ERROR 11 - Paper Out

1. Paper tray empty or not seated correctly. A buildup of toner on the edges of the tray which slide into the printer can sometimes cause problems. Take a sharp tool, like a razor blade and scrape the buildup off these edges.
2. Sensor Arm Stuck or Broken - check for free movement of the sensor arm. On the LJ4 / 4M / 4+ / 4M+ the sensor flag can get knocked out of place when a paper jam occurs and the tray is pulled out abruptly. Most times this can simply be reinstalled. If it's broken, you will need to replace the sensor flag.
3. Defective Tray Size Sensing or Configuration - Most trays have tabs which depress a series of switches when installed. Verify that the tabs aren't damaged and that the tray switches located in the printer are not damaged. You can depress these by hand and hear them click. Occasionally the contact for the micro switch will get bent and will have to be replaced. Also verify the configuration through the menus on the printer.
4. Defective Paper Control Sensor PCB - These do fail and will need to be replaced.

Top of the page

ERROR 12 Printer Open

1. Paper path door (IIP/IIIP) or top cover open. On the IIP/IIIP this can be caused by a defective toner cartridge, defective cooling fan, PS4 or PS5 sensors. Also caused by the density adjusting PCA located behind the density adjusting slide switch. This board takes the input from the two sensors and provides info to the DC controller. If the board becomes defective, you will receive an error 12. Easily replaced after removing the top cover and three wiring harness connectors. If you want to attempt board level repair try the electrolytic capacitor. On the 4P/5P printers, the top cover is open or no toner cartridge is installed. This error can also be caused by a defective interlock switch assembly.
2. On the LaserJet 4/4+ an error 12 can indicate the top cover open or a broken tab on the cover assembly. On rare occasions a defective paper control assembly or actuator can cause this problem. Verify the tab on the cover is not broken.

Top of the page

ERROR 13 Paper Jam

  1. Check the paper, make sure it meets the paper specifications for your printer. Tractor feed paper with the edges ripped off doesn't seem to work very well. Extremely heavy or thick paper is also a problem. Check the HP paper specification guide for more info. Be careful with labels, use only labels designed to take the heat generated by the fuser assembly. Regular labels my "ooze" adhesive as they pass through the fuser assembly and literally gum up the works! Also check for any partially peeled labels, this can be a disaster if they come off inside the printer.
  2. Check the paper path for toner or paper dust buildup. Look for bits of paper lodged in the path particularly around the sensors. 4L/4P printers can have paper stuck in the pickup area which is accessed by removing the screw over the oblique roller cover
  3. You may have a worn pickup roller. Common on the LJ II / III series is a worn input pickup roller. Sometimes you can clean these and get a few more miles out of them but when you start to get jams with a smudge on the top middle of the page, it's time to replace both the input pickup roller assembly and the cork paper separation pad. On the IIP/IIIP you can wipe toner/paper dust buildup off the roller and also remove the separation pad (small cork pad) and clean it as well. If the rollers are glazed or you see cracks, replace the roller or assembly. Replacing the pickup roller and separation pad on the IIP/IIIP will quiet the chatter associated with a worn separation pad.
  4. Is the paper size correct? Is the software set for the size you're using? Is the menu set for the size you're using? Check these items. If the software tells the printer to expect a different size (legal, A4, COM10) than the tray available, you will get an error. This can happen when printing a FAX document formatted for A4 size paper.
  5. You could also have a defective or dirty exit sensor. Replace or clean as needed.
  6. Make sure the paper cassettes are installed correctly. A buildup of toner on the edges of the tray which slide into the printer can sometimes cause problems. Take a sharp tool, like a razor blade and scrape the buildup off these edges.
  7. Bad paper pickup solenoid. On the LJ II / III series the rubber damper on the clutch release solenoid can degrade and become sticky and gummy. You can remove it and replace it with a piece of adhesive backed felt.       Note: A sticky solenoid can also be the cause of text appearing lower on each successive page.
  8. Bad drive gears. Again on the LJ II / III we are starting to see more and more failures of the gear drive assembly. A broken tooth on one gear is all it takes. Replace this as an assembly.
  9. Listen for the motor operation, make sure it's operational. If not replace the motor or drive circuit as required.
10. HP IIP/IIIP and Apple Personal LaserWriter's that pickup the paper and then crunch it up at the toner cartridge usually have a bad drive gear assembly. If the paper crinkles right at the toner cartridge it is most likely the drive gear located on the right side of the printer. If you fold down the right side cover, you will see a white gear/clutch assembly. Replacing this should solve your problem. You need RG1-1777, Drive Gear Assembly. Take a look at the white gear - if it looks as if it has twisted on the shaft that is the problem. You can remove it and rotate the inner white gear - it should exhibit a one way clutch action and rotate smoothly. The outer gear should rotate in one direction only with a spring action which limits it rotation.

