How to exit ink priming proces HP 4500 Designjet?

[jopdk]

Hello

Is there a hard reset way to exit the ink priming menu? The printer keeps asking for setup printheads every time it is turned on. The proces was stopped  because I don’thave the setup printheads, so I  primed the tubes manually. The printer accepts to stop the proces via the menu, but when powering on the next time the carriage makes ready to be filled with setup printheads. I just want it to continue wirh the normal printheads. It’s stuck in this loop. 

[D Hook]

Do you have a service manual by chance?  If not, google "Designjet 4500 Service Manual" and it should come up.  Usually it's free for download.

I think you can get out of that loop by resetting the EEROM.  I use it as a last resort when I can't get rid of an error message.  I've never tried it on a prime tubes error but it should work.  Instructions below are from the service manual.  I also posted a snip of the first page of the instructions.  The rest are text only.

11. EEROM Reset
The purpose of this diagnostic is to reset the EEROM values.
Once the EEROM has been reset, the Printer will act as if it is
being started for the first time, except that the Ink Supply
Tubes have already been primed.
Perform an EEROM Reset as follows:
1 In the Diagnostics submenu, scroll to "11. EEROM Reset" and press Enter.
2 A message will appear on the Front Panel advising you that all user
information/files will be removed. If you would like to proceed select Yes or
No by using the Up and Down keys and press Enter to confirm your
selection. If you select No, the process will end at this point.

3 If you select Yes, the Printer will begin the process to reset the EEROM and
the following messages will appear on the Front Panel:
􀂄 Starting Gamut.
If there is a failure at this point, the Front Panel will display System Error
Code 01.0:10. For more information on troubleshooting this error code,
refer to Page 2-3.
􀂄 Starting NVM.
􀂄 Setting default config.
􀂄 Restoring tubes state.
If there is a failure at this point, the Front Panel will display System Error

Once the EEROM has been reset, the following message will appear on the
Front Panel. Press any key to continue.
After rebooting the Printer, make sure you select Printhead
replacement through the Front Panel in order to launch the
Printhead calibration.
5 Once the process is completed, OK will be displayed on the Front Panel.

[jopdk]

Hello D Hook

Yes, I do have a service manual. I have just changed the belt without problems. The printer stood for 6 months with a broken belt and the ink system was therefore not in use. What a shame. Everything worked fine before this pause. I cleaned the printheads which have a lot of lifetime left. I have a lot of ink, so I gave it some new cartridges.

The printer would not pull the ink from the cartridges, so I decided to clean the tubes/pipes with a compressor. They got fine and clean and was emptied for old stained ink. I ran a service setup and the priming ink process without knowing that I needed some setup printheads. At this point I remembered being told from the previous owner, that he used a syringe (sucking pump) to move the ink from the cartridge to the printheads. I therefore cancelled the priming process and from here the problem started.

Every time I start the printer, it behaved as if it needs to continue the priming process, by asking for the setup printheads. I can cancel at this point via the menu, but next time the printer is being started it runs the same cycle again. It is as if there is no way out of this loop. I wonder id there is a hard start reset button on the motherboard or if removing the battery on the motherboard will make it forget everything.

I have photographed the LCD-display. See the pictures. I tried to arrange them when uploading, but it's funny - it's not easy. However, you can see that the printer is initializing, then I cancel the process because I don't have the setup heads, the printer checks again for the heads, and finally it aborts the process with an error. Same procedure after 24 hours. I know that for an end customer it makes sense, that the priming process has to continue - but because I now am the technical skilled owner, I need the printer to get out of the service menu priming setup and just start up normally - because the ink is no right at the printheads.

But - as you might see on the photos, there is no way to choose anything else than cancel ink initializing process, and after doing this, the printer just says call support. Starting up again it's the same. I have tried to push the buttons in every possible way to start make it responding with a menu or some other ways to proceed. There is no way to get in contact with it - its just running this loop again and again - and the buttons are connected - I can those Yes or No on the cancelling ink process - but it's no help.

Another thing. When I access the printer via the ethernet IP address, the website shows only some hardware specifications. All the printing options are gone. They are simply not shown in the web menu. 

So - can I reset something on the motherboard? 🙂

[jopdk]

Hello again D Hook

Sometimes the printer shows this error explanation. 

[D Hook]

No button on the motherboard to reset.

Have you tried resetting the EEROM?

You can pull the battery and see if that does anything but I've never tried that so not sure if it will do what you need.

I'd go with the EEROM reset myself.  I used to own three of these printers.  One I got free because it was in a "broken bag" error and following the instructions to clear that error wouldn't work.  Resetting the EEROM cancelled the error and the printer came to a ready state.  You have to go into the service/utilities menu to do it.  The service manual will give you instructions on how to reach those menus.

