mx 3501n maint. code ca

[lightningjeremy]

i'm working on this machine for the first time for some streaks. while testing the maint. code ca came up. what does this code mean? machine looks like it needs a transfer cleaning assembly. what is involved with changing it? thanx

[Akitu]

From the manual:

The maintenance counters (color) reaches
90% of the set value of SIM21-1, or they
reaches the set value of SIM21-1 but SIM26-
38 is set to Print Enable.

Your colour maintenance counters need to be reset after the PM.

[OMD-227]

CA Maintenance on the MX's, means that the color maintenance counter is due. The machine normally displays either a drum or dev message first eg DK,DM,DC,DY VK,VC,VM,VY as these are the consumable items and will appear when item has reached page count or rotation life (whichever comes first). If you have CA maintenance on display, There is a very good chance that all color items are due together (most likely case) or on the last color maintenance call, the drums/devs were replaced & reset, but the color maintenance count was not reset as well.
Basically, you need to check 22-01 & 22-13. This will show the maint counts and the rotation life of the drums/devs (% out of 100) and the actual page counts of the items.

As for the streaking, what color is streaking?
If the color streaking/lines are an actual toner color (CMY or K) then the problem is worn drums/mc grids. If the streaking/lines are a murky greeny/yellow, then that is a problem with the primary transfer belt cleaning unit/blade, as the color is mixed, and is dumping waste toner on the page due to poor cleaning.

Really easy to diagnose whats going on. You can also just remove the belt. If the upper side of the belt has toner on it, then you have poor cleaning as this should be spotless.

[Akitu]

Couldn't have said it better myself Wazza.

[lightningjeremy]

the color streaks are different colors. when i was working on it they were cyan, but the customer had recent samples that were magenta and black

[OMD-227]

That means the drums/mc grids are worn, or at end-of-life.

Check the counters and you'll see exactly whats going on.

[Mr. Fix It]

as there always is a cost issue: What is your opinion wazza on machines who displays VC VM VY codes earlier than the specified volume (page count). I have tested on some machines to adjust the DV range in 80-2 (not to zero but a lower value). It seems that it works fine, and no complaints from the customers about quality.

[OMD-227]

Well, I rarely see any VC VM VY VK codes, because when a drum is replaced, either the dev is replaced or reset at the same time. The machine will always display a drum maintenance code over a dev maintenance code, so if your machine has counters for drum & devs that are out of sync with each other, you will see dev maintenance codes appear. This is a waste of time, as you are going back for dev changes, technically doubling-up on service calls.

As with any other MX color, most of the time, you can get double life out of the devs anyway. I only replace when needed, or every second rotation life. The quality is great anyway. You are right in saying that it works fine, with no complaints. I totally agree. Even if the color density is a little bit light after changing drums, just run a 44-06 & 44-26 straight away, forcing a manual process control & halftone adjustment, and it will come up really good.

[lightningjeremy]

how do i access service mode to reset the meters and do adjustments

[Akitu]

P/# -> * -> C -> *

24 to reset PM counters and follow the aforementioned codes by Wazza for adjustments.