If your printer has been acting up lately, there’s a good chance the culprit isn’t the printer itself, it’s the toner cartridge. From faded prints to mysterious streaks, many common printing issues start with the cartridge. The good news? Most of them are quick to fix, and even easier to prevent with the right care and quality supplies.
In this blog we will go through the top 5 toner cartridge-related printer problems, their causes, and how you can get them sorted in no time. This will help you identify any issue at the preliminary stage and possibly its correction at the time of emergency. Subsequently, it will also lay down some prevention tips for hassle free operation for a longer period.
Let’s start with the toner cartridge issues and their solutions first.
1. Faded or Light Prints
Your printer starts to print in a quality which is near to ‘unreadable’. And this occurs when the rollers inside your printer gets jammed, or your toner is low on ink or it might be running for many years. To identify these at an early stage one needs to check the toner level from time-to-time. Here are the steps to your faded print fix-
- Initially, you should check the toner level via software or the printer’s display system.
- If you find out that it’s running low, try to replace the cartridge or shake it side-to-side so that the powder distribution is done evenly.
- Don’t forget to clean the printer’s rollers and internal components with a lint-free cloth. This enhances the quality of the print too.
2. Streaks or Smudges on Paper
This is another very common issue that people face over time, even on high end printers. In this scenario, the ink looks smudged or still wet on the page, leaving behind unwanted marks or blotches. Sometimes streaks on prints are the outcome of dust accumulation, toner leakages or a faulty drum unit.
Fix:
- Open the printer and carefully clean any toner or dust inside. Avoid using a damp cloth near sensitive components as it will make it worse.
- If the drum system is faulty, a cartridge substitution would be the simplest fix.
- Refrain from touching the surface of the drum as moisture/impurities from your skin might cause irrecoverable printing defects.
3. Printer Doesn’t Recognize the Cartridge
Here, you should understand that the ink cartridge on your printer comes embedded with a microchip that facilitates communication with the printer and transmits the print signals. Your system highlights-toner cartridge not recognized, in certain cases.
And those cases can be generally laid down as- you’ve left the protective tape on, installed the wrong cartridge model, or positioned the cartridge inappropriately.
Here how to fix:
- Ensure that you are utilizing the appropriate cartridge model for your printer. Maybe online research might help. Or you can reach out to our experts at Premier Computers.
- Remove any protective tape or seal before installation.
- Re-position the cartridge so that it fits to the perfect place as it should be
4. Leaking Toner Inside Printer
Leaking toner cartridge is yet another common issue which when left unattended for a long time can lead to costly repairs. A defective cartridge, damage to the photoconductor unit, rough handling during installation, or using toner that’s past its expiry date can cause leaks.
Indications are generally- chunks of black streaks on printed pages, excess toner inside the printer and shaking noises while moving the cartridge.
Fix:
- Pause your printing work immediately to refrain from causing any further harm to the overall functioning of your printer.
- Clean the spilled toner carefully. Never use a regular vacuum cleaner, as toner particles are too fine and can cause damage.
- Install a fresh, high-quality cartridge to ensure smooth operation.
5. Color Issues on Black-and-White Prints
Discoloration can occur due to various reasons. Even if you’re printing in black and white, misaligned, dirty cartridges or a leaking color toner can cause discoloration. Sometimes heavy moisture causes issues too. Here is a series of steps which you can implement to fix-
- Clean the affected areas inside your printer.
- Replace the faulty cartridge if cleaning doesn’t solve the issue.
- Regular maintenance checks can prevent this from happening in the first place.
Prevention Tips
They always say- prevention is better than cure; and that formula goes for printers as well. If you want your printer to provide you seamless service for a long period, you have to maintain its toner cartridge, time-to-time, rather than waiting for any issue to show up. Here’s the best toner cartridge maintenance tips:
- You should know how to store toner cartridge. Make sure that you are keeping your cartridge in a place with minimal humidity and optimum temperature.
- Always use high-quality OEM or premium compatible toner to avoid performance issues.
- Handle cartridges gently to prevent leaks, scratches, or other damage.
Conclusion
Most printing problems, whether it’s faded text, smudges, or recognition errors, can be traced back to toner cartridge issues. With correct installation techniques, applying appropriate cartridges and optimum maintenance, one can expect their printers to run perfectly fine, that too, for a long period of time.
At Premier Computers, we’ve built the PRM brand on a deep trust for quality and reliability. From Mumbai to every corner of India, our toner cartridges are trusted by numerous dealers, distributors, and end-users alike.
Upgrade your printing experience today, explore our premium toner cartridge collection and enjoy hassle-free printing every time.