Contantly having to clean Printer Head and INk Levels

[sdrum]

I am having printing issues. The print quality is just awful. If I clean the print heads (two passes, not just one) the quality improves. But I have to do this every couple of days. So, because the color cartridges were low, I replaced them. That seems to have helped the color, but the black keeps requiring cleaning every couple of days.

Also the ink levels on the color cartridges that were replaced show half full even though they're new. The black also shows half-full, but that's likely accurate.

[Jay_G24]

Hi @sdrum,

I'd like to help with the print quality issue.

To decrease grain, some black areas might be printed with a mix of black and color inks.

Some ink from all the ink cartridges is used in periodic servicing tasks. This helps to prevent issues like printhead clogs and poor print quality.

Try cleaning the cartridges manually-

Remove the cartridge indicated by the error message, clean the electrical contacts, and then reinsert the cartridge in its color-coded slot.

1. Turn the printer on.

2. Open the door to access to the cartridges.

3. Wait until the carriage stops moving before you continue.

4. Push in on the front of the cartridge indicated in the error message, and then remove it.

   

5. Wipe the electrical contact on the cartridge with a lint-free cloth.

   

6. Insert the cartridge into its color-coded slot until it snaps into place.

   

7. Repeat these steps for any other cartridges indicated in the error message.

8. Close the cartridge access door.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

And, Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

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[sdrum]

You didn't answer the second part of my question. 

[Jay_G24]

To decrease grain, some black areas might be printed with a mix of black and color inks.

Some ink from all the ink cartridges is used in periodic servicing tasks. This helps to prevent issues like printhead clogs and poor print quality.  

That could be one of the reasons for the color cartridges could have gone down.

If your printing in best mode, it does use more ink

[sdrum]

No, he color cartridges (902) showed half full when I first installed them

[Jay_G24]

if the cartridge shows 50% ink in the first time insertion then please reach out to the phone support team

Have a great day!