper may not meet HP’s paper specifications (for example, too moist).
·You may be printing on the wrong side of the paper. Try removing the paper from
the Paper Input Bin and turning it over. (The label on many reams of paper has an
arrow indicating the print side.)
·The printer may need cleaning. See “Cleaning Your Printer,” in Chapter 4.
·The toner cartridge may be damaged. Replace it if maintenance procedures do not
improve print quality.
7-14 Troubleshooting 
						

							Vertical Lines
Sometimes vertically aligned black streaks or smears can appear on successive
pages.
·The toner cartridge may be damaged. Replace it.
·The printer may need cleaning. See “Cleaning Your Printer,” in Chapter 4.
·Replace the heating element.
Horizontal Stripes
Sometimes horizontally aligned black streaks or smears can appear.
·The toner cartridge may not be installed properly. Remove the cartridge and
reinsert it.
·The toner cartridge may be defective. Replace it.
·If the printer still has print quality problems, the printer may require cleaning.
·Replace the heating element.
Repetitive Defects
Sometimes light character shadows or repetitive marks appear on the page.
·Refer to the “Repetitive Image Defect Ruler” later in this chapter.
·The printer may need cleaning. See “Cleaning Your Printer,” in Chapter 4.
·The toner cartridge may be damaged, causing a repetitive black flaw on every
printout. Replace the toner cartridge.
·If using transparencies, use a different type of overhead transparency.
·Your paper texture may be too coarse. Try changing to a paper with a smoother
finish.
·The photosensitive drum of the toner cartridge may have been over-exposed to
bright light, causing repetitive defects (usually a blurred area). Replace the toner
cartridge.
Vertical White Stripes
The toner cartridge may be getting low on toner. Gently shake the cartridge to
redistribute the toner, or replace the cartridge.
·The printer may need cleaning. (See “Cleaning Your Printer,” in Chapter 4.)  You
may also need to clean the mirror on the laser scanner by blowing air through the
scanner to remove any dust particles.
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Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting 7-15 
						

							Character Voids
Character voids are white areas within the parts of characters that should be solid
black.
·If you are using transparencies when you experience this problem, try another
type of transparency. Hewlett-Packard transparencies are designed to minimize
character voids. (Because of the composition of transparency media, some
character voids are normal.)
·You may be printing on the wrong side of the paper. Remove the paper and turn it
over. (The label on many reams of paper has an arrow indicating the print side.)
·Your paper may not meet the requirements for the printer.
Background Scatter
Background scatter results from bits of toner distributed on the front or back of a
printed page. Background scatter often is isolated to a specific area of the page.
·Check the environment. High humidity can cause this error.
·Change the paper type, weight, or surface finish. See appendix B of the User’s
Manual for paper specifications.
·If background scatter occurs on an envelope, try moving the text to an area with
no seams. Printing on seams can cause this problem.
·If background scatter covers the entire surface of an envelope, try adjusting the
print density through your software or printer driver.
·If this problem occurs on the back of a printed page, it may be caused by spilled
toner inside the printer. See “Cleaning Your Printer” in Chapter 4.
Black Page
A page is completely black.
·The toner cartridge may not be installed properly. Remove the cartridge and
reinsert it.
·The toner cartridge may be defective. Replace it.
·There may be discontinuities in the high-voltage contact points. Clean the high
voltage contact points on the toner cartridge and transfer roller. (See Figures 7-5
and 7-6.)
·Replace the DC Controller or Laser/Scanner unit.
7-16 Troubleshooting 
						

