MFC-9120CN

FAQs & Troubleshooting

FAQs & Troubleshooting

I'm having a problem with the print quality. How can I solve it?

Step 1: Please check the following points.
  1. Check that you use the paper that meets our specification.
    Please refer to "What is the recommended paper?".
  2. Check that the drum units and toner cartridges are installed properly.
    Please refer to the instructions, "How do I replace a drum unit?" and "How do I replace the toner cartridge?".
If you still have a print quality problem, please go to the Step 2.

Step 2: Please click the IMAGE which is similar to the problem you have.

White lines, bands or ribbing across the page
White lines, bands or ribbing across the page

Colors are light or unclear on the whole page
Colors are light or unclear on the whole page

Vertical streaks in a light background
Vertical streaks in a light background

White spots or hollow print
White spots or hollow print

Toner scatter or toner stain
Toner scatter or toner stain

All one color
All one color

Uneven density appears periodically across the page
Uneven density appears periodically across the page

Wrinkle
Wrinkle

Offset image
Offset image

Poor fixing
Poor fixing

Curled or wavy
Curled or wavy

Envelope creases
Envelope creases

White streaks or bands down the page
White streaks or bands down the page

Colored streaks or bands down the page
Colored streaks or bands down the page

Colored lines across the page
Colored lines across the page

Completely blank or some colors are missing
Completely blank or some colors are missing

Colored spots at 94mm (3.7in.)
Colored spots at 94mm (3.7in.)

Colored spots at 30mm (1.2in.)
Colored spots at 30mm (1.2in.)

Color misregistration
Color misregistration

Uneven density or faded
Uneven density or faded



White lines, bands or ribbing across the page:

White lines, bands or ribbing across the page
  1. The drum unit may be damaged. Put in a new drum unit as follows:
    1. Click here to print the chart. [185KB/ PDF]
    2. Compare your printed document with the printed chart to identify the color of the drum unit causing the problem.
    3. Replace the drum unit of the color.
      Please refer to the instructions, "How do I replace the drum unit?".

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Colors are light or unclear on the whole page:

Colors are light or unclear on the whole page
  1. Make sure Toner Save mode is off in the control panel of the machine or the printer driver.
    Please refer to the instructions, "How can I turn the Toner Save Mode on or off?".
  2. Make sure that you choose the proper media type in the printer driver or in the machine's Paper Type menu setting.
  3. Take out all the drum unit and toner cartridge assemblies and then shake all four toner cartridges gently.
    Please refer to the instructions, "How do I replace the toner cartridge?".
  4. Wipe the windows of all four LED heads with a dry lint free soft cloth.
    Please refer to the instructions, "How do I clean the LED head?".
  5. Perform the print calibration to improve the color density.
    Please refer to the instructions, "How do I improve the color density?".

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Vertical streaks in a light background:

Vertical streaks in a light background
  1. Clean the LED heads as follows:
    1. Click here to print the chart. [345KB/ PDF]
    2. Compare your printed document with the printed chart to identify the color of the LED head causing the problem.
    3. Wipe the windows of the LED head with a dry lint free soft cloth.
      Please refer to the instructions, "How do I clean the LED head?".

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White spots or hollow print:

White spots or hollow print
  1. Clean the drum unit as follows:
    1. Click here to print the chart. [345KB/ PDF]
    2. Compare your printed document with the printed chart to identify the color of the drum unit causing the problem.
    3. Clean the drum unit of the color.
      Please refer to the instructions, "How do I clean the drum unit?".
  2. Make sure that the media type settings in the printer driver and in the machine's Paper Type menu matches the type of paper you are using. We recommend trying to change Thick Paper or Thicker Paper mode in the printer driver, and Thick or Thicker in the machine's Paper Type menu setting.
  3. Check the machine's environment. Conditions such as high humidity can cause white spots or hollow print.
    Temperature: 10ºC to 32.5ºC (50ºF to 90.5ºF)
    Humidity: 20% to 80% (without condensation)

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Toner scatter or toner stain:

Toner scatter or toner stain
  1. Check the machine's environment. Conditions such as high humidity can cause white spots or hollow print.
    Temperature: 10ºC to 32.5ºC (50ºF to 90.5ºF)
    Humidity: 20% to 80% (without condensation)
  2. The toner cartridge may be damaged. Put in a new toner cartridge as follow:
    1. Click here to print the chart. [345KB/ PDF]
    2. Compare your printed document with the printed chart to identify the color causing the problem.
    3. Replace the toner cartridge of the color.
      Please refer to the instructions, "How do I replace the toner cartridge?".
  3. If the problem continues, the drum unit may be damaged. Put in a new drum unit of the color causing the problem.
    Please refer to the instructions, "How do I replace the drum unit?".

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All one color:

All one color
  1. The drum unit may be damaged. Put in a new drum unit as follows:
    1. Click here to print the chart. [345KB/ PDF]
    2. Compare your printed document with the printed chart to identify the color of the drum unit causing the problem.
    3. Replace the drum unit of the color.
      Please refer to the instructions, "How do I replace the drum unit?".

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Uneven density appears periodically across the page:

Uneven density appears periodically across the page
  1. Perform the print calibration to improve the color density.
    Please refer to the instructions, "How do I improve the color density?".
  2. The toner cartridge may be damaged. Put in a new toner cartridge as follow:
    1. Click here to print the chart. [345KB/ PDF]
    2. Compare your printed document with the printed chart to identify the color that is uneven.
    3. Replace the toner cartridge of the color.
      Please refer to the instructions, "How do I replace the toner cartridge?".
  3. If the problem continues, the drum unit may be damaged. Put in a new drum unit of the color causing the problem.
    Please refer to the instructions, "How do I replace the drum unit?".

