MP C401 - Cooling fan runs constantly

[sandmanmac]

Hi all.
Just picked up a low meter MP C401 (20K). Looks and runs perfectly except the fuser cooling fan runs constantly.
I did some looking on the forum, but can't find much direction on this - for any model really.
Firmware is as current as I have available to me at the moment (mid 2019), so I suppose it could be that, but never run across the issue before, and I have quite a few of them out.

Any suggestions?
Thanks a lot

[luca72]

Re: MP C401 - Cooling fan runs constantly

Hi all.
Just picked up a low meter MP C401 (20K). Looks and runs perfectly except the fuser cooling fan runs constantly.
I did some looking on the forum, but can't find much direction on this - for any model really.
Firmware is as current as I have available to me at the moment (mid 2019), so I suppose it could be that, but never run across the issue before, and I have quite a few of them out.

Any suggestions?
Thanks a lot

since the fans are activated by the board, I would try to update the firmware or overwrite it, and do some sp801 engine
I see that the fuser fans are two, (fan5, fan6) connected via cn7 and cn8 to cn120 on the BCU, then there is fan7 (drive) always on cn120.. does it also work in stand-by?

[MIKON]

Re: MP C401 - Cooling fan runs constantly

Check sp-1950 4 and 5

[CopyBats]

Re: MP C401 - Cooling fan runs constantly

Im sure you probably already checked but are the ozone filters for the machine clean?

[Debs1964]

Re: MP C401 - Cooling fan runs constantly

Hi all.
Just picked up a low meter MP C401 (20K). Looks and runs perfectly except the fuser cooling fan runs constantly.
I did some looking on the forum, but can't find much direction on this - for any model really.
Firmware is as current as I have available to me at the moment (mid 2019), so I suppose it could be that, but never run across the issue before, and I have quite a few of them out.

Any suggestions?
Thanks a lot

Do you have it connected to a network? This sounds strange, but if the print driver is not PCL6 this can cause the fans to run constantly

[mga]

Re: MP C401 - Cooling fan runs constantly

Hi all.
Just picked up a low meter MP C401 (20K). Looks and runs perfectly except the fuser cooling fan runs constantly.
I did some looking on the forum, but can't find much direction on this - for any model really.
Firmware is as current as I have available to me at the moment (mid 2019), so I suppose it could be that, but never run across the issue before, and I have quite a few of them out.

Any suggestions?
Thanks a lot

Try this
Switch to this mode to enhance noise reduction.In silent mode, scanning and copying/printing is slower than usual.
Press [Home] (Operation panel screen illustration) at the bottom of the screen in the center.
Flick the screen to the left, and then press the [User Tools] (Operation panel screen illustration) icon.
Press [Machine Features].
Press [System Settings].
Check that [General Features] is selected.
Press [Silent Mode].
Press [On].
Press [OK].
Press [Exit].
Press [User Tools] (Operation panel screen illustration) on the top right of the screen.
Press [Home] (Operation panel screen illustration) at the bottom of the screen in the center.

[tsbservice]

Re: MP C401 - Cooling fan runs constantly

Try this
Switch to this mode to enhance noise reduction.In silent mode, scanning and copying/printing is slower than usual.
Press [Home] (Operation panel screen illustration) at the bottom of the screen in the center.
Flick the screen to the left, and then press the [User Tools] (Operation panel screen illustration) icon.
Press [Machine Features].
Press [System Settings].
Check that [General Features] is selected.
Press [Silent Mode].
Press [On].
Press [OK].
Press [Exit].
Press [User Tools] (Operation panel screen illustration) on the top right of the screen.
Press [Home] (Operation panel screen illustration) at the bottom of the screen in the center.

Mark just hope Ricoh isn't like Brother
On my few encounters with silent mode they(Brother MFPs) were pretty much annoying...killing me sooo slooowly
Can't speak from experience about Ricoh but in any other brand I work picking used machine with strange behavior I would consider doing system clear/reset back to factory default. That may and actually saved my time in few cases when previous engineers changed some odd settings carelessly.

[mga]

Re: MP C401 - Cooling fan runs constantly

Mark just hope Ricoh isn't like Brother
On my few encounters with silent mode they(Brother MFPs) were pretty much annoying...killing me sooo slooowly
Can't speak from experience about Ricoh but in any other brand I work picking used machine with strange behavior I would consider doing system clear/reset back to factory default. That may and actually saved my time in few cases when previous engineers changed some odd settings carelessly.

