Dell 1720dn Printing Blank Pages

[Gerry]

Unfortunately out-of-warranty so I can't ask for help from Dell (not even e-mail tech support for suggestions!). HP wouldn't have minded... Anyway, problem is it's printing blank pages with the occasional incredibly faint test page (and then only parts of it). I've been through Dell's support pages, the toner and photoconductor both look ok. There's toner on the roller even, but not on the photoconductor. I've checked part #'s and they're correct.

Any ideas?

[bossman]

@Gerry:

We had the same issue with an HP printer and the solution was a cold reset.
If you google for how to do that you may get an answer.

[Gerry]

Was able to do a factory reset, but it didn't help. I'd say it was a problem with the photoconductor and/or toner. Both are new items. Unfortunately we don't have another similar printer to test with and 0844 phonenumbers are blocked by our system so I can't phone Dell support.

Anyone know how I can find out exactly what's wrong - maybe I can get a replacement from the suppliers... If anyone has a Dell 1720 could you tell me if you can see a gap between photoconductor roller and the toner roller?

[Gerry]

Anyone?

[philterx]

How did you do the hard reset? - leave bay door open, turn on printer holding GO button until printer stops flashing and amber light comes on, turn off, turn on with bay doors closed?

Your question about whether if you can see a gap between photoconductor roller and the toner I had a quick look at one of ours and I cannot see a gap.

I'm no printer expert however a suggestion if I may... Is the fuser getting hot?

An example:

HowStuffWorks "How Laser Printers Work"

Cheers,

Phil

[Gerry]

Not so sure about the gap anymore...Think it's ok when toner+fuser installed in the printer.

@philterz: Paper comes out warm so fuser must be getting hot. Followed your reset instructions - I think the factory reset was slightly different. Still spitting out blank pages.

[philterx]

Are you printing via the PC or pressing the Go button and the printer is pushing out configuration pages?

I'm thinking along the lines of getting rid of middle man and printing it from the source. Putting it out there but maybe a driver problem and its not parsing the information via PCL, PCL5e, PCL6, PDL etc?

Cheers,

Phil

[Gerry]

It used to be connected via the network. I've taken it away and am printing via USB from my own computer to test. I've also tried printing it's own internal demo page - same result almost every time, though occasionally I see very faint output on a page, probably due to shaking the toner and fuser.... Now that I've said that I'm more inclined again to think it's because the toner isn't transferring to the fuser roller...

[philterx]

I was skimming through this post and might of read it a bit quickly initially.

Have you replaced the toner cartridge?

Cheers,

Phil

[mac_shinobi]

From what I am aware the fuser rollers only crush and melt the toner thats already been put onto the paper.

So am guessing as above replace the toner or the charges that pull the toner across onto the paper whilst going passed the Photo Conducting Unit are all wrong.

Not an expert on other manufacturer laser printers but working at Ricoh now so learning more about laser printers / copiers etc.

[Gerry]

I was skimming through this post and might of read it a bit quickly initially.

Have you replaced the toner cartridge?

Cheers,

Phil

The printer has had all new toner and a photoconductor/fuser unit.

[philterx]

Oh okay well hit it with a hammer and see how it goes lol. But seriously give it a bang around the printer with your hand and see if that helps, works on cars and computers :P

Not sure what else, maybe buy a new printer?