T930 Replacement Printhead issue

[Plotwise]

A new printhead HP 727 was ordered due to a print quality issue, otherwise the plotter was working fine. The item came on its own without any starter inks, unlike some other models. There was sufficient ink levels in the ink cartridges, so no indication to change them. The replacement printhead process won't complete & the device prompts you to replace printhead. Printhead information on the display panel shows, Status OK & an error code 0x00000. Does this point towards the new printhead being a faulty one?

[Repairatrooper]

Usually, only printheads that have the cartridges mounted directly into the print head are going to come with startup cartridges. I am going through the exact same issues with a clients printer. I am assuming it is a bum printhead and am ordering a warranty replacement.

[Plotwise]

Following on, I had to speak with HP Tech Support to complete their checks to warranty the printhead. So these are relevant checks for anyone with the same issue. From the web browser, check the firmware is at its latest level, update if not. On the machine, enter Diagnostics mode (pin 1714) & carry out IDS checks. There are 3, 1 provides ink level information, another tests all motors & sensors in the system & the other one tests for leakage.

In my case, all of the tests & checks passed & all was already up to date. HP then ended the session satisfied all was good. A new printhead was fitted, with exactly the same outcome. The machine went through its procedure with various messages & failed right at the end, saying couldn't complete, then fit new printhead. Unlikely to have 2 faulty new printheads, so there must be something problematic (mechanical or electronic) in the machine causing this issue. There are no error codes to point to anything faulty.

Any ideas or experiences of a fix for this please?

[Repairatrooper]

I would run the carriage diagnostics from the startup service menu. I believe that a faulty line sensor was part of the issue with the printhead failure. A note so you don't run into the same error. After the first carriage check happens it will prompt you to remove the printhead so that it can check the line sensor. Make sure that after removing the head, you close the head latch as the carriage does move during the line sensor test and can jam if you have the head lock still open. Service documentation is not clear. Also you will be prompted to reinstall the printhead, do not do it before prompted.

[Plotwise]

I've found the issue to be the Cyan/Magenta/Gray/Photo Black side of the ink tube supply has air bubbles & therefore not fully charging the new printhead with ink, hence message "PH replacement not complete". You can find this scenario covered in the service manual starting page 71 in the Theory of Operation section. Goodness knows why it's there & not in the trouble shooting or diagnostics section. Anyway, it tells you to purge the ink tubes in service utility mode, but to remove the printhead & inks before you do that, but that's not possible, as you can't get the carriage over to remove the printhead to remove it & it error codes if you try any other way.

I decided to go to the purge tubes anyway, but on entering the utility there's another option of "incremental purge" with a spanner icon. However this needs a further pin code to enter & I was considering this may be an addition feature with latest firmware & with a relative service bulletin to overcome the problem? Anyway, other than this resolving the issue, I suppose the only course left is to replace the ink tube assy, which apparently includes a new printhead. Does anyone have any info on a bulletin pls?

[pbrooks259]

I ran into something similar on my T2500 (similar exc. has dual roll and scanner).  Ultimately I found the right side (as face printer) ink supply station was leaking (or sucking in air) cyan and/or magenta and/or yellow ink.  Therefore, it was impossible to prime the printhead.    So I purchased the ink tubes assy. including printhead.  Fortunately I found an outdated one at an OK deal, about $200.   ....it MIGHT be best (cheaper) to buy printhead and ink tubes separately.   Ink tubes (without printhead and hopefully not too old) can I think be purchased on eBay.   The last time I priced an ink tubes assy. w/ printhead it was ABOUT $1000.

I temporarily have given up on the previous new printhead that is partially filled with ink.  But I THINK it is maybe possible to fill it with the newer FW feature "incremental purge" but presently I do not want to waste all that ink, and if I do fill it, then I have presently no printer in which to install it.  So it would probably slowly dry out on the shelf, and it may have already substantially dried out as it has been several months since I have had it out of the printer.

I THINK the "incremental purge" is spelled out in the latest service manual (not sure this is the latest, and with my web browser firefox, not sure ver., it will start downloading once clicked on):   https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiMnYDCkoH-A...    , and is dealt with here as relayed to me by Kiran of copytechnet.com:   https://www.facebook.com/skills4techs/posts/designjet-updatehp-designjet-t9x0-t15x0-t25x0-printers-t...

FWIW, this guy JuanT2500 delineates a manual printhead fill:    https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/DesignJet-Large-Format-Printers-Digital-Press/Designjet-T-2500-strange...

[Plotwise]

Thanks PBrooks259, I've been back to the machine this morning & the incremented process isn't clearing the blockage. Like you say, it does go through ink, as I've run it a number of times without success. I'm sure the only way to be sure to overcome the issue is to replace the Ink Tube Assy, with new printhead & inks. The manual charging of the print head is an interesting option & may well be worth a try, given the cost of the replacement items. The service manual I have is a later version than the file you've attached & doesn't cover the incremental priming. Incidentally, both upper & lower primers are working & pass the tests in diagnostics, there are no leakages anywhere from the ink tubes either.

[pbrooks259]

Hi, Plotwise.   As best as I know, incremental purge is dealt with in this SM entitled and dated:    Designjet T9x0, T15x0 ePrinter Series and
T25x0, T3500 eMultifunction Series
Service Manual
Edition 7, October 2021

2 telltale signs in my opinion that I had bad ink tubes:

upon removing the right end cover, I obviously saw air (stretches of several to many inches) in the ink tubes, 2 or 3 of them.

upon inspection of the bottom catch? pan? under the right ink supply station ISS, there was a puddle of ink.

For me, a replacement ink tubes assy. cured it.   The accompanying trailing cable was unpleasantly circuitous.

I had previously replaced the primers with no success.

Again fortunately I found a cheap ink tubes assy. with printhead with an out of warranty printhead that worked OK for about $200--I hope it is STILL working for the customer.  Again, I would try to get a separate out of warranty (a bit, even a few years old, $295 or so plus or minus) printhead and a separate ink tubes assy. with NO printhead (on eBay, again, even if a few years old, $150-$400 or so plus or minus).  If found that could cost a lot less than the $1000-$1200 or so plus or minus cost (kinda outrageous IMHO) of a "new" ink tubes assy. w/ printhead.

Well this one on ebay has all components--ink tubes, cable, and printhead for $599.99:    https://www.ebay.com/itm/334563608631?epid=25020712058&hash=item4de58b8837:g:Z4UAAOSwlXxjJO24&amdata...      mf. date  Apr. 16, 2020, not too bad.

Another thing, at first in the tests for the ink delivery system IDS, the pressure? test passed initially, but then started failing later on which confirmed to me that I had a leaky ink tubes assy.   In my case, the ink tubes assy. was both leaking ink and sucking in air., seemingly.

Hope you get this resolved.