[Misc] MP 3504ex says toner is depleted but it isn't.

[stricky1]

Hello! I have a MP C3504ex that is telling me that I need to replace the toner cartridge and that the toner is depleted. The cartridge is new and I removed the paper output tray and I can see the toner cartridge spinning.

After a minute or so, it says to replace cartridge toner is depleted. I remove the toner cartridge and there is some toner dumping, but not a huge amount....maybe a teaspoon or so worth.

I've repeatedly cleaned it, made sure the contact are clean and connecting. I did a little research and it says the problem might be a broken gear in the PCU.

So my next question is, will a PCU from a 3501 fit in a 3504?

Thank you in advance.

[davel]

Re: MP 3504ex says toner is depleted but it isn't.

No way will it fit, if you have to ask that you must be an end user, do yourself a favour and call a tech.

[copier tech]

Re: MP 3504ex says toner is depleted but it isn't.

Hello! I have a MP C3504ex that is telling me that I need to replace the toner cartridge and that the toner is depleted. The cartridge is new and I removed the paper output tray and I can see the toner cartridge spinning.

After a minute or so, it says to replace cartridge toner is depleted. I remove the toner cartridge and there is some toner dumping, but not a huge amount....maybe a teaspoon or so worth.

I've repeatedly cleaned it, made sure the contact are clean and connecting. I did a little research and it says the problem might be a broken gear in the PCU.

So my next question is, will a PCU from a 3501 fit in a 3504?

Thank you in advance.

This is a very common issue with the METIS models.

You need to replace the toner hopper & possibly the dev unit (not the same as the 3501)

You've not said what colour the machine is calling for but replace the hopper for that colour.

[Phil B.]

Re: MP 3504ex says toner is depleted but it isn't.

you left out some really important info:

how many pages on machine/pm parts?

are you using genuine OEM Ricoh toner/drums?

other than slapping toners in what have you done?

are you a tech.. or end user?
(betting End User)

did you search CTN for like Ricohs with same problem?
(betting NO)

[slimslob]

Re: MP 3504ex says toner is depleted but it isn't.

This can happen if the toner system was not properly initialized when first power up. From the installation procedures in the service manual "If the initial toner supply is not performed at installation, and the machine goes to the toner end condition even if the machine has plenty of toner in the toner bottle."

[Oze]

Re: MP 3504ex says toner is depleted but it isn't.

No way will it fit, if you have to ask that you must be an end user, do yourself a favour and call a tech.

DITTO...

[Codex]

Re: MP 3504ex says toner is depleted but it isn't.

Had this last week....dead dev ubkt that causes a fault in the toner hopper

Inviato dal mio SM-G935F utilizzando Tapatalk

[fshead]

Re: MP 3504ex says toner is depleted but it isn't.

Hello! I have a MP C3504ex that is telling me that I need to replace the toner cartridge and that the toner is depleted. The cartridge is new and I removed the paper output tray and I can see the toner cartridge spinning.

After a minute or so, it says to replace cartridge toner is depleted. I remove the toner cartridge and there is some toner dumping, but not a huge amount....maybe a teaspoon or so worth.

I've repeatedly cleaned it, made sure the contact are clean and connecting. I did a little research and it says the problem might be a broken gear in the PCU.

So my next question is, will a PCU from a 3501 fit in a 3504?

Thank you in advance.

just by this question TELLS ME this guy is no tech..

So my next question is, will a PCU from a 3501 fit in a 3504?

[copier tech]

Re: MP 3504ex says toner is depleted but it isn't.

Had this last week....dead dev ubkt that causes a fault in the toner hopper

Inviato dal mio SM-G935F utilizzando Tapatalk

Seen so many of these hoppers fail from early MP C2003 right up to later MP C2504exp

Does anyone know if they have finally modified them on the IMC range?

[Oze]

Re: MP 3504ex says toner is depleted but it isn't.

