Why does my Dell 3100cn recalibrate every 10 pages? Is there a fix for that?

009-340 Error on the Dell Color Laser Printer 3000cn/3010cn/3100cn ...imaging drum cartridge. Turn the printer off using the power switch on the left side. Wait 10 seconds, turn the printer back on, and check if the error message...sensor solenoid nip. Turn the printer off using the power switch on the left... (English) 016-720 PCL Error on the Dell Color Laser Printer 3000cn/3010cn/3100cn ... Press Select ( ) to clear the error on the printer. Reset the printer NVRAM: Press Menu. Press the...and then press Select ( ). When Restart Printer appears, turn the printer off and then back on... (English)
KB Article How Do I Configure and Troubleshoot My Dell Color Laser Network Printer? - KB Article - 296059 ...Troubleshooting Guide for My Dell 3000cn-series / 3100cn Laser Printer ...available online for your Dell 3000cn/3100cn laser printer. The troubleshooting...printing, refer to the Dell Laser Printer 3000cn/3100cn Troubleshooting Guide... (English)

Hello,

This link will take you to a site where you can download the manual for your machine. You will the link on the right side of the page.

http://safemanuals.com/user-guide-instructions-owner-manual/DELL/3100CN-_E

Hope this helps.

Usually lines going down pages is linked to the imaging drum having built up toner on it. I would open the front cover and pull out the drum and see if you have lines going down the drum. If so clean those off using the soft cloth. Reinsert. If it still happens check the toner carts for leaking. Also you may need a new imaging drum if problem still occurs.

It sounds like you've got contamination on the drum cartridge or on one of the toner cartridges.

I'm actually going to be installing black toner in my 3100cn in about 8 hours, so I'll inspect and clean each of the carts, and write up the process for you tonight.

This is commonly caused by faulty toner cartidges or OPC drums.

If there is a fualty color cartridge the device will try to recalibrate over and over....

Isolate the faulty toner cartridge and replace it.
I have seen this as a common problem with some poor quality refilled cartridges

The 3100cn will "calibrate" about every 10 pages during normal use. Is yours "calibrating" more often than that?

Refer to the following table
Cause
Solution
How common*
Contamination in the laser path
1. Clean the laser path. (Remove the laser/scanner assembly and clean the lens.) 2. Replace the laser/scanner assembly
8
Defective fuser.
Replace the fuser assembly
3
Lack of toner or faulty toner cartridge.
Redistribute the toner in the toner cartridge. If the problem continues, replace the toner cartridge.
7

Smuding typically occurs when you print on a heavier paper without changing the settings. By changing the settings to a thick paper type, the page will be send through the printer more slowly. this will likely eliminate the smudging.

Cheers.

sounds like a fuser or transfer roller problem. Try replacing.