Problem Printing is missing in spots
Source of trouble Cartridge is Clogged or contacts not connecting
Resolution Unclog cartridge procedure
Problem No Ink on the page or Vertical stripes of extra dark or no printing
Source of trouble Cartridge is making poor contact, carrier placement strip is dirty, ink is low
Resolution Reseat the cartridge - clean brass tape contacts with alcohol and swab
Problem Intermittent loud grinding noise
Source of trouble Carrier placement strip
Resolution Clean the carrier placement strip. If that doesn't work, replace the ink cartridge
Problem Printing garbage
Source of trouble Incomplete data communication
Resolution Check that cables are securely fastened, that the printer cable is IEEE certified and not damaged. You may also unplug both ends and look for bent pins.
Problem Printing 1-5 characters to a page
Source of trouble Data communication errors
Resolution Check that SNAPs, or similar printer sharing devices, are not cross connected - two printers on the same circuit of computers, for instance. Devices such as these might require a power supply.
Problem Printing in strange fonts
Source of trouble Printer confusion
Resolution Just shut it off and let it sit for a minute or two with the power off - it has gotten confused!
Service It is worth noting that Hewlett-Packard and most major brands of printer makers do not allow service on their printers anywhere other than at an HP service center. You simply cannot buy parts for them. Simply put, you can perform some of these minor repairs, but if anything really goes wrong, plan on shipping it off and don't bother taking it apart - it won't do you any good. Other printer manufacturers make it very difficult to repair low cost printers as well... for instance, a Canon printhead is usually more than 60% of the cost to purchase a new printer. Don't give up easily, of course, but if you try these things and they don't work, you could be out of luck on less expensive printers.
Unclog Printer Cartridge Procedure
Before spending too much time cleaning a cartridge, check that it is the source of the problem by trying a 'known good' cartridge. Be certain to clear away ink debris from the carrier,(in and around the part that moves inside the printer), to avoid clogging up the new cartridge. If the printer prints correctly, continue with the old cartridge - most will be salvagable with some elbow grease. First try to clear the cartridge printface. A moistened cotton swab works well, or the edge of a piece of paper. Generally, plain water works best, but if the ink is particularly thick and encrusted, use a bit of alcohol - too much will thin the ink. As a last ditch, run warm water over the printface, or even soak it for a minute or two, swirling the cartridge in the water. This will thin the ink, however, and may render the cartridge unusable if overdone. If any serious cleaning of the printface is required, you must also wipe off the stopper assembly that the cartridge is parked on while it is in the printer, or else the action of priming the printer will re-jam the cartridge with dried ink. To insure that the air inlet is not clogged, hold the cartridge by the colored plastic top, and shake it away from you, towards a trash can (not much enthusiasm is called for). If ink can be seen flowing from the cartridge printface, air is getting into the cartridge correctly. Check the brass tape contacts on the cartridge for damage, and inspect the contacts on the carrier in the printer. These are best cleaned with a bit of alcohol, as even skin oil can detract from correct printing.
Cleaning the Carrier Placement Strip
The clear plastic strip, parallel to and just behind the carrier rod tells the printer where the carriage is located (It has evenly spaced horizontal marks on it). Wiping clean should be done with a dry towel. To remove nasty ink, use warm water only. Because this strip is tied into the logic of the printer, even a small amount of ink can confuse the printer and cause some baffling problems, like strange noises, misprinted characters, and corrupted document formatting.
Other notes for HP printers
In the newer style Deskjets, particularly the series using the blue topped ink cartridge, odd and apparently unrelated problems can manifest when the ink cartridge runs low or is making poor contact with the carriage. Hewlett-Packard has been unable to find the cause of this problem (at least they aren't talking), but incomplete logic circuits are to blame - thus the rapid discontinuance of the 540 series printers.
Last Updated 12/2004