HP 700W Printheads keep failing

[CMY_K?]

I replaced my HP 700W white printhead about 2 weeks ago, then after about 7 days, the printhead gave the attached error message.

- I filed a warranty claim with HP for a new printhead. They're sending a new one
- In the meantime, i needed to use the printer, so I bought another white ink printhead yesterday, and installed it. I printed one job, and then this morning it gave me the same error message.

Let me know if any of you guys have seen this before!
balstestrat

 

[balstestrat]

Have you tried cleaning the electrical contacts?
Is your unit under contract?
How much is the weight of faulty head?

 

[CMY_K?]

Hey balstestrat,

- I have done a brief cleaning of the contacts, but let me know if there is a best practice.
- Not under contract
- it is 2.3oz / 65g

 

[ikarasu]

I find the white ink system spotty at best. It's a great idea - and usually if we use it every other week it's fine... But when it sits for a few months, were not surprised to put it in and have an error.


Never remove it when the heads hot - it'll earn you about it and say it'll avoid the warranty... Let it cool down before removing it.

75% of the time this error can be fixed by cleaning the head - we get a cloth with some 100% alcohol and wipe the back contacts, if that doesn't fix it then we pull it back out... Do it again, but also wet a cloth and hold it on the nozzles for 10-15 seconds, and then give it a gentle wipe.


Usually that fixes it - I feel like most of the time the error is because the head gets clogged when sitting.

Also make sure your little head holder is clean of debris, all the dried white ink is cleaned, etc. it's often an overlooked part... And in sure little dried pieces of white ink constantly rotating isn't the best for the head.


We told our sales reps to stop selling white ink - they get happy with a $300 order of white stickers, then I tell them we had to put a $250 new white ink head in just to produce those stickers.... It's just not worth it!

 

[balstestrat]

And if you swap 9 and 10 the errors follows the printhead?

 

[greysquirrel]

how old is the white ink cartridge? Hoe long has it Been in the printer. We don't use white ink as much as we would like to. The ink can settle and cause clogs. I would pull out cartridge and agitate. Reinstall and run 5 cleanings see if its better.

 

[Peter Signz]

I get the same errors, but so far they've never been an indication that the printhead is faulty. It's the contacts that need cleaning. White ink is pretty sticky and it tends to contaminate the contacts. I'ts good practice to clean the whole head (not the nozzles) before placing it. Also, a HP Technician told me he puts a drop of demineralised water on the nozzle and lets the head soak that up prior to installation. It helps keeping the nozzles open and it has worked for me for the last three years. Rubbing the contacts gently with contact cleaner is also helpfull.

 

[CMY_K?]

And if you swap 9 and 10 the errors follows the printhead?

I will try this, but I just worry it will burn another Print head lol.

 

[CMY_K?]

how old is the white ink cartridge? Hoe long has it Been in the printer. We don't use white ink as much as we would like to. The ink can settle and cause clogs. I would pull out cartridge and agitate. Reinstall and run 5 cleanings see if its better.

This white ink is less than a week old.

 

[CMY_K?]

I get the same errors, but so far they've never been an indication that the printhead is faulty. It's the contacts that need cleaning. White ink is pretty sticky and it tends to contaminate the contacts. I'ts good practice to clean the whole head (not the nozzles) before placing it. Also, a HP Technician told me he puts a drop of demineralised water on the nozzle and lets the head soak that up prior to installation. It helps keeping the nozzles open and it has worked for me for the last three years. Rubbing the contacts gently with contact cleaner is also helpfull.

I have cleaned the contacts on the printhead itself, and on the little strip inside the carriage. I will try to do some manual cleaning and see if that helps..

 

[CMY_K?]

And if you swap 9 and 10 the errors follows the printhead?

I put a new warranty cartridge from HP in there, and it failed within a day. If I pull the cartridges out and switch the nine in the tin slot, that will get it working for a couple hours. Basically it keeps saying the nine slot cartridge is bad no matter which cartridge is actually in there.

 

[balstestrat]

Would be good to run some diagnostics on it. Might even show a fault in the PCA etc.