Apple Color StyleWriter 4500 Troubleshooting Guide

Color StyleWriter 4000 Series (Apple Service Source image)

Fault-finding for the Color StyleWriter 4000 Series, the Apple Color StyleWriter 4500 and Apple Color StyleWriter 4100, from the symptom charts and test procedures in Apple's Service Source for the two printers. Apple lists cures in order of likelihood; try them in turn and refit the original module before moving on if a swap did not help. Where a chart says "reseat logic board connectors; replace logic board", reseat first and replace only if the fault remains. Cleaning and carriage procedures named below are on the general maintenance page.

Front-panel tests

With the printer on and plain paper loaded, hold Power and press Resume the number of times shown, then release Power.

Tests from the front panel (Service Source, p. 99)

Printout	Resume presses
Sample page	Once (hold briefly)
Diagnostic self test	5
Clean print heads	7
Continuous sample page (stop by unplugging)	10
Extended diagnostic test	12

The diagnostic self-test page shows nozzle patterns for each cartridge, the cartridge types (K black, C colour), the model name and number, the firmware revision and date, the pen state, the status and any failures, and the I/O type (RS-422A).

Print skew test

Print the diagnostic page and fold the top edge down to the bottom, lining up the left edges without creasing. If the single vertical line left of the A falls between the two lines left of the C, skew is within specification; if not, see the paper skew chart below.

The two lights

Power and Resume lights (Service Source, pp. 119-121)

Lights	Cures, in Apple's order
Both off	Check the power connections and source. Switch the printer off and on. Replace the power cord. Replace the power adapter. Reseat the logic board connectors; replace the logic board
Blinking together; will not print	Check for paper and cartridges. Make sure the cartridges are seated. Check for a carriage stall and a paper jam. Reseat or replace the logic board. Check that the paper-out actuator touches the sensor board; replace the actuator if not, the sensor board if it does
Flashing alternately; will not print	Close the top cover. Check the connections, the driver and the port. Run the self tests. Send another file. Replace the printer cable. Check for a carriage stall and a paper jam. Reseat or replace the logic board. Replace the mechanical assembly. Check the paper-out actuator and sensor board
Both on steady; will not print	Switch off and on. Reseat or replace the logic board. Replace the mechanical assembly
Power on, Resume flashing; will not print	Load media, not buckled, with the adjusters against the stack. Check for a jam. Install or replace a cartridge and make sure it snaps in and the cover is closed. Reseat the cartridge. Press Resume

Alternate flashing means either a paper jam (paper still at the platen after an eject attempt) or a carriage stall, among other errors; find out which before acting.

