Excessive Printhead Cleaning HP OfficeJet Pro 8500 A909a

[jimgilmer1]

Windows XP SP3

Today I printed 7 sets of 25 page documents.  At the completion of each set, the printer did the "Clean Printhead" function, with its related "do not turn off machine, checking printer, etc,".  I have noticed recently that it seems to do this function more and more frequently.  I ran a Self Diagnostic Page and it showed the status of both printheads as "Good".  I did install a new print cartridge in the middle of this printing session.

The frequency of this function seems excessive to me; uses a lot of ink, and interrupts the job continuously.  Can anything be done to reduce this frequency??

[KevinD2011]

From the description I have, this seems like a normal amount of servicing for the printer. This series of printers, cleans periodically to improve print quality and prevent clogs in the ink tubes. This servicing occurs after major changes to the ink system. Starting the printer, changing a cartridge or printhead, and sometimes larger jobs will cause the servicing to occur in between prints.

A couple of things you can do to minimize the amount of servicing that occurs are to make sure the alignment is successful and the linefeed is calibrated correctly.

[jabzi]

Hello,

Perform the below steps ..

Press SETUP (wrench tool ) button.
then Press > to select Tools and press OK
then Press > to select Align Printer and press OK.

If the issue still re-occurs after performing the above steps, call HP Tech Support ( US ) 1-800-474-6836 for further assistance.

Regards,
Jabzi

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[jimgilmer1]

OK, I did the alignment and the linefeed calibration.  Then I ran a Self Diagnostic Print test.  Lots of horizontal white lines on the color patterns.  So I set into cleaning cartridges.  I went through the basic printhead clean, the intermediate clean, and twice on the advanced clean.  The more I cleaned, the worse the print tests looked with the horizontal white lines.  By the time I got to the last clean I did, there was more white horizontal lines than solid color.  There was ink available in black and all three colors.

I did the Self Diagnostic Test, and it showed the status of both printheads were GOOD.  But I'm wondering if I should change the printheads.

[KevinD2011]

It's possible that replacing the printheads will resolve your issue.

Also, low ink quantities cause all sorts of print quality problems.

If any of the colors or black show low, I'd replace them before springing for new printheads.

[jimgilmer1]

OK, the yellow shows low; others ok.  I'll replace the ink and follow up to see what happens and get back to you.  I always run the cartridge until the printer will not let me print until I replace the cartridge; I always ignore the "getting low and needs replacing" warning, as I don't won't to waste the ink that is left in the cartridge when this warning comes on.

Just checked the price of printheads.  $60 each!

Thanks

[KevinD2011]

$60 each is the very reason I wanted you to replace the cartridges first.

Just remember after you replace your cartridges, be sure to run the alignment again to ensure good quality.