HP DeskJet Printer 820Cxi

[Michael Caplan]

When turned on, the unit goes through the usually traversing of the print
head etc. Then the "empty inkjet cartridge" led starts to flash and it does
not respond to "print" commands, despite replacing with new cartridges. I
have tried the communications test etc in the printer software "toolbox" and
it comes up with "faulty black inkjet cartridge". I checked the flex cable
between the print head and main board -- it's okay -- and the power supply
voltages (as printed on pcb) appear good.

New printers are so inexpensive, it hardly pays to spend too much time on
this one, but I really don't want to see it scrapped -- more landfill :-(

Ideas?

Michael Caplan CET

[LabMonkey]

I would try cleaning the contacts on both the inside of the carriage and the
backside of the cartridge. It may seem odd that the new cartridge would
need cleaning, but I've seen it happen before. If you can afford the toll
call, I'd suggest calling HP Customer Care. They can guide you through
everything EXCEPT actually repairing electronic failure.

Lab Monkey

"Michael Caplan" <cy...@freenet.carleton.ca> wrote in message
news:9lgpr1$7h2$1...@freenet9.carleton.ca...

[Rogier Schoenmakers]

I have an hp 820c, a previous model. I had an enormous amount of trouble with
computer drivers after changing to windows 98. Be sure to have their latest
drivers.

You've probably tried this already, but anyway:

See if the printer (disconnected from the computer) is actually working by
pushing and holding the Power button, then push the Form Feed button 4 times. If
this prints a self-test page, at least you know your printer is ok, and it has
something to do with your software / cable.

[Michael Caplan]

Thanks

As soon as it is turned on, it goes through the self diagnosis (print head
traversing etc) and the empty cartridge light comes on. From there,
nothing, including trying the suggested self-test page.

Michael

"Rogier Schoenmakers" <rog...@xilinx.com> wrote in message
news:3B7D1A23...@xilinx.com...

[LabMonkey]

Turn the power off on the printer, disconnect the parallel cable from the
printer, turn the power back on and see if the cartridge indicator light
still flashes. If it does, try opening the lid on the printer and verifying
that the carriage does come to the center as it should. If the carriage
does come to the center when you open the lid, verify that the carriage
returns to the docking station on the right side. You can try a hard reset
by powering the printer off, removing the paper tray, and power cycling the
printer IIRC. Also, are there any noises aside from the sound of the
carriage performing the initialization as usual?

Trying to remember HP Customer Care resources,
Lab Monkey

"Michael Caplan" <cy...@freenet.carleton.ca> wrote in message

news:9lk0eq$6s0$1...@freenet9.carleton.ca...

[Clark]

I have an 820 Cse and occasionally it will stop printing the colors. I have
to flush the supply, which takes quite a bit of ink, but restores my color
printing. This only happens when I have allowed the color inks to go for
long periods without being used. Maybe the same thing is happening to your
black cartridge.

I wish I could remember where I found the procedure, but I don't. It might
have been on their website.

Clark

"Michael Caplan" <cy...@freenet.carleton.ca> wrote in message

news:9lgpr1$7h2$1...@freenet9.carleton.ca...

[RAY J]

Have you tried cleaning the pins that connect to the cartridge
Just a thought

Ray J

[Michael Caplan]

"LabMonkey" <labm...@crosswinds.net> wrote in message
news:IEgf7.183$ZF1....@nnrp2.sbc.net...

> Turn the power off on the printer, disconnect the parallel cable from the
> printer, turn the power back on and see if the cartridge indicator light
> still flashes.

Yes, it does.

If it does, try opening the lid on the printer and verifying
> that the carriage does come to the center as it should.

The carriage always stops in the center when the power is on and the "empty
cartridge" light is flashing, whether or not the lid is open (presumably to
facilitate cartridge replacement).

If the carriage
> does come to the center when you open the lid, verify that the carriage
> returns to the docking station on the right side.

When the lid is closed, the carriage remains in the center. When power is
turned off, it parks toward the left hand side.

