HP LaserJet Series Printers - Repetitive Image Defects Appear on the Printed Page

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Repetitive Defects
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Evenly spaced defects (lines, smudges, and spots) appear repetitively down the printed page from an HP LaserJet series printer.

Follow the steps below.

  1. Perform printer maintenance (clean the printer). Dirty rollers may produce lines on a page. Refer to the appropriate printer's User's Guide for cleaning instructions.

      CAUTION: Use of alcohol or ammonia-based cleaners on printer rollers will cause damage.

  2. Rotate the paper 180 degrees in the paper tray to see if the defects follow specific areas on the paper.

  3. Try a fresh ream of paper and/or another type of paper. Moisture, weight, and chemical concentration in or on the paper may produce lines and spots.

  4. Change the fuser roller-cleaning pad (for HP LaserJet, LaserJet Plus, LaserJet 500 Plus, LaserJet II, and LaserJet III series printers only).

      WARNING: Allow the cleaning pad to cool before attempting to clean it.

    Excessive toner build-up on the cleaning pad can cause white or black lines. Enough buildup may be scraped off the cleaning pad to provide a temporary solution.

    If the problem persists, have the printer serviced by an HP-authorized Service Dealer or an HP Field Repair Center.

  5. Note the location of the defect (front or back of page) and refer to the printer model-specific information below for the circumference of printer rollers and the photosensitive print cartridge drum. If a defect appears at approximately the same distance apart as the circumference of a roller or drum, then the printer may require service, it may be necessary to clean or replace the print cartridge.

Contact HP Customer Care
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Repetitive defects can be difficult to troubleshoot. Consulting HP or a local HP-authorized service dealer before replacing parts or making a final determination on the cause of the defect is recommended.

HP LaserJet, HP LaserJet Plus, and HP LaserJet 500 Plus series printers
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    Other defects

HP LaserJet II, IID, III, and IIID series printers
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    Print cartridge

    Other defects

    If the distance between each occurrence of the print defect matches the circumference figures in the table below, clean the printer as instructed by the appropriate User's Manual. If the problem persists, have the printer serviced by an HP-authorized Service Dealer or an HP Field Repair Center.

    Component

    Circumference

    Location of defect

    Upper Fusing Roller

    3.13 inches (79 mm)

    Front of Page

    Lower Fusing Roller

    2.5 inches (64 mm)

    Back of Page

    Upper Registration Roller

    1.5 inches (38 mm)

    Front of Page

    Lower Registration Roller

    1.75 inches (44 mm)

    Back of Page

    Registration Transfer Roller

    0.5 inch (13 mm)

    Back of Page

HP LaserJet IIP, IIP Plus, and IIIP series printers
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    Print cartridge

    If the distance between each occurrence of the print defect matches the circumference figures in the table below, replace the print cartridge.

    Component

    Circumference

    Location of defect

    Photosensitive Drum

    3.75 inches (95 mm)

    Front of Page

    Primary Charging Roller

    1.5 inches (38 mm)

    Front of Page

    Developing Roller

    2 inches (51 mm)

    Front of Page

    Other defects

    If the distance between each occurrence of the print defect matches the circumference figures in the table below, clean the printer as instructed by the appropriate User's Manual. If the problem persists, have the printer serviced by an HP-authorized Service Dealer or an HP Field Repair Center.

    Component

    Circumference

    Location of defect

    Input Feed Roller

    1.88 inches (48 mm)

    Front of Page

    Transfer Roller

    2 inches (51 mm)

    Back of Page

    Lower Fusing Roller

    2.125 inches (54 mm)

    Back of Page

    Upper Fusing Roller

    2.5 inches (64 mm)

    Front of Page

HP LaserJet IIISi, 4Si, and 4Si MX series printers
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    Print cartridge

    If the distance between each occurrence of the print defect matches the circumference figures in the table below, replace the print cartridge.

