Unusual "Grinding", "Rubbing", or "Rattling" noise

What you will hear

The printer is making a noise that can be best described as a grinding, rattling, buzzing, or rubbing noise. The noise can occur every time you perform a certain action, such as powering on the printer or printing, or the noise can occur intermittently.

Possible causes

The noise can be caused by any one of the following:

• A piece of paper, or other obstruction, is stuck somewhere inside the printer.
• The toner cartridge may be installed incorrectly or is damaged.
• A door or cover may not be closed completely.
• A roller or gear on a paper feed option may need repair.
• A roller or gear on the printer may need repair.

Recommended actions

1. Power off the printer.



2. Open all doors and covers.



3. Remove the toner cartridge.

   


4. Remove all installed paper trays.

   


5. Look for any jammed paper or other obstructions caught inside the printer. Remove any you find.



6. Check the condition of the toner cartridge.

   • If the cartridge appears fine, reinsert it back into the printer.
   • If the cartridge appears damaged in any way, try installing a different toner cartridge. NOTE: If you do not have another cartridge available, try a working toner cartridge from another Lexmark printer of the same model.


7. Make sure that paper is loaded correctly into each of the paper trays. Make sure that none of the trays are overfilled.



8. Reinstall all paper trays and close all of the covers. Power on the printer and try printing again.



9. If the noise continues, remove all paper feed options, if any are installed on the printer. This would include any optional paper trays (A), a duplex option (B), and any exit feed options (C). Available paper feed options are highlighted in the figure below.

   CAUTION! You will need to lift the printer up off the option in order to remove the duplex option or any of the paper trays, so seek additional help when performing this step. This is considered an "advanced" procedure, but it can be performed by a customer. However, if you feel uncomfortable about carrying out this procedure by yourself, please contact Lexmark Technical Support for additional assistance. See ' Contacting Lexmark' at the end of this document for contact information.

   


10. Power on the printer and try printing again.

    • If the noise continues, try installing a different toner cartridge. If the noise continues with a second toner cartridge and no options installed, the printer will likely require service to correct the issue. See ' Contacting Lexmark' at the end of this document for more information.
    • If the noise stops after the feed options are removed, it was probably caused by a gear or roller within o ne of the options. The feed option will need to be repaired or replaced. See 'Contacting Lexmark' at the end of this document for more information. NOTE: You can choose to narrow the source of the problem to a specific feed option. See the section below.

Narrowing the source of the noise to a specific feed option

If the noise stops after all the feed options are removed, it was probably caused by a gear or roller within one of those options. You can choose to narrow the source of the problem to a specific paper feed option using the steps below. NOTE: If you do narrow the source of the noise to an option, you can remove the option and run the base printer without it as a temporary fix. IMPORTANT! Performing the steps below will involve lifting the printer in order to install and swap out paper feed options. If you feel uncomfortable about carrying out this procedure by yourself, or if you have questions about any of the steps listed below, please contact Lexmark Technical Support for additional assistance. See 'Contacting Lexmark' at the end of this document for contact information.

1. Power off the printer.



2. Add each paper feed option, one at a time, back onto the printer.



3. Each time you add an option, power on the printer and try printing again.



4. Continue this pattern of powering off the printer, adding an option, and then powering the printer on and printing until the noise returns.

   NOTE: If you can reinstall all of the options and the noise does not return, one of the options may have just been loose. Continue using the printer, but observe it closely for the next week or two to see if the noise returns.



5. If the noise returns when you install an option, it is likely due to a gear or roller within that option or a part on the printer where the printer connects to the option.

   NOTE: To further diagnose if the printer or the option is the source of the noise, try swapping out the paper feed option that directly connects to the printer. If the noise occurs with two different options, the source of the noise may be a part in the printer.

Contacting Lexmark

If suggestions resolve of the above the issue, or if you have found the source of the noise and need help with arranging service, please contact Lexmark Technical Support or a local authorized service provider for additional assistance. If you call Lexmark Technical Support for assistance with your printer, please be prepared to describe the problem you are experiencing and any troubleshooting steps you have already taken. Please call from near the printer in case the technician asks you to perform a task involving the printer.

LEGACY ID: SO3983