HP COLOR LASERJET 4600 SERIES SERVICE MODE – HOW TO RESET THE PRINTER – ERROR CODES – ENGINE TEST – PRINTER REPAIR

HP COLOR LASERJET 4600 SERIES Service mode – How to reset the printer – Error codes – Engine test – Printer Repair

Category: Printer Repair and service 

Contents of this article

• How to access service mode
• Engine test
• Cold reset
• Error codes
• Calibrating the printer 

HP COLOR LASERJET 4600 

Enabling memory
If you installed a memory DIMM, set the printer driver to recognize the newly added memory.
1. On the Start menu, point to Settings, and click Printers or Printers and Faxes.
2. Select this printer and select Properties.
3. On the Configure tab, click More.
4. In the Total Memory field, type or select the total amount of memory that is now installed.
5. Click OK.
Enabling the language font DIMM
If you installed a language font DIMM in the printer, you must select the Font DIMM option in the printer driver for the font DIMM to work properly. To enable fonts from the PCL 5c and PCL 6 printer
drivers for Windows, follow this procedure:
1. On the Start menu, point to Settings, and click Printers.
2. Select this printer and select Properties.
3. On the Configure tab, click More.
4. Select the Font DIMM check box.
5. In the Configure Font DIMMs dialog box, click Add to add the font file.
6. In the Add Font DIMM dialog box, browse to the location of the font file, select the font file, and click OK.
7. In the Configure Font DIMMs dialog box, select the installed DIMM.
8. Click OK.
Checking DIMM installation
Check that the DIMMs are installed correctly and working.
1. Turn the printer on. Check that the Ready light is on after the printer has gone through the startup sequence. If an error message appears, a DIMM may have been incorrectly installed.
2. Print a configuration page.
3. Check the Installed Personalities and Options section on the configuration page and compare it with the configuration page printed before the DIMM installation.
4. If the amount of recognized memory has not increased:
# The DIMM may not be installed correctly. Repeat the installation procedure.
# The DIMM may be defective. Try a new DIMM.

Troubleshooting process

Troubleshooting power-on
When you turn on the printer, if it does not make any sound or if the control panel display is blank,
check the following items:
1. Verify that the printer is plugged into an active electrical outlet with the correct voltage.
2. Verify that the on/off switch is in the ON position.
3. Make sure the rear fan is running, indicating the system is operational.
4. Verify that the firmware DIMM and the formatter are seated and operating properly.
5. Remove any HP Jetdirect or other EIO cards, then try to turn the printer on again.
6. Make sure the control panel display is connected.
7. Check the fuses in the power supply.
8. If necessary, replace the power supply.
9. If necessary, replace the DC controller.

Printer error troubleshooting

Access denied menus locked
An attempt has been made to modify a menu item while the control panel security mechanism is enabled by the printer administrator. The message will disappear shortly, and the printer will return to Ready state.

CHOSEN PERSONALITY NOT AVAILABLE For help press
PJL encountered a request for a personality that did not exist in the printer. The job is aborted and no pages will be printed.
1. Press ? for detailed information.
2. Press UP and DOWN to step through the instructions.

CLOSE FRONT COVERS

The covers need to be closed.

1. Press ? for more information.
2. Close front covers.

10.XX.YY SUPPLIES ERROR
The printer cannot read or write to at least one print cartridge memory tag or at least one memory tag is missing.

1.Turn the printer off and then back on.
2. Swap the cartridge for the color indicated with a cartridge in another slot to determine whether the error follows the cartridge or stays with the slot. If the error follows the cartridge, replace tha cartridge. Otherwise, continue with step 3.
3. Reseat the connectors between the memory PCB (J602-J605) and the antenna PCBs (J901A-D), the memory PCB, and the DC controller PCB (J1028).
4. Replace the antenna PCB.
5. Replace the memory PCB.
6. Replace the DC controller PCB. Calibrate the printer after replacing the DC controller

13.XX.YY.DUPLEX JOB INTERRUPTED
A duplex job was interrupted by interference as media passed through the output bin during duplexing.

1. Press for more information.
2. Remove one or two pages from the output bin as directed by the display.
3. Press ? to continue printing.
NOTE: If JAM RECOVERY = OFF some pages will not be reprinted. Re-send the missing pages.

