HP printer printing strange pattern

TechLady

TechLady

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I may have posted about this before, but if I did I can't find it. Client has HP Officejet Pro X476dw MFP doing this again:

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Unplugging and giving it a rest doesn't seem to help, nor does driver reinstalls. This seems like it might be a hardware issue to me, but really I have no idea. Basic Google search does not bring up anything helpful and nothing like what they're seeing. Thoughts?

Correction: it's an inkjet, not laser
 
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Me either! It's really weird. Only does it with scanning or copying, not straight printing.
 
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If the printer doesn't do it, then the issue must be related to the scanner. The only thing I can think of that causes that sort of artifact from the scanning side is defective RAM. You'd have to replace the system board to repair it, the cost on that part is 50% a new printer.

Time for a new one, please note this issue will likely start to affect printing soon as well.
 
That's not a bad idea, pull it down and just move the scan head from one extreme to the other and see if you feel any catches. Those things are belt driven, and the belts have teeth. This could be as simple as a missing tooth on a belt.
 
TechLady said:
Client has HP Officejet Pro X476dw MFP doing this again:
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Again? What was the last reason for this happening?

And I agree with everyone else - computer isn't needed for copying - or any scan function.

What type of output do you get if you raise the lid and do a copy function WITHOUT anything on the scanner glass?

Is / are the scanner glass(es) - all of them - clean?

This is an expensive piece of equipment - not in the "throw-away" and buy new "group!" If you cannot figure it out - either via trial & error OR using the 'net then I suggest you contact someone local to you who has HP printer experience for pointers or even to come and take a look at it. If you were in my part of the country I could make a recommendation, but I know he doesn't travel outside of my area.
 
nlinecomputers said:
Does it matter? Can you get parts for this unit? Toss and replace.
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As a matter of fact you can for many of these models. Some or more economical than others. One customer had a problem with a similar model that indicated it needed a carriage assembly. Only $380 for that model which originally cost $450. LOL!!! But the parts for this one are reasonable on partshere.com.

If this is just related to copying/scanning it's probably an issue with the scanner PC board. But I'd get the whole scanner assembly as that is what is usually replaced.

http://www.partshere.com/online/detail.asp?partno=CN463A-Scanner_Assy
 
Markverhyden said:
Printing or copying? If copying using the flatbed or doc feeder?
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Only using the flatbed--that's it. The whole problem seems focused on the scanning part.

It's a small community here. There is only one guy that fixes these around here, and he is basically semi-retired, so maybe I could get it fixed and maybe not. I generally believe in iFixit's philosophy about not being too quick to throw out/replace, but I'm not sure the client would be too happy to spend hundreds to get this thing's scanner assembly completely redone, and then something else goes wrong or it doesn't really fix it. If I were POSITIVE that would 100% fix it and there would be no further problems I would encourage a repair, but I am a little leery of recommending that. This is a very small business with only one or two employees and they are running kind of shoestring.

Props to @Markverhyden for finding that part, though! I might run it by the printer guy just to see what he says.
 
TechLady said:
Only using the flatbed--that's it. The whole problem seems focused on the scanning part.

It's a small community here. There is only one guy that fixes these around here, and he is basically semi-retired, so maybe I could get it fixed and maybe not. I generally believe in iFixit's philosophy about not being too quick to throw out/replace, but I'm not sure the client would be too happy to spend hundreds to get this thing's scanner assembly completely redone, and then something else goes wrong or it doesn't really fix it. If I were POSITIVE that would 100% fix it and there would be no further problems I would encourage a repair, but I am a little leery of recommending that. This is a very small business with only one or two employees and they are running kind of shoestring.

Props to @Markverhyden for finding that part, though! I might run it by the printer guy just to see what he says.
Click to expand...

You're welcome. If it's just the flatbed and not using the doc feeder then is the scanner transport. Personally I'd not have a problem recommending a repair. The part is reasonable. Labor would be an hour tops.

Edit: forgot to mention that there should be a calibration procedure to perform. Doubtful it'll fix a problem like this but you never know.

Service Manual
 
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