HP Photosmart C6180 Magenta Inks Not Printing

[jonmehl]

error message : None

problem description : Magenta inks are not printing EXCEPT on the page that prints after Print Cartridge Alignment is performed. At the bottom of that page, the Yellow, Cyan, and Magenta bars print perfectly, as does the color mix shown in the colorful bird printed below the bars.

The self Test Diagnostic Page prints with NO Light Magenta or Magenta bars under Print Quality Pattern. Ink status and level for both Magentas shows as OK and 100%

troubleshooting : I have run repeated Head Cleaning cycles and Print Cartridge Alignment cycles with no change in the output. The page that prints after cleaning has NO magenta bars or lines. The page that prints after Alignment looks fine. Via email suppoprt I was directed to perform a "semi-full reset" and a "NVM reset"--neither of these had any effect. The magenta inks were replaced, but the problem persists.

setting changes : The printer had not been used for several months.

[wesley0620]

I have the same problem. I've written to HP about this but did not get any reply.

[TJ5309]

I have had the same problem with an HP 2800 inkjet.  I have read that the printer reads the current date from the print job sent from your PC and compares it to the date encoded inside the ink cartridge.  When the cartridge gets too old the printer stops it from printing.  This is to prevent anyone from refilling their cartridges.  I reset the date on my PC back a year, sent another print job which worked fine, reset the date back to the current date and now the cartridge works fine.  For how long I don't know.  All the cartridges in our printer are genuine HP, not refilled, they were just old.

[jonmehl]

Thanks for the post--that may come in handy some time. However, my magenta inks are newly installed, and they don't print even from an internal check (except after align) or copy--in other words, without any connection to a computer. Performing the resets I did should have cleared up any date issues, and in any case the ink levels and status are recognized as OK by the printer.

[mssturgeon]

I am having this exact same problem with the same printer (C6180). Alignment prints magenta. Nothing else does.

Can we get some support here HP?

[davey_j]

i'm having the almost the same problem with my C7280.  Magenta will not print at all, even with an alignment.  Light Magenta will print with an alignment, but nothing else.  Light Magenta was replaced today, but Magenta is only a week or two old.  I really don't want to take this in for a repair.  I hope to see a response from HP soon.

[Bob_Headrick]

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davey_j wrote:  [snip]

I hope to see a response from HP soon.

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 mssturgeon wrote: [snip]

Can we get some support here HP? 

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 Please be aware that this is a user to user support forum, it is not a direct link to HP Support personnel.  If you need to contact HP Support please call or email as described here.

[markjodi]

Same problem - new cartridges as well BUT if I make a COPY, magenta works just fine and looks OK.  Tried setting the date back on compuer as suggested but still not Magenta.  Won't print magenta from memory card either - only works using "Copy"..... 

[jonmehl]

I just emailed HP again--I hope I get an answer other than "take it be repaired." I am very handy with printers and computers and can take them apart and put them back together--and have them work ;-)

If they will just tell me what to do, I think I could manage.

I will post here again if I get an answer that works.

I'm hoping to have this solved before my 1 year anniversary here.

[jonmehl]

Any ideas to fix this? It's a whacko problem. It doesn't seem to be mechanical, because the printer CAN print magenta, but it won't print magenta. If its firmware, can this be updated? If it's a bad circuit board or chip, then we're all scr**ed. Thanks HP. I used and rebuilt/repaired Epson printers for 15 years--only ever had mechanical problems, not electronic.