I have a HP color laseerjet 3550 that is smearing down the page. it happens when printing mutiple pages of the same document. There seem to be streaking down the transfer belt. is there a way to clean or is it time to replace? If that is the problem

try cleaning the rollers

Set the number of pages to print. You should be able to set the page numbers as well as the number of pages in the printer properties.

What did you clean? If it was the Image Transfer Belt (the big mylar belt in the front), do it again. Print and see if the yellow is smearing again. If it is replace the yellow cartridge.

Follow the below instructions to clean the printer through the control panel:

1. Press MENU to enter the MENUS .
2. Press (Down arrow) to highlight CONFIGURE DEVICE .
3. Press (Select) to select CONFIGURE DEVICE .
4. Press (Down arrow) to highlight PRINT QUALITY .
5. Press (Select) to select PRINT QUALITY .
6. Press (Down arrow) to highlight CREATE CLEANING PAGE .
7. Press (Select) to select CREATE CLEANING PAGE . A page with a pattern prints from the printer.
8. Remove all paper from Tray 1.
9. Remove the cleaning page and load it face-down in Tray 1. NOTE: If not still in the MENUS , navigate to PRINT QUALITY using the above instructions.
10. At the printer control panel, press (Down arrow) to highlight PROCESS CLEANING PAGE . This option will only be visible in the menu when a cleaning page has been printed.
11. Press (Select) to select PROCESS CLEANING PAGE . The printer control panel displays the message Cleaning... . The cleaning process takes a few minutes.

let me know ....

If I could be of further assistance . If this helps or solves the issue, please rate it and give a testimonial for my response. Happy Holidays!

Thanks, Joe

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/joe_8b8c2cd6ce148309

I can tell you that it is NOT the Fuser unit. I would change the drum unit first. This would be the most likely cause.

It is using the colours to make the grey and the proportion is not correct. Do a calibration.

double check ALL the print settings (i.e. paper type, document type, etc). Depending on which option it is even one "box" or "setting" being changed can alter your printers function. Try looking for options that will auto detect the type of document you are printing (ie, color, with pic, plain, etc).

Sounds as though one of the drum cleaning blades is failing.

When you see the double image shadow, is it any particular color? If so, that's the drum unit that is failing.

Try connecting the printer via the USB port on either one of the computers. Then test if the machine prints fine then likely possibility is that the Network interface card is faulty remove the network card and install in a different slot and test. If the same thing happens then reinstall the drivers and test.

Hope this helps
Thanks J

Do you use original genuine cartridges or refilled ones. It sounds like you have had a leak and need to completely clean out your printer heads, rollers and perhaps do a deep claean as well. You can buy faulty cartridges and toners that have one leak, then the ink continually leaves traces as it prints. When you say callibrated, do you mean you ran print tests and setting tests. Running a print test can often help to diagnose ink issues an d narrow the results down a bit. After a thorough clean, you could try uninstalling and reinstalling unit.