How to Troubleshoot a Sharp Fax Machine

Some Sharp fax machines are not compatible with digital telephone systems.

Sharp sells a number of fax machines, ranging in price and capability. Many have semi-automatic duplex scanning, which prompts the user to flip over the duplex original, and a scan to email capability, allowing you to send a hard-copy document to email. Their machines also often come with document security, which holds sensitive documents on the print server and not the fax machine itself and an ergonomically-designed tilting display. If you find you are experiencing difficulties with your Sharp fax machine, attempt to troubleshoot it on your own before you contact a service center.

Things You'll Need

• Soft cloth

Instructions

How to Troubleshoot a Sharp Fax Machine

1. Ensure that the telephone line cord is plugged into telephone "line" socket, and not the telephone "set" socket ( if the power to your Sharp fax is on, but no transmission will take place). Make sure that the receiving machine is not in manual mode with no attendant. If it is, reception will not be possible. Verify that the receiving machine is G3 compatible if it is not a Sharp model. See if there are any error messages on the display and listen for a dial tone from the handset. If none of these steps help, manually call the receiving machine and see if you get a response.

2. Press any three keys on the phone if, after answering it, your voice phone calls (taken on an
   extension phone) are being interrupted by the fax machine. Make sure you do not accidentally enter the code to activate the fax reception. The reception mode may be set to "A.M." Press the reception mode until it says "Auto" or "Manual."

3. Try to resend your document if the person you are faxing to receives a distorted image on the other end. The distortion may be caused by noise on the phone line. If this does not work, attempt to make a copy of your document on your fax machine. The problem may be with your fax machine if the copy is also distorted. If this is the case, you will need to contact a service center.

4. Verify that you have enough paper if no reception occurs when you attempt polling. Polling is when your fax machine contacts another fax machine and requests that it fax back a certain document. The transmitting machine must also be in automatic reception mode. If the transmitting fax machine has a polling security system, ensure that your fax number has been entered, in both your machine and the transmitting one.

5. Clean your fax print head and the scanning glass if the quality of your copies is poor or if there are black spots on the transmitted document. Dirt on the glass will cause spots on your transmission. Use a soft cloth when wiping down the scanning glass and rollers.

Tips & Warnings

• When wiping the scanner glass, rollers and fax print head, make sure to not to damage any of the protruding parts on the underside of the operation panel.

References

• Sharp Fax Machine Manual
• Sharp USA website