Xerox “010-397” — drum cartridge end-of-life lock & fuser error
Joe B.
Reviewed for technical accuracy
Specialities: Xerox fault codes (010-397, drum life end), fuser & drum replacement, end-of-life locks, supplies counters, SMB/USB printing
Xerox 010-397 error after drum change — fuser failure vs drum cartridge end-of-life lock, reset & replace
Technician
Quick scan first:
• Exact model (WorkCentre, Phaser, VersaLink, AltaLink, B/W or color?)
• What exact message do you see: just “010-397 Restart Printer”, or also “Drum cartridge is near end of life / Replace drum”?
• Did you recently replace the drum cartridge, fuser, or install a non-genuine/remanufactured drum?
• Does it ever reach Ready and then fault, or is it locked on the error as soon as it powers on?
Technician
On these devices, **fault code 010-397** is a fuser failure / fuser end-of-life code. When the fuser overheats, doesn’t reach temperature, or hits its page limit, the firmware sets a hard lock so you can’t keep printing through it.
The confusing bit: the **drum cartridge life counter** is separate, but users often see “Drum cartridge is near end of life” at the same time. Once the fuser finally fails and throws **010-397**, it feels like the new drum is “locked” as well, even though the fuser is what actually stops the machine.
Plan for you:
1) Confirm whether the printer sees the new drum as **Installed / 100%** or still “near end-of-life”.
2) Check if **010-397** will clear with a clean restart and reseated fuser.
3) If the fuser really reached end-of-life, replace it with the correct Xerox unit (or equivalent) — that’s what actually clears the 010-397 fault.
4) Make sure the **drum life counter** is correctly reset so you don’t get another lockout early.
Technician
Step 1 — Safe power cycle and fuser reseat
1) Turn the printer off with the power button and unplug it for a full minute so the fuser can cool.
2) Open the rear or side cover where the **fuser module** sits (typically the hot unit with an orange warning label).
3) Carefully release the two blue/green levers and slide the fuser out enough to check for bent connectors, torn paper, or obvious heat damage — don’t touch the roller surface.
4) Reseat the fuser firmly until the latches click, close all covers, plug the machine back in and power on.
If 010-397 was triggered by a loose connection or a momentary over-temperature, this often clears the fault. If it comes back immediately, the fuser is more likely at **end-of-life** or has an internal failure and will need replacement before the lock can be cleared.
Technician
How it all fits together:
• The **drum cartridge** is a separate imaging unit with its own page counter and “drum life end” threshold.
• The **fuser** melts toner into the paper at high temperature; when it reaches its life count or can’t heat correctly, firmware raises 010-397 fuser error and stops printing to avoid damage or fire risk.
• The message “Drum cartridge near end of life” is a warning, but **010-397** is a lock. Even with a brand-new drum, the printer will not clear the lock while it still sees a dead fuser.
So the path forward is: confirm the correct **fuser part number** for your Xerox, replace that unit, and then confirm both **fuser and drum counters** look healthy.
Technician
• Some supplies, like the **drum cartridge**, can be reset through a menu option (“Install new drum”, “Reset drum life”, etc.) after you install a known-good unit.
• The **010-397 fuser fault**, however, is not meant to be bypassed in normal use, because a failing fuser can overheat or under-heat and damage the device.
Service technicians can access deeper **NVM (non-volatile memory) counters** with special tools, but even they are instructed to replace the fuser module for a persistent 010-397. For end users, the only safe and reliable way to clear a genuine **Xerox 010-397 fuser error** is to install the correct replacement fuser assembly.
What we can do is make sure your new drum is correctly recognized and that once the fuser is replaced, there’s no leftover “drum cartridge end-of-life lock” or supply mis-match.
Technician
1) Order the correct **Xerox fuser module** or approved replacement for your exact model (voltage, region and speed matter).
2) Power the device off, swap the fuser following the user guide, then power it back on.
3) Once it reaches **Ready**, go to Machine Status → Supplies / Consumables and confirm:
• Fuser life: shows **High** or close to **100%**.
• Drum cartridge: shows your new drum at a healthy percentage.
4) If there is a menu item like “Reset Drum Cartridge”, “Reset Imaging Unit” or “Install New Drum”, use it once, now, with the new drum installed. Don’t spam that option — it’s meant to pair a fresh drum with a fresh counter.
When both the **drum cartridge life** and **fuser life** are correct, the firmware will stop nagging about end-of-life and you shouldn’t see 010-397 again for a full fuser cycle.
Technician
Many newer Xerox machines read a small **chip on the drum cartridge**. That chip tells the printer “this is a new drum” and carries its own end-of-life counter. If the cartridge is remanufactured or the chip isn’t programmed exactly right, you can see:
• “Drum cartridge near end of life” even right after installation.
• Supplies screen showing **low drum life** or “Unknown drum”.
• Occasional **“Replace drum cartridge”** messages that feel like an end-of-life lock.
If everything else is healthy but the drum message persists:
• Re-seat the drum and power-cycle once to be sure the contacts are clean.
• In Supplies/Settings, run the **“Install new drum / Reset drum”** option if your model offers it, with the new drum installed.
• If the status is still wrong, it’s often a **chip issue on the cartridge**. In that case, swapping to a different drum (genuine or a better-matched compatible) is usually the only way to stop the drum warnings.
