220-1101 Question 464
Single answerDouble/echo images on the printA user reports that a networked laser printer is producing documents where each line of text appears faintly repeated a short distance below the original line on every page. Replacing the toner cartridge does not change the issue, and the problem occurs from multiple workstations. Which component should the technician inspect or replace FIRST to resolve the double/echo image problem?
- A
Fuser assembly
- B
Pickup rollers
- C
Transfer roller
- D
Duplexing unit
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
This scenario points to an internal printer hardware issue rather than a driver, application, or workstation problem because the defect appears from multiple computers and remains after replacing toner. In CompTIA A+ Core 1 printer troubleshooting, double or echo images on a laser printout are most commonly associated with the fuser assembly. The fuser uses heat and pressure to permanently bond toner to paper; when it does not operate correctly, toner may not fully set and can create ghosted images. Best practice is to verify the symptom across multiple print sources, replace consumables if appropriate, and then inspect printer maintenance components such as the fuser according to the manufacturer's maintenance kit and service guidance.
- A. Correct.
Correct. On laser printers, ghosting or echo images commonly indicate a fuser problem. If toner is not fully fused to the paper, some residual toner image can be redeposited or appear as a repeated faint image further down the page. Since the issue occurs from multiple workstations and persists after replacing toner, the fault is likely inside the printer, and the fuser is the most appropriate first component to inspect or replace.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Pickup rollers are responsible for feeding paper into the printer. Worn pickup rollers typically cause paper jams, misfeeds, or failure to pick up paper, not repeated or echo images printed at a fixed distance down the page.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. The transfer roller helps move toner from the drum to the paper. While transfer-related issues can cause light printing or incomplete image transfer, the classic symptom of a repeated faint image offset down the page is more strongly associated with fuser-related ghosting in A+ troubleshooting objectives.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. The duplexing unit is used for automatic two-sided printing. A duplexer problem may cause jams or issues when printing on both sides, but it would not normally create a repeated faint image on every page regardless of the source workstation.