HP 5150 Won't Print Black!

  • Thread starter Thread starter PR
  • Start date Start date
P

PR

Hello!

I have an HP 5150 inkjet, and it really worked nicely for the first few
months. I don't use it much, though, and now it doesn't print black very
often anymore. It will print the black better on the first sheet after
resting for a month or so, but after that the black printing gets streaky
and sometimes goes out altogether. (There are some minor streaks in the
other colors too.) I've cleaned that black cartridge several times, both
with the printer's own function and by hand, with rubbing alcohol. It is
definitely not dried up. And I've even replaced the black cartridge, but I'm
still having the same problem. My friend who works at Office Depot said this
might be because the contacts are on the back of the cartridge and aren't
connecting just right, but I taped the cartridge securely in place and it
didn't work. Any ideas?
 
I have an HP 5150 inkjet, and it really worked nicely for the first
few
months. I don't use it much, though, and now it doesn't print black
very
often anymore. It will print the black better on the first sheet after
resting for a month or so, but after that the black printing gets
streaky
and sometimes goes out altogether. (There are some minor streaks in
the
other colors too.)
Click to expand...

It sounds like your black cartridge may be low on ink. When a cartridge
is running low it may recover a bit if allowed to sit with enough ink to
print a page or two.
I've cleaned that black cartridge several times, both
with the printer's own function and by hand, with rubbing alcohol. It
is
definitely not dried up. And I've even replaced the black cartridge,
but I'm
still having the same problem.
Click to expand...

Did you use an HP cartridge or a compatible? There really can be a
difference in quality... see:
http://www.hp.com/sbso/product/supplies/supplies_reliability_ink.pdf

Try printing a self test page as shown at:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=bpd07098#N1609.
If the nozzle pattern has random missing nozzles then it is likely a
problem with the cartridge printhead and cleaning may help. If regular
repeating nozzles are missing it would indicate a problem with the
contacts between the cartridge and the printer.
My friend who works at Office Depot said this
might be because the contacts are on the back of the cartridge and
aren't
connecting just right, but I taped the cartridge securely in place and
it
didn't work. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

You should *not* apply extra force or pressure on the cartridge to hold
it in place as this may crush the printer's contact "dimples". In this
case you would need to have the printer serviced.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging
 
I have an HP 5150 inkjet, and it really worked nicely for the first
It sounds like your black cartridge may be low on ink. When a cartridge
is running low it may recover a bit if allowed to sit with enough ink to
print a page or two.
Click to expand...

Hmmm... I don't think so... the first cartridge was mostly full, and I've
replaced it to no avail.
Did you use an HP cartridge or a compatible? There really can be a
difference in quality... see:
http://www.hp.com/sbso/product/supplies/supplies_reliability_ink.pdf
Click to expand...

It was an HP.
Try printing a self test page as shown at:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=bpd07098#N1609.
If the nozzle pattern has random missing nozzles then it is likely a
problem with the cartridge printhead and cleaning may help. If regular
repeating nozzles are missing it would indicate a problem with the
contacts between the cartridge and the printer.
Click to expand...

It seems to be mostly random. Although I have cleaned the bottom of the
cartridge thoroughly, where the ink comes out. Is there another place to
clean?
 
It seems to be mostly random. Although I have cleaned the bottom of
the
cartridge thoroughly, where the ink comes out. Is there another place
to
clean?
Click to expand...

Are you manually cleaning the cartridge or are you using the cleaning
routine from the toolbox? If manual try using the cleaning from the
toolbox, the printer is designed to do this "right".

Are you leaving the printer plugged into a live outlet? Using a power
strip to turn off a printer may leave the cartridges un capped in the
service station, which can cause them to dry out.

Also, make sure the cartridges are not too "old". Cartridges do have a
shelf life. Check the "install by" dates on the cartridge box or the
end of warranty date (two years from date of manufacture) as shown at:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=bua02014.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging
 
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