5 Reasons Your Color Copier Isn’t Working

It’s easy to take color copiers for granted. They are often seen as the workhorse of any office, providing quality copies of important documents all day long without complaint. But for some reason, they just don’t seem to be working anymore. There could be several issues that contribute to this problem! Let’s explore 5 reasons your color copier might not work and see if we can get it back on track.

Why Is It Important To Know What Causes Your Color Copier To Not Work?

When you have a problem with your color copier and don’t know the cause, this can lead to other problems in your office or home because of the time spent trying to fix the wrong thing. There are some common ones like paper jams and toner issues that can be solved by cleaning out paper jams or replacing toner cartridges respectively. But if these don’t seem like they’re causing the issue, then you might need someone who knows more about fixing these machines. It’s important to be able to troubleshoot your color copier when it’s not working right. You may be able to save yourself a trip to the repair shop if you can identify and fix the problem. Below, we’ll discuss five of the most common reasons why your color copier might not be working properly.

1. The toner cartridge might be low.

One of the most common reasons for a color copier not working is that the toner cartridge is low. When this happens, you may see streaks on your prints or they might be faded. You can usually solve this problem by replacing the toner cartridge. If your copier has an indicator to show when the toner cartridge is getting low, make sure to replace it before it runs out so you don’t end up with a streaky print job. If there isn’t an indicator and your prints start to look streaky, then it’s time to replace the cartridge. You should also keep in mind that different printers use different amounts of toner, so just because one cartridge has run out doesn’t mean that another one will last the same amount of time.

2. Your fuser may be faulty.

Your color copier uses a hot roller called the fuser to melt toner into paper, but if this roller is worn out or isn’t heating correctly then you could end up with faded prints that are hard to read. This can also happen if there’s too much humidity in your office because it affects how well the heat transfers onto the page. Sometimes people will try and clean out their fusers thinking that they’re dirty, which only makes things worse by leaving residue behind on what should be smooth rollers. You’ll want to make sure an experienced service provider checks for dust or dirt buildup before trying anything else. If everything looks clear then the next step would be checking whether your fuser needs to be replaced.

3. The color copier belt may be broken.

If your prints are coming out skewed or if the machine is making strange noises, the printer belt may have broken. Belts tend to wear down over time, so this is something you should keep an eye on even if your prints are coming out correctly. You can usually tell when a belt is starting to wear down because of how the color copier sounds and by checking for any unusual movement while it’s printing. If the belt looks like it needs to be replaced, make sure you get a professional to do it so that you don’t end up breaking something else in the process.

4. The power supply might be faulty.

Another common reason that your color copier isn’t working is if the power supply has gone bad. If you turn on the machine but it won’t print, this could indicate a problem with the power box because it’s not sending enough voltage through to trigger the fuser roller or other internal components of the printer. You can usually tell when something like this happens by how long your paper gets jammed in there and whether any lights are flashing inside of it at all.

Sharp FO-IS125N Fax

5. The color copier might be dirty.

This is the last thing you want to think about when your color copier isn’t working, but it’s still a possibility. If the machine is gathering too much dust or dirt then it can start to affect how well it prints. This will often cause streaks on the page and an overall decrease in print quality. You can try cleaning out any built-up dust with a compressed air duster, but if that doesn’t work then you’ll need to take it apart and clean it more thoroughly. Make sure to keep track of all the screws and parts so you can put everything back together correctly.

We hope that you’ve found this article helpful in understanding what might be the reasons your color copier to not work. If it turns out that the problem is one of these, give us a call, we can help get the machine up and running again.

Are You Looking for a Color Copier You Can Rely On?       

Office Machine Specialists has been servicing and selling color copiers since 1995. A family run business that has dedicated our efforts to providing the best equipment options and after-sales service to our clients. Our goal is to ask the right questions and guide our customers to make smart decisions about new machine leases and purchases.  We were servicing color copiers long before the internet was a viable resource, and have transitioned to the digital workflow environment of color printing, scanning, account control, and fleet management. With over 20 years in the color copier industry, we have extensive experience with many brands and consider OMS to be a valuable resource to any organization. Contact us for all of your copier needs here!