Missing Color Issues with the Dell 5100cn Laser Printer

 

Missing Color Issues with the Dell 5100cn Laser Printer

One of the main complaints I see on the Dell 5100cn  Laser printer is  missing color  or colors fade after continuous usage. The Dell 5100  laser printers are great color laser machines. Unfortunately, they were sold extremely cheap, the consumables cost a lot, and people tend not to fix them because they feel they can go out and buy a similar machine for the same cost. Buyer beware. While these machines did indeed sell cheap, customers did get a great deal for a great machine. They are differently worth spending a little money on rather than purchasing new equipment that more than likely won’t live up to your expectations or are equally to the Dell 5100 in print quality and durability. In this article, I will discuss the common problem of faded or missing color output on your Dell 5100cn color laser printer.

Troubleshooting missing color or Faded Print in your Dell 5100cn Color Laser PrinterDell 5100cn

First thing to check is the print settings in your computer for    missing color on your Dell 5100cn  color laser printer. Make sure it’s not set to just print in black or gray-scale. To save on consumables you can switch it to print in just black or gray-scale. People go in and change the setting. Forget about it then go to print again at a later date just to discover they have no color and everything comes out in gray-scale. So if everything looks black and white and where there should be color you have shades of gray you probably have your printer settings mis-configuired for what you are trying to do.

Second, thing that can cause  missing color or faded color in your Dell 5100cn  color laser printer is third-party cartridges. On these machines toner is delivered to the different developers through an auger system. Poor quality toner can get clogged either in the cartridge or in the auger system resulting in toner not reaching the developer. Before you remove the seal on your toner cartridge you might want to shake it a few times. This breaks up any clumped up toner and adds air through the toner so it flows smoothly and doesn’t clog as easy. If you are using third-party  cartridges and you do have no color or faded color issues then I would replace the cartridge with a Dell OEM and see after 20 or so prints it starts functioning the way it should. If you still have a missing  color or faded color issue then I would remove the covers and the high voltage power supply on the left side and disconnect the auger system and rotate the toner motor on the right side  a few times to try to get the toner flowing properly again.

Third and most common problem I see resulting in  missing color or faded color in the Dell 5100  color laser printer is a broken clutch in the developer drive assembly for the three color developers. The developer drive assembly is divided into two parts.  One part for the black developer drive and the second for the three color developers. The gear on the outside of the  color developer clutch breaks its retaining clips. The gear slides forward and the spring inside the clutch expands and twist around inside, resulting in it not working properly. I’ve seen it twist and not work at all resulting in  missing color or I’ve seen it do the opposite and run all the time resulting in faded print after so many continuous  copies. Every time  I’ve seen this happen just by listening to the machine I would have no idea there was a problem. It wasn’t till I removed the developer drive assembly did it become apparent why I had  missing color or faded color in my customers Dell 5100c color laser printer.

Developer Drive Assembly Removal Procedure for  Missing  Color or Faded Color in a Dell 5100cn Color Laser Printer

Main Cover
1. Remove the Top Cover.Developer Drive Assembly for a Dell 5100cn
2. Open the Door A.
3. Remove the Toner Cartridges.
4. Open Door C.
5. Remove 2 screws (self-tapping, plastic 10 mm) that secure the Top Main Cover.
6. Release the 2 hooks at the rear of the cover.
7. Hold Door C open slightly. Pull out and remove the Top Main Cover toward the back of the printer

Right Side Cover
1. Open Door A.
2. Remove the screw (metal, 6 mm with flange) that secures the Right Side Cover.
3. Release the hook at the front that holds the Right Side Cover.
4. Lift the cover and remove it from the printer.

Developer Drive Assembly
1. Remove the four Harness Guide Clamps from the Rear Harness Guide and remove the harnesses.
2. Release the clamps on the Developer Drive Assembly and remove the Interlock Switch harness.
3. Remove the 2 screws (silver, tap 10 mm) that secure the Rear Harness Guide and move the guide to the rear to release the front hook from the Developer Drive Assembly.
4. Remove the Rear Harness Guide.
5.  Unplug connector  from the Developer Drive Assembly Motor.
6. Remove the 3 screws (silver, tap 10 mm) that secure the Developer Drive Assembly to the printer and remove.

Replacement Note
Position the Interlock Switch on the boss provided on the frame. Also, when replacing the motor, rotate the motor housing to engage the drive gears. Verify that the gears are engaged before installing the screws

Once you have the developer drive assembly out of the machine if it has failed you usually see a lot of white dust around the unit where the broken gear has rubbed against the frame. The gear / clutch that breaks causing  the  missing color or faded color in the Dell 5100cn color laser printer is the large double gear that drives the three smaller gears for the individual color developers. Typically the top gear will just slide off exposing the twisted spring inside. If this is the case then a new developer drive assembly needs ordered.

Conclusion about  Missing Color or Faded Print on the Dell 5100cn  Color Laer Printer

That’s it for this article on  missing color or faded print on the Dell 5100cn color laser printer. There are other situations that  result in partial faded or no color which I will talk about in another article. Hopefully  the above troubleshooting  and detailed disassembly  have helped you discover the cause  of your  missing color and faded  print on your Dell 5100cn color laser printer.

Dell Computer C3760n Color Laser Printer

Price: $860.00

2 used & new available from $860.00


HP M475dn LaserJet Pro 400 Color Multifunction Printer (CE863A)

Price: $390.00

4 used & new available from


HP Laserjet Enterprise 500 Color M551n, (CF081A)

Price: $1,749.99

13 used & new available from $399.99


HP Laserjet Enterprise 500 Color M551dn, (CF082A)

Price: $1,744.99

9 used & new available from $449.99


HP LaserJet Pro 500 Color MFP M570DN (CZ271A)

Price: $1,299.99

2 used & new available from



Find printer service newsletters, parts, and more at: http://www.feedroller.com/

We will be happy to hear your thoughts

Leave a reply

Shopping cart