Operation

Operation symptom chart (Service Source, pp. 100-109), abridged

Symptom	Cures, in Apple's order
No power	Check the cable connections and switch off and on. Replace the power adapter (922-2859). Reseat or replace the logic board. Replace the main cover with control panel board
Does not print	Check the lights. Switch on and restart the computer. Check or replace the interface cable. Check the Chooser. Replace the driver. Reseat or replace the logic board
Carriage does not centre when the cover is opened	Follow the carriage stall procedure. Reseat or replace the logic board
Carriage hits the left side	Reposition the clutch actuator if it obstructs the carriage. Clear the carriage and paper paths. Clean excess ink or oil from the encoder strip, carriage and path parts. Replace the encoder strip. Check or replace the mechanical assembly. Reseat or replace the logic board
Carriage hits the right side	Check that the purge unit and capping assembly do not obstruct it. Slide the carriage by hand and clear obstructions. Replace any interfering part. Check or replace the mechanical assembly. Reseat or replace the logic board. Check the carriage motor cable. Replace the carriage motor
Cartridge will not lock in	Check it is the right cartridge. Replace it. Remove and refit the capping assembly, replacing it if faulty. Replace the mechanism
Short cartridge life	Replace the cartridge. Replace the capping assembly. Check the purge unit connection; if connected, replace the purge unit
Erratic or slow movement	Clear obstructions. Check the mechanical assembly and carriage rod. Reseat the power adapter connectors. Clean the fibre tracks. Inspect, clean and check the purge unit, then replace it. Reseat or replace the logic board. Replace a damaged carriage belt. Replace the mechanical assembly. Check the paper-out actuator and sensor board. Replace the carriage motor
Rejects cartridge	Clean the print head. Replace the cartridge. Clean the flex contacts in the carriage and refit the flex cable. Check the paper-out actuator and sensor board. Replace the mechanical assembly. Reseat or replace the logic board
Leaky cartridge	Clean or replace ink-damaged parts. Replace the cartridge. Replace the mechanical assembly. Reseat or replace the logic board. Replace the capping assembly
Grinding, squeaking or scraping	Clear obstructions. Replace interfering parts and any frayed or cut belt. Check the carriage rod. Replace the mechanical assembly, paper feed motor, drive gear or pivot spring. Check the paper-out actuator and sensor board. Remove the pressure plate and check for obstructions. Reseat or replace the logic board
Bidirectional misalignment	Check that the encoder strip runs properly through the carriage. Clear obstructions. Check that the carriage motor screws are seated. Replace the carriage motor
Paper bonding	With the PhotoGrade cartridge over LocalTalk, change to a serial connection and print in the foreground. Check the paper adjustment levers and the input tray. Replace the mechanical assembly
Burning smell	Inspect the motors and replace a damaged one. Reseat or replace the logic board. Replace the mechanical assembly
No response from a Power Macintosh G3	Upgrade to Color StyleWriter 4500 driver 1.1 or later

Paper handling

Paper symptom chart (Service Source, pp. 110-114), abridged

Symptom	Cures, in Apple's order
Paper sticks together	Fan the paper and remove excess. Check the media. Stack it against the right wall of the input tray. Check the paper-out actuator and sensor board. Check or replace the pressure plate. Replace the mechanical assembly
Paper skews	Run the print skew test. Keep the stack between 1/4 and 3/4 in high. Check the media, the width adjuster and the input tray. A left margin that widens down the page points to the input tray (try a new width adjuster); a right margin that widens points to the chassis (replace the mechanical assembly). Check or replace the pressure plate
Paper jams	Clear the path by feeding the paper through. Check the media. Check the paper feed motor connection, then replace the motor. Check or replace the pressure plate. Inspect the pivot assembly. Replace the mechanical assembly
Paper does not load fully	Clean the rollers. Check the paper-out actuator and sensor board. Check or replace the pressure plate. Replace the mechanical assembly. Reseat or replace the logic board
Paper does not eject	Check that the output tray "wings" are fully fitted. Refit the output tray. Clear the path. Check the media and the clutch actuator. Replace the logic board
Paper feeds continuously	Check the paper-out actuator and sensor board. Check or replace the pressure plate. Check the paper feed motor. Check the mechanical assembly. Reseat or replace the logic board

Print quality

Print quality symptom chart (Service Source, pp. 115-118), abridged

Symptom	Cures, in Apple's order
Missing dots	Clean the fibre tracks. Clean the print head. Seat the cartridges firmly. Use specified media. Replace the cartridge. Reseat or replace the logic board
Carriage moves but nothing prints	Make sure the tape is off the cartridges. Clean the print head. Replace the cartridge. Reseat or replace the logic board. Replace the mechanical assembly
Incomplete print	Use specified media. Clean the print head. Check that the carriage clears the clutch actuator. Replace the cartridge. Reseat or replace the logic board. Replace the mechanical assembly
Blurred or fuzzy print	Use specified media. Reseat the interface cable. Clean the fibre tracks. Clean the print head. Replace the cartridge. Reseat or replace the logic board. Replace the purge unit. Replace the mechanical assembly
Underlines or streaks; wrong colour; fails printer tests	Use specified media. Clean the fibre tracks and the print head. Replace the cartridge. Reseat all connectors. Replace the logic board. Check the mechanical assembly

Related pages

• Apple Color StyleWriter 4500 and Apple Color StyleWriter 4100
• Apple Color StyleWriter 4500 General Maintenance
• Color StyleWriter 4100 and 4500 Service Source