Deteriorating image quality
Good Evening Robert,
The setting for non dell toner only controls the fuser temperature, and will not cause you any print quality issues. Toner is actually made up of ink and plastic. The fuser melts the plastic to "fuse" the image to the paper. Dell toner is set to "fuse" at a specific temperature. when you use non Dell toners, the temperature required to fuse may be different, and when set to non dell toner setting, the fuser temperature is raised to the maximum to ensure the other toner fuses properly. The down side to this is that you will wear out the fuser sooner then it should.
As far as the print quality issue you are having, it is most likey caused by the imaging drum.
Regardless of the estimated life for the imaging drum as stated by the printer, this is just an estimate. Many things can and will cause the imaging drum need replacing. ( Just yesterday I replaced a black toner in a 3115 that was less then a month old... genuine Dell... with more then 75% expected usage left because it was defective).
On this printer, each of the 3 colors and the black are all independent of each other with the exception of the imaging drum. Even within the imaging drum, cyan and black are independent of magenta and yellow on the first stage of transfer. When you have deteriorated print quality that effects more then one color, the first step is to replace the imaging drum.
The Primary transfer, secondary transfer, and tertiary transfer of the image are ALL contained within the imaging drum.
The chances of having 3 or 4 bad Developers is very very slim. If your print quality issue was related to only ONE color, then I would say you had a bad developer unit ( the 4 items located behind the imaging drum when removed). These are far more difficult and expensive to change.
The BTR ( bios transfer roller ) is the only other item that "could" effect your print quality, however, based on the symptoms you discribed, I doubt it. Besides, if i am not mistaken, the imaging drum kit comes with a new btr anyway.
Although I am sure you may be disappointed with the fact the drum unit is failing while showing it still has life remaining, the solution to replace it should restore your unit to full operation. The unit is light sensative, and effected by physical age as well as the number of prints it has supplied.
Please evaluate the solution i have provided and, rate the solution appropriately to show your support.
Thanks,
Cory
The color cartridge is pretty much full
It is an original cartridge. It seems to be printing the other colors ok, but the yellow stripes go right over top of it. So you still think if I replace the cartridge it will work? I am contemplating just getting another printer because by the time I buy new cartridges I can pretty much buy another printer. Your thoughts?
Great! Thanks for all your help! I really appreciate the quick response, this printer has been driving me crazy! I think I will go get a new one:)
Thanks again!
×