Seen so many of these hoppers fail from early MP C2003 right up to later MP C2504exp

Does anyone know if they have finally modified them on the IMC range?

Ricoh reckon that it was a faulty dev bearing causing all these issues.
It was "fixed" in subsequent batches but I've had an issue where a tech went to an '04 twice for the same problem.
Fitted a complete pcdu the first time (flipped the auger in the sub hopper) and then just the dev and it did the same thing.
The fix for me has been new dev and new sub hopper and DO NOT do a forced toner (he ran quite a few forced toner:junior tech).
Let the machine add toner normally.

[BLADE]

Re: MP 3504ex says toner is depleted but it isn't.

maybe the "knocker" was to fix this

[Oze]

Re: MP 3504ex says toner is depleted but it isn't.

maybe the "knocker" was to fix this

Nah..the :knocker" was to break up toner lumps accumulating at the cleaning blade and causing white lines.
The cause of the flipped augers was allegedly a factory defect in the dev bearings.

[BLADE]

Re: MP 3504ex says toner is depleted but it isn't.

Nah..the :knocker" was to break up toner lumps accumulating at the cleaning blade and causing white lines.
The cause of the flipped augers was allegedly a factory defect in the dev bearings.

I,m gonna stick with my theory. I also reckon users don't shake the bottles enough also

[Codex]

Re: MP 3504ex says toner is depleted but it isn't.

Ricoh reckon that it was a faulty dev bearing causing all these issues.
It was "fixed" in subsequent batches but I've had an issue where a tech went to an '04 twice for the same problem.
Fitted a complete pcdu the first time (flipped the auger in the sub hopper) and then just the dev and it did the same thing.
The fix for me has been new dev and new sub hopper and DO NOT do a forced toner (he ran quite a few forced toner:junior tech).
Let the machine add toner normally.

Is there any tech bulletin?

Inviato dal mio SM-G935F utilizzando Tapatalk

[stricky1]

Re: MP 3504ex says toner is depleted but it isn't.

Hello again. Thank you for your responses. I actually am a tech...with just about 3 weeks experience and I'm still waiting to attend the Ricoh training courses.
I just retired from the USAF after 20 years doing networking, phones, cryptos, small computers, and servers. So I do apologize for my newbie question but I don't have the decades of experience most of you on this forum do.

I had 2 days of turn over before the last tech left. Meanwhile I have customers who are, for the most part, at a work stoppage because they have copiers that are broken and I'm doing what I can to fix them. I'm learning as I go and have managed to fix quite a few of them.

I came to this forum when I was looking through the last tech's notebook and found this website with the login information. So I figured I'd give it a shot.

I asked about the 3501 parts fitting 3504 because I don't know what parts are interchangable and what aren't. Plus the only parts I have on hand are for a 3501, so I was hoping that might work without having to order parts.

I've got a slew of problems that I'm working on....307's that aren't recognizing the Cyan toner, a 6001 that won't feed from the 3rd draw (paperless paper jam isses), a 7501 that's leaving a gray band near the bottom of the pages. This 3504 is priority at the moment, because it effects the most users, so I posted about it.


Respones to questions or comments:

Copier Tech: It's the Cyan toner.

Phil B.: Copy Count is 44,136, yes I am using genuine OEM toner. I used an ESD vacuum to clean the machine. There was a large amount of Cyan toner dump when I first arrived. I removed the paper output tray to see the inside to look for any obvious problems. I don't know what else to do, so I posted here. I don't know what CTN is, and I don't have access to the TSRC site without a tech ID.

Slimslob: I will review the installation instructions and see if this might fix it.


Blade: I shook the new toner cartidge like it owed me money.


So in conclusion, to those of you that gave me options and things to try I will, and greatly appreciate you sharing your knowledge with me. To those who just want to bust my chops as to whether I'm an end user or a wannabe tech, thank you for wasting my time reading your comments that were 100% useless.


Cheers!