Also, are there any noises aside from the sound of the
> carriage performing the initialization as usual?

When the carriage stops moving and the "empty cartridge" light is flashing,
there is an almost imperceptible "ticking" coming from the carriage. It's
hard to hear, but in a quiet room and ear to the carriage, it is apparent.
I'm certain of it's location -- that it is in the carriage was verified with
the full printer cover removed. The ticking is present whether or not the
cartridges are installed.

[LabMonkey]

This is really starting to sound like a dirty encoder strip issue to me.
You'll notice the thin, almost clear strip just behind the carriage,
actually running through the back of the carriage. It's about 1/4" wide.
Once you turn the power on and open the lid, the carriage should sit in the
center. At this time, unplug the power cord from the back of the printer.
The carriage should slide freely back and forth by hand now. WARNING: Be
very careful when cleaning the strip itself as it is easy to break and once
it has broken it cannot be replaced or repaired without sending to HP for
service. You'll need a clean, lint-free cloth, dampened with clean,
room-temperature or "luke warm" water (bottled water if you have it, bot not
absolutely necessary). Lightly pinch the dampened cloth over the encoder
strip so that you're cleaning both sides at the same time, and gently rub
the cloth back and forth across the strip, moving the carriage as necessary
to clean the entire strip. Make sure that the strip is dry, then move the
carriage back to the center of the printer and close the lid. Plug the
power cord back in and power up. See if your printer likes your cartridge
now. :)
If you hear a "grinding" or "ratcheting" sound, you may have encountered a
carriage stall with a locked actuator arm. Did the hard reset I suggested
have any effect?

Good luck,
Lab Monkey

"Michael Caplan" <cy...@freenet.carleton.ca> wrote in message

news:9lljqb$i7n$1...@freenet9.carleton.ca...

[LabMonkey]

Try cleaning the docking station, behind the front panel indicator LEDs.
It's where the cartridges rest when you're not printing. Get a few cotton
swabs (Q-tips) and some clean water. Power the printer up, open the lid
once the initialization is complete so that the carriage comes to the
center. Unplug the power cord from the back of the printer. Slide the
carriage a bit to the left so that it is out of the way, but you can still
pull it back to the center. Dampen one of the cotton swabs and squeeze out
the excess water. Rub the dampened end of the cotton swab over the areas
underneath where the cartridges rest when the printer is just waiting for a
print job. You may need a flashlight to see what you're cleaning in there.
You should notice that alot of ink is coming off onto the swabs. This is
normal as HP inks are water soluable. Repeat this step until you're
convinced that it's thoroughly cleaned, usually when you don't get any more
ink off of the docking station. Also clean contacts on the back of the
cartridges and inside the carriage, and the bottom of the cartridges, being
careful not to contaminate the jets which you can see by looking for the
gold or silver square or rectangle on the bottom of the cartridges. The
square or rectangle is where the jets are - try to avoid touching those.
Once everything is cleaned and dry, try plugging the printer back in and
powering up. See if you can print colour reliably now. :)

Good luck,
Lab Monkey

"Clark" <ccurtiss-...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:dOgf7.456$hj.104...@newssvr11.news.prodigy.com...

[Mike Gregory]

Have a close look at the LHS of the printer. There is a white cog
wheel with a black plastic bar across the top of it. Make sure that
this bar slides l/r easily and that the end nearest the ink cartridge
is not 'raised' out of the gap after the cog wheel. This will make
sense if you move the bar and lift its end. Also make sure that the
cog wheel turns when the paper feed rollers are rotated.

Mike G

[LabMonkey]

Aye, this is the misplaced actuator arm scenario. If cleaning the various
parts described in my last post on this thread doesn't correct the
situation, it could very well be a stuck actuator arm. However, if it IS
the actuator arm, it would make a loud, grinding or ratcheting sound when
the carriage tries to move.

Good luck,
Lab Monkey

"Mike Gregory" <mike...@ihug.com.au> wrote in message
news:3b7f0b69...@news.syd.ihug.com.au...