3100cn Issues

I know...... this is gonna sound wierd, but reseat the YELLOW toner cartridge. Make sure when you put it back in and roll down the locking handle, ensure that it's fully all the way down in the locked position.

Let us know what happens.

Hi

I have a similar problem but reversed.  All of the page prints well except for the 1/4 inch right edge which gets a dark stripe.   I have tried resetting the yellow toner, with slight improvment.  I had just replaced the black toner.  Both yellow and red are warning of low level.  BTW,  this unit is on it's second drum and 30000 double sided copies.  Could it be the drum?

Thanks.

Christopher had included a print sample image with his post and that made the problem easy to identify.

When diagnosing print quality issues, pictures speak a thousand words.
If you can, please scan or take some pictures of your defective images and post them with your reply. You'll need a website on the internet to host the pictures from. If you don't have one, www.Flickr.com is one that works great, among others.
fyi...... max image width allowed in this forum is 460 pixels.

Some good reference pages to print are what's called the 20% density pages. To print the 20% density test pages:
1. Power off the printer.
2. Press and hold the UP and DOWN arrow buttons while you power the printer on.
3. The buttons may be released after the LCD indicates "Diagnosing..."
4. After a few seconds, the LCD should indicate "Customer Mode" and "ESS Diag"
5. Press the UP or Down arrow buttons to find "Test Print", press the Enter (center) button.
6. Press the Down arrow button to find and select Cyan20%, or Magenta20%, or Yellow20%, or Black20%; press the Enter button twice to select and print that test page
(note: printers with the newest firmware may have an additional menu item called "ContaminationCHK". Using this item will print all 4 of the 20% density pages for you)
7. After all print tests have been completed, power the printer off, wait ~5 secs, and power on.

Thank you for help.

I have uploaded a scan of a printed document. The second picture is an enlargement of the problem area, which is about 3/8 inch stripe down the right side of the paper.  I would guess it is about 15 to 20% density.

Total - problem along right edge
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25455838@N06/2398030502/

Enlarged right edge.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25455838@N06/2397198401/

I have not tried the 20% density printing.

Thanks again.

Ken

Based on the print samples shown, I would say you have some light scratching on the surface of your drum that extends around the entire circumference of the drum. If yu remove the drum cart unit and turn it over, you may see what i'm talking about. Look towards the extreme end of the blue/green colored object; that's the drum.

Does this happen on color too?

(please examine the 20% density pages)

Hi!

I also have some problems with the 3100cn:

It replaces yellow with black, and adds a black dotted pattern to the paper. The problem is consistent on the whole sheet. I believe all toners are installed in the correct place, and the drum has been replaced recently. Cyan, Magenta and Black print out fine aside from the dotted pattern.

I have made a 20% density Yellow test print and added a sample to Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30199031@N06/2824995041/ 

Hope someone has a few hints for me

best regards 

Ricola 

Ricola,

THIS is the strangest print sample I have EVER seen !!

You said you commanded the 20% density print for Yellow, and this is what came out?

What happens if you do the 20% density print for black?

obtw..... the dots you see are integrated into the "Yellow" pages and identify your machine to the FEDs if you try to print your own money. It's called "Steganography". If you look at the example shown on the page provided by the link, you'll see a very light pattern of yellow dots inside the ruler area. Very hard to see.

Back to your problem.....

Do all the 20% density pages print correctly....... except for Yellow?

If so, it sure sounds like you may have a toner contamination issues in your printer. Are the cartridges in your printer genuine Dell cartridges?

Let's start here...... I think you and I will be working this one for awhile.

Hi Illynster!

Yeah, the first print sample was the 20% density yellow test print acquired through the Diagnostic screen.
I have also added print samples of the 20% density cyan, magenta, black and CMY. In addition I have scanned a print of full CMYK colors for comparison. The “yellow version” of black appears to be a slightly dirtier, lighter version of the actual black:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30199031@N06/sets/72157607107911825/

All the toners are original Dell toners.

Thanks on the Steganography hint, I didn´t know about that. That explains the pattern since yellows are printed as black.

Ricola

Good morning Ricola,

Good samples.... the CMY 20% looks darker than it shouldk, likely because of the yellow defect.

Use the replace Toner menu on your printer control panel to remove the yellow toner cart.

After doing so, please compare it with a known good sample I posted here on FLICKR.

Can you take a picture of what yours looks like?

Howdy!

I´ve uploaded a picture of the yellow toner receiever:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30199031@N06/2829916017/

There appears to be some black toner residue on the receiver and I can´tseem to find the yellow mag roller. If it´s there I don´t think it´s yellowanymore…

Sounds like we might be on to something here?

Ricola

Yep, that's a problem.....

The Yellow Mag Roller shoudl be visible immediately above the toner cartridge receiver cavity. If it's black..... BIG problem.

1st, how did Black toner get into a Yellow cart (assume you checked the actual cart lableing and P/N ?) ?

2nd, since the developer assy is completely contaminated with black, it needs to also be replaced.

If true, and you actually purchased a yellow cartridge from DELL and it caused this problem, you might be able to get Dell to cover the costs of repairing this unit. If the cart was refilled, you'll pretty much be on your own. If you decide to purchase and replace the developer assy yourself, let me know, I might be able to provide you with some replacement instructions.

Can you take a closeup picture of the all labeling info on the yellow cartridge and post it on FLICKR ? I'd really like to see the labeing on this toner cart.

No worries about the delay.....

If you're handy with a screwdriver, can work in a confined area, aren't afraid of getting a little dirty (toner), AND, can follow technical instructions, you can probably replace this yourself.

You will need a new Developer assy, Dell P/N P4869 and a new Yellow cartridge, P/N K4974

Not sure how much they cost or how you'd go about getting these from Dell.

If you decide to do this, PM me and provide your personal email address and I'll send you some instructions on how to do this.

Hi again! Sorry about the delayed response.

It´s an office printer so most likely someone had the genious idea of replacing an empty yellow toner with a black one... 

Do you have any idea of what it will cost to fix it myself/have someone fix it for me? And if I was to fix it myself, just what do I need? 

ricola