[CQ] 408ci Blurry Color Copies - Copies Only

[mntech]

I have a 408ci that makes the text blurry when copying in color, but looks fine copying in B&W. Print color registration is spot on.
Scanning to e-mail looks perfect, so it is just copies. Tried tweaking different settings like original image type and sharpness with little no difference.

Firmware has been updated, I replaced the ISU before I realized scan to e-mail was fine, factory reset, U024 initialization.

See attachments. 1st page is feeder, 2nd page is off glass. It seems worse on the rear machine side.

Any ideas? Are there settings in U mode that would fix this, I don't believe I have an auto adjustment chart for this model.

Thanks,
MNTECH

[kyotechnz]

Have you run U464,U469 and U410?
Remember it will be mixing the colour toners to get the black.
Maybe do a colour belt to see if it is printing the colours correctly.
Also I would get the scanner adjustment chart and recalibrate the scanner.

[Ropariva]

Resolving an issue like this is all about elimination. It sounds like you have eliminated the scanner(scan to email is ok) and laser(replaced LSU), but have you really?
What do the prints from PC look like? Send a test print of an edge to edge page of 12 point text in full colour and also in B/W. Are they perfect? If so you have eliminated LSU and the entire print engine and you can move on to the scanner unit. If the prints aren’t perfect then your scanner may just be highlighting those imperfections.
Following a fault finding procedure that confirms what isn’t wrong will eventually lead you to discover what is.
I had a client a few years ago that had terrible copies. They had one of those calming oil/incense burners running all day to try and cover a sewerage smell from a blocked drain. The oils had deposited on the optics, lens and CCD. Had to replace the whole lens assembly.

[mntech]

I did not replace the LSU, but the ISU (lens assembly) so I have ruled out scanning mechanism.

There have been no complaints or anything I could notice on prints, but I might have to run more tests on prints. (I didn't have my loop with me for checking fine details of prints.)

Usually I would notice a color reg issue right away, but maybe I'll try some test prints with text like Ropariva has suggested and change the color to slightly off black so the printer is forced to recreate with all colors

[blackcat4866]

Those images aren't very helpful to try to diagnose a color issue. How about something with color, like these?

[mntech]

Thank you for the printing charts blackcast, I'll be sure to add these to my arsenal.

Problem did end up being a slight color registration issue, it was only noticeable under a loop. Cleaning of the belt sensors and re-ran calibrations and copies are looking good.