The P4014, P4015 and the P4515 are an extremely loud piece of equipment. The main location of the noise emanates from the fuser drive area. The dB Level specifications for the Laser Jet P4515 (while printing) is at 74 dB. The predecessors noise level specs puts the Laser Jet 4250’s dB level at 69 dB. Quite a bit of difference. If you are using re-manufactured fusers or the fuser drive gears are worn I would put it much higher. The most probable reason for the refurbished fuser creating so much more noise is the lack of lubrication and/or inferior high temperature grease used on the heat sleeve and heating element.

Inspecting the Fuser Drive Gears
The first thing to look at and the easiest is to pull out the fuser unit and inspect the area below the drive gear.

To get a more accurate assessment of gear wear, you can use a small flat blade screwdriver and slide it along the gear teeth. On the inside of the drive gear against the frame the the gears do not make much contact so it is like new on that side. When you slide your driver across the gear it will stop your screwdriver because of the difference in height.


A Swing Plate or Not a Swing Plate, That is the Question
I call the P4515 fuser drive gears a swing plate. Saaaaawwwwwrrrrrry! Technically it is stationary, unlike the Laser Jet 4250 series. For me, it just makes sense…right? Question: If I’m on the phone describing it to you and I tell you it’s the “Swing Plate” you know exactly what and where I’m talking about don’t you?
Quiet Mode
One final mention. If speed isn’t an issue, they made a firmware enhancement. With this revision of firmware 20080908 04.046.2 and all revisions after has, “Quiet Mode”.
You can go to “configure device” and in settings you can select this “Mode”. It really does reduce the noise! Only thing is… it also reduces the speed!
Three Possible Solutions to Reduce Printer Noise.
To reduce the noise on the P4515 series printer there are three items to look at and possibly repair or replace.
#1.) The fuser assembly, part number RM1-4554. You could also clean the heating element and re-apply high temperature grease.
#2.) The swing Plate, part number RC2-2432. See my post on
HP P4515 Fuser Drive Gears (Swing Plate) ; Change for Improved Yield
#3.) Choose “Quiet Mode” What a sorry excuse for a printer tech!