In this article , Mr . Andrew of CHIPTRONIKS  will discuss the error codes commonly occouring in HP printers. For more details , look to our printer repairing course

HP Printer Error Codes

Error 02 Warming up
 Turn printer off. Unplug I/O cable from rear of printer. Power up printer and see if it goes to ready. If printer goes to ready, the problem could be a driver issue, a bad I/O port in the computer or a bad I/O cable. If the printer still stays in 02 warm up, replace the formatter board.

Error 11 Paper Out
 Check paper tray for paper. Make sure it is seated properly.
 Check the tray size actuating tabs on the paper tray for damage. Check to see if the actuators they contact aren’t bent. The micro-switches they actuate could be defective or misaligned. Manually depress the actuators and listen for a click.
 Check that the paper sensor arm isn’t stuck or broken.
 Paper Control Sensor PCA is defective.

Error 12 Printer Open no EP cartridge
 Check that the toner cartridge is installed.
 Check that the top cover is firmly closed.
 On HP II/IID/III/IIID printers this error is usually caused by a bad DC power supply.
 On HP IIP/IIP+/IIIP printers the primary cause is the density adjusting PCA. There is a slight possibility of it being a bad fan. There is also a slight possibility of the tab on the fuser access door above the MP tray breaking off and causing the error. If the fan starts to run, quits and you notice a burning odor, the scanner motor has failed and needs to be replaced. The problem can also be caused by a defective drum shutter on the toner cartridge.
 On the 4/4M/4+/4M+ the tab on the top cover that actuates the door interlock could be broken.

Error 13 Paper Jam
 Paper jams can occur in 3 places: Entry, registration and exit.
 If the paper isn’t picking up out of the paper tray, visually inspect the pickup roller. If it looks shiny, replace it. You should also replace the separation pad as they work together. On the 4L/4P/5P/6P the pickup roller has a plastic shaft that breaks. You’ll have to replace the whole pickup assembly. This requires major disassembly of the printer.
 If you have an HP 4/4+/5 with an optional 500 sheet feeder that’s jamming, check the balance knob adjustment. Center it with a full ream of paper for proper operation.
 If the paper is jamming at registration or anywhere between pickup and exit it could be a number of things. Check the paper path for torn bits of paper or label residue. On the II/III series, remove the metal registration guide plate (2 screws) and check underneath it. If the pickup rollers are moderately worn, the paper will stop just short of the registration roller. On the 4L/4P/5P/6P remove the screw holding the oblique roller assembly (Inside front of printer) and pull out and inspect the assembly and the area under it. On the HP 4/4+/5 pivot up the metal plate and check underneath it. Check the roller assembly on the left side for torn scraps of paper (a flashlight or torch is necessary).
 Make sure paper cassettes are firmly seated, corner tabs aren’t bent. Some trays have lifting springs that could pop out if tray has been dropped.
 On HP IIP/IIP+/IIIP printers if the paper scrunches up at the toner cartridge you’ll need our Inside Accordion Jam Repair Kit.
 Check your software settings in the program you are attempting to print from. Do you have the correct paper size specified? If you have a different paper size than what is in the tray, you’ll get a paper jam.
 Exit jams are frequently caused by exit sensors. These sensors are typically mounted on the fuser assembly or adjacent to it. They are plastic arms that block and unblock an optical sensor. The arms can get stuck or knocked out of place when clearing paper jams. The optical sensors can also get dirt blocking the photo cell. Clean the sensor and check for free movement and proper installation of the sensor arms.
 On HP II/III series exit jams are mostly caused by worn gears. The best way to troubleshoot this is to defeat the door interlock (see door interlock photo on troubleshooting page). Press down on the arm on the top right of the fuser. Initiate a test page. While holding down the arm, press one of the metal cartridge detect switches just below the door interlock. Watch the movement of the gears. You will get a 51 error because the door is open. Recycle power to get rid of error. There is an arm gear on the lower right of the fuser that can shed teeth. There is also a 14 tooth gear below the large gear on top of the fuser. You can also manually rotate the large gear and check for binding or crunching. If that happens, then replace the 14 tooth gear. On the door, there are some delivery coupler gears that mate with the fuser and drive the exit roller. Check the gears for excessive wear. Replace if necessary. If the paper gets almost all the way out and jams, replace the exit roller or the exit roller assembly. If the error occurs after fuser replacement, check and see if the connector on the left of the fuser is properly mated with the one in the printer.
 On HP IIP/IIP+/IIIP printers if the paper has accordion folds on the bottom and jams on exit, order our Top Output Accordion Jam Repair Kit.
 On HP 4/4+/5 printers the most common cause of exit jams is the exit assembly.
Exit jams in the fuser can be caused by a broken fuser drive gear or a broken gear on the fuser. Remove the fuser and check the gear inside the printer for broken teeth. Manually turn the gears on the fuser and check for smooth operation. Check the paper exit sensor arm for proper mounting and free movement.
 Check to make sure the rear door is closed on the printer. Open doors can cause 13 paper jam indications.
 On the 5L/6L check the registration sensor arm below the pickup roller. Also check the exit sensor arm (bottom center of the fuser). These arms frequently get stuck or dislodged clearing paper jams.
Error 14 No EP cartridge
 Check that a toner cartridge is installed and fully seated.
 On HP II/III and IISi/4Si models check that at least one sensitivity tab is installed on the right side of the toner cartridge. If you see 2 holes and no square plastic tabs sticking in at least one of them, the printer will not see the cartridge. If one tab is installed and the printer still doesn’t recognize the cartridge, try popping out the tab and putting it in the other position.
 On HP 4/4+/5 printers the high voltage contacts can be dirty or misaligned. If contacts are ok, replace the high voltage power supply.

