I am troubleshooting a HP Laserjet P2015 printer. It is using an aftermarket toner cartridge. I purchased the unit used and have been able to use it with no problems for the last year.

Recently, when I print something, I can take my finger and smudge the ink on the paper. The toner flakes off very easily, even with documents printed days ago. I have tried different paper, but I haven't tried a different toner cart. I don't want to invest in a new toner cart only to find I have the same issue and wasted the money. My current toner cart has worked fine without issue for close to a year. It is about half full. I have removed it from the printer, cleared the paper path, and shaken the toner cart gently over a waste basket to ensure that the toner is settling evenly.

My first guess is that the fuser is starting to fail. If the unit is not getting hot enough, it wouldn't make the toner adhere to the paper properly during printing. Has anyone else experienced this issue with a similar model HP laser printer? If it is the fuser, I need to determine if it's worth investing in the parts to fix or a replacement fuser piece, or just buying a new printer. My investment limit is $50. Beyond that and I will use another printer and look for a suitable replacement.

Any suggestions? Thanks!