Prints pages that are too dark and smears print. Replaced fuser, charge roller, and toner. Seems like something is out of alignment?

It sounds like either your drum needs to be replaced (needs to be done every 5 or 6 toner cartridges), or you have a bad fuser (depends on what you mean by smearing).

When an image reappears further down the page (not as dark or bold) it usually means that the current in the drum is not correct, or the coating on the drum is worn. Take the cartridge assembly out and separate the drum from the cartridge. DO NOT TOUCH THE DRUM ROLLER. Look at it and see if there are streaks, color differences, or toner on the drum roller. The roller should be solid purple or green with no marks, lines, toner, or smudges on it. If it does, the drum is a replaceable part and you can get one anywhere that sells toner cartridges. They are even available in remanufactured brands.

However, if there is loose toner on the paper (wipe your hand over it and it comes off), then your fuser is bad and needs to be replaced. Another problem with the fuser you can check is whether there is toner being adhered to the fuser rollers, which could cause smearing and images to reappear on the page. To check this, open the rear cover of the printer. Inside you will see two rollers: usually an orange one on top of a black one. Be careful; the fuser can heat up to almost 400 degrees, so let it cool if you were just using it. Check to see if there is any toner on these rollers; if working properly, they should be spotless. If there is toner visible on either roller, then you may need to replace the fuser.

It is a 75% chance of your drum being the cause, which would be the problem to hope for. If your fuser is bad, in all honesty it may not be worth fixing; it can cost you up to $150.

I hope this helps! Good luck!

Smeared output can result when you refeed a printed page into the printer to make a double-sided page. This happens because the rubber rollers that grip the paper to pull it into the printer can pick up toner from the first side’s printing and smear it. So before replacing parts, this is an easy thing to check. Printing multiple pages consecutively will make the pages print progressively cleaner or you can clean the rollers with rubbing alcohol.

Smeared toner also happens because the nonstick coating on the fusing roller is scratched or has baked-on debris. This can happen if the printer is in a dirty environment especially. If you are comfortable removing the fuser, you can try to clean it with a soft cloth and alcohol, but make sure you let it cool down first!

Finally, if this does not resolve your issue then make sure the fuser is heating; toner that is not heated properly will fall from the page and smear. If the thermostat is bad or the fuser not working properly, you will most likely need to replace the entire fuser assembly. This will be pretty expensive to repair so hopefully it's one of those other issues.

Smeared output can result when you refeed a printed page into the printer to make a double-sided page. This happens because the rubber rollers that grip the paper to pull it into the printer can pick up toner from the first side’s printing and smear it. So before replacing parts, this is an easy thing to check. Printing multiple pages consecutively will make the pages print progressively cleaner or you can clean the rollers with rubbing alcohol.

Smeared toner also happens because the nonstick coating on the fusing roller is scratched or has baked-on debris. This can happen if the printer is in a dirty environment especially. If you are comfortable removing the fuser, you can try to clean it with a soft cloth and alcohol, but make sure you let it cool down first!

Finally, if this does not resolve your issue then make sure the fuser is heating; toner that is not heated properly will fall from the page and smear. If the thermostat is bad or the fuser not working properly, you will most likely need to replace the entire fuser assembly. This will be pretty expensive to repair so hopefully it's one of those other issues.

Sounds like you probably need a new fuser. Smearing is a good indicator of the fuser not getting the toner to fuse to the paper, also, if it is jamming a lot near where the paper enters the fuser, there is a good chance there is some damage on the fuser unit itself.

Smeared output can result when you re-feed a printed page into the printer to make a double-sided page. This happens because the rubber rollers that grip the paper to pull it into the printer can pick up toner from the first side’s printing and smear it. So before replacing parts, this is an easy thing to check. Printing multiple pages consecutively will make the pages print progressively cleaner or you can clean the rollers with rubbing alcohol.

Smeared toner also happens because the nonstick coating on the fusing roller is scratched or has baked-on debris. This can happen if the printer is in a dirty environment especially. If you are comfortable removing the fuser, you can try to clean it with a soft cloth and alcohol, but make sure you let it cool down first!

Finally, if this does not resolve your issue then make sure the fuser is heating; toner that is not heated properly will fall from the page and smear. If the thermostat is bad or the fuser not working properly, you will most likely need to replace the entire fuser assembly. This will be pretty expensive to repair so hopefully it's one of those other issues.

As for the noise, there are several complex gear and roller segments that drive the paper between the paper tray, the scanner, the fuser, and the finisher. If these are not perfectly aligned or dirty the printer can make a grinding noise. It's even possible that if the paper is not being fed correctly, that the shift might leave segments of it less accessible to the fuser and prevent the toner from adhering to the page.

But I would try using WD-40 to lubricate some of these components and assume the noise and the smearing are separate issues.

Printing on a laser printer has 3 steps:

1. electro-statically charging the "drum", at various tiny "pixels",
to identify where the toner-powder should be placed.

2. feeding toner-powder onto the charged drum.

3. making the fuser produce heat to "bake" the ink onto the printer.

So, a failing unit or failing electronics would "charge" *ALL* of the drum,
thus putting black ink EVERYWHERE onto the page.

Take the printer to a qualified technician.

Toner wipes off page?
Your Fuser--specifically, the pressure roller is worn out...Not worth the replacement cost on this unit.

franko21:

It sounds like you are having an issue with your fusing assembly. Here's the check you need. Measure the distance from the original print on the page and the exact spot where the repeat ghosting (same spot) appears on the page again. Here's the distances that identify the part having an issue. My guess and experience with this printer says it's probably fuser. Seen a lot of 2600n printers with image ghost problems and almost all are fuser related.

2.22" or 56.6mm = Fuser Upper Film
2.47" or 62.8mm = Fuser Lower Roller (Usually Backside)

2.97" or 75.4mm = Toner Cartridge - Drum (Usually One Color)
0.97" or 24.7mm = Toner Cartridge - Developer Roller
1.05" or 26.7mm = Toner Cartridge - Primary Charge Roller

2.15" or 54.5mm = ETB - Transfer Belt (Big Belt on Door)

If it should be the Fuser or Transfer Belt, consider not replacing the part as the minimum cost for either (part only) is $105.00 before shipping. The better alternative is to jump on Ebay and buy a HP refurb or new machine MINUS the supplies. They come with the Transfer belt and fuser. They are cheaper for the full machine than the replacement part. They average about $65.00 thru $90.00 landed.

Hope that helps you. If so, hit me with a FIXYA.

I ran the hp toolbox "cleaning" mode too and it did not help the problem at all. I still have a dark smear concentrated in the middle of the page, and ghost images repeated lighter all the way down the page.

For starters remember this is not meant to be a PHOTO Printer, I am guessing the Spearing is because Glossy paper does not hold the toner like Regular paper or at least until it is fused. I am a technitiian and i also own this printer.