One of the most frustrating things that can happen if you're in the middle of a print job is to have the "Toner Low" warning light suddenly blaze up. But don't immediately go for that new toner cartridge -- you may be able to get a lot more use out of the cartridge that's already there.
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Why? Because over the course of its lifetime, the toner powder in a cartridge can settle to the bottom, where it is not "seen" by the sensor that checks to see if the cartridge is approaching empty. What you need to do is loosen the toner. This is how you do it:
- Remove the cartridge from the printer, just as if you were going to change it.
- Hold it carefully lengthwise.
- Gently turn it back and forth two or three times (as though it were a seesaw). Do this slowly -- if you do it quickly, all you'll do is send toner flying through their air.
- Return the cartridge to the printer.
This should extend the life of your cartridge by a considerable extent. Each time you get the "Toner Low" warning, try this again. At some point, if the toner is indeed too low, the light will not go out even after you shake it -- and then you'll know it's time for a new cartridge.