    Component

    Circumference

    Location of defect

    Photosensitive Drum

    3.75 inches (95 mm)

    Front of Page

    Developing Roller

    2 inches (51 mm)

    Front of Page

    Primary Charging Roller

    1.5 inches (38 mm)

    Front of Page

      NOTE: The HP LaserJet IIISi series printer's Fuser Roller is the same circumference as the Photosensitive Drum.

    Other defects

    If the distance between each occurrence of the print defect matches the circumference figures in the table below, clean the printer as instructed by the appropriate User's Manual. If the problem persists, have the printer serviced by an HP-authorized Service Dealer or an HP Field Repair Center.

    Component

    Circumference

    Location of defect

    Fuser Rollers

    3.75 inches (95 mm)

    Front/Back of Page

    Upper Registration Roller

    1.75 inches (44 mm)

    Front of Page

    Transfer Roller

    2.5 inches (64 mm)

    Back of Page

HP LaserJet 4 and 4M series printers
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    Print cartridge

    If the distance between each occurrence of the print defect matches the circumference figures in the table below, replace the print cartridge.

    Component

    Circumference

    Location of defect

    Photosensitive Drum

    3.75 inches (95 mm)

    Front of Page

    Developing Roller

    2 inches (51 mm)

    Front of Page

    Primary Charging Roller

    1.5 inches (38 mm)

    Front of Page

    Other defects

    If the distance between each occurrence of the print defect matches the circumference figures in the table below, clean the printer as instructed by the appropriate User's Manual. If the problem persists, have the printer serviced by an HP-authorized Service Dealer or an HP Field Repair Center.

    Component

    Circumference

    Location of defect

    Fuser Rollers

    2.5 inches (64 mm)

    Front/Back of Page

    Transfer Roller

    2.125 inches (54 mm)

    Back of Page

HP LaserJet 4L, 4ML, 4P, and 4MP series printers
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    Print cartridge

    If the distance between each occurrence of the print defect matches the circumference figures in the table below, replace the print cartridge.

    Component

    Circumference

    Location of defect

    Photosensitive Drum

    3 inches (76 mm)

    Front of Page

    Developing Roller

    1.5 inches (38 mm)

    Front of Page

    Primary Charging Roller

    1.5 inches (38 mm)

    Front of Page

    Other defects

    If the distance between each occurrence of the print defect matches the circumference figures in the table below, clean the printer as instructed by the appropriate User's Manual. If the problem persists, have the printer serviced by an HP-authorized Service Dealer or an HP Field Repair Center.

    Component

    Circumference

    Location of defect

    Lower Fuser Roller

    1.88 inches (48 mm)

    Back of Page

    Upper Fuser Roller

    3 inches (76 mm)

    Front of Page

    Transfer Roller

    1.75 inches (44 mm)

    Back of Page

    Facedown Roller Delivery (upper)

    1.5 inches (38 mm)

    Back of Page

    Feed Roller

    4.75 inches (121 mm)

    Back of Page

HP LaserJet 4V and 4MV series printers
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    Print cartridge

    If the distance between each occurrence of the print defect matches the circumference figures in the table below, replace the print cartridge.

    Component

    Circumference

    Location of defect

    Photosensitive Drum

    3.75 inches (94 mm)

    Front of Page

    Developing Cylinder

    2.5 inches (63 mm)

    Front of Page

    Primary Charging Roller

    1.69 inches (43 mm)

    Front of Page

    Other defects

    If the distance between each occurrence of the print defect matches the circumference figures in the table below, clean the printer as instructed by the appropriate User's Manual. If the problem persists, have the printer serviced by an HP-authorized Service Dealer or an HP Field Repair Center.

    Component

    Circumference

    Location of defect

    Transfer Roller

    2 1/16 inches (530 mm)

    Back of Page

HP LaserJet 4 Plus, 4M Plus, 5, 5M, and 5N series printers
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    Print cartridge

    If the distance between each occurrence of the print defect matches the circumference figures in the table below, replace the print cartridge.