Hi ivo
All used Ricoh I sell I take back to default once papercut etc is installed unless removed properly the machine is a nightmare to set up.

Stay safe friend.

[luca72]

Re: MP C401 - Cooling fan runs constantly

Do you have it connected to a network? This sounds strange, but if the print driver is not PCL6 this can cause the fans to run constantly

interesting, then, if it happens to me, to do a test, if I unplug the cable does it stop?

[slimslob]

Re: MP C401 - Cooling fan runs constantly

interesting, then, if it happens to me, to do a test, if I unplug the cable does it stop?

Yes if it happen to be SNMP queries that are kicking the fan on.

[sandmanmac]

Re: MP C401 - Cooling fan runs constantly

Thanks for all the replies!
No luck yet. I've done everything - except newer F/W.

To answer a few questions:
- Yes, it runs 24/7 constantly. Although, I can hear It cycle down every few minutes, but it starts up again before it even stops spinning .

- It is/ was connected to my home network, and PCL6 in use, but didn't make a difference when disconnected (interesting tip to keep in mind though).

- Ozone Filters are clean enough to eat off.....but I won't

- SP1950 are all set to 0

- Tried Silent mode setting but made no difference.

I think my next step will be to pour myself a cocktail, print off the non-defaults, and try a full memory clear, and see what happens

[tsbservice]

Re: MP C401 - Cooling fan runs constantly

Cooling fans are usually run by main board. Can you unplug the fan in question from main board and temporary plug in another fan in his place(assuming you have fan from another machine) not really needed to be exactly the same as long as its connector fits. That would completely rull out fan and its connector/or not.
I know it's wild but just throwing ideas in hope to help...

[sandmanmac]

Re: MP C401 - Cooling fan runs constantly

Do you have it connected to a network? This sounds strange, but if the print driver is not PCL6 this can cause the fans to run constantly

So I just got back to this issue after some time, and thought I'd dig a little deeper.
First of all, Debs, You are correct after-all!
(On a personal note, I've been meaning to say how nice it is to have you back around here adding your expertise to the forum!!)

I think I may just not have given it enough time when I tried the first time, but I'll be damned if the fan doesn't stop after about a minute when I disconnect the network cable! (BTW, it's the cooling fan on the controller board)

However, it doesn't seem to have anything to do with drivers specifically
It starts up the second that I connect the network cable, even with no driver installed on my PC pointed towards the machine. I've tried changing the IP address on the machine, and Setting DHCP. No change.
It was connected to a wireless range extender, and I tried it connected directly to my router, and a different cable. No change.

Performed complete Memory clear, and re-entered ALL non-defaults.....an exercise in futility!

Luca suggested overwriting the F/W, but if I try to do so, it just says 'complete' without doing anything, and I don't have any older versions to try rolling it back.

Any other suggestions for this one?

[slimslob]

Re: MP C401 - Cooling fan runs constantly

So I just got back to this issue after some time, and thought I'd dig a little deeper.
First of all, Debs, You are correct after-all!
(On a personal note, I've been meaning to say how nice it is to have you back around here adding your expertise to the forum!!)

I think I may just not have given it enough time when I tried the first time, but I'll be damned if the fan doesn't stop after about a minute when I disconnect the network cable! (BTW, it's the cooling fan on the controller board)

However, it doesn't seem to have anything to do with drivers specifically
It starts up the second that I connect the network cable, even with no driver installed on my PC pointed towards the machine. I've tried changing the IP address on the machine, and Setting DHCP. No change.
It was connected to a wireless range extender, and I tried it connected directly to my router, and a different cable. No change.

Performed complete Memory clear, and re-entered ALL non-defaults.....an exercise in futility!

Luca suggested overwriting the F/W, but if I try to do so, it just says 'complete' without doing anything, and I don't have any older versions to try rolling it back.

Any other suggestions for this one?

Does the network jack that it is connected support PoE, Power over Ethernet? Only thing that I can thing of. If it does inserting a small work group switch that does not provide PoE should block it.

[sandmanmac]

Re: MP C401 - Cooling fan runs constantly

Does the network jack that it is connected support PoE, Power over Ethernet? Only thing that I can thing of. If it does inserting a small work group switch that does not provide PoE should block it.

Darn it, Tim!
That sounded like such a promising idea that I ran out to my car to grab a switch, but as soon as I connected the machine to it - even BEFORE connecting to the network, the fan started spinning!
I also tried connecting directly to my laptop. Same thing