							Dropouts
Dropouts are characters that are partially printed.
·The Paper Input Bin may have been loaded with too much paper. Make sure that
no more than 100 sheets of paper are loaded.
·A single sheet of paper may be defective. Try reprinting the job.
·Try adjusting the print density through your software or printer driver.
·Try cleaning the rollers.
·The moisture content of the paper may be inconsistent, or the paper may have
moist or wet spots on the surface. Try paper from a fresh ream or a different paper
manufacturer.
·The paper may have been damaged by inconsistent manufacturing processes. Try
paper from a different source.
Half of the Page Is Blank or Loss of Detail
The bottom of the page is blank, or part of a graphics image is cut off. This may
mean that your page is too complex for the standard printer memory.
·Set resolution to 300 dpi through your software or printer driver.
·You may need to install additional memory in your printer. See Chapter 6 for
memory installation instructions.
·Check your printer driver help screens for suggestions specific to your driver’s
settings.
Curled or Wrinkled Sheets
Media is curled or wrinkled when using the Paper Output Bin.
·Verify that the media you are using meets paper specifications. (See theHP
LaserJet 5L User’s Manualor theHP LaserJet Printer Family Paper
Specifications Guide.)
·Turn the paper over.
·Use the Front Output Slot by pushing the Paper Path Lever to the lower position.
This provides the straightest paper path.
·Use Paper Input Support located behind the Paper Input Tray.
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Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting 7-17 
						

							Blank Page (Occasional)
A page is completely blank. If you getoccasionalblank pages:
·Make sure your page length and margins are set correctly for the paper size you
use. If you are printing on small media and your page is blank, try printing on
larger media to see where the image is printing. Adjust margins accordingly.
·Some sharing devices or networks may generate a blank page as a separator. Try
connecting the printer directly to the computer.
·Your printer may be feeding two or more pages at once because the paper is
difficult to separate. Remove the paper from the Paper Input Bin and align the
edges of the paper. Although fanning the paper is not generally recommended, it
may be an effective way to decrease multi-feeds if the paper was poorly cut by the
manufacturer and is sticking together. You may also try turning the paper around
to feed the opposite end first.
·Your software application may send an extra page eject command. Check your
software’s printing configuration information. If you are using a word processing
program, check for a natural page break and a forced page break that are close to
each other, causing a blank page.
Blank Pages (all pages)
Ifallof your pages are blank:
·Make sure you removed the entire length of the sealing tape from the toner
cartridge before you installed the cartridge.
·The toner cartridge may be completely out of toner. Replace the cartridge.
·Try printing a self-test page. (See Chapter 3.)  If the page is still blank, the printer
may need service.
·There may be discontinuities in the high-voltage contact points. Clean the high
voltage contact points on the toner cartridge and transfer roller.
·Reseat the Laser/Scanner connectors.
·Replace theLaser/Scanner unit.
·
Replace the DC Controller.
Dark Background
·Adjust the toner density setting through your software or printer driver.
·There may be discontinuities in the high-voltage contact points. Clean the high
voltage contact points on the toner cartridge and transfer roller.
·Replace theLaser/Scanner unit.
·
Replace the DC Controller.
7-18 Troubleshooting 
						

							Dots
·Clean the static charge eliminator. (See Chapter 4, “Printer Maintenance.)
·There may be discontinuities in the high-voltage contact points. Clean the high
voltage contact points on the toner cartridge and transfer roller.
·Replace the transfer roller.
Dirt on the Back of the Page
·Use the image defect ruler to determine if the rollers are dirty. If so, clean them.
Replace the rollers if they cannot be cleaned sufficiently.
·Clean the heating element.
Blank Spots
·The paper may not meet HP’s paper specifications. Select different paper
·The moisture content of the paper may be inconsistent, or the paper may have
moist or wet spots on the surface. Try paper from a fresh ream or a different paper
manufacturer.
·Replace the toner cartridge.
·There may be discontinuities in the high-voltage contact points. Clean the high
voltage contact points on the toner cartridge and transfer roller.
·Replace the transfer roller.
·Replace the DC Controller.
White Horizontal Line
·Replace the toner cartridge.
Faulty Registration/Skewed Image
·Unload the paper and re-stack it in the input bin.
·Readjust the guides to the width of the paper.
·Too many sheets of paper may have been loaded into the paper input slot. Load no
more than 100 sheets of paper.
·The paper may not meet HP’s paper specifications. Select different paper.
·Clean the Paper Pickup Roller. If you cannot remove the dirt, the roller may be
worn out. Replace the roller.
·Check separation pad and subpads. If they’re worn, replace them.
·Clean the Delivery Roller. If you cannot remove the dirt, replace the roller.
·Restack the paper in the paper input source and try reprinting the job.
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Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting 7-19