HP DJ 832C -- no cyan or yellow??

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gary Fritz
  • Start date Start date
G

Gary Fritz

I have an 832C that is very seldom used. I'm used to the cartridge being
funky when I try to print something, but eventually I get it working.

This time I'm seeing a problem I haven't seen before. The black and
magenta are working fine, but I'm getting ZERO cyan or yellow. Absolutely
none at all. I've tried three different cartridges, including one brand-
new one, and they ALL worked the same.

I assume the PC sends PCL or something similar to the printer, so it's not
a matter of a bad wire in the printer cable or something like that. It
could be a bad connection in the cartridge carrier, but I'm sure it didn't
do this the last time I used it.

Any guesses how I can wake up the Cy & Yel on this thing?

Thanks,
Gary
 
Gary said:
I have an 832C that is very seldom used. I'm used to the cartridge being
funky when I try to print something, but eventually I get it working.

This time I'm seeing a problem I haven't seen before. The black and
magenta are working fine, but I'm getting ZERO cyan or yellow. Absolutely
none at all. I've tried three different cartridges, including one brand-
new one, and they ALL worked the same.

I assume the PC sends PCL or something similar to the printer, so it's not
a matter of a bad wire in the printer cable or something like that. It
could be a bad connection in the cartridge carrier, but I'm sure it didn't
do this the last time I used it.

Any guesses how I can wake up the Cy & Yel on this thing?

Thanks,
Gary
Click to expand...
May not be relevant, but a friend with a cannon printer lost magenta
after upgrading to IE7. Fixed with Firefox!
 
Peter said:
May not be relevant, but a friend with a cannon printer lost magenta
after upgrading to IE7. Fixed with Firefox!
Click to expand...

!? How would the browser you use affect colors printed by Word??

In any event, I have not yet installed IE7. I use Firefox 2.0.
 
Gary said:
I have an 832C that is very seldom used. I'm used to the cartridge being
funky when I try to print something, but eventually I get it working.

This time I'm seeing a problem I haven't seen before. The black and
magenta are working fine, but I'm getting ZERO cyan or yellow. Absolutely
none at all. I've tried three different cartridges, including one brand-
new one, and they ALL worked the same.

I assume the PC sends PCL or something similar to the printer, so it's not
a matter of a bad wire in the printer cable or something like that. It
could be a bad connection in the cartridge carrier, but I'm sure it didn't
do this the last time I used it.

Any guesses how I can wake up the Cy & Yel on this thing?

Thanks,
Gary
Click to expand...
You describe a bad printer all the way, certainly not a cart problem.
Time to go shopping or recycling. I just found an HP 930C while out on
my bike today, complete with empty carts. The one cart was even the
#45G with only 21ML ink when sold. So that's probably the original set
of carts in it and the total print volume is low. The point is, you
can get something better than what you have for from nothing to a few
bucks.
And always maintain backup print capabilities.
 
Al Bundy said:
You describe a bad printer all the way, certainly not a cart problem.
Click to expand...

That's what I figured, else all 3 carts wouldn't have failed in the same
way.

But it's very curious that this failed while it was just sitting on the
shelf. It worked fine the last time I used it, maybe 6-12 months ago.
Time to go shopping or recycling.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I just hate to junk something if it can be fixed, even if this
printer always has been a POS PITA that I cuss every time I have to use
it... :-) And I hate to buy a new printer to replace something I almost
never need. I'd much rather fix it if I could.
 
Gary Fritz said:
I have an 832C that is very seldom used. I'm used to the cartridge being
funky when I try to print something, but eventually I get it working.

This time I'm seeing a problem I haven't seen before. The black and
magenta are working fine, but I'm getting ZERO cyan or yellow. Absolutely
none at all. I've tried three different cartridges, including one brand-
new one, and they ALL worked the same.
Click to expand...

Most likely the color cartridges are old, even if they are new in the box.
You should check the "install by" date on the package, or check the warranty
date on the cartridge as shown at:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=bua02014.
Over a period of time (years) air may ingress into the cartridge causing
just the issue you are seeing. (This is *not* nozzle blockage, as that
would affect magenta as well and would likely leave a few nozzles of cyan
and yellow working.

I do not recommend this, but if the choice is to throw the cartridge away
anyway you might try dipping the nozzles in about 1/2" of hot water for 30
minutes or so. This may get the cartridge to work well enough to convince
you it really is just a cartridge issue. I have also heard of success in
putting the cartridge nozzle down in the end of an old sock, then take it
outside and swing it vigorously around your head until the cyan and yellow
inks flow.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging
 
Gary Fritz said:
That's what I figured, else all 3 carts wouldn't have failed in the same
way.
Click to expand...

No, it is *not* a printer problem, it *is* a cartridge problem. Let a #23
cartridge sit for five years or so from date of manufacture and you will
have yellow and/or cyan missing.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging
 
Bob Headrick said:
Most likely the color cartridges are old, even if they are new in the
box. You should check the "install by" date on the package, or check
the warranty date on the cartridge ...
Click to expand...

Bedammed. You nailed it, Bob. I had no idea these cartriges were that
old. The ones I tried first had an "end of warrantee" date in 2004, and
the "still in the box" (I won't say "new" :-) cart was dated early 2003!
So this air-ingress problem can happen even when the protective tape has
never been removed?

I'll try your "hot water and old sock" remedies, just to see if I can
resurrect them. Obviously I don't use it enough to justify buying a new
cart if I can avoid it. If not, a $35 cartridge is better than buying a
new printer.

Thanks Bob!
Gary
 
Gary Fritz said:
the "still in the box" (I won't say "new" :-) cart was dated early 2003!
So this air-ingress problem can happen even when the protective tape has
never been removed?
Click to expand...

Yes, air can actually diffuse through the plastic body of the cartrdige
slowly over time.
I'll try your "hot water and old sock" remedies, just to see if I can
resurrect them.
Click to expand...

If those do not work send me a private email and I will suggest a few other
things to try.

- Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging
 
Well, I tried the "hot water" approach. Unfortunately I got distracted and
forgot it for the next 2+ hours. Ooops. :-) Now there's still no yellow
or cyan, and almost no magenta. Guess I need a sock...
 
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