902 3-pack Cyan/Magenta/Yellow Original Ink Cartridges (T0A38AN) reporting low ink levels

[Spagg]

I purchased 902 3-pack Cyan/Magenta/Yellow Original Ink Cartridges (T0A38AN) in September, 2025. The warranty ends March, 2027. I have printed fewer than a half-dozen pages in draft-resolution. The cyan cartridge is already reporting that it is low. There is no way this cartridge is going to be able to print the ~315 pages promised in the product specifications.

Is this a common problem? Will I be able to return the cyan cartridge or should I return all three?

[Spagg]

I should also mention I used an HP utility to clean the print heads and I wiped the printer and cartridge contact points with a clean lint-free cloth but this did not change the level of ink being reported by the HP utility

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Spagg,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

I understand your HP 902 3-pack ink cartridges (Cyan/Magenta/Yellow, T0A38AN) are reporting low ink levels very quickly despite minimal printing. Let’s go through a few steps to check what could be causing this.

Verify cartridge installation
– Remove and reinsert the cyan cartridge to ensure it’s seated properly.
– Sometimes a loose connection can trigger incorrect ink-level reporting.

Check for protective tape or packaging
– Make sure the small plastic tape covering the ink nozzle or vent has been fully removed.
– Residual tape can block ink flow or cause the printer to misread the cartridge.

Run an ink cartridge diagnostic
– Open HP Smart → Printer Settings → Printer Toolbox → Print Quality Diagnostic.
– This checks if the cartridge is functioning correctly or if the sensor is misreporting.

Perform a cartridge reset (if applicable)
– Some HP cartridges reset their ink level reporting if removed for a few minutes and reinstalled.
– Turn off the printer, remove the cartridge, wait 10–15 minutes, then reinstall.

Update printer firmware
– Connect to HP Smart → Check for firmware updates.
– Occasionally, firmware issues can cause incorrect low-ink warnings.

Check printing mode
– Using draft or grayscale mode consumes less ink than normal printing.
– Confirm your printer is actually in draft mode; some “preview” prints may use more ink than expected.

I hope this helps.

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