When your Brother MFC-L9570CDW color not printing issue appears, it can disrupt everything from business presentations to marketing materials. This high-performance color laser all-in-one uses four separate toner cartridges (black, cyan, magenta, yellow) and a belt unit that transfers images to paper. Color failures typically stem from depleted cartridges, clogged toner paths, incorrect print settings, or hardware problems with the imaging components. This guide provides printer repair steps you can perform at home before seeking professional printer support.
Quick Diagnostic Checks
Before diving into deep troubleshooting, verify the basics. Check that your document actually contains color elements—not just grayscale or black text. Open the front cover and confirm all four toner cartridges show sufficient levels through the transparent windows. The Brother MFC-L9570CDW's LCD display will also show "Toner Low" or "Replace Toner" alerts if cartridges are empty. If you recently replaced a cartridge, ensure you removed all protective seals and packing materials.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1
Verify Print Settings in Driver: Open your document and select Print. Click "Properties" or "Preferences" and confirm the output color is set to "Color" rather than "Grayscale" or "Mono." In Windows, navigate to the Advanced tab and check that "Color Mode" shows "Full Color." On Mac, use the Color Matching dropdown. Many Brother MFC-L9570CDW color not printing cases resolve here—applications sometimes default to grayscale after driver updates.
2
Check and Replace Low Toner Cartridges: Press the front release and open the top cover. Remove each toner cartridge (TN433 or TN436 series) and shake it gently side-to-side to redistribute remaining toner. If any cartridge feels lightweight or the printer displays "Replace Toner" for a specific color, install a genuine Brother replacement. Third-party cartridges often cause inconsistent color output in this model. Reinsert firmly until you hear the click.
3
Run the Built-in Calibration and Color Registration: From the touchscreen menu, press Settings › Machine Info. › Print Settings › Color Calibration. Select "Full Calibration" and load plain letter-size paper when prompted. This process takes about 5 minutes and aligns the four color imaging drums. Next, run Color Registration: Settings › Machine Info. › Print Settings › Color Registration › Auto Registration. Poor registration causes colors to appear missing or misaligned even with full cartridges.
4
Clean the Corona Wires and Belt Unit: Open the front cover and remove the drum unit assembly. For each of the four drums, slide the green tab back and forth 5-6 times to clean the corona wire, then return it to the home position. Remove the belt unit (BU-330CL) by pulling the green handles—inspect for toner buildup, streaks, or damage. Gently wipe with a lint-free cloth if needed. A dirty belt unit is a common reason for Brother MFC-L9570CDW color not printing correctly.
5
Print a Test Page and Check for Error Codes: Press Settings › Machine Info. › Print Settings › Print Test Page. Compare the color blocks—cyan, magenta, yellow, and black should appear vivid and complete. If specific colors are missing, note which ones. Check the touchscreen for error codes: E50 indicates fuser problems affecting color fixing, while E31-E34 point to specific drum or toner issues. Document any codes before contacting tech support for faster resolution.
6
Update Firmware and Reinstall Drivers: Outdated firmware causes communication errors between your computer and the MFC-L9570CDW. Visit Brother's support site, download the latest firmware update tool, and run it via USB connection. For driver issues, completely uninstall the existing driver (Control Panel › Programs), restart, then install the Full Driver & Software Package from Brother's website. This fix printer approach resolves many software-related color failures that hardware troubleshooting cannot address.
⚠️ Important: Never touch the imaging drum surface or expose it to direct light for more than a few minutes—this causes permanent damage. When handling the belt unit, avoid touching the black film surface; oils from your skin will create repeating defects on every print. Always power off and unplug the printer before internal maintenance.
When Hardware Replacement Is Needed
If color still fails after these steps, the drum unit (DR431CL, rated 30,000 pages) or belt unit (BU-330CL, rated 50,000 pages) may be at end-of-life. The fuser unit (FU-3000, rated 100,000 pages) can also cause color toner to not adhere properly if it's failing. Check your page counter: Settings › Machine Info. › Page Counter. Compare actual usage to component ratings. Replacing these consumables restores full color capability and is significantly more economical than replacing the entire printer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Brother MFC-L9570CDW print black fine but no color?
This indicates the black toner and imaging path work correctly, while cyan, magenta, or yellow components have failed. Most commonly, the color toners are depleted, the color drum unit is worn, or the belt unit isn't transferring color toner properly. Run the color test page to identify which specific colors are missing, then replace the corresponding toner or drum.
Can I use third-party toner to fix Brother MFC-L9570CDW color not printing?
While third-party toner may work temporarily, Brother's firmware updates increasingly reject non-genuine cartridges, and color accuracy suffers with incompatible formulations. For reliable troubleshooting and consistent business output, genuine Brother TN433 or TN436 toner is recommended. Refilled cartridges often leak toner onto the belt unit, creating additional printer repair needs.
How often should I replace the drum and belt units to prevent color issues?
Replace the DR431CL drum unit every 30,000 pages or when print quality degrades—whichever comes first. The BU-330CL belt unit lasts approximately 50,000 pages. Heavy color usage accelerates wear on these components. Enable "Replace Drum" and "Belt Unit" alerts in Settings › Machine Info. › Parts Life to receive proactive notifications before color failures occur.
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