13.XX.YY.JAM IN DUPLEX PATH
There is a jam in the duplex path.

1. Press ? for detailed information about clearing the jam.
2. Press UP and DOWN  to step through the instructions.
3. Check if the ETB rollers or gears are worn or defective. Replace the ETB if they are.
4. Check the duplex feed guide, which is part of the control panel crossmember assembly. If the guide is worn or damaged, replace the crossmember assembly.

13.XX.YY.JAM IN PAPER INPUT PATH
There is a jam in the media input path.

1. Press ? for detailed information about clearing the jam.
2. Press UP and DOWN to step through the instructions.
3. Check the registration shutter, and make sure it is in place. Replace the paper pickup assembly if the shutter is damaged.
4. Check the paper pickup feed rollers, and replace them if they are worn or damaged.
5. Check the connectors, gears, solenoids, motors, and PCB on the paper pickup assembly. Replace the paper pickup assembly if necessary.

13.XX.YY JAM IN PAPER PATH
There is a jam in the media path.

1. Press ? for detailed information about clearing the jam.
2. Press UP and DOWN to step through the instructions.
3. If paper is folding into an accordion shape, check whether the shutter on each print cartridge opens as you close the ETB and if each cartridge is turning properly. Replace defective print cartridges or drive motors.
4. Clean the attaching roller at the bottom of the ETB and make sure the spring is holding it in place.
5. If the attaching roller gears are defective, replace the ETB. Calibrate the printer after replacing the ETB.
6. Replace the paper pickup PCB.
7. Replace the ETB if it is not moving paper properly. Calibrate the printer.
8. Replace the DC controller PCB. Calibrate the printer after replacing the DC controller

13.XX.YY.JAM IN TRAY 1
A page is jammed in the multi-purpose tray.

1. Press ? for detailed information about clearing the jam.
2. Press UP and DOWN to step through the instructions.
3. Clean the pickup roller. If it is worn or damaged, replace it.
4. Clean or replace the separation pad.
5. Replace the Tray 1 pickup solenoid.
6. Replace the pickup motor.
7. Replace the paper pickup assembly.
8. Replace the DC controller PCB. Calibrate the printer after replacing the DC controller.

49.XXXX PRINTER ERROR
A critical firmware error has occurred that caused the processor on the formatter to abort operation. This type of error can be caused by invalid print commands, corrupt data, or invalid operations. In some cases, electrical noise in the cable can corrupt data during transmission to the printer. Other causes include poor quality parallel cables, poor connections, or home-grown applications. On rare occasions, the formatter is at fault, which is usually indicated by a 79 Service Error.

1. Press CANCEL JOB to clear the print job from the printer memory.
2. Turn the printer off and then back on.
3. Try printing a job from a different software application. If the job prints, go back to the first application and try printing a different file. If the message appears only with a certain software application or print job, contact the software vendor for assistance.
4. If the message persists with different software applications and print jobs, disconnect all cables to the printer that connect it to the network or PC.
5. Turn the printer off.
6. Remove all memory DIMMs or third-party DIMMs from the printer. (Do not remove the firmware DIMM in slot J1.)
7. Remove all EIO devices from the
8. Turn the printer on.
9. If the error no longer exists, install each DIMM and EIO device one at a time, making sure to turn the printer off and back on as you install each device.
10. Replace a DIMM or EIO device if you determine that it causes the error.
11. Remember to reconnect all cables that connect the printer to the network or computer.
12. If the error persists, replace the firmware DIMM.
13. Replace the formatter and calibrate the printer.

50.X FUSER ERROR
A fuser error has occurred.
X Description
1. low fuser temperature
2. fuser warmup service
3. high fuser temperature
4. faulty fuser
5. inconsistent fuser
6. open fuser

1. Turn the printer off and allow it to cool down.
2. Reinstall the fuser, and check the connector J4034 that connects the fuser and the printer. Replace the connector if it is damaged.

3. Turn the printer off and remove the fuser. Measure the resistance between the connector pins on the fuser. If resistance does not meet the following guidelines, replace the fuser.
J4034-5 to J4034-6: 300 - 500 KOhms
J4034-1 to J4034-2: less than 1 KOhm
4. Check for continuity between connector pins J4034-4 and J4034-2. If there is no continuity, replace the fuser.
5. Replace the fuser power supply PCB.
6. Replace the DC controller PCB. Calibrate the printer after replacing the DC controller.

