Samsung ML-1710 prints light

[Chang10is]

My Samsung ML-1710 has been printing light lately, but without streaks. It prints a uniformly gray color on a page that is supposed to be filled with black text. The toner cartridge (generic replacement instead of OEM) was purchased about 2 years ago. I've only printed a few hundred pages from it, so there should be some printing life left, although some of the stuff I printed included graphics. Has the toner dried out or the toner cartridge somehow gone bad? Or is it something else wrong? I've already tried shaking up the current toner cartridge a couple of times, and that hasn't made a difference. I want to make sure I don't buy a new toner cartridge and then find out that it's something more serious and end up replacing the whole printer.

 

[Ovven]

Check your printer settings. There should be a slider that adjusts the amount of toner/ink that a printer uses (could be called Econ mode or something similar as well). If you find it, use it to adjust the darkness and see if that fixes the problem.

 

[Chang10is]

Thanks for the reply. There's a button on top of the printer that allows the user to toggle on/off the toner saver mode--I already checked that. I also checked the printer preferences in Windows 7 set the darkness to "dark" (normal and light are the other options). Am I missing one of the possible options? Or maybe the problem is something else.

 

[C1]

I have this printer too. In advanced settings, you will want to set print light. Also try unchecking print all text in black.

Before you print, verify in the application via the "print preview" what it is you expect to come out of the printer.

Finally, before you print anything, force out a test page. This also serves the function of cleaning the print drum. To do this, press & hold down the print button (on the printer) for about 5-6 seconds then release. If the test page printout is dirty then repeat the cleaning a few more times until the test page prints clean.

 

[Chang10is]

Under advanced options, there are two checked boxes: 1) print all text to black, and 2) print all text to darken. Both boxes are unchecked.

I held down the round "cancel" button (the only button on the top of the printer, which also toggles on and off the "toner save" option) for 5-6 seconds, and the printer printed out 2 test pages. First one had some streaking, and the 2nd test page came out pretty clean, but the print was still light and not very sharp like before.

I've tried setting the darkness on light, normal, and dark, and the print test page always looks the same.

Total page count on my test page said 2176 for the lifetime of this printer. I'm on my 3rd toner cartridge right now, but I do print Powerpoint slides with graphics often, which explains why the toner gets used up pretty quickly. What do you think, should I buy a new cartridge with the expectation that this should fix the problem, or just get a new printer?

 

[Ovven]

Your cartdridge seems to be rated for 3000 pages (at least that's what i found on amazon). Dividing ~2200 / 3 (cart. total) you get rougly ~700 per one. If, as you say, you print a lot of graphics, then yes, I can definitely see it lastly for only that many pages, since manufacturers usually rate their toners for 5% page coverage (usually 10-12font text print)

 

[Lemon law]

Less dark printing is typically a sign of a depleted cartridge. but one trick that often extends toner cartridge life is to remove the cartridge from the printer, shake vigorously,
and replace. It costs nothing to try it, and it can often extend toner cartridge life for up to 500 pages.

But given the fact that you are on the third cartridge, and this is the only toner cartridge that suffers from less than dark printing, its somewhat safe to assume the next replacement toner cartridge will not suffer from the same defect.

In terms of replacing the printer with a more heavy duty cycle industrial type printer with lower per page consumable costs, that really depends on what you can find on the used printer market, and your printing volume.

I doubt you could ever find a cheap enough heavy duty Laser printer with their typical 10,000 page rated toner cartridges on the new market for less than two grand.

 

[C1]

Ya, Id agree with replacing the toner cartridge. The advantage would be also that you will be replacing the print drum/roller so any issue concerning streaking from a dirty/clogged/worn print drum should be obviated.

Ive found that a refilled cartridge from a reputable supplier gets more mileage as I believe that they put more ounces of toner in than the OEM. My cartridges last so long it's scary (eg, 5-6 years). A reputable refill supplier replaces any worn cartridge components (eg, the drum). I do not have the name of the one I use handy but I might have it tomorrow.

 

[Chang10is]

It's been a long time since I started using this printer, but if I had to guess, the starter toner cartridge lasted about 700 pages of mostly text printing, the second cartridge (generic) lasted about 1000 pages of half text and half graphics, and the third cartridge (different generic) lasted about 500 pages of half text and half graphics. So I guess that last cartridge I bought was substandard.

C1, it would be great if you could find the name of the supplier you use. Or if anybody knows anything about JacobsParts, Inc (https://www.jacobsparts.com/items/Brand_New_Samsung_ML_1710D3_Toner_Cartridge/), please let me know. Thanks for all the help, guys!

 

[C1]

The cartridge I bought after the starter that came with the printer gave out was purchased locally here in San Diego from: Cartridge World located at 3952-H Clairemont Mesa Blvd.

They have had to fill that baby right to the brim cause it lasted a long ass time (and when it was new felt heavy).

I think that you could safely buy from www.123Refills.net (as they rebuild the cartridge as needed) or from www.4inkjets.com

Post note: The one Im using now was purchased via internet from 4inkjets and works well, but it doesnt feel to be filled with toner as much as that initial replacement I purchased here locally.

 

[ElFenix]

Finally, before you print anything, force out a test page. This also serves the function of cleaning the print drum. To do this, press & hold down the print button (on the printer) for about 5-6 seconds then release. If the test page printout is dirty then repeat the cleaning a few more times until the test page prints clean.

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