Apple Color StyleWriter 1500 Troubleshooting Guide

Fault-finding for the Apple Color StyleWriter 1500, from the symptom charts in Apple's StyleWriter 1500 Service Source and the troubleshooting chapter of the user's guide.^[1] Apple lists the cures in order of likelihood; try them in turn and refit the original module before moving on if a swap did not help.^[1] The 1500 has no error LED: problems show on the single power light and as messages on the Macintosh.^[1]

Power light

**Power light (user's guide, p. 66)**^[2]
Light	Meaning
Flashing	Out of paper, a misfeed, or no cartridge or a badly seated cartridge
Off	The printer switched itself off after being idle (usually about five minutes); press the power button. If it stays off, check the power cord and outlet

Measurements

**Apple's test values (Service Source, pp. 22-27)**^[1]
Check	Where	Expected	If not
Power adapter output	Adapter connector	11.5-15.5 V	Replace the adapter. If within range, replace the logic board
Carriage motor windings	Logic board connector CNCR, pins 1-2 and 3-4	About 7 Ω each	Replace the carriage motor; then the logic board
Home-position sensor	Logic board connector CNH, pin 29, printer on	4.8 V ± 0.2 V with the carriage at home; 0.15 V ± 0.15 V with it at the centre	Replace the home position sensor or the carriage ribbon cable. If within range, replace the logic board

Preliminary checks

**Preliminary checks (Service Source, pp. 21-22)**^[1]
Symptom	Cures, in Apple's order
Computer cannot find the printer	Print a test page. Check the StyleWriter 1500 driver is in the Extensions folder. Check the serial cable is connected, and check its continuity. Replace the logic board
No status light or movement	Check the printer is on and plugged in. Measure the adapter (11.5-15.5 V). Replace the adapter if out of range, or the logic board if in range

When the second fault occurs with a Macintosh attached, the driver reports "A hardware error has occurred. Please check for any obstructions by the Color StyleWriter 1500 ink cartridges."^[1]

Carriage

**Carrier movement (Service Source, pp. 23-29)**^[1]
Symptom	Cures, in Apple's order
Carriage motor does not move or is obstructed	Check the carriage for obstructions and paper. Check the carriage belt for wear or dislocation, the guide frame for deformation and the shaft for bends or scratches. Move the carriage by hand: it should run smoothly and quietly. Replace the carriage assembly. Measure the motor at CNCR (7 Ω per winding); replace the motor, then the logic board
Home position error	As above; then switch off after the error and see where the carriage stops. In the image area, check the home-position sensor voltage. Over the purge unit, check the purge unit
Purge unit check	Check the sensor arm moves smoothly and is not bent or damaged. Replace the logic board. Remove the purge unit and look for damaged gears; if any are damaged, check the gear on the paper feed motor. Replace the purge unit. Replace the paper feed motor. Check the cut sheet feeder gears where they engage the purge unit

Printing

**Imaging (Service Source, pp. 30-32)**^[1]
Symptom	Cures, in Apple's order
Cartridge missing or not installed correctly	Remove and refit the cartridge and print a test page. Replace the cartridge. Replace the logic board. Replace the carriage ribbon cable
No printing, or some colours missing	As above, then replace the purge unit
White lines	As above, then replace the purge unit
Ink smearing	Clean ink mist off the platen with a soft damp cloth. Clean clumped ink from around the nozzles. If paper bits have clumped on the purge unit's wiper or capping area, replace the purge unit. Clean ink off the paper transport parts
Vertical lines misaligned	Refit the cartridge. Set the forms thickness lever (up for paper; down for envelopes, transparencies, labels and heavy paper). Replace the cartridge

The status LED may blink at the end of the start-up sequence when everything else has passed; with a Macintosh connected, the driver then says the cartridge is missing or not installed properly.^[1]

Paper feed

**Paper feed (Service Source, pp. 33-34)**^[1]
Symptom	Cures, in Apple's order
No paper feed	Clear the paper path. Check the pickup roller's rubber ring, the separation sheet and the side gears of the cut sheet feeder. Replace the pickup roller. Replace the cut sheet feeder. Replace the paper feed motor. Replace the logic board
Grinding during feed	Clear the paper path. Set the forms thickness lever. Check that the cut sheet feeder lines up with the printer
Binding or tearing	Set the forms thickness lever. Clear the paper path. Load the paper properly. Use 16-24 lb cotton bond. Check feeder alignment
Envelope problems	Set the thickness lever; do not mix cut sheets and envelopes in one job; reset the lever afterwards
Spur tracks on the paper	Clean the spurs on the front cover with a soft brush. Replace the front cover

The user's guide adds that on a Macintosh IIfx, Quadra 900 or Quadra 950 the Serial Switch control panel must be set to Compatible.^[2]

Related pages

References

↑ ^1.00 ^1.01 ^1.02 ^1.03 ^1.04 ^1.05 ^1.06 ^1.07 ^1.08 ^1.09 Apple Computer, StyleWriter 1500 (Service Source), 89 pp., hosted as StyleWriter 1500 Service Source (PDF). PDF pages: troubleshooting general p. 19; initial start-up sequence p. 20; symptom charts for preliminary checks pp. 21-22, carrier movement pp. 23-29 (motor resistance pp. 23-24, home position voltage pp. 26-27, purge unit check pp. 28-29), imaging pp. 30-32 and paper feed pp. 33-34; logic board connectors p. 72; exploded view p. 89.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Apple Computer, Color StyleWriter 1500: Setting up and using your printer, 030-8134-A, hosted as File:Apple Color StyleWriter 1500 Users Guide 1996.pdf. Troubleshooting chapter pp. 59-80; the power light, slow printing and automatic cleaning p. 66.

[ss1500-1] 1.00 ^1.01 ^1.02 ^1.03 ^1.04 ^1.05 ^1.06 ^1.07 ^1.08 ^1.09 Apple Computer, StyleWriter 1500 (Service Source), 89 pp., hosted as StyleWriter 1500 Service Source (PDF). PDF pages: troubleshooting general p. 19; initial start-up sequence p. 20; symptom charts for preliminary checks pp. 21-22, carrier movement pp. 23-29 (motor resistance pp. 23-24, home position voltage pp. 26-27, purge unit check pp. 28-29), imaging pp. 30-32 and paper feed pp. 33-34; logic board connectors p. 72; exploded view p. 89.

[ug1500-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Apple Computer, Color StyleWriter 1500: Setting up and using your printer, 030-8134-A, hosted as File:Apple Color StyleWriter 1500 Users Guide 1996.pdf. Troubleshooting chapter pp. 59-80; the power light, slow printing and automatic cleaning p. 66.

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