Ricoh AF3030 faded prints

[jaspiau]

Hi friends,

Can you suggest something for this machine Ricoh AF3030.

I have been to this customer last week, & it was having ghost images & faded prints. I replaced hot roller, pressure roller, thermistors in fuser & also replaced PCU. Took out few copies & seems fine.

Again yesterday went back to the custmer with the same complaint of faded prints. Seems that toner bottle cap did'nt open & hence no toner supplied to the PCU. Cleaned & Vaccumed toner hopper, replaced with new toner bottle, did forced toner supply, developer mixing, little improvement & hence also replaced PCU once again.

After one hour, phoned customer & came to know that the problem has come back.

I have to go back on Tue, so can you please suggest anything?

(I have ordered toner hopper & toner bottle motor. - but if the toner motor is not moving, how come the image quality improves after forced toner supply?)

Please suggest.

Thanks.

Cheers,
JASPI.

[rthonpm]

Toner hopper is usually a winner with this issue. Image quality improves because toner does get to the PCU, but as it isn't able to keep density it reads as out of toner again. Also check the laser slit glass under the toner area: if it's covered with any toner your copies will be light, but if it cleared with toner in the PCU then the machine just needs toner.

Also be sure to check the gears on the developer unit: if they have worn out then the PCU can't deliver the toner through so your copies never get the toner out of the drum unit.

[jaspiau]

Toner hopper is usually a winner with this issue. Image quality improves because toner does get to the PCU, but as it isn't able to keep density it reads as out of toner again. Also check the laser slit glass under the toner area: if it's covered with any toner your copies will be light, but if it cleared with toner in the PCU then the machine just needs toner.

Also be sure to check the gears on the developer unit: if they have worn out then the PCU can't deliver the toner through so your copies never get the toner out of the drum unit.

Thanks Buddy,

I have already replaced with new PCU which contains complete unit drum & dev unit. I have ordered a new toner hopper unit & motor. Let's see how it goes. I will keep this updated.
Thanks.
JASPIAU

[salmandol]

could be a dirty or bad id sensor... check the connector for id sensor at the lower rear of right door... the wires tend to burst

[jaspiau]

Thanks friends for all your suggestions.
Checked SMC, saw a lot of 355 in the history, so finally replaced power pack, problem still remains. Then just got my eye on the toner motor value which someone has changed to 3 instead of 0. Changed to 0 & the toner motor started feeding more toner & finally the problem solved.
JASPIAU.