Laser Printer Problem - Lines

[yawner]

We've had a big old HP colour laserjet 2500n for about 8 years now, during which time its been superb - exceptionally reliable and always printing reasonable quality colour pics.

A couple of weeks ago horizontal lines started to appear on our prints - this is best described by showing a scan of one of the printed pics:



See how horizontal lines split the page into several columns?

We're using original HP toner cartridges. All are about 70% full, as is the drum. All diagnostic software that comes with the printer has been run etc etc but we can`t see any error messages anywhere. Just the lines on the output.

Any ideas chums?

[Matt]

At first glance Id say it was the fuser unit if it has one, but I cant be 100% sure.

Fuser is the heated rollers it runs through. Had something similar on some work colour lasers.

Sorry cant be much more help then that...

[robwhizz]

I had this with a monochrome once. Replaced the fuser and that sorted it. Also had a similar problem with an HP2600n colour, that required a new toner to fix.
That's the problem with laser printers though. With drums, fusers and toners you can spend a fortune working out which bit is causing the problem.

[yawner]

Thanks fellas, Out of the toners, drum and fuser, the fuser is the only thing which has never been replaced so I'll go the fuser route and see what happens. As I said, this has been such a good printer, so I'm prepared to gamble a hundred quid to see if that sorts things. A new equivalent printer will be about £500+

Funny though - no mention of the fuser at all in the HP diagnostic software. Perhaps they weren't expecting the printer to last for so many years!

I'll let you know what happens. Thanks again. 

[Matt]

Thanks fellas, Out of the toners, drum and fuser, the fuser is the only thing which has never been replaced so I'll go the fuser route and see what happens. As I said, this has been such a good printer, so I'm prepared to gamble a hundred quid to see if that sorts things. A new equivalent printer will be about £500+

Funny though - no mention of the fuser at all in the HP diagnostic software. Perhaps they weren't expecting the printer to last for so many years!

I'll let you know what happens. Thanks again. 

Fusers tend to not need replacing unless they break, so not every x amount of copies, but we have had to replace several of the samsung ones, they usually catch fire as well.

[Ben]

... we have had to replace several of the samsung ones, they usually catch fire as well.

*looks worryingly over at his samsung laser which sits on all day, every day*

[yawner]

Fuser purchased @ £118 - no change

I'm now suspiciously eyeing an "unwanted" cyan toner cartridge (supposedly HP) I bought on E-Bay. In fact, when I look closer it seems to be sprinkling  dust all over.

When will I ever learn.