134 Chapter 6 Troubleshooting C4170-90959
Media Troubleshooting
Media defects cause both paper jams and image defects. If correcting the previously
described conditions does not eliminate the printing problem, investigate the media as the
source of the defect.
Problems with paper are sometimes difficult to detect. Following a standard troubleshooting
procedure may help isolate media-related problems. The steps to follow are:
• Determine the Problem Source: Paper or Printer
• “Isolate a Paper Path” (page 134)
• “Isolate a Paper Brand” (page 135)
• “Isolate a Paper Type” (page 137)
• “Evaluate Practices of Paper Users” (page 142)
• “Evaluate Environmental Conditions” (page 142)
Determine the Problem Source: Paper or Printer
When determining the cause of a printer failure, a distinction must be made between
problems relating to the printer itself and those involving paper. Often a problem which first
appears to be related to the printer is actually a matter of poor paper selection or handling.
To determine if a problem is caused by the printer or the paper, following a few simple steps
can be helpful:
• Turn paper over in the tray to print on the reverse side.
• Rotate sheets 180 degrees (end to end) to feed with a different leading edge.
If the symptoms cease, or change in some way, it can be assumed that the problems are
caused by the paper.
Isolate a Paper Path
Try using the straightest paper path
Some problems can be avoided by using the straightest available paper path. Usually this
means paper will feed from the upper paper tray or manual feeder, and exit into the rear
output tray (if available). This path is recommended for envelopes and media with a heavy
basis weight.
Determine if the problem is caused by duplexing
Paper that has just made a pass through the printer can show an increase in paper curl. This
paper curl increases image dropout, and pick-up and stacking problems. When the second
pass is made, paper may no longer meet the specifications for moisture and curl. Dry paper
may hold static charges which affect print quality and stacking. Image misalignment front-to-
back on a duplexed page may be caused by paper shrinkage.
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