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1. General Troubleshooting Tips
The best way to determine whether a problem is with the toner cartridge or the laser printer is to replace the toner cartridge. You may either switch the toner cartridge with another machine in your office that uses the same toner cartridge or put in your back-up cartridge. If switching the cartridge corrects the problem or if the problem follows the cartridge to the other machine, then the toner cartridge is most likely the problem. CartridgeHQ stands behind all of its products. If you have an image defect, please place a sample of the print problem in the box when returning the defective cartridge. If the problem is not an image defect (such as a squeak) please note the problem on a sheet of paper and place in the box for return to M.G.M. Products CartridgeHQ.

2. Page Count and Toner Usage
Many things affect page count of toner cartridges. The more toner printed on the page (percentage of page coverage), the density setting of the machine, and the number of pages printed cause the greatest variance. Studies of OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer's) toner using the same machine, same density setting, and same page coverage have shown variances of up to 30% in page yield. All products produced from my supplier have been thoroughly tested for performance including page count, density (darkness of print), gray scale, and performance at low humidity. Page count studies are run at 5% coverage in the same machine on the same density setting. They run the same test on the OEM toner cartridge. All of my suppliers products have similar amounts of toner and page counts as their OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) counterparts. Tip - Set your machine to a lower density setting for increased page yield. You can get 20% more printed pages from a cartridge and still have good print.

3. Never Shake a Toner Cartridge!
Many people shake toner cartridges when they get the LOW TONER message. Some also shake the toner out of frustration when they're having a print image problem. To extend the toner's life after the LOW TONER message appears, simply rock the toner gently at a 40 degree angle, pat it gently on top, and replace in the machine. Shaking rarely fixes an image problem and is more likely to cause toner to spill.

4. Seal Removal
A small amount of toner will normally come out with the seal. I recommend that the seal be pulled over a trash can. If the seal cannot be fully removed from the cartridge, cut the seal with scissors near where it exits the toner cartridge. If, after cutting the seal, the print fades in the margin of the printed pages, the toner cartridge will need to be replaced. Place a note in the box stating "Seal Failure" for return to M.G.M. Products CartridgeHQ.

5. Light Print
Sometimes a printer will have light print and sometimes this is because the laser printer has been inadvertently switched to econo-mode. Make sure you check the print quality setting, the density setting, and the retention setting of your machine (See your printer manual for how to check these.) Switching the toner cartridge with another machine (if you have two printers that use the same cartridge) or putting in a back-up, will help isolate whether the toner is causing the problem or the machine. Tip - Cleaning your corona wire, scanner lens, or beam-to-drum mirror will eliminate many light print problems. Refer to your printer manual for details.

6. Low Toner Message
Make sure the seal has been removed. Sometimes this step is skipped. Has an empty toner cartridge been put into the machine? Was the bag and box sealed when you opened it? Empty toner cartridges have a typical pattern of fading print in the middle of the page. Remember; never shake a toner cartridge. (See above) If the problem continues after replacing the cartridge, the problem might be the printer. The high voltage power supply is the most likely culprit. (Tip - If your machine shuts down upon "Low Toner", and you need to get a job out, set the machine to Low Toner Continue through the control panel on the printer. You will usually find it under the configuration menu.)

7. No Toner Cartridge or Cover Open
This can be caused by bent or broken tabs or drum shutter mechanisms on the toner cartridge. On IBM 4019/4039/4049 straighten the plastic tab on top on the toner. On the Canon NX engine (91A) the plastic button may have come off. It can be replaced from an empty toner cartridge. On the Canon SX engine (95A), if replacing the cartridge does not correct the problem, the most likely cause is the switch on the high voltage power supply.

8. Image Defects
The most likely cause of image defects other than the cartridge is the fuser. Many laser printers have a maintenance kit, which includes the fuser, transfer roller, and paper pickups. These are replaced on a regular page count schedule when the printer displays "User Maintenance". Laser printers that do not have regularly scheduled maintenance kits only have the fuser replaced when an image problem occurs.

9. Paper Jams
The leading edge of the paper on a jam usually indicates where the problem is occurring. If the printer is not starting to pick-up paper, wiping the paper pick-up with a damp rag will sometimes correct the problem. If the paper stops at the fuser, the printer normally needs the fuser replaced. It is easy to determine if the cartridge is the problem by switching toner cartridges. With the new higher page per minute printers there are multiple sheets in the machine at the same time making diagnosing paper jams more difficult. To help the technician, especially on intermittent jams, note the paper tray and stock being used when the jams occur.

10. Running Envelopes, Labels and Thick Paper
The best advice is to read your printer's user manual. Most printers have a preferred paper tray, usually the MP or bypass tray. The exit also can be selected on some printer models. With special paper stock, the straightest path is normally the best. Make sure that the paper stock meets the specifications of the printer. If you are experiencing graying on envelopes, try adjusting the printer density and retention settings. If envelopes are curling on some models (HP5Si, HP8000, HP8100, and HP4000), the fuser has an envelope setting which may fix the problem. Refer to your printer manual for more details. If the envelope is sealing shut you have a humidity problem. When printing labels, it is highly recommended that you do not run the label stock through the printer multiple times. It is best to print a whole sheet of labels at a time. Do not use label stock that has been bent or folded. Label adhesive on the fuser and cartridge drum can cause many print quality issues. Labels or label adhesive stuck to the toner cartridge drum is often mistaken for a defective toner. Remember to use the straightest paper path through the printer when printing labels.

11. Paper Stock and Enviromental Specifications
Printers do not function well in dirty or dusty environments. Running paper stock that does not meet the printer specifications can cause excessive wear to paper pickups, fusers, and the drum in the toner cartridge. Even if the printer printed the stock when it was new, as fusers and other parts wear out, problems can arise. Letterhead with high cotton rag content will cause lines down the page when the cotton fibers build up on the wiper blade. Most printer manufacturers have recommended temperature and humidity ranges, so please read the user manual. Place printers where air can circulate around them. If the cooling fans are blocked, the printer will overheat. Static can transfer from office cubical dividers to the printers. Any of these situations can cause print image problems and printer component failure.

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