Faded or streaked output on a Brother laser points first to the toner and drum. Brother's article on toner messages after replacement lists the fixes: check you replaced the right consumable, use a brand new unused toner cartridge, reinstall it correctly, confirm both toner and drum are installed and clean the corona wire, which can cause streaks or faint prints when dirty. Slide the green corona cleaner tab on the drum unit from one side to the other several times and return it to its home position.
The checks in more detail
A drum near end of life gives streaks, dots or repeating marks, so replace the drum and reset the drum counter as Brother describes: open the front cover, hold OK for two seconds and press the up arrow or 1. Vertical white streaks can be a low toner cartridge; shake a cartridge gently side to side to redistribute toner as a temporary measure. Check the paper type and print settings, since a wrong media type gives faded output.
Brother recommends genuine drums and toner because each machine is tuned to its toner formulation; non-genuine supplies may reduce quality and the warranty does not cover problems they cause. On INKvestment inkjets run the print head cleaning from the menu and print a nozzle check. Update the firmware. Keep sample pages so you can compare before and after each step and write the step on the page. If two steps change nothing, stop and consider the drum, rather than repeating cleaning.
If the fault is only on one side of the page, note which side; a partial fault points at part of the drum or head, and a fault across the whole width points at supply or paper. Faint printing that gets worse across a page often means the toner is nearly gone in one part of the cartridge, and rocking it gently can push the last of it into reach for a page or two while you order a new one.
Differential
Likely causes of “Brother printers prints faded, streaked, banded or with missing colors”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A dirty corona wire
What separates it There are vertical streaks because the corona wire is dirty
How to confirm Clean the corona wire, using the green tab, and print again
- 2
A worn drum
What separates it There are dots and repeating marks because the drum is worn
How to confirm Replace the drum, and reset the counter, then print again
- 3
Low toner
What separates it The pages are faded because the toner is low
How to confirm Replace the toner cartridge, and check that the fading has gone
- 4
Wrong media setting
What separates it The output is faded because the media setting is wrong
How to confirm Match the paper type in the driver to the paper that you loaded
- 5
Non-genuine supplies
What separates it The quality is poor because non genuine supplies are in use
How to confirm Use genuine supplies, and see whether the quality improves
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- A sample page that shows the fault
- The pattern of the streaks on the page
- The paper type that you are using
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedPrint a test page
ReversiblePrint a test page, and look at the pattern of the streaks on it, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Clean the corona wire
ReversibleClean the corona wire, using the green tab on the drum unit, and print again.
Check the toner
ReversibleCheck the toner, and replace it if it is low, since low toner fades pages.
Replace the drum if worn
ReversibleReplace the drum if it is worn, and reset the counter afterwards, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check the paper type
ReversibleCheck the paper type, and set the right setting in the driver, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Use genuine supplies, and see whether the quality improves
ReversibleUse genuine supplies if you are in doubt, since others can cause faults, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Update firmware
ReversibleUpdate the firmware, and then retest the print quality on a new page of text.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Color laser
- Color models have four toners and a drum unit; check each color.
- Inkjet
- INKvestment inkjets use cleaning and nozzle checks.
- Color laser streaks
- The MFC-L3780CDW is a color laser, and a streak that follows one color points to that toner or drum, while a streak in every color points to the belt unit or the fuser. Print the test page from the menu and note the color of the streak. A repeating mark every few centimetres suggests a roller or a drum with dirt on its surface.
- Cleaning steps Brother lists
- Open the front cover, remove each drum and toner, and clean the LED window with a dry lint-free cloth. Do not touch the drum surface. Fit them back in the correct colors. Run the printer's drum cleaning routine if the menu offers one, and try a different paper stock, since damp paper causes faded areas.
- Color laser streaks
- The MFC-L3780CDW is a color laser, and a streak that follows one color points to that toner or drum, while a streak in every color points to the belt unit or the fuser. Print the test page from the menu and note the color of the streak. A repeating mark every few centimetres suggests a roller or a drum with dirt on its surface.
- Cleaning steps Brother lists
- Open the front cover, remove each drum and toner, and clean the LED window with a dry lint-free cloth. Do not touch the drum surface. Fit them back in the correct colors. Run the printer's drum cleaning routine if the menu offers one, and try a different paper stock, since damp paper causes faded areas.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models L8905CDW, L3295CDW, L2460DW, J1010DW, J4535DW, J5855DW, QL-820NWB label printer.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If streaks remain after cleaning the corona wire and fitting a new drum, contact Brother
- !If faded output continues with new toner, contact Brother
- !If inkjet output stays faded after head cleaning, the head may need service
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
New toner, installation, drum and corona wire.
Resetting the drum counter.
Resetting the drum counter.
Firmware Update Tool and iPrint&Scan.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
What causes vertical streaks?+
A dirty corona wire or worn drum.
How do I clean the corona wire?+
Slide the green tab back and forth.
How do I reset the drum counter?+
Front cover open, hold OK two seconds, press the up arrow.
When do I reset it?+
Reset the drum counter only when you are replacing the drum.
Can non-genuine toner affect quality?+
Brother says that non genuine toner can affect the print quality.
Can I shake the toner?+
You can shake the toner, as a temporary measure, to spread what is left.
Do inkjets streak?+
Inkjets can streak too, if the head is clogged, so clean it.
Why are my prints faded on one side?+
The toner in that cartridge may be low or distributed unevenly; shake it gently and check the level.