HP LaserJet 1160 and 1320 Series Printers - Light or Faded Print

There are many factors that may influence the lightness or fading of a printed page on the HP LaserJet 1160 or 1320 series printers. These include the following:

Insufficient power
Print settings
Toner charging issues and redistribution
Print driver settings
Application settings
Font attributes
Media

Complete the following to troubleshoot light or faded print on the HP LaserJet 1160 or 1320 series printers:

Perform the following to verify power to the unit.
1. Turn the HP LaserJet 1160 or 1320 product off using the on/off switch located on the right-side of the printer, near the back.
2. Make certain the power cord is securely connected to the product.
3. Disconnect the power cord from any surge protector, power strip, or extension cord, and then plug directly into an electrical wall outlet.
Click here for more information related to "Issues when Connected to an Uninterruptible Power Supply/Power Strip/Surge Protector" available via the HP Web site at http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=bpl07351.
Perform the following to print a Self-Test / Configuration page and verify the print settings.
1. Verify that the printer is in the Ready state. The green LED next to the U-shaped icon is on steady and no other lights are on or flashing.
2. Press down on the green Go button until the orange Attention light comes on, approximately 5 seconds, and then immediately release the Go button. The green Go button will begin to blink and a Self-Test / Configuration page will print.
3. Print a self-test/configuration page.
4. Locate the Print Settings heading on the Self-Test / Configuration page and verify the following settings:
  - Courier = Regular
  - Economode = Off
  - Print Density = 3
5. If using the Courier font in printed documentation, HP recommends changing to Courier = Dark.
6. If Economode is set to On, HP recommends changing to Economode = Off.
With a new print cartridge, it takes roughly fifty copies of print before there is sufficient charge to attract toner to the toner drum. The toner will gradually start to appear darker on the page as the charge to the drum increases. This process can take up to 200 pages. To increase the charge to the drum more quickly, HP recommends changing the Print Density setting to 5 for the first 200 pages and then change the setting back to 3.
Perform the following to make the above-mentioned changes:
1. Open the HP LaserJet Toolbox using one of the following methods.
  - Double-click the HP LaserJet toolbox icon on the Microsoft Windows desktop.
  - Double-click the Status Client icon, located in the system tray, at the far right of the taskbar.
  - Click Start , Programs or All Programs , Hewlett-Packard , HP LaserJet 1160, 1320 series , and then HP LaserJet Toolbox from the Microsoft Windows desktop.
2. Click the Device Settings button on the upper-right side of the HP LaserJet Toolbox.
3. Click the Settings tab.
4. Select Printing from the left navigation window.
5. Use the drop-down menu to change Courier to Dark .
6. Use the drop-down menu to change Economode to Off .
7. Use the drop-down menu to change Density to 5 .
8. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click Apply .
9. Close the HP LaserJet Toolbox.
10. Print another Self-Test / Configuration page to verify that the settings have been changed.
Redistribute the toner in the print cartridge. Click here to view document c00230754, "HP LaserJet 1160 and 1320 Series Printers - Redistributing Toner in the Print Cartridge" on the HP Web site at http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c00230754.
Verify that the Economode setting in the print driver properties is set to Off . Perform the following to verify or change this setting. Click here for additional information related to Using Economode with the HP LaserJet 1160 and 1320 printers on the HP Web site at http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c00230354.
1. Open the Printers folder.
  - Microsoft Windows XP : Click Start , Printers and Faxes from the Microsoft Windows desktop.
  - Microsoft Windows 98, ME, or 2000 : Click Start , Settings , Printers from the Microsoft Windows desktop.
2. Right-click the HP LaserJet 1160 or 1320 PCL6 icon or listing.
3. Select Properties from the drop-down menu and then Printing Preferences .
4. Click the Paper/Quality tab.
5. Verify that there is no check mark in the box next Economode in the Print Quality section.
6. Click Apply and then click OK .
Try printing from the application. Make certain that the black font is being used. If a font attribute is set for a color, it will print out in a grayscale. Some font typefaces may look lighter than other fonts because they are constructed with a thinner stroke, resulting in a lighter output. Try using different fonts.
Verify that the print media in use meets the media specification for the HP LaserJet product. Click here for information related to the HP LaserJet 1160 and 1320 Series Printers Printer Media Specifications available on the HP Web site at http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c00230318.

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HP LaserJet 1160 and 1320 Series Printers - Light or Faded Print