Engine test page
To verify that the printer engine is functioning, print an engine test page. Use a small pointed object to depress the test page switch located on the left side of the printer, as shown in Figure . The test page should have a series of horizontal lines. The test page can use only Tray 2 as the paper source, so ensure paper is loaded in Tray 2.

Test page switch
Formatter test page
To verify that the formatter is functioning, print a configuration page as follows:
1. Press TICK to enter the MENUS.
2. Press DOWN to highlight INFORMATION.
3. Press TICK to select INFORMATION.
4. Press DOWN to highlight PRINT CONFIGURATION.
5. Press TICK to select PRINT CONFIGURATION

Engine resets
Cold reset
A cold reset unlocks menus that have been locked and resets variables in the control panel. However, it does not clear the values in the Service menu (such as the serial number and page counts).
To perform a cold reset
1. Turn the printer on.
2. As the printer performs its power-on sequence, press and hold TICK until all three lights on the control panel are lit.
3. When SELECT LANGUAGE appears on the display, press UP until COLD RESET appears on the display.
4. Press TICK . The printer will perform a cold reset and then continue its power-on sequence.

Initializing NVRAM will reset the serial number, the event log, the page counts, the calibration settings, and the EIO card. Use the Service menu to restore the serial number and page counts. You will also need to reconfigure any computers that print to this printer to recognize the printer. Initialize NVRAM only when absolutely necessary. In most situations, use a Cold reset to reset printer variables but still retain the needed values in the Service menu. Before initializing NVRAM, print a configuration page and a supplies status page to gather the following information:
# total page count and color page count
# transfer kit count
# fuser kit count
# serial number
To initialize NVRAM
1. Turn the printer on and watch the control panel display.
2. When the display begins showing the memory count, press DOWN and hold until all three lights on
the control panel are lit.
3. Press UP .
4. Press PAUSE/RESUME. The display should show SKIP DISK LOAD.
5. Press UP until NVRAM INIT is highlighted.
6. Press TICK. The printer will initialize NVRAM and then continue its power-on sequence.

Hard disk initialization
A hard disk initialization will erase and reformat the printer’s hard disk. Perform hard disk initialization only if an error code appears on the control panel indicating an EIO disk error. Always try initializing the hard disk before replacing it.
To initialize the hard disk
1. Turn the printer on.
2. As the printer performs its power-on sequence, press and hold the PAUSE/RESUME button until
all three lights on the control panel are lit.
3. Press LEFT  . The display should show INITIALIZE DISK.
4. Press TICK . The printer will initialize the hard disk and continue its power-on sequence.

Calibration bypass
During certain diagnostic procedures, you will need to bypass the automatic calibration that is performed whenever the printer is turned on.
To bypass calibration
1. Turn the printer on and watch the control panel display.
2. When the display begins showing the memory count, press and hold until all three lights on the control panel are lit.
3. Press UP .
4. Press PAUSE/RESUME. The display should show SKIP DISK LOAD.
5. Press UP until SKIP CALIBRATION is highlighted.
6. Press TICK . The printer will skip calibration and then continue its power-on sequence.
Calibrate Now
Use the following procedure to calibrate the printer whenever you replace the DC controller, the ETB, the drum drive motors, the drum drive gears, or a laser/scanner.
1. Press TICK to enter the MENUS.
2. Press DOWN to highlight CONFIGURE DEVICE.
3. Press TICK to select CONFIGURE DEVICE.
4. Press DOWN to highlight PRINT QUALITY.
5. Press TICK to select PRINT QUALITY.
6. Press DOWN to highlight CALIBRATE NOW.
7. Press TICK to select CALIBRATE NOW.
8. Wait for the printer to calibrate.

Service menu
Accessing the Service menu
The Service menu is PIN protected for added security. Only authorized service people have access to the Service menu. When you select SERVICE from the list of menus, you are prompted to enter your 8-digit PIN number. The PIN for this printer is 04460002.
1 Press UP or DOWN  until the first digit of the PIN is displayed.
2 Press TICK  to save the digit. The display will replace the digit with an asterisk.
3 Repeat steps 1 and 2 until all eight digits are entered.
4 Press LEFT at any time to move to the previous digit.