HP690C - issues

  • Thread starter Thread starter budgie
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budgie

Having just commented in another thread how the old 690C would fire up after
weeks of inactivity and print without problems, it appears I have jinxed myself
and the printer. Murphy's Law has struck.

On powerup, there is the usual "oooh-aaah" sounds then a loud growl (like a
stalled motor), then the usual powerup nozzle cleaning cycle. Followed by
another nozzle cleaning cycle, then another, at about 15 sec intervals,
indefinitely.

On opening the lid, the top (amber) led flashes and the carriage moves to the
correct position. I can see through the black cart and it is 80% full, but I
can't see any light through the colour cart so I can't visually ascertain levels
but it is fairly recent. (Genuine carts, both, not clones or refills). Cleaned
contacts on carts and carriage, reseated carts.

On closing the lid, nothing happens. Amber led keeps flashing and carriage
remains in the access position. At least it stops the interminable nozzle
cleaning.

Powers off with a push of the bottom button.

Tried the colour cart out of another 690C - no difference.

Attempting a test page print - following the book instructions "powered on,
while holding the bottom button in tap the top button once" - just gives
flashing amber, no other change. After this attempt, bottom button doesn't
power off - does nothing. Have to umplug power lead to kill it.

The index strip is clean and the carriage move freely on the guide bar. There
is (obviously) paper in the printer.

Attempting printing from host PC (when in its post-powerup nozzle cleaning mood)
just cuases a few carriage movements and the amber led flashes.

Apart from the "chuck it away and buy a new one" type of comments, any
suggestions?
 
Hi!

Here's a likely cause:

There's a spring at the left hand side of the print carriage. Place the
printer so that the front faces you and lift up the lid. Now look into the
extreme left of the carriage. You might be able to see the assembly.

The problem is that this spring backs off over time and use. When it does,
the belt that drives the print head carriage tends to slip, especially upon
motor reversals. At first you may only hear the odd "twang" or other
slipping sound.

As this gets worse, odd behavior is the result. I've seen printers that
would "growl" as you have described when the carriage wasn't in precisely
the right position for the head cleaning/charging station to work. As time
goes on, your printer will randomly stall out during printing as the
carriage becomes out of sync with where the printer's controller expects it
to be.

If this is the problem you have, you can take the printer apart and stretch
the spring out.

William
 
Hi!

Here's a likely cause:

There's a spring at the left hand side of the print carriage. Place the
printer so that the front faces you and lift up the lid. Now look into the
extreme left of the carriage. You might be able to see the assembly.

The problem is that this spring backs off over time and use. When it does,
the belt that drives the print head carriage tends to slip, especially upon
motor reversals. At first you may only hear the odd "twang" or other
slipping sound.

As this gets worse, odd behavior is the result. I've seen printers that
would "growl" as you have described when the carriage wasn't in precisely
the right position for the head cleaning/charging station to work. As time
goes on, your printer will randomly stall out during printing as the
carriage becomes out of sync with where the printer's controller expects it
to be.

If this is the problem you have, you can take the printer apart and stretch
the spring out.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion, but the drive belt tension (and the index strip
tension) are both fine.
 
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