Error 16 Toner low
 Toner cartridge is low on toner. Try gently rocking the cartridge to redistribute the toner. This will buy you 50-100 pages. Get a new cartridge as soon as possible.
 Dirty or misaligned contacts on the high voltage power supply.
 On the HP II/III printers it can be a loose connector on DC controller see tweaking for instructions on how to repair it.
 On the HP 4/4+/5 printers there is a potentiometer adjustment on the left side of the printer. You have to remove the left panel and you’ll see it. It’s located at about the exact center of the printer.

Error 18 MIO Not Ready
 The printer is not connected to a Lan.
 The MIO (Jet Direct) card is defective or not seated correctly. Reseat or replace it. If you have another printer with the same card, try swapping them. Always turn printer power off when removing or inserting cards.

Error 20 Memory Overflow
 Print job has exceeded the memory capacity of the printer. Simplify the print job, reduce the dpi setting or install additional memory. See our specials page for memory.

Error 21 Print Overrun
 See error 20

Error 22 I/O Configuration
 Printer or computer I/O configuration is incorrect
 I/O cable is wrong or damaged
 The computer is switched off
 I/O port on printer is damaged. Replace the formatter.

Error 23 I/O Not Ready
 I/O card can’t accept data or isn’t connected to the network. Check card seating (with power off) and replace if necessary.

Error 24 Job Memory Full
 Too much data or too complex data for printer memory. See error 20.

Error 25 XXX Memory Full
 Too much data or too complex data for printer memory. See error 20.

Error 30 PS Error 16
 I/O time out. Printer got tired of waiting for user interaction like a manual feed. Check the I/O connections. Check display panel for media request.

Error 30 PS Error 22/25
 Postscript error. Replace the Postscript SIMM module
Error 30 PS Error (all others)
 A PCL file was sent to the printer while it was in Postscript mode.
Error 30.1.1 Disk Failure
 5si/8000 optional hard drive has crashed. Press select to continue.

Error 40 Data Transfer Error
 Printer and computer may be set to different baud rates.
 The computer is turned off.
 The MIO card is defective or improperly seated.
 Press continue or go on the printer to clear message.

Error 41 (temporary print engine error)
 Temporary error has occurred. Press Go or Continue. Power cycle the printer.

Error 41.1 41.2 41.3
 Defective connections. Reseat J205,206,207 and laser scanner connectors.
 Paper multifeed or wrong size paper being used.
 Paper size selection doesn’t match the paper being used.
 Cassette is overfull or improperly adjusted.

Error 41.4 or 41.5
 Formatter PCA or DC controller is defective.

