[Error Code] Ricoh CL4000DN Replace Black PCU Error Message

[jsulliva]

Ricoh CL4000DN "Replace Black PCU" Error Message.
Is there a point when the printer will actually stop because of this?

I'm not rich and PCU's are expensive. As this error is based on expected life but not actual wear, how can I tell when I really need to replace it?
I.e. what do I look / watch for to decide when to replace it?

And I know the color PCUs are not far behind ($$$).

Thanks,
John

[ucinn]

Re: Ricoh CL4000DN Replace Black PCU Error Message

Ricoh CL4000DN "Replace Black PCU" Error Message.
Is there a point when the printer will actually stop because of this?

I'm not rich and PCU's are expensive. As this error is based on expected life but not actual wear, how can I tell when I really need to replace it?
I.e. what do I look / watch for to decide when to replace it?

And I know the color PCUs are not far behind ($$$).

Thanks,
John

I do not believe it will shut down from this message and it is an internal couter. If you leave it in, you will need to look for quality issues..spots, streaks. Just to let you know, you do risk damage to your machine by not replacing it. If that developer starts leaking into the machine, you can cause some major damage... just something to think about.

[jsulliva]

Re: Ricoh CL4000DN Replace Black PCU Error Message

Thank you, very much, for that information.

If you don't mind thinking about this one a bit more - am I likely to see quality problems before developer leakage occurs, or do they go hand in hand?

I have a PCU on order - it is just a question of when.

Also, what does one do with the old one?
Are they recyclable or rebuild able?

Thanks again.
John

[ucinn]

Re: Ricoh CL4000DN Replace Black PCU Error Message

Thank you, very much, for that information.

If you don't mind thinking about this one a bit more - am I likely to see quality problems before developer leakage occurs, or do they go hand in hand?

I have a PCU on order - it is just a question of when.

Also, what does one do with the old one?
Are they recyclable or rebuild able?

Thanks again.
John

It's a crap shoot on if you would see quality problems first or not..sometimes yes, sometimes no.

I'm not sure if they recycle these ones or not. It should come with a return label in the box if they do.

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Re: Ricoh CL4000DN Replace Black PCU Error Message

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[jsulliva]

Re: Ricoh CL4000DN Replace Black PCU Error Message

Ucinn,

Thank you.
I appreciate your honesty and advice on the matter.

John

[jsulliva]

Re: Ricoh CL4000DN Replace Black PCU Error Message

Update on this thread. I waited a week or two longer (either I'm thrifty, cheap, curious, dumb, all-of-the-above) and one day I started getting RED (MAGENTA) streaks / lines) from top to bottom of page; first a few quickly becoming many. Not BLACK as in "Replace BLACK PCU" warning message. Anyway, figuring I had waited too long and the color PCU's would be due for replacement soon, I replaced them all. Also vacuumed throughout inside as best I could. Noticed some black spots/blotches on the intermediate transfer belt so I cleaned them off with alcohol (suggestion I got elsewhere).

Printing was still messy for a few pages and then cleared up - so it all worked out.

But now I'm curious and trying to learn - would worn-out (possibly leaking) BLACK PCU cause the RED (Magenta) lines?
Or did the RED/MAGENTA PCU decide to fail at about the same time, event though the printer did not yet call for its replacement?

Thank you,
John

[ucinn]

Re: Ricoh CL4000DN Replace Black PCU Error Message

Update on this thread. I waited a week or two longer (either I'm thrifty, cheap, curious, dumb, all-of-the-above) and one day I started getting RED (MAGENTA) streaks / lines) from top to bottom of page; first a few quickly becoming many. Not BLACK as in "Replace BLACK PCU" warning message. Anyway, figuring I had waited too long and the color PCU's would be due for replacement soon, I replaced them all. Also vacuumed throughout inside as best I could. Noticed some black spots/blotches on the intermediate transfer belt so I cleaned them off with alcohol (suggestion I got elsewhere).

Printing was still messy for a few pages and then cleared up - so it all worked out.

But now I'm curious and trying to learn - would worn-out (possibly leaking) BLACK PCU cause the RED (Magenta) lines?
Or did the RED/MAGENTA PCU decide to fail at about the same time, event though the printer did not yet call for its replacement?

Thank you,
John

Highly unlikely that the black PCU would cause your magenta lines. It was just coincidence that the magenta went out also. They don't always make it the life to where the message comes up for various reasons. One is time, which can cause the rubber cleaning blade and the charge roller to become dry and cracked and thus not work correctly. The yield measurements on these parts (drums, developers, ITB's Fusers) are all based on a 5% coverage rate making prints of 20 or more at a time. If your coverage is more than 5% or you make less than 20 prints at a time, your life expectancy can decrease. Also your toner yield will not be as advertised also. The black spots on the transfer belt could very well be caused by a bad black PCU.

[jsulliva]

Re: Ricoh CL4000DN Replace Black PCU Error Message

Thank you for the details. That explains quite a bit. I try to print in large batches because I figured that would get the best life from the printer, but you can't always avoid the small, even single page prints. And I almost always always print much more than the 5% coverage quoted, as much of the printing involves pictures.
Good thing I replaced all the PCUs when I did.
It was expensive, but it had to be done.

Thanks again.
John

[oel]

Re: Ricoh CL4000DN Replace Black PCU Error Message

Like any printer PCU units are set internally with alarms due to amount of copies if you do not replace when alarm is on it willperform normally until eventually deteriorate and C.Q will force to be replace. most of fuser are the same.

[jsulliva]

Re: Ricoh CL4000DN Replace Black PCU Error Message

I guess that makes sense.
Thank you.
John