How to Repair a Laser Technologies Printer

Large offices can use a single laser printer for their printing needs.

Laser printers are more complex than photocopier and inkjet printers, but the end result of using this technology is high quality printouts. These printers use laser beams in combination with other printer technology, such as toner, to produce text or images on paper. Laser printers are very fast and efficient, capable of producing as many as 8-24 pages per minute with a minimal warm-up time. Because these machines are so elaborate, when it malfunctions your attention might focus on the laser technology. However, before getting too involved in the science of the printer, you might follow a few common laser printer troubleshooting steps.

Instructions

1. Check the power button and power cable on the laser printer if it has no power. Move the switch or press the power button to the "ON" position. Alternatively, turn the printer off, check for a secure connection to the wall outlet and then turn it back on. Test the printer in a wall outlet to verify that the backup uninterrupted power supply is not the problem. If the printer shares a power surge strip, unplug all devices and then plug the printer back in to see if it will power up.

2. Read the status messages on the printer's control panel or LCD screen. Verify that the printer is not in a power-saving or cool-down mode. If a laser printer is overheating, it will automatically stop working until a safer temperature is reached.

3. Look for paper misfeeds and paper jams inside the laser printer. Pull out the paper tray(s) and verify the paper is not jumbled and crumpled. Check the document output tray for paper jams.

4. Power down the printer if the LCD panel or LED lights indicate that condensation has been detected in the machine. Wait at least an hour before attempting to use the printer again.

5. Make sure the printer is level on the table if you hear strange noises when the printer performs an operation. Check the paper trays for proper alignment on the tracks and be sure it is pushed in all the way into the printer.

Tips & Warnings

• Many printers have a repair warranty. Contact the manufacturer to speak with a customer service agent if you cannot solve the problem.

• Be careful when working with electricity and printers.

References

• Xerox: Support: Phaser 6140 Laser Printer -- User Guide (PDF)
• Lexmark: Support: Lexmark C920 -- User's Guide (PDF)
• Tech Target: What Is Laser Printer?

Resources

• Xerox: Support and Drivers
• Lexmark: Support and Downloads