My Brother HL-L3300CDW is producing persistent vertical lines on every printout. I've already tried several toner cartridges and drums, cleaning with alcohol, cleaning the corona wires, and shaking the cartridges, but the issue remains. There was also a paper jam while I was troubleshooting, and the problem seems to be coming from the drum or cartridge area. Since the lines appeared with both generic replacements and the original Brother drums, what else should I inspect or replace?
1 Answer
Since the lines appeared even with the original Brother drums, the transfer belt is worth checking next. This model uses a belt unit underneath the toner and drum assemblies, and damage, debris, or a mark on the belt can repeat down the page. Inspect it carefully for a scratch, toner buildup, or damage that lines up with the print defect. If it’s damaged, replacing the belt unit may solve the problem. Generic drums can also be inconsistent, but the fact that genuine drums show the same symptom points more strongly toward the transfer belt or another part of the printer’s paper path.
I’ve cleaned the transfer belt but haven’t checked closely for damage in the exact area that lines up with the printed streaks. I’ll inspect it more carefully before replacing anything.