c5180 ink system failure 0xc18a0306

  • Thread starter Thread starter dkelvey
  • Start date Start date
D

dkelvey

Hi
My printer finally did it self in.
I did some searching over the net on this one but didn't find
much technical information on what exactly is failing.
The HP site isn't much help either.
I know it is a mechanical failure inthe ink system but that
is about it.
When I first opened things up, the pump was not turning
too freely. I rocked it backand forth an now it seems
OK but there may still be a failure inside.
I've tried the magic OK and Help button to reset. This
seems to work OK except after each try, it lowers the
amount of yellow ink it thinks it has.
I suspect this may be part of the failure because shaking
the yellow container, it seems to have plenty of ink.
I'm guessing a couple of problems.
One is that the pump is not effective at moving the yellow
ink and the printer thinks that because it had to turn the
pump so long that it must have gone through a lot of yellow ink.
The other is that there is a jammed broken oneway valve for that
ink and the pressure doesn't hold.
After reset,and wasting a lot of yellow ink, it does print for
some time, at least the test sheets. After about 3 or 4
minutes, it brings back the 0xc18a0306 message.
Any one have any experience with this one? I figure
I'll need to buy a new printer so I have no issue with
ripping this one apart to see what is failing. I've had
the covers of already and given it a basic look but
so far, I don't see much that looks bad.
Dwight
 
Hi
 My printer finally did it self in.
 I did some searching over the net on this one but didn't find
much technical information on what exactly is failing.
 The HP site isn't much help either.
 I know it is a mechanical failure inthe ink system but that
is about it.
 When I first opened things up, the pump was not turning
too freely. I rocked it backand forth an now it seems
OK but there may still be a failure inside.
I've tried the magic OK and Help button to reset. This
seems to work OK except after each try, it lowers the
amount of yellow ink it thinks it has.
 I suspect this may be part of the failure because shaking
the yellow container, it seems to have plenty of ink.
 I'm guessing a couple of problems.
 One is that the pump is not effective at moving the yellow
ink and the printer thinks that because it had to turn the
pump so long that it must have gone through a lot of yellow ink.
 The other is that there is a jammed broken oneway valve for that
ink and the pressure doesn't hold.
 After reset,and wasting a lot of yellow ink, it does print for
some time, at least the test sheets. After about 3 or 4
minutes, it brings back the 0xc18a0306 message.
 Any one have any experience with this one? I figure
I'll need to buy a new printer so I have no issue with
ripping this one apart to see what is failing. I've had
the covers of already and given it a basic look but
so far, I don't see much that looks bad.
Dwight
Click to expand...

I like your attitude Dwight. I wish I had a magic answer. You are
doing what I do. If I can't fix it myself with no parts expense, I
move on.
I'd be interested on what the total engine count is on that machine.
I just Googled and there are many posts about this error message. Here
are two answers:
1. Get the unit into the “Support Menu” by following the steps below :
A. - Press and hold the “left arrow” key.
B. - Press the “Setup” key and release both keys.
Display should say “Enter Special Key Combo”
C. - Press and release the “OK” button.
Display should say “Support” and display the FW rev (something like
R0616R)
2. Press and release the right arrow button until the display says
“System Configuration Menu”.
3. Press and release the “OK” button.
4. Display should say “Hardware failure status”. If not there already,
Arrow Key over to “Hardware failure status”,
5. Press and release the “OK” button.
6. Display should say “Hardware failure status: Clear. Press OK to
clear”.
7. Press and release the “OK” Button. Message changes to “Hardware
failure status Cleared. Press Cancel to continue”.
8. Press and release the “CANCEL” button as many times as necessary,
so that, either the “Welcome to Photosmart Express” screen appears,
or, the “Ink System Failure” screen appears. PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO
PRINT AT THIS STAGE.
9. Using the Power Button, turn the unit OFF and unplug the power
cable from back of the printer and wall outlet.
10. Wait 30 seconds for the power to get discharged and then plug the
power cable into the wall outlet first and then into the back of the
printer
11. Turn the unit on. The printer may display message “USE POWER
BUTTON TO SHUTDOWN THE PRINTER” followed by “PRESS OK TO CONTINUE”.
Press OK. The Printer will start the “ONE TIME INK INITIALIZATION
PROCESS”. Allow this process to complete and do not interrupt. Once
the initialization process is complete, the printer will print out a
Diagnostic Page.
12. To verify printer functionality print a SELF TEST PAGE. If SELF
TEST prints, then printer is ready for use or Software Installation.


