Faded or streaked prints from a Brother DCP-L2640DW usually come from the toner cartridge or the drum unit, because this laser printer keeps those as two separate parts and each has a life. A fresh toner cartridge that is running low produces pale text and a gray look, and a drum unit that is worn or dirty leaves streaks, black lines, marks that repeat down the page or faint ghosting.
The checks in more detail
Begin by checking the printer's messages: a Toner Low or Replace Toner message points to the cartridge, and a Replace Drum or Drum End Soon message points to the drum. Remove the toner and drum assembly, gently rock the cartridge side to side to redistribute the toner, which often gives extra pages, and refit it. Do not touch the green drum surface, and keep the unit out of strong light while it is out. To tell toner from drum, print a test page and look at the pattern. Evenly pale text means the toner is low.
Lines running the length of the page, or marks that repeat at regular spacing, point to the drum or to dirt on the corona wire, which you can clean with the green tab on the drum unit: slide the tab back and forth a few times from end to end and return it to its home position. Black lines that run down the page often come from this wire, and cleaning it is a free fix. Check that you are using the right paper and that it is not damp or too heavy, since poor paper causes uneven printing.
Clean the scanner glass and the laser window with a soft dry cloth if copies, not prints, are streaked. Brother's printer menu includes a drum clean routine and a toner reset, and replacing the drum requires resetting its counter. Use genuine or well-reviewed compatible cartridges, since a poor cartridge leaks and streaks. If new toner and a new drum still give streaks, the fuser or the printer's laser unit may be at fault, and Brother service should check it.
Differential
Likely causes of “Brother DCP-L2640DW prints faded, streaked, banded or with missing colors”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Toner running low
What separates it Pale, evenly faded text
How to confirm Rock the cartridge and replace it when the message appears
- 2
A dirty corona wire
What separates it Black lines run down the page
How to confirm Slide the green tab on the drum unit back and forth
- 3
A worn drum unit
What separates it Repeating marks or ghosting
How to confirm Replace the drum and reset its counter
- 4
Poor or damp paper
What separates it Uneven printing
How to confirm Use dry, suitable paper
- 5
A dirty scanner glass or laser window
What separates it Copies are streaked
How to confirm Clean them with a dry soft cloth
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the fade is even or in lines
- The printer's toner and drum messages
- Whether copies and prints both show it
- The age of the drum
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedRead the printer messages
ReversibleToner Low or Drum End Soon.
Rock the toner cartridge
ReversibleSide to side, then refit.
Clean the corona wire
ReversibleSlide the green tab several times.
Print a test page
ReversibleLook at the pattern.
Try dry paper
ReversibleOf the right weight.
Replace toner or drum
ReversibleAnd reset the counter.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Two parts
- Toner and drum are separate and wear differently.
- Corona wire
- The green tab cleans it.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a new toner and drum still streak, contact Brother service
- !Do not touch the drum surface
- !Keep the cartridge away from heat
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why are my Brother prints faded?+
Low toner is the usual cause.
Why do I get black lines?+
A dirty corona wire; slide the green tab to clean it.
Do I need a new drum?+
If marks repeat or streaks remain after cleaning.
Does the toner reset matter?+
Yes, the printer counts pages.