Error 50 (fuser malfunction)
 HP II/III series most likely cause is the ac power module is defective. Slight possibility of loose connector on DC controller. See tweaking page DC controller could also be defective, but this is very rare.
 HP IIP/IIP+/IIIP most likely cause is burned out quartz lamp. Could also be a failure of the power supply.
 HP 4/4+/5 most likely cause is burned out quartz lamp. Could also be a failure of the power supply.
 HP 4L/4P/5L/5P/6L/6P most likely cause is a bad ceramic heating element.
 All other printers most likely cause is burned out quartz lamp. In rare instances the ac power supply has failed. Even rarer, the DC controller is defective.

Error 51 (beam detect error)
 HP II/III series see tweaking page. Check the tab on the bottom of the toner cartridge facing you as you open the printer. If it’s broken off it won’t open the laser shutter. Check fiber optic cable for kinks or other damage.
 HP IIP/IIP+/IIIP could be either the laser pca or the scanner motor. Listen for erratic sounding scanner motor. There is a tab on the front of the toner cartridge that could also cause the problem. If its damaged or worn, it won’t open the laser shutter. Check fiber optic cable for kinks or other damage.
 All other printers, replace laser scanner assembly.

Error 52 (scanner motor malfunction)
 HP II/III series see tweaking page.
 All other printers, replace laser scanner assembly.

Error 53 (accessory memory error)
 All printers replace bad memory board or defective SIMM. See specials page.

Error 54
 Defective duplexer.

Error 55 (internal communication problem)
 On the HP 2 series you have to replace both the dc controller and formatter boards. On all other printers it can be several things: DC controller, formatter, main motor

Error 56
 On the IID/IIID the output selector knob on the rear assembly is not in the duplex position. On the IIISi/4Si a command was sent to print envelopes while the printer was in duplex mode.

Error 57
 6L/5L Memory card incompatibility – 1,2,4,8 MB, 5 volt, 70 nanosecond or faster
 6P/5P/5 Improper main motor function, check gear train for binding. Check DC controller connections – replace main motor
 4L/4 Main motor problem, check gear train for binding. Replace main motor
 IIIP/IIP+/IIP Error 57-1 Incompatible memory can be either in the top or bottom slot. Also check motor cable connections. Replace main motor. Can also be a defective DC controller.
 5Si/4+/4Si/IIISi (X=2, 3 or 4) Fan motor is defective, check fan number X or duplexer fan and replace as necessary
 5 Main motor failure – replace main motor
 4+ 57.1 Gears are seized, main motor is bad or DC controller is bad
 4Si/IIISi 57.1 Gears seized, defective top cover switch, faulty AC interlock switch, J010 loose or faulty, bad main motor PCA

Error 58
 4/4L/4P/4V/5/5P Check the fan cable – reseat the cable or replace the fan
 4V/4MV Defective DC controller board – replace dc controller
 4Si/IIISi 58.1/58.2 Paper cassette is impoperly inserted
 5Si 58.X Tray/Lifter Malfunction if X=1: Tray 2 lifter, X=2: Tray 3 lifter, X=3: Tray 1 lifter, X=4: Tray 4 lifter Press SELECT to continue

Error 59 Add Memory
 4Si/IIISi Not enough memory for PostScript option. Verify SIMM’s are seated properly, replace any defective SIMMS
 5Si 59.X Main motor malfunciton X=1: Main motor startup failure, X=2: Main motor rotation failure

Error 62.X
62.0 Service, 62.1-4 Service, 62.5 Service, 62.6 Service All Printers
 1. Improperly seated SIMMs or font cartridge – remove, check and clean the contacts, re-install and try again.
 2. Defective Internal Memory – Replace the Formatter PCA.

Error 67 Defective formatter PCA
 2/2D/2P/2P+/3/3D/3P/4/4+/4P – Defective formatter board, try reseating the connectors and any accessories you may have plugged in to it, turn power off first!
 On the 4Si it could be a temporary error which can be corrected by cycling the power
 4V/4MV – Most common cause is a defective paper guide plate assembly.
 5Si The field replaceable units (FRU’s) not installed correctly. Check and reinstall.

Error 79
 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.
 Defective Formatter PCA – Replace with known operational board and try again.

Error 80
 Improper MIO connection – look at pins on formatter MIO connection
 Defective MIO Card – Replace card
 Defective Formatter Card – Replace card

Error 89
 The PostScript ROM’s have bent or broken pins inspect the pins and reseat if necessary
 Check to see that the ROM SIMM’s are in the proper location and oriented properly
 This can also be a temporay error, try power cycling the printer
 The PostScript ROM’s/SIMM are defective