BTW, I've seen these printers (and others) sit for years unused and the ink doesn't dry up in the lines, only the printheads dry up.  That is, if there aren't any air leaks in the lines.  Sometimes the seals in the Ink Supply Station (ISS) get dried out and allow air in.  But you can access them and use some lubricant on them to rejuvinate them.  Otherwise you have to buy a new (used) tube/ISS that's been rebuilt with new seals.  LPS Computers sells them.

Let us know what happens.

[jopdk]

I removed the battery on the motherboard yesterday so the printer has been left without it for more than 15 hours. Same result today. It starts up with all the motors, the display shows "insert setup printheads" and I can only cancel this because I don't have the heads - and the process shown on the photos is the same. The display goes directly to the message about the setup printheads, so I don't get a chance to get into any menu - not the normal one or the service menu to reset EEROM the normal way. 

Annoying...

It somehow remembers that the priming process was stopped - and now it will only continue with some setup printheads, that I don't have. 

Maybe the only thing to solve this really is to let it go through the priming process wit these setup heads. Maybe I have to go hunt them somewhere... Ebay might be a way to fix it... 🙂

[D Hook]

In the service manual, in chapter 4, page 5 it gives you instructions on how to boot up the printer so it enters the diagnostics menu.  If done correctly, it goes straight to the diagnostics menu, bypassing the usual boot menu (and the printhead setup request) which will then allow you to reset the EEROM.  Here's the text telling you which buttons to hold down, etc.:  (Edited for clarity.)

Entering the Diagnostic Menu
In order to enter the Diagnostic Menu, please refer to the
instructions on Page 4-83.
1 Make sure the printer is switched OFF from the power switch on the front of
the printer and NOT from the power switch on the back of the printer.
2 Hold the Down arrow key and the Cancel key down and switch
the printer ON using the front power switch. Wait until you hear one beep
(usually after 5 seconds) before releasing ALL 3 keys.
3 For On-Site Engineers, hold the Up arrow key and the Cancel key down
and switch the printer ON using the front power switch. Wait until you hear
one beep (usually after 5 seconds) before releasing ALL 3 keys.

This should take you to the diagnostics menu,  Scroll down and you'll find the EEROM reset option.

*NOTE:  Don't hold down the buttons too long as it will not work correctly.  I usually release after counting to three, beep or no beep.  You may need to take a couple tries to get into the menu you need.

Here's a link to a downloadable PDF file of the Service Manual, in case your's isn't working for some reason:

https://www.laserexpressinc.com/manuals/HP/hp-dsj-4500-service-manual.pdf

Chapter 4 is what you need to check out.

Here's a link to some setup heads on ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/183259772608?hash=item2aab2236c0:g:aHsAAOSws4phg5~T

Seems like a good price.

Repairtrooper might have some other suggestions to help solve your problem.

[jopdk]

Thanks again. 

When I try to boot in diagnostics mode the printer beeps a lot in a very strange way - and - it just continues to the "insert setup printhead" menu. I have mounted the battery on the motherboard again and will give it a last try with some setup printheads. 

Thank you for your replies.... 

[jopdk]

A last question... what would be the difference between the button combination (User / OnSite Engineer) CANCEL+DOWN and CANCEL+UP ? I have seen it written in the service manual at different places...  does it give more options for an onsite engineer?

[D Hook]

If it starts beeping with alternating tones, you may be holding the buttons down too long.  Before you try it again, shut off the printer from the switch on the back, wait 30 seconds and turn it back on.  You'll probably get the same priming error the first time.  Then use the front power button to shut off the printer, wait a minute or two, then hold the button combination as instructed and turn on the power from the front panel button.  Release as soon as you see the screen light up.  You may have to try it a few times, changing the amount of time you hold the buttons before releasing.  The first few times I tried to get to the diagnostics menu, I waited the 5 seconds to hear the single beep as the service manual said to do but kept getting the alternating tones instead of just one beep.  So I played around with the procedure, finally got the timing right and got to the other menus.  You have to give the printer time to boot into the diagnostics mode.  It's tricky.

Also, be sure you're firmly pressing down the two buttons.

You want to use the menu "Phone Support" that was described in earlier posts.  Check the service manual.  

See page 4-79 and 4-83.  They help explain the service menus.  

I wouldn't try any other tests or diagnosis until you've tried resetting the EEROM.

BTW, I have a lot of parts from a 4500 I parted out.  Let me know if you need any.  Also some unopened Original HP printheads.

black--Feb-2017

black--Nov-08

magenta--Oct-08

cyan--Oct-09