Checking the toner cartridge Image formation defects are many times the result of problems in the toner cartridge. If there is any doubt, always replace the toner cartridge before troubleshooting image defects. Use the following checklist to make sure that the toner cartridge is still operable. Verify that the toner cartridge is seated properly. Verify that the cartridge has toner in it (see the hint below). Check the expiration date stamped on the toner cartridge box. Check the toner cartridge to see if it has been disassembled or refilled. Inspect the toner cartridge to see if toner is leaking through worn seals.
Check the surface of the photosensitive drum in the cartridge to see if it has been damaged or scratched. Do not touch the drum. Skin oils transferred to the drum by touching it contaminate the photosensitive surface and can cause spotting and image defects. Blurred areas on printed pages indicate that the photosensitive drum in the cartridge has been overexposed to light. Overexposure to light causes permanent damage to the photosensitive drum. The toner cartridge should be replaced. Hint Weigh the toner cartridge to approximate how much toner is left in it.
A toner cartridge weighs approximately 746 grams (30.5 oz) when it is full, approximately 630 grams (27.0 oz) when the print first fades, and approximately 617 grams (26.2 oz) when the cartridge is empty. To redistribute toner in the cartridge Before installing a new cartridge or when toner is low in the installed cartridge, redistribute the toner by rotating the cartridge back and forth five or six times. Q1342-90910 Errors 71