My rather new Brother started raising “false” alerts (at least I think they’re false…) about empty/dead toner. I had only printed a few hundred pages so far. In search for an answer Google directed me to http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/forums/laser/39806.
It’s a long and chaotic thread but about 1/5 from the top there is a posting that advises to do following for Brother HL-4040 and similar models:
For the toner life reset menu:
1 Open the front cover of the printer
2 press and hold the cancel button
3 press the reprint button while still holding cancel
- here is the reset menu – go to the appropriate cartridge on
- the menu and reset it and you’re done!
FYI… Pressing the “Go” button and the up arrow gives you the parts life reset menu (drum, laser, fuser, etc.)
I also did the electric tape over the windows – which worked before the reset – but I thought this fact would be helpful too.
For anyone that is asking “what window?” I think it is the clear plastic opening on the sides of the cartridges where you can actually see the powder inside the cartridge – the color of the toner (magenta, yellow, or cyan). I didn’t really know that for sure when I tried, but it made sense, and it worked. So I am fairly sure that is the “window” you should be trying to cover.
August 13th, 2009 at 13:05
Thank you very much for this tip – I had the same problems which are now resolved.
April 21st, 2010 at 11:34
The menu based reset worked perfectly. Thanks for this.
NB – every cartridge is listed twice on the reset menu “-H” for High capacity cartidges and “-S” for standard – make sure you pick the correct one for your cartidges otherwise it errors. 130 are standard and 135 are high.
November 15th, 2010 at 21:50
thank you, thank you – finally a real solution to the toner problem. All three were going at once and now it prints fine
January 14th, 2011 at 4:54
Thank you! Really helpful.
January 30th, 2011 at 22:40
Very helpful…putting an opaque tape over the “windows” of the toner cartridge worked like a charm…I have a different brother model so I don’t think my menu options are the same.
Thanks.
February 23rd, 2011 at 17:21
ty very much, saved me a load of money, not to mention the deadline that i have tomorrow an no chanse to get new tonercassetes over night..
April 5th, 2011 at 17:32
brilliant, it’s always great when you can squeeze a little more life out these things that Brother don’t want us to have (3 colour toners all went at same time), I did tape the viewing windows first, that didn’t work, but with that AND the reset as described it works a treat Well Done !!!
April 5th, 2011 at 17:33
FORGOT TO ADD – MY MACHINE IS 4040CN
May 3rd, 2011 at 3:11
Great tip ! black tape alone over the window didn’t work but after I did the toner life reset described it worked fine, thanks very much.
June 18th, 2011 at 17:15
Fantastic! I applied the reset process (no taoe over windows) to my HL-4070CDW and I can now print again. Excellent reference is now taped to the side of the printer!
July 3rd, 2011 at 8:46
merci pour l’info
très pratique
July 17th, 2011 at 11:24
Thank you!
August 13th, 2011 at 19:21
Great advice, worked like a dream!
September 20th, 2011 at 13:19
The ‘reset’ worked for my black cartridge too. (Brother 4040CN) Didn’t need the tape either. Brilliant! Thanks so much.
September 29th, 2011 at 13:01
Thank you, why do all the cartridges supposedly run out at once, just replaced M,Y,C then days later supposedly black toner ended life although printing full black. Thanks so much for this info, deadlines for morning…midnight now.
November 19th, 2011 at 19:41
Worked for the HL4040CN Thank You!! I have used the tape before but that doesn’t work when the “End of Cartridge Life” message appears. Oh Brother! Always got months more usage before with the tape so am assuming the same for this fix.
December 13th, 2011 at 6:29
It worked like a charm… machine is printing like new!