Top of the page

ERROR 14 No EP Cartridge or No Toner Cartridge

1. No toner cartridge or cartridge not fully seated - pull it out and install it again. On the IIP/IIIP the connections for the high voltage are made on the left side of the printer so you may want to favor that side as you install the cartridge. On the HP LaserJet/LaserJet Plus (2686A/D) this can be caused by a defective cassette micro switch in which case you will have to repair or replace it.
2. On the II and III Series printers, this error message can be caused by a faulty paper control PCA. This is the board mounted to the DC power supply which is in the right front corner of the printer. Press the spring contacts and listen for the micro switches. You should hear a definite clicking.
3. On the II and III Series and the IIISi / 4Si, make sure at least one of the two drum sensitivity tabs are present. These are small rectangular blocks of plastic which contact the switches in the printer.
4. On the 4V / 4MV check the toner cartridge micro switch on the High Voltage PCB -SW501. Also on the 4V / 4MV check the door open sensor (PS402) on the terminal board located under the transfer roller.
5. Can also be caused by a defective DC controller. Pretty rare though.

Top of the page

ERROR 16 Toner Low

1. Toner cartridge is empty or toner in cartridge is not distributed evenly. Gently shake the toner cartridge both from side to side and from front to back. This can generally get you 100 or so more pages.
2. Bad or dirty cartridge contacts. Look for the conductive contacts on the cartridge and the corresponding contacts in the printer and make sure they are clean and free of contaminants.
3. Defective High Voltage power supply or on the LJ II/III the DC controller to High Voltage power supply can be defective. Check for opens on the cable.
4. IIISi / 4Si check the door open sensor flag, PS1. Also check the toner level sensor and the toner cartridge itself for damage.
5. It can also be caused by a defective DC controller. You can verify this by substituting a known good DC controller if possible.

Top of the page

ERROR 18 MIO Not Ready

1. The printer is not connected to a LAN when it's expecting to see a LAN. Terminate the port on the printer with a BNC T and two 50 Ohm termination's.
2. The MIO card is defective or maybe just not seated correctly. Remove the card and reseat it, try swapping with a known good card from another printer. Replace if necessary.

Top of the page

ERROR 20 Memory Overflow

1. A large print job has exceeded the memory capacity of the printer. Verify that the SIMMS or memory cards are seated. Add more memory or simplify the print job. Remember the original HP LaserJet has only 128K of memory available, the LJ+ has only 512K and neither one is really upgradable.
2. On the 5P turn the image adapt and page protect to ON or AUTO. These can be set within the Remote Control Panel. Press GO to resume printing.
3. On the 5L, set the Enhanced I/O to AUTO (PCL mode) and resend the print job.

Top of the page

ERROR 21 Print Overrun

1. The print job is to complex. Simplify the job by removing font changes etc. On the III, IIID, IIIP, enable page protect if you have and additional 1 MB of memory installed.
2. On the 4/4M/4+ and 5: The print job is to complex, enable page protect from the control panel and from the software. You may need additional memory.
3. 4L Same thing with to much data or the page is to complex. Simplify the print job. Turn the image adapt and page protect to ON or AUTO either from the control panel or from within HP Explorers Remote Control Panel.
4. 5P/5Si Same as above, Press GO to resume printing.

Top of the page

ERROR 22 / 22 Error/ I/O CONFIG Error/ Par I/O Error/ MIO Error

1. I/O configuration for the computer or printer is incorrect. Configure is properly.
2. Check I/O Cable, it could be the wrong cable or damaged.
3. Is the computer on?!
4. How about the I/O port - damaged, seated properly, pins not bent?
5. 4+/5P/5 The computer and printer aren't talking because of improper signal protocols. Could be a bad cable or loose connection or just a poor quality cable. Reseat the cable and use only high quality IEEE 1284 compliant cables.
5. 5Si Are you using a non-HP MIO device?

Top of the page

ERROR 23 I/O Not Ready

ALL PRINTERS The I/O card is not accepting data. May not be connected, check cabling, or it may be defective. Reseat the card and if available, swap with a known working card. Watch the termination's on the network cabling.

Top of the page

ERROR 24 Job Memory Full

The print job is too complex to be processed. Laser printers are page printers and require the entire page to be processed before beginning to print. Simplify the print job by removing font changes and/or graphics. Add more memory. See Printer Memory Upgrades

Top of the page

ERROR 30 PS Error 16

ALL PRINTERS An I/O time-out or a prompt for user interaction like a manual feed has been exceeded. Check the I/O connections and make sure the proper media is being used.

Top of the page

ERROR 30 PS Error 16

ALL PRINTERS This is an unexpected PostScript firmware error. Reseat the PostScript SIMM and/or replace it.

