Printhead issue

[Hickyonline]

I have had two new photo black printheads in the past month, after around two weeks they start showing feint lines in solid, only on this colour. I installed a PK printhead head from another printer, and after a week started doing the same. On the test sheet it shows lines that have bits above and bits missing. See photos.  Any idea the cause please ?

 

 

[T1700_user]

Before speculating whether it's an ink system, mechanical or electronic issue, have you looked at any internal diagnostic reports?  (you can access reports via browser, accessing your printer's embedded web server: you don't have to print anything out)  Do you see any errors?  Anything that may be related?

[Hickyonline]

Hi,

I think something is affecting the printhead possibly in the service station area. I think that because I take the affected printhead out and put it in my 2nd printer and it still shows the same issue in that one

[T1700_user]

Fair.  From the picture of your print, magenta doesn't look great either.  About the service station, I'm guessing then you think it may be a mechanical issue?  If you examine the first printhead, are there any observable signs of mechanical contact?  I still think it's worth looking for any logged events in a service report.

[D Hook]

You may need to pull the right side cover off and examine the service station.  These printer, especially considering the age of the printer, have a habit of building up ink residue in the service station, especially in the black ink since it gets used more than other colors.  If you've been printing heavily saturated prints it's not surprising the other colors may be starting to get ruined also.  The ink residue will harden and the printhead may be getting dragged across that residue damaging the printhead.  

It's a pretty easy fix and a new or refurbished service station should help.  It's not difficult to replace but you'll need to download a service manual to help you.  You can find one at LPS Computers.com  with this link:  https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1083/1086/files/Z2100_Z3100_Z3200_service_manual.pdf?9878984334271...

Parts are easily available on Ebay.  You'll probably have to replace the PK printhead (again) and maybe the magenta since, as the previous poster mentioned, it's not looking too good either.

Let us know how you come out.