Technician
• Once the printer is healthy, note the **page counts** for the fuser and drum, and keep a simple log or label on the device.
• In the Xerox web interface (CentreWare) or in **Machine Status → Alerts**, enable **email alerts** for “Supplies near end of life” and “Service required” so you get warnings before a lockout.
• Treat “drum cartridge near end of life” as a **plan-ahead warning**, not something to ignore for months — order the new drum and schedule replacement out of hours.
• For the fuser, plan to replace it when the device reports it is near end-of-life, instead of waiting for **010-397 fuser error** to hard-stop your jobs.
That way your **drum cartridge end-of-life** and **Xerox 010-397** events become scheduled maintenance, not emergency downtime.
Technician
Summary: If your Xerox shows 010-397 and a drum cartridge end-of-life warning, the real lock is almost always the **fuser**. Confirm the drum is detected, safely reseat or replace the fuser to clear the **010-397 fuser error**, and then run the proper **drum life reset** so both counters start from a known good point. Need help confirming part numbers or step-by-step for your model? Open the chat and I’ll tailor it to your device.
Quick answer: the accepted fix
Accepted fix when a Xerox printer shows 010-397 and drum cartridge end-of-life: confirm the new drum is recognized in Supplies, then focus on the **fuser**. Power the device off, reseat the fuser, and if fault 010-397 returns, replace the fuser module with the correct Xerox part. After restart, verify fuser and drum life are near 100% and run the **“Install new drum / Reset drum”** option once so the end-of-life lock doesn’t come back.
Why Xerox 010-397 appears and how it relates to drum end-of-life
The Xerox 010-397 fault code is a fuser error — it indicates the fusing unit has failed self-test or reached the end of its rated life. At the same time, many models also track a separate drum cartridge life counter and display “drum cartridge near end of life” or “replace drum cartridge” when the imaging unit hits its limit. If you ignore the warnings and keep printing, it’s common to see a **drum life end message** first and then, some weeks later, a permanent **010-397 fuser lock**. That combination makes it feel like a “drum cartridge end-of-life lock”, but technically the fuser fault is what actually stops printing until the hardware is replaced.
How to verify fuser and drum status after fixing 010-397
After replacing parts to clear a Xerox 010-397 error, it’s worth confirming the printer’s internal counters are correct. From the control panel or web interface, open Machine Status → Supplies / Consumables and check the life percentage for **fuser**, **drum cartridge**, and toner. Both the fuser and drum should show as installed and well above the “near end-of-life” threshold. Print a **configuration/status page** to confirm there are no active fault codes and test a few pages to ensure there are no new symptoms such as smearing, ghosting, or blank areas. If 010-397 reappears quickly, or the page shows “unknown drum” or “invalid fuser”, double-check that you used the correct parts for your exact model and region.
Xerox 010-397 and drum end-of-life — quick troubleshooting tips
Most “drum cartridge end-of-life lock” cases on Xerox are really a fuser 010-397 failure plus a drum near-end warning.
Quick path: treat **010-397** as a fuser problem first — power the printer off, reseat the fuser, and replace it if the fault returns. Then confirm the **drum cartridge life** is correctly reset and that the new drum or imaging unit is detected at close to 100%. Avoid ignoring “near end-of-life” messages for months; planning drum and fuser replacement ahead of time prevents sudden **end-of-life lockouts** in the middle of a job.
Disclaimer: This information is AI-generated and intended for general guidance only. For advice specific to your environment, please consult a verified expert on Whizz-Tech before making decisions.
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FAQ
What does Xerox fault code 010-397 actually mean?
Fault code 010-397 on Xerox printers is a fuser error, not a drum error. It indicates the fusing unit has failed to reach or maintain the correct temperature or has reached its designed end-of-life. When this happens the device sets a safety lock and requires you to power off, reseat, or replace the fuser before it will print again.
Why do I see 010-397 at the same time as a drum cartridge end-of-life message?
The printer tracks the **drum cartridge** and **fuser** separately. You might first see “drum cartridge near end of life” or “replace drum” and continue printing. Later, once the fuser also reaches end-of-life or fails, the machine raises **010-397** and stops. Because both messages appear in the same timeframe, it can feel like a combined “drum cartridge end-of-life lock”, but the final lockout is triggered by the fuser fault.
Can I reset 010-397 without replacing the fuser?
If 010-397 appears once and clears after a reseat or restart, it may have been a transient error. But if the fault comes back immediately every time the printer powers on, the fuser is considered failed and the code is not meant to be bypassed. For safety, Xerox expects the fuser module to be replaced rather than reset, and the error cleared only after a known-good fuser is installed.
How do I reset the drum cartridge life on a Xerox printer?
After installing a new drum or imaging unit, go to Machine Status → Tools / Device Settings and look for options such as “Install new drum”, “Reset drum cartridge” or “Reset imaging unit”. Run that reset once with the new drum installed so the life counter starts at 100%. If the menu option is missing, the device may reset the counter automatically when it detects a new drum chip.
Sources
- Xerox Support — Fault Code 010-397: Fuser Error
- PrinterTales — How to Fix Xerox Printer Error 010-397
- Fuji Xerox DocuPrint P355 — Messages for fuser and drum near end-of-life
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