Top of the page

ERROR 30 PS Error XX

ALL PRINTERS PCL file was sent to the printer while in PostScript mode or the PostScript file contains bad data, or you have experienced and application error (crash). You need to check the configuration of your printer and drivers, reset the printer, try issuing an initialization command from within the application. May need to reload your PostScript print driver file.

Top of the page

ERROR 40

1. Make sure computer and printer are set to the same baud rates. Reset as needed.
2. Is the computer powered off!
3. Check the MIO card, remove, clean contacts, reinstall. Replace if defective
4. An abnormal connection break may have occurred during data transfer - Press Continue or Go to clear this error message.

Top of the page

41 ERROR (Temporary Print Engine Failure)

All Printers
1. Momentary error. Reset by pressing the [Continue] or [Go] key.
2. High-voltage discharge. Clean printer and ensure proper grounding of Registration Assemblies and Transfer area.
II, II D, III, III D
Bad Laser/Scanner Cable. Replace cable assembly from DC Controller to Laser/Scanner.
II, II D, III, III D, III P, II P Plus
Bent or broken fiber optic cable.
II P
For S/Ns between 2925500000 and 3047599999. Replace Fusing Assembly.
IIP, IIP Plus, IIIP
1. Paper feed problems. Check paper feed, especially operation of PSI.

Top of the page

41.1 or 2 ERROR, 41.3 ERROR

All Printers
1. Defective connections. Reseat J205, J206, 5207 and Laser/Scanner connections.
2. Paper Multifeed or Wrong Size Paper. See Service Notes C2001A-01 and -02 (for LJ4 and 4+).
3. Paper size selection does not match installed paper.
4. One of the cassettes is overfull or improperly adjusted. Remove paper from cassette and Readjust Cassette.
5. Paper is out of spec.

Top of the page

41.4 or 5 ERROR

All Printers
Defective DC Controller or Formatter PCA.

IIISi / 4Si
Toner Cartridge tab broken.

Top of the page

ERROR 50

A 50 service error can be either a temporary error or a permanent problem requiring service.
Temporary Error: Power off for 20 minutes to allow the capacitor on the DC controller to fully discharge. If you don't allow this capacitor to discharge, you will still get a Error 50 even if you have fixed the problem. This may clear the error - either temporarily or permanently. If it clears the error it was most likely caused by a low power problem i.e. low line voltage causing the power supply circuits to drop out of regulation. Low / unstable power (low line voltage, brownout condition).
If it doesn't clear the error you may have one of the problems listed below.
1. The HP LaserJet II / IID / III / IIID, Apple LaserWriter II series and many other Canon SX engine based printers have two common causes of the Service Error 50, a failure of the AC power module assembly which requires replacement of the assembly, The other possible cause is in the fuser, the halogen heater lamp, the thermal fuse or the thermistor. In these cases, the fuser assembly must be replaced.
2. On the HP LaserJet 4 / 4M / 4+ / 4M+, our experience so far has shown the fuser assembly must be replaced..
3. On the HP LaserJet 4L / 4ML, errors are indicated by a series of indicator lights. This printer has four lights, Paper Jam, Paper Out, Data, and Online. If all four lights are on, press and hold the blue panel button to display a secondary light pattern. An error 50 is indicated by the ready and error lights with the blue panel button pressed. Turn the printer off for 20 minutes to see if the error clears. If not, you will need to replace the fuser assembly to perform further checks.
4. The HP LaserJet 5P / 6P indicates service errors in a similar manner to the 4L / 4ML except there are 5 indicator lights. If the first four lights, top to bottom, are lite, press and hold the GO and RESET buttons. If the paper jam light is lit, you have a Service Error 50. Again, turn the printer off for 20 minutes to see if the error resets. If not, you will need to replace the fuser assembly..

Top of the page

ERROR 51 / Service Error 52 (Loss of beam detect)

IIP / IIP+ / IIIP
1. Improperly seated toner cartridge - remove and reinstall
2. Laser shutter blocked or damaged
3. Damaged fiber optic cable
4. Defective Laser PCA - replace

II / IID / III / IIID
1. Defective toner cartridge - Replace with different cartridge, even empty for testing.
2. Bad or loose cable connectors - Scanner to DC Controller - check and tighten connector pins at both ends of cable.
3. Damaged Fiber optic cable - examine for cuts or kinks, replace as necessary
4. Defective Scanner Assembly - Replace RG5-0050

IIISi / 4Si
1. Defective Toner Cartridge - Replace with different cartridge, even empty for testing
2. Fiber Optic cable - examine for cuts kinks, nicks.
3. Faulty Connectors - Check J002 on DC controller and J601 on Laser PCA
4. Low DC Voltage - Verify 12 VDC at J601-2 on Laser PCA
5. Defective Scanner Assembly - Replace Laser Scanner Assembly