    Component

    Circumference

    Location of defect

    Photosensitive Drum

    3.75 inches (95 mm)

    Front of Page

    Developing Cylinder

    2 inches (51 mm)

    Front of Page

    Primary Charging Roller

    1.5 inch (38mm)

    Front of Page

    Other defects

    If the distance between each occurrence of the print defect matches the circumference figures in the table below, clean the printer as instructed by the appropriate User's Manual. If the problem persists, have the printer serviced by an HP-authorized Service Dealer or an HP Field Repair Center.

    Component

    Circumference

    Location of defect

    Fuser Rollers

    3.13 inches (79 mm)

    Front/Back of Page

    Transfer Roller

    2.13 inches (54 mm)

    Back of Page

HP LaserJet 5L, 5L-FS, 5LXTRA, 6L, 6Lse, and 6Lxi series printers
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    Print cartridge

    If the distance between each occurrence of the print defect matches the circumference figures in the table below, replace the print cartridge.

    Component

    Circumference

    Location of defect

    Photosensitive Drum

    3 inches (76 mm)

    Front of Page

    Developing Cylinder

    1.25 inch (32 mm)

    Front of Page

    Primary Charging Roller

    1.5 inch (38 mm)

    Front of Page

    Other defects

    If the distance between each occurrence of the print defect matches the circumference figures in the table below, clean the printer as instructed by the appropriate User's Manual. If the problem persists, have the printer serviced by an HP-authorized Service Dealer or an HP Field Repair Center.

    Component

    Circumference

    Location of defect

    Delivery Roller

    1.75 inches (44 mm)

    Front of Page

    Transfer Roller

    1.9 inches (48 mm)

    Back of Page

    Pressure Roller

    2.5 inches (64 mm)

    Front of Page

    Upper Heating Element Film

    3.0 inches (76 mm)

    Front of Page

HP LaserJet 5P, 5MP, 6P, and 6MP series printers
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    Print cartridge

    If the distance between each occurrence of the print defect matches the circumference figures in the table below, replace the print cartridge.

    Component

    Circumference

    Location of defect

    Photosensitive Drum

    3 inches (76 mm)

    Front of Page

    Developing Cylinder

    1 inch (25 mm)

    Front of Page

    Primary Charging Roller

    1.5 inch (38 mm)

    Front of Page

    Other defects

    If the distance between each occurrence of the print defect matches the circumference figures in the table below, clean the printer as instructed by the appropriate User's Manual. If the problem persists, have the printer serviced by an HP-authorized Service Dealer or an HP Field Repair Center.

    Component

    Circumference

    Location of defect

    Upper Fusing Assembly

    3 inches (76 mm)

    Front of Page

    Transfer Roller

    1.75 inches (44 mm)

    Back of Page

    Face Down Delivery Roller

    1.5 inches (38 mm)

    Back of Page

    Fusing Pressure Roller

    1.88 inches (48 mm)

    Front/Back of Page

    Registration Roller

    4.69 inches (119 mm)

    Front/Back of Page

HP LaserJet 5Si, 5Si MX printers and HP LaserJet 5Si Mopier
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    Print cartridge

    If the distance between each occurrence of the print defect matches the circumference figures in the table below, replace the print cartridge.

    Component

    Circumference

    Location of defect

    Photosensitive Drum

    3.71 inches (94 mm)

    Front of Page

    Developing Roller

    2.11 inches (54 mm)

    Front of Page

    Primary Charging Roller

    1.75 inches (44 mm)

    Front of Page

    Other defects

    If the distance between each occurrence of the print defect matches the circumference figures in the table below, clean the printer as instructed by the appropriate User's Manual. If the problem persists, have the printer serviced by an HP-authorized Service Dealer or an HP Field Repair Center.

    Component

    Circumference

    Location of defect

    Fuser Lower Roller

    3.71 inches (94 mm)

    Front/Back of Page

    Fuser Upper Roller

    4.92 inches (125 mm)

    Front/Back of Page

    Transfer Roller

    2.30 inches (58 mm)

    Back of Page