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Wrinkle:

Wrinkle Please refer to Step 2 in the instrucions, "Printouts have wrinkles.".

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Offset image:

Offset image
  1. Make sure that the media type settings in the printer driver and in the machine's Paper Type menu matches the type of paper you are using.
  2. Make sure that two gray levers inside the back cover are in the up position.

    The two gray levers are in the up position.

     
  3. Check the machine's environment. Conditions such as high humidity can cause white spots or hollow print.
    Temperature: 10ºC to 32.5ºC (50ºF to 90.5ºF)
    Humidity: 20% to 80% (without condensation)
  4. The drum unit may be damaged. Put in a new drum unit as follows:
    1. Click here to print the chart. [345KB/ PDF]
    2. Compare your printed document with the printed chart to identify the color of the drum unit causing the problem.
    3. Replace the drum unit of the color.
      Please refer to the instructions, "How do I replace the drum unit?".

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Poor fixing:

Poor fixing Please refer to Step 2 in the instrucions, "The toner does not fix to paper well. (Poor fixing)".

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Curled or wavy:

Curled or wavy
Please refer to Step 2 in the instrucions, "Printouts are curled or wavy.".

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Envelope creases:

Envelope creases Please refer to Step 2 in the instrucions, "Printouts (envelope, cardboard) have creases."

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White streaks or bands down the page:

White streaks or bands down the page
  1. Wipe the windows of all four LED heads with a dry lint free soft cloth.
    Please refer to the instructions, "How do I clean the LED head?".
  2. Clean all four drum units.
    Please refer to the instructions, "How do I clean the drum unit?".
  3. The toner cartridge may be damaged. Put in a new toner cartridge as follows:
    1. Click here to print the chart. [185KB/ PDF]
    2. Compare your printed document with the printed chart to identify the color of the toner cartridge causing the problem.
    3. Replace the toner cartridge of the color.
      Please refer to the instructions, "How do I replace the toner cartridge?".

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Colored streaks or bands down the page:

Colored streaks or bands down the page
  1. Clean all four corona wires (one for each color) inside the drum unit by sliding the green tab. After completing the cleaning, make sure the corona wire cleaners are at their home positions.
    Please refer to the instructions, "How do I clean the corona wire?".
  2. The toner cartridge may be damaged. Put in a new toner cartridge as follow:
    1. Click here to print the chart. [185KB/ PDF]
    2. Compare your printed document with the printed chart to identify the color causing the problem.
    3. Replace the toner cartridge of the color.
      Please refer to the instructions, "How do I replace the toner cartridge?".
  3. If the problem continues, the drum unit may be damaged. Put in a new drum unit of the color causing the problem.
    Please refer to the instructions, "How do I replace the drum unit?".

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Colored lines across the page:

Colored lines across the page
  1. The toner cartridge may be damaged. Put in a new toner cartridge as follow:
    1. Click here to print the chart. [345KB/ PDF]
    2. Compare your printed document with the printed chart to identify the color causing the problem.
    3. Replace the toner cartridge of the color.
      Please refer to the instructions, "How do I replace the toner cartridge?".
  2. If the problem continues, the drum unit may be damaged. Put in a new drum unit of the color causing the problem.
    Please refer to the instructions, "How do I replace the drum unit?".

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Completely blank or some colors are missing:

Completely blank or some colors are missing
  1. The toner cartridge may be damaged. Put in a new toner cartridge as follow:
    1. Click here to print the chart. [345KB/ PDF]
    2. Compare your printed document with the printed chart to identify the color causing the problem.
    3. Replace the toner cartridge of the color.
      Please refer to the instructions, "How do I replace the toner cartridge?".
  2. If the problem continues, the drum unit may be damaged. Put in a new drum unit of the color causing the problem.
    Please refer to the instructions, "How do I replace the drum unit?".

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Colored spots at 94mm (3.7in.):

Colored spots at 94mm (3.7in.)
  1. The drum unit may have glue from a label stuck on the drum surface. Clean the drum unit as follow:
    1. Click here to print the chart. [345KB/ PDF]
    2. Compare your printed document with the printed chart to identify the color causing the problem.
    3. Clean the drum unit of the color.
      Please refer to the instructions, "How do I clean the drum unit?".
  2. If the problem continues, the drum unit may be damaged. Put in a new drum unit of the color causing the problem.
    Please refer to the instructions, "How do I replace the drum unit?".

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Colored spots at 30mm (1.2in.):

Colored spots at 30mm (1.2in.)
  1. The toner cartridge may be damaged. Put in a new toner cartridge as follow:
    1. Click here to print the chart. [345KB/ PDF]
    2. Compare your printed document with the printed chart to identify the color causing the problem.
    3. Replace the toner cartridge of the color.
      Please refer to the instructions, "How do I replace the toner cartridge?".

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Color misregistration:

Color misregistration
  1. Make sure that the machine is on a solid level surface.
  2. Perform the auto color registration using the control panel. If the problem continues, perform the manual color registration using the control panel.
    Please refer to the instructions, "How do I adjust the print position of each color?".
  3. The drum unit may be damaged. Put in a new drum unit as follow:
    1. Click here to print the chart. [345KB/ PDF]
    2. Compare your printed document with the printed chart to identify the color causing the problem.
    3. Replace the drum unit of the color.
      Please refer to the instructions, "How do I replace a drum unit?".
  4. If the problem continues, the belt unit may be damaged. Put in a new belt unit.
    Please refer to the instructions, "How do I replace the belt unit? ".

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Uneven density or faded:

Uneven density or faded
  1. Fully open the top cover and then close it again.

Top cover 

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If your question was not answered, have you checked other FAQs?

Have you checked the manuals?

If you need further assistance, please contact Brother customer service:

Related Models

DCP-9010CN, MFC-9120CN, MFC-9320CW

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