4 / 4+ / 5
1. Faulty Laser Scanner Cable Connectors - Remove and Reseat connectors
2. Defective Laser Scanner Assembly - Replace RG5-0049

Top of the page

ERROR 53

On the HP LaserJet 4L / 4ML / 5L this error is indicated by the data light on and all other off.
1. Error found in RAM (or ROM, 5L only) - power cycle the printer
2. Defective or incompatible memory card - remove card and power cycle the printer
3. Defective formatter PCA - replace

4 / 4+ / 4Si / 4V / 5 / 4P / 4MP the 53.(XY.ZZ) error code is decoded as follows:

X- Hardware Type:
0 = ROM
1 = RAM
Y - Hardware Device:
0 = On Board RAM/ROM
1 = SIMM Slot one
2 = SIMM Slot two
3 = SIMM Slot three
4 = SIMM Slot four

ZZ Error number:
00 = Unsupported memory
01 = Unrecognized memory
02 = Unsupported memory size
03 = Failed RAM test
04 = Exceeded max RAM size
05 = Exceeded max ROM size
06 = Invalid SIMM speed
07 = SIMM reporting incorrect
08 = SIMM RAM parity error
09 = SIMM ROM mapped to an unsupported address
10 = SIMM address conflict
11 = ROM out of bounds
12 = Could not make temporary mapping
*A 53.1y08 error is generated in LJ4+ memory is installed in a LJ4 The 53.03.01 error code
is decoded as follows:  A ROM error in SIMM slot three with unrecognized memory.

Top of the page

ERROR 54

IID, IIID: Duplex Feed Error
1. Improperly fitted duplex shift plate.
2. Bad PS5 or SL4.
3. Main motor defect.

Top of the page

ERROR 55

On IIISi / 4Si Printers this is due to the DC controller not receiving the proper information upon startup. Check the connectors on the DC controller and power supply. If you don't hear the motor immediately and you don't have a paper jam, change the power supply.

Top of the page

ERROR 56

IID / IIID - Output Selector Knob not in Duplex Position

IIISi / 4Si - Trying to print envelope in duplex mode

Top of the page

ERROR 57

Incompatible Memory Card or Gears Seized or bad main motor or fan motor.

Top of the page

ERROR 58

4 / 4L / 4P / 4V / 5 / 5P
1. Improperly fitted Fan Cable.
2. Defective Fan.

4V / 4MV
Defective DC controller PCA

IIISi / 4Si Error 58.1 & 58.2
Improperly seated paper cassette

Top of the page

ERROR 59

IIISi / 4Si Add Memory

Top of the page

ERROR 60

1. 4, 4+, 4P Defective Formatter PCA,
2. IIISi / 4Si / 4V: Defective SIMMS

Top of the page

ERROR 61

Defective formatter PCA

Top of the page

ERROR 61 MEMORY IIISi / 4Si / 4V

Defective memory SIMMs, reseat, remove or replace

Top of the page

ERROR 62.X Service

62.0 Service
62.1-4 Service
62.5 Service
62.6 Service All Printers
1. Improperly seated SIMMs or font cartridge - remove, check/clean contacts re-install and try again. Try with SIMMs or font cartridge removed to be sure error clears.
2. Defective Internal Memory - Replace Formatter PCA, check all cables first!

Top of the page

ERROR 67 Defective formatter PCA

1. 2686A/D, II, IID, IIP,III,IIID,IIIP,4,4+,4P - Defective formatter board, try reseating the connectors and any accessories you may have plugged in
2. 4V / 4MV - This can also be a temporary error or a defective paper guide plate assembly. A switch on this assembly may not be activated properly. You can remedy this by replacing the paper guide plate assembly, RG5-248-030. Caution needs to be used when installing the new assembly - be careful of the sensor flag spring!
3. On the 4Si this could be a temporary error which can be corrected by cycling the power
4. 5Si - Can be caused by field replaceable units (FRU's) not installed correctly. Check and reinstall.

Top of the page

ERROR 79

1. Software/drivers, Memory PCA's, Font-Macro-Personality Cartridges, option I/O Cards. Defective toner cartridge in the LaserJet 4 Plus only. Remove any accessories (font cartridges, memory PCA's, SIMMs, etc.) plugged into the formatter card and try again. If the problem persists and is application specific, verify proper setup with application vendor.
2. Defective Formatter PCA - Replace with known operational board and try again.

Top of the page

ERROR 80

ALL Printers
1. Improper MIO connection - look at pins on formatter MIO connection
2. Defective MIO Card - Replace card
3. Defective Formatter Card - Replace card

Top of the page