And another>
Issue An 0xc18xxxxx or 0xc19xxxxx ink system error code displays on
the front panel. The printer cannot copy, receive faxes, or print.
Solution

1. Press the On button to turn the printer off.
2. Unplug the power cord from the back of the printer.
3. Remove all the ink cartridges.
4. Wait two minutes.
5. Plug the power cord into the back of the printer.
6. Press the On button to turn the printer on.
7. Install the ink cartridges when prompted.

If the error code does not display, the issue is resolved. If the
0xc18xxxxx or 0xc19xxxxx ink system error code displays on the front
panel, service the printer.
 
I like your attitude Dwight. I wish I had a magic answer. You are
doing what I do. If I can't fix it myself with no parts expense, I
move on.
I'd be interested on what the total engine count is on that machine.
I just Googled and there are many posts about this error message. Here
are two answers:
1. Get the unit into the “Support Menu” by following the steps below :
A. - Press and hold the “left arrow” key.
---snip---

And another>
Issue An 0xc18xxxxx or 0xc19xxxxx ink system error code displays on
the front panel. The printer cannot copy, receive faxes, or print.
Solution

   1. Press the On button to turn the printer off.
   2. Unplug the power cord from the back of the printer.
   3. Remove all the ink cartridges.
   4. Wait two minutes.
   5. Plug the power cord into the back of the printer.
   6. Press the On button to turn the printer on.
   7. Install the ink cartridges when prompted.
Click to expand...
---snip---

Hi
The first one is really for a different printer. Mine doesn't have a
key pad
to enter such things in. That is for the model with the fax built in.
The HP
guy tried to use that on my wife but she is not a computer dummy
either.
I've tried the others as well.
There is a real failure on my machine, I just need to figure it out.
I made some progress on my understanding. I think I know
a little more how it works.
The pump is bidirectional. There is a small reservoir in the print
head.
When it detects that one of the reservoirs gets low, it pumps all the
ink
back into all the cartrages. Once it empties them, it must note when
the ink stops going past the pump. It looks like there is a sensor
on the pump to tell it when it is finished. Maybe it just notes when
the reservoir is empty but I'm not sure. It some how measures them.
It can then keep track of which cartrage used the amounts of
ink and write to the chip in each cartrage( That is really bad for my
cartrage because the yellow is still full of ink, just it has set that
nasty chip ).
There are two sets vent valves on the top of the print head.
I suspect that one is a direct vent to the reservoir while the
other is most likely a vent to a diaphram. At least that is
my guess so far.
I can clearly see that there is no yellow ink in the tube
going to the print head at the print head. I can see it
at the pump. I suspect a clog someplace in the print head.
That would explain why it seemed to print the test sheet
OK. There is still yellow ink in the reservoir, at least enough
to print with, while someplace between the cartrage and
the print head there is a blockage.
I've got the pump out far enough to see that it looks
to be working OK. I just have to clear what ever is blocking
the flow.
It would be nice if HP published exactly which color was
failing and which sensor it detected it at. The error codes
are typically just the address of the processor when it
detected a problem and not good for much without a decoder
ring. I susect it might even tell one which color is
at fault.
Dwight
 
 It would be nice if HP published exactly which color was
failing and which sensor it detected it at. The error codes
are typically just the address of the processor when it
detected a problem and not good for much without a decoder
ring. I susect it might even tell one which color is
at fault.
Dwight
Click to expand...

Yes, you will need to purchase the Wheat Chex to get the ring. Corn
Chex has the watch and Rice Chex has the spy pen.
 
Hi
Each day, I find a little more. Here is a post I found in this group
from Feb 2009.
I've not tried any of this because I still need to find the clog in
the yellow.
It looks like at the entry to the print head there is a filter. The
yellow side looks
to be dry ( Hmmm! ).
Dwight
Here is a copy if the post from Feb 2009:

Hello!

