Solving the Top 5 Asked HP Laser Printing Error Codes / Service Errors
Updated: Jul 26, 2019
Troubleshooting the Top 5 HP Laser Printing Error Codes / Service Errors.
Of all the tricky repairs we help solve each day, we hear more about a handful of common issues many field technicians encounter regularly. To give you a better handle on these everyday problems, we compiled information on our top five calls, along
with the best way to diagnose and fix them.
HP printer 50 Service Error:
Called among the most mind-boggling errors, the 50 service error can be both the easiest and the most difficult errors to diagnose and fix. It’s the most common problem we help solve and over time, solutions have evolved.
A 50 service error can mean you have an issue with either the printer fuser assembly, a low voltage power supply (LVPS), or a DC controller (DCC). Here’s how to work through each to get to the bottom of your issue:
On newer machines, simply install the new component and if the new part is the answer, your printer should go to ready, with no reset procedure needed to clear the 50 service error code.
If the printer fuser is the reason for your error, check continuity with your ohm meter on the fuser lamp, thermoster, thermoswitch or heating element, depending on your style of fuser. If you have continuity, then the odds are your printer fuser is fine.
If the problem persists, it could be a short in the printer, a damaged cable, pinched cable, exposed wire, or damaged connector.
Next, try the LVPS. Unfortunately, there is no good way to check the power supply; the power supply must be tested under a load, so you need to replace it to get an accurate test result.
If you still have the error, try the DC controller; a fairly rare occurrence. A faulty or weak line voltage, a UPS, or the printer being plugged into a surge protector can also cause this error. Note that some printer model’s, like the 1320, P2015, 2035, 2055 and M401 have no separate DC controller and low voltage power supply. They are combined with the high voltage power supply on one board, usually called the engine controller board (ECU). If you would need to change either the DCC or the LVPS on this style of printer you would need to change the board.
HP Printer 49 Error code:
The second most common error call we receive, the 49.xxxx error, could soon surpass the 50 service error in popularity. It’s difficult to diagnose because there are a wide variety of things that could cause such an error message.
Think of this as a miscommunication between a component and the formatter board, usually an accessory or an option. The easiest way to determine which accessory is causing the error is to remove all accessories and options one at a time, turn on the printer and see if the printer goes to a ready state.
Accessories and options include: Optional cassettes, duplex assemblies, envelope feeders, additional memory, network cards, and hard drives. If after removing one of these devices the printer returns to ready, then the assembly you removed is most
likely the problem and you would need to replace that part.
It goes without saying you should always power off the printer beofre removing any boards or accessories. But in some cases external items that are not installed on the printer could cause a 49 error to occur. Some of these could be: Software, drivers, or networks.
In a “very worst case” scenario, sometimes firmware or the formatter board could cause
these error codes. If it is the firmware on a printer that has flashable firmware, you can try downloading the firmware from www.hp.com and flash that to the printer. If it is the formatter you would need to replace the board.
HP Printer 13 Error code:
As you know, most error codes in HP printers tell you a part or process that has failed, a motor, a fan, a laser scanner, etc. But the 13.xx codes are a bit different and require some detective work to decipher.
To correctly diagnose a 13 error code, you need three pieces of information: the EXACT error number and text, following the code, where the leading edge of the paper is located when the error occurred, and from what trays this error occurred.
It is imperative that you test all trays including tray 1 (bypass tray), in order to have as much information, as possible.
Obtaining the error code from the event log doesn’t provide enough information to properly diagnose the problem. For example, if you have a 13.02 error, but no other information, how do you know what’s wrong? The error indicates the media hasn’t passed the top of page sensor in time. How does the diagnosis change if, in fact, the media has passed the sensor? What if it hasn’t reached the sensor yet?
What if the printer works from tray 1 but not tray 2? All of these factors play a role in diagnosing the problem correctly. Each of these scenarios may result in a different diagnosis, without additional information. Remember, three parts to the process;
EXACT code and text, where the paper is when the jam occurs, which trays cause the error, INCLUDING the bypass tray. With this information in hand, you are well on your way to solving the mysteries of the 13.xx codes.
HP Printer 41 Error Code:
Like many common errors we see, the 41 occurs under a variety of different scenarios. We’ve been diagnosing and interpreting them all since the HP LaserJet 4000 came onto the market almost 12 years ago. We’ll walk you through each potential solution.
When this machine reaches its 200,000-page maintenance cycle and you install the preventative maintenance kit, the printer often displays a “41.5” and spits out a blank page. A service manual will say this is a media feed error directing the technician to reseat the laser scanner connections.
But if the problem remains, the next step is to replace the laser scanner, then the engine controller board. This may be confusing considering the error is described as a “media feed error.” The feed/separation rollers in this kit do most of the work. If the roller in the tray is not seated properly, it will misfeed, prompting the error. The error specifically indicates paper has reached the pre-feed sensor (PS102) and the registration sensor
(PS103) too early. Install a set of feed/separation rollers and make certain both are fully engaged on the drive shafts. If the “41.5” pops up, reseat the roller and it should solve the problem.
Another culprit: pre-feed and registration sensors. Both constitute one assembly seated between the registration assembly and the engine controller, a location that makes it difficult to replace. The easiest way to determine whether or not these sensors may be causing the error is to cheat each flag (a piece of tape works well), which should trigger a “13.1” and “13.2” paper jam when activated. If a paper jam error does not appear,
replace the registration/feed sensor assembly.
In very rare cases, the paper feed assembly that transports paper from the cassette trays into the registration assembly can cause a “41.5” printer error. Initialize a paper path test and see if the error remains. If not, the paper feed assembly is most likely the issue. But if the error remains, verify the functionality of the registration/feed sensor assembly.
HP printer 60 Error code:
The 60.x error code on newer HP printers means there is a problem lifting one of the installed paper trays, where “x” represents the tray that is currently having the problem. There are many things that can cause this and we’ll cover the best troubleshooting methods.
Start by listening to the printer when the tray is installed. Pay attention when the tray is lifting, and listen for any grinding noise. Also look through the back of the printer’s tray to verify the tray is lifting. If you hear a grinding noise, it may be a problem with the lifter drive assembly or the tray itself.
Sometimes, it’s as simple as the tray not being all the way in or that there’s something broken in the tray. Check the gear on the side of the tray for wear. If you have another tray, try swapping the trays out to test it. It may also be that there is an obstruction
preventing the tray from installing properly. Inspect the gears in the lifter drive assembly for wear, and also Inspect the tray if you found any wear on the gears or motor you need to replace the corresponding HP printer parts.
If the tray doesn’t seem to be lifting, you can start by going in to the Diagnostics Mode (if your printer makes this menu available) in the menus and then choose Component Testing, with the tray removed select to run the lifter drive.
Observe the gear inside the tray installation spot to see if the motor is spinning. If it is, then the error code is most likely caused by a spring that has fallen off which attaches the lifter drive assembly to the frame of the printer. Remove the covers and reconnect and this should resolve the problem.
If the lifter drive motor isn’t spinning, check the connector between the motor and the HP DC Controller and replace the lifter drive assembly first. If the problem persists you may need to replace DC Controller.
Other Helpful Laser Printer Service Resources
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