MFP 178nw shadow/ghost printing problem

[Washand]

Hello, I have an HP Color Laser multifunctional printer (Model 178nw) which is giving me ghosting of the printed text and images down the page (see attached image of a test print page). The displacement of the ghost image from the print is exactly and reproducibly 19 cm. I have followed all the HP suggested fixes, such as powering down, disconnecting the printer from power, draining the residual power by pressing the power button and then reconnecting and powering back on. I have tried updating the firmware. The cartridges are genuine HP ones verified by the trouble-shooter program. The only other possibility that I can see is a defective print drum, but why should it suddenly become defective? The printer is not very old (2 years).

So I have two questions:
1. Does anyone have any other suggestions?
2. Is it easy to source and replace a print drum?
3. Is it cost-effective to user-replace the print drum or should I have the printer serviced?

It looks like I could get access to the print drum after taking out the cartridges, but it's seems not intended to be a user-serviceable item.

Many thanks!

 

[thaymuc]

Check Cleaning Blade Belt

 

[Never again HP]

I have exactly the same problem. Also 19 cm lower ghosting. I tried heavier paper, but that doens't help. Nobody seams to know how to fix it. Never again HP.

 

[Washand]

What bothers me is that no-one at HP seems interested in troubleshooting the problem, which from your experience, Never again HP, sounds like not unique to my printer. If I take it back to the store that sold it to me, they will charge $100 just to look at it, with no guarantee that it can be repaired. Even if it can be repaired, what assurance do I have that the problem will not return? I really dislike this throw-away mentality which is considered a good business model, while at the same time governments are inflicting a punitive eco war on the public. I would like to say "never again HP" but unfortunately all the printer companies have the same business model and the public are disadvantaged by it.

 

[Washand]

Check Cleaning Blade Belt

Where is the cleaning blade belt and how do I repair/correct it?

 

[Washand]

Where is the cleaning blade belt and how do I repair/correct it?

Well, for information for others struggling with this problem, here is a video explanation of cleaning/replacing a transfer belt on an MFP 178nw printer:

. I'm not super confident that I can correct the "cleaning blade" though.

 

[Washand]

I finally worked out that it is a problem with the imaging drum, which can easily be replaced using the spare part HT-W11 120A. The part is quite expensive from HP (half the price of the printer) but less expensive than getting the printer professionally repaired. There are of course less expensive third party parts available from online stores. The replacement involves removing all the toner cartridges, the the toner cartridge rack support with toner colour indicators on the left, and then the imaging drum is removed by gently lifting and pulling the front tab labelled 120A. Installation of the new drum is just the reverse. There are online videos showing the process.