I accidentally managed to fool my HP Photosmart C5180 printer to
accept a refilled black 363 ink after the "Empty ink" blockage. I'm
not quite sure what did I actually do, so what follows is more like a
description of the circumstances in which it happened rather than a
method. I am absolutely not a professional and I take no
responsibility for anything you might do with your printer by
following my steps.

Anyway, the basics:

1. There's a "secret" menu which you enter by pressing the "<" (left)
button and the "Settings" button at the same time.
2. You move through the menu with <, >, X and OK buttons.
3. Enter the menu, press OK (something like "Support R0631M" should
appear).
4. Scroll to "System configuration menu" and choose "hardware failure
status", press OK, and "Press OK to clear". You will be prompted that
the status were cleared and the printer may buzz for a while, possibly
adjusting the inks or something.
5. NOTE: The procedure above is actually the standard way of dealing
with the "Ink system has failed. Error:0xc18a0001" thing. ->
http://www.fixya.com/tags/0xc18a0001

So it all started with me randomly unplugging and plugging the
refilled black ink until I got the 0xc18a0001 error; I googled the
thing, did the hardware failure status clearing, then tinkered some
more with the "secret menu" options, then manually unplugged the
machine while it was doing some sort of servicing procedure I let it
do from the "servicing menu", then turned it on and had ANOTHER
0xc180001 error, removed it with the abovementioned method and... it
all started to work and is now smoothly printing everything (of course
every time I turn on the machine it shortly informs me that I'm a
psychotic bastard by using refilled HP inks, but it doesn't affect the
printing process). In the meantime I also tested all resetting methods
found on the internet, like pressing the X button for 5 seconds,
pressing the ON button and unplugging at the same time etc. - so
selecting the important from unimportant factors in my 2 hour oddysey
is beyond my copmprehension.

OK, so I know it's all quite messed up - and it's simply because from
my perspective it was like a random miracle. The only reason I'm
writing this down is to spread hope - it seems that YES, it IS
possible to fool the damn printer. It's definitely NOT bullshit, the
brute fact of the matter is that yes, I had my black ink refilled,
yes, I encountered the popular "you-can't-fool-HP" problem, and yes,
everything now works like a charm. Beats me too.

Maybe someone more clever than I will figure out from my adventures
what have REALLY happened? Keep trying folks!

BTW, in the abovementioned menu there's a place where you can check
your inks' serial number and their status (Information menu->pen
supply serial number (SN) and Information menu->pen supply level of
ink (LOI) ). Before my trick the black ink serial was probably the
same it is now (curse me, I didn't write the number down), but the LOI
status HAS changed from "empty" to "OK". So, to put this all short:
there definitely IS a way to change the LOI status of an ink by
following SOME procedure not involving taping any contacts on the ink,
using professional ink resetters etc., e.g. purely from the level of
the control board of the printer. I'd be as happy as you to find out
what could it be.

Greetings,
Lamesz
 
Hi
Click to expand...
Maybe someone more clever than I will figure out from my adventures
what have REALLY happened? Keep trying folks!

BTW, in the abovementioned menu there's a place where you can check
your inks' serial number and their status (Information menu->pen
supply serial number (SN) and Information menu->pen supply level of
ink (LOI) ). Before my trick the black ink serial was probably the
same it is now (curse me, I didn't write the number down), but the LOI
status HAS changed from "empty" to "OK". So, to put this all short:
there definitely IS a way to change the LOI status of an ink by
following SOME procedure not involving taping any contacts on the ink,
using professional ink resetters etc., e.g. purely from the level of
the control board of the printer. I'd be as happy as you to find out
what could it be.

Greetings,
Lamesz
Click to expand...

What you proved is that you really did not have a hardware failure.
You stumbled on to a software work-around. If it happens again, you
will surely document how to get through again.
Let us know how it works out. I have had my hopes dashed by HP before
when such fixes proved to be temporary.
 
What you proved is that you really did not have a hardware failure.
You stumbled on to a software work-around. If it happens again, you
will surely document how to get through again.
Let us know how it works out. I have had my hopes dashed by HP before
when such fixes proved to be temporary.
Click to expand...

