Brother HL-L5100DW, 5200DW, 6200DW, and similar laser printers will eventually get faded print on the left edge of the page. Toner and drum replacement do not correct the problem, but I'll show you how to fix it.
I followed this guide to fix two HL-L6400DW that was gonna get trashed since they didn't work after we replaced both drum and toner. Worked like a charm, q-tip (special kind, made for cleaning a big Roland-printer) and isopropyl alcohol. Both printers like new again. Can't recommend this enough. The L6400DW is mostly the same process in terms of getting access to the laser unit, can easily be done based on this video. 💯
I only made this video because of the personal satisfaction I get when saving another Brother printer. Never thinking so many others would benefit by it. It is great to hear your success stories. Thanks!
Thank you!! You’re brilliant. Just completed this after a very frustrating day yesterday with my brother printer doing this exact same thing and then I found your video. It WORKED like a CHARM💕
"YOURE BREAKING MY PRINTER!!!" "Maam, I need to take it apart in order to fix it..." Your fix worked, thanks. I now have a satisfied customer who is super annoyed with me 😅
That is always good practice either way. It will also protect your fingers from the alcohol. I have a bad habit of tearing gloves, so I seldom wear them. It is most important to avoid touching the mirrored surfaces with anything but the cleaning cloth.
Cool, glad to hear that! There's a dozen things that can affect image quality, so this is no guaranteed fix. But it is a good possibility, especially when using aftermarket toner. Another tip- The fuser is not hot enough for some aftermarket toner. You will notice the text smudge when you rub you finger across it. Go into the printer software settings for paper stock and change it from plain paper to thicker, or card stock. It slows the print speed down, spending more time passing through the fuser, and gets a better bond.
I have a HL-L2330D that seems to fade my prints in the middle of the page even though my toner is high. Do you happen to know if it'll be a similar fix?
I've never had a 2300 series printer open, but the laser assembly should be similar. However, with the leading edge of the rotating optics catching the contamination, fading should show on the left edge of the page. I would be more suspicious of the drum. I believe that printer still has a separate drum and toner cartridge? Cleaning optics is a free step in troubleshooting either way.
@@callmemike6171 Thank you for your reply! The solution I found was to shake the toner cartridge from side to side several times after every several pages of printing to evenly distribute the toner. Rather annoying but that seems to work in stopping faint printing in the middle. I appreciate your reply
I don't know what model you are working on, but I was able to pop the lid on a HL-L5470DW for a quick video. I hope it helps. It will be available from this link- ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1sFHStbdPxY.html
There should be only one cable running from the control panel on the cover to the main control board, behind the left side panel. I only have access to a printer when one is down for service. Fortunately, not too often. Sorry I can't be more help.
@callmemike6171 the video you uploaded looks like my printer, but that yellow control panel popped out as well as the lcd display. I don't know how it goes back in.
I'll see if the printer is still around tomorrow. If so, I'll pull the top panel apart and try to record the assembly of yellow display and control panel boards. It should be uploaded around this time tomorrow.
Unable Print 04 can be dirty optics. Clean all mirrors. Check ribbon cable connections, and see if it clears. I never had an 04 error, so I don't have experience with it.
Tony- Sorry to hear you ran into a problem. Cleaning the optics is really no different than cleaning a pair of reading glasses. Alcohol on a soft cloth, and make sure there is no haze or residue left when finished. My guess is haze, and that can be wiped with a dry microfiber cloth. The rest of the optics are mounted fairly well, so I doubt any were bumped and misaligned.
Unfortunately, cleaning optics only cures one potential quality issue, but a common one. If the whole page is less than perfect with fading, ghosting, or blotching, then there is something more going on. It could be toner cartridge, drum, fusing unit, or even electronics. If the page looks great except for the left border fading out, then I would still give optics another shot. Isopropyl alcohol 99% on rotating optics and all other mirrors in the path. Treat it like cleaning a pair of eye glasses. Thanks, good luck!
