by Brother printers are famous for their reliability, but that doesn’t mean they never fail, and today we’re going to help you fix the Brother Error E51 Laser Unit, according to the Brother printer error support team. More like the code, this is what it’s used for to indicate a Defective laser unit on Brother-related units (HL-L2320D, HL-2360DW, DCP-L2540DW, and so forth). When you see the Error E51 on the printer, it will not allow your device to perform printing, scanning, or copying.
Brother E51 Error Laser Unit. One of the problems with Brother Printers is that once they show an error message, it’s nearly impossible to fix them without taking the unit to a service technician. This extensive guide will explain why the error happens and outline a number of possible solutions, beginning with the easiest solutions, and also covering more advanced methods.
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What is the Brother Error E51 Laser Unit?
The E51 error code refers to an issue with the laser unit (or laser scanner unit, LSU) in your Brother printer. The laser unit writes an image on the drum with a laser beam before toner application. So, the moment when the printer determines that the speed of the laser polygon motor is incorrect, or it finds an error with a laser beam detection, it activates the Brother Error E51 Laser Unit protection system code and stops working.
Common triggers include:
- Dust or toner over the laser lens
- Bad or loose connections in the printer
- Bad polygon motor in the laser unit
- Overheated laser unit
- On rare occasions, this may be due to a defective main PCB or power supply
Quick Solutions- These Solve About 80% of issues
1. Try a hard reset (power cycle)
- Power off the printer and disconnect it from the power source.
- Wait at least 5–10 minutes (this gives time for internal capacitors to fully discharge, and can clear some temporary errors).
- Plug it back in and turn on the machine. Many users claim that it is extremely easy and the Brother Error E51 Laser Unit has gone once done.
2. Wipe off the Corona Wire (Primary Charge Roller)
Error E51 deals with the laser, but a dirty corona wire can cause false reports.
- Open the front cover and take out the drum unit and toner cartridge assembly.
- Find the corona wire cleaner tab (blue or green) on the drum unit.
- Move it from right to left a few times and then put it home.
- Reinstall everything and test.
3. Examine paper jams or obstructions
Small pieces of ripped paper, or the little adhesive circles on labels, inside the laser unit can obstruct the beam.
- Examine the paper tray, the Manual Feed Slot, and the Inside of the machine.
- Remove any debris gently.
Temp Solutions to Yet Another Frustrating Problem, Brother Error E51
4. Clean The Laser Scanner Window (Most Successful DIY Solution)
Laser glass is empty. The laser unit is the part of the machine that writes the information on the drum surface. If there is dust or any other form of ingress on this, then it can cause the laser to be blocked and stop working, hence Error E51.
- Shut down the printer and disconnect it.
- Open the top cover or back cover (depending on the machine – consult your sewing manual).
- Find and clean the narrow piece of glass in the drum portion of the printer with high percentage isopropyl alcohol.
- Gently wipe the glass with a dry, lint-free cloth or compressed air.
- Do not touch the glass with your hand.
- Reassemble and power on.
5. Update or Reinstall Firmware
MDJ False Error detection is also due to old firmware.
- Visit the Brother official website.
- Enter your exact model number.
- Update the firmware from the Firmware Update Tool. It has fixed my Brother Error E51 Laser Unit for many other people as well, after the cleaning procedure failed.
6. Enter maintenance mode and clear the error (advanced)
Some models allow manual reset:
- Turn off the printer.
- Turn it back on with the Menu or Go button held down (refer to your model).
- Use the down arrow key to find code 77 or 99, depending on your shop manual/year.
- OK, hit the reset counter of errors (Carefully).
When to Replace the Laser Unit
If the above fixes do not work, then I’m afraid that the laser polygon motor has died. Grossly, we are not able to purchase the laser unit separately for most consumer models by Brother because it is designed as 1 body with the printer.
At this point, you have two choices:
- Contact a Brother Authorized Service Center for repair (cost ~₹4,000–₹8,000 in India / $150–$300 Internationally).
- Replace the printer – for some users, it is just cheaper to buy a new Brother laser printer.
Preventative Measures to Help Avoid Brother Error E51 Laser Unit
- Use genuine Brother toner cartridges.
- Store the printer in a dust-free place.
- Clean the drum and corona wire once monthly.
- Avoid sudden power-offs during printing.
Conclusion
The Brother Error E51 Laser Unit issue can be a little scary, but it is mostly something you’ll be able to take care of on your own at home, either just rebooting the printer, cleaning the laser scanner window, or updating firmware. Begin with the most basic and work your way up. If the error returns after a successful reset and cleaning, then it is likely that the laser itself had simply run its course.
With the help of this guide, thousands of Brother printer owners have been able to restore their Brother printers to normal working order without spending a small fortune on repairs.