Hi
I didn't try it as the machine is still apart. I can clearly see
that yellow ink is not making it to the head so I'll work on fixing
the blocked ink first. There is really a physical problem.

I did try using the OK-Setup reset. It would temporarily clear the
error but I don't think it did much good other than waste what the
printer
thought was in the cartridges( and wrote it to the chip ).

I'll give a full account of what I've done once I have something
positive
to say or found something that is working for me.

My guess right now is that the error message comes from the sensors
on the pump body. I think they are optical ink detectors. When it sees
a bubble in the line, it flags an error. Once the printers ink is
primed,
there should be no bubbles.

I'm guessing this based on watching the action after doing the OK-
Setup reset.
I think there is some yellow ink in the head but my guess is that the
printer keeps track of usage and the need to do the refill sequence by
the
amount of times it spits ink out.

It didn't attempt a refill, after the reset and running the priming
sequence,
that assumes the printer has been primed but it just flagged the error
message with
nothing moving. When I took the machine apart, I could see some yellow
ink
in the line leading to the pump but also I could see bubbles. I didn't
see such bubbles in the other lines. The the print head input line
shows no
ink at all.

Dwight
 
Hi
I didn't try it as the machine is still apart. I can clearly see
that yellow ink is not making it to the head so I'll work on fixing
the blocked ink first. There is really a physical problem.

I did try using the OK-Setup reset. It would temporarily clear the
error but I don't think it did much good other than waste what the
printer
thought was in the cartridges( and wrote it to the chip ).

I'll give a full account of what I've done once I have something
positive
to say or found something that is working for me.

My guess right now is that the error message comes from the sensors
on the pump body. I think they are optical ink detectors. When it sees
a bubble in the line, it flags an error. Once the printers ink is
primed,
there should be no bubbles.

I'm guessing this based on watching the action after doing the OK-
Setup reset.
I think there is some yellow ink in the head but my guess is that the
printer keeps track of usage and the need to do the refill sequence by
the
amount of times it spits ink out.

It didn't attempt a refill, after the reset and running the priming
sequence,
that assumes the printer has been primed but it just flagged the error
message with
nothing moving. When I took the machine apart, I could see some yellow
ink
in the line leading to the pump but also I could see bubbles. I didn't
see such bubbles in the other lines. The the print head input line
shows no
ink at all.

Dwight
Click to expand...

Hi
I've made some progress but not enough to claim victory.
The 0xc18a0306 message is fixed. This was caused by
a clog in the outlet of the pump on the yellow ink tube.
I stuck a pin in the hole and what ever it was cleared with
a squirt. There seems to be something in there like rust.
The outlet also has some sensor on it. Having a clearer look
at it, it look like they have some type of probe with two wires.
It might be a thermistor or something. I'll have to look at the
other lines to see if this makes sense. I may have damaged
what ever it was with the needle.
I now have a 0c18a0301 error message. I've not been able
to bypass the low ink block for the yellow cartridge either.
I'm not sure if I want to invest $11 just to see if it can be made
to print. I can bypass the 0c18a0301 error using the
hidden menu.
Dwight
 
Hi
 I've made some progress but not enough to claim victory.
The 0xc18a0306 message is fixed. This was caused by
a clog in the outlet of the pump on the yellow ink tube.
I stuck a pin in the hole and what ever it was cleared with
a squirt. There seems to be something in there like rust.
The outlet also has some sensor on it. Having a clearer look
at it, it look like they have some type of probe with two wires.
It might be a thermistor or something. I'll have to look at the
other lines to see if this makes sense. I may have damaged
what ever it was with the needle.
 I now have a 0c18a0301 error message. I've not been able
to bypass the low ink block for the yellow cartridge either.
I'm not sure if I want to invest $11 just to see if it can be made
to print. I can bypass the  0c18a0301 error using the
hidden menu.
Dwight- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...

Hi
Itlooks like the black ink is blocked. That is begining to
make some sense. Black is 1 yellow is 6. The generic
0xc18a030X is a failure of one of the ink paths.
Dwight
 
Back
Top