After my magenta stopped printing on my HP LaserJet 1600, I figured the magenta toner went out, so I refilled the toner and changed out the reset chip. However, it still didn’t print properly. I had a feeling that maybe I messed up the drum on the cartridge, so I ended up buying a new magenta cartridge. However, to my surprise, I found out that the cartridge, toner, and drum was never the problem since the new cartridge didn’t print. I almost made a complaint on ebay thinking the new cartridge was bad, but then I figured out what was really going on.
Laserjet 2600, 3800, 3500, 3700, 4700 Mirror Configuration
If you look at the mirror configuration on these HP Laserjet Printers, you’ll notice that a few of the mirrors are at a very low angle, so gravity naturally brings dust on to them distorting the laser optics which effect print quality. On my 1600 Laserjet magenta was the first to go since it was on the bottom and collected the most dust. Then yellow would soon become a problem. So I simply opened it up and cleaned all the laser optics. Here’s a somewhat boring video I made showing whats going on.
Here is an upclose pic of the mirror optics I took. Its interesting how one polygon mirror takes care of two lasers.
Laserjet 1600 Laser Optics
Rather than me re-inventing the wheel, I’ll give you guys this PDF document which I saved on my computer a while back when I had the issue. It contains detailed instructions on how to open the 2600n, 1600 and 2605 to get to the laser optics. If its your first time opening this up. Take your time and be patient. It should take around an hour to do it.
Laserjet 1600, 2600n, 2605 Repair Guide
You probably wont need this for this problem, but here is the service manual which contains 300 pages of everything you possibly need to know about the Laserjet 1600.
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Thanks a lot Steven,
I got a hp 1600 from my son and it had that magenta problem. I followed carefully your repair guide, and it works, that’s great!
The most uncomfortable step is where almost everything has to be unplugged. I was wondering if I could replug it the right way again. To be sure I shot some pictures before, but the cable lengths are fortunately so that it’s rather difficult to put it wrong.
Thanks a lot again,
Best regards,
Michel
Did all that and got a 51.20 error. Have re- done it several times thinking I missed some thing but still the same. Can I override this command?
Just opened it up again and noticed as I put the scanner back in, the top connection was being half forced out. NOW, I am printing and the magenta is perfect. Thank you so much.
Thank you very much for the excellent and detailed instructions!
I’ve tested this fix also for HP Color LaserJet 2600n and it works perfectly!
This repair requires quite a bit of time (an hour or two), and sound at first glance a bit silly, as the amount of dust in the scanner is miniscule, but the results are great! I first thought the DC controller board was broken, but the board is fine. Thanks for saving me 20-150 dollars + shipping, weeks of waiting and frustration
On behalf of 30-year-old moms everywhere, I hereby salute you! Actually I’d hug you hysterically if you were here in person. I just fixed my printer all by myself and it is working just perfect!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!
Thanks Steven, worked a treat! As an ex copier engineer It was relativly straight forward, however I would like to get hold of the guy responsible for designing the covers!!
Thanks again!
Kind regards
Andy
Hello,
First of all thank you for the extensive tutorial you have posted. I followed the steps of the tutorial and I reassembled the printer. My surprise is that now the printer does not print, paper comes out blank. I have disarmed and armed and about 5 times, and still does not print color on paper, does that I can be forgetting?
Thank you very much for your time.
@Afred, make sure all laser optics are clean, if they’re not clean, it will be impossible for the drum on each cartridge to become ionized. If they don’t become ionized then toner will not ionize onto the drum. Otherwise, sounds like your transfer belt is not working (the conveyor belt looking thing). Make sure electrical connections are not obstructed, I believe it makes a connection with a spring. This belt helps transfer the toner from the drum onto the paper.
I am having the same issue as Alfred. I cleaned the optics and put it all back together and now I am getting blank pages. I double checked all connections and pushed the little “test” button on the control board and it printed a test page with horizontal lines so I know the transfer belt is working. When I try to print a config page or demo page they are blank. Any ideas?
Alfred! I figured it out! The ribbon cable that connects the two boards on mine had a pin that was squished on one end where it plugs into the socket. I was able to reverse the cable and get the pin to connect and now it prints! Check the pins on the ribbon cable that connects the two boards and make sure one of them isn’t cinched or crushed.
Roger
Thanks Steven!!!
I was having this problem for several months and I fixed my 2600n today thanks to your great Repair Guide PDF.
Thank you for saving me the purchase of another printer, I love this one!
Great this how to fix…..! We were already thinking about buying a new printer (what a waste for we had recently changed the cartridges). My husband needed 1,5 hours to clean the printer. He did exactly what the “guideline” describes. It prints like new again, including the red colours. Thanks,Nelly
I also had this magenta problem. I followed the instructions, cleaned the mirrors, and reassembled. The magenta is now printing clearly, but now all the colors are misaligned. This is what I’ve done after cleaning the mirrors: Multiple color configs, factory reset, nvram and super nvram reset, and I replaced some of my cartridges with old ones (had to over-ride to do this) thinking it might be the cartridge. Any suggestions.
Hi Steven,
I was having an issue with my 1600 today, with the magenta not printing. I just wanted you to know… Even though you originally posted this in Oct. 2010, you ARE STILL helping people in Jan 2012!!! I cannot thank you enough for helping me fix my printer!
Respectfully,
Diana :^)
Thanks for the manual, it helped fixing my HP CLJ 3700N !
It´s printing better than ever !!
Danny