Color is working, but black is barely visible, and words are streaked. New ink, but sat for a month

[CJKozy]

Yes, this happens when I let the printer sit for a while. It's been about a month and only printed a few pages from my new ink cartridges about a month ago.  Now I want to print a chart with a few words on it and the chart  printed but the words were streaked and barely visible. Tried printing a few more times and now no words but the ink is still nearly full. HELP!!!  My color works fine the black does not.

[Gaya1239]

Hi @CJKozy,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

I understand you are facing an issue with your HP DeskJet 2752e printer's black ink is not printing properly despite having new ink cartridges. This can happen if the printhead or ink cartridge is clogged, especially after the printer has been unused for a while. Here are some steps to help resolve the issue:

1. Check the Ink Cartridges

• Remove the Black Cartridge: Gently take out the black ink cartridge and check if there's any visible issue (like a protective tape or blockage).
• Reinstall the Cartridge: If you notice any protective tape on the cartridge or ink residue, clean it gently with a soft cloth and reinstall the cartridge securely.

2. Run Printer Diagnostics

• HP Printer Utility: Open the HP Smart app on your computer or use the printer’s control panel to run a diagnostic or print quality report. This will help identify any printhead or ink cartridge issues.
• Clean the Printhead: Most printers have an option to clean the printhead. If you haven’t done this yet, try using the cleaning function in the printer settings or HP Smart app. Run it a few times if necessary.

3. Manually Clean the Printhead

If cleaning via software doesn't work, the printhead might need manual cleaning. Here's how:

• Turn off the printer and unplug it.
• Remove the cartridges and clean the printhead gently with a lint-free cloth or paper towel slightly moistened with distilled water or rubbing alcohol.
• Wipe the printhead area (where the ink comes out) and check for any dried ink that could be clogging the nozzles.

4. Check the Ink Levels

Even if the ink cartridges are new, sometimes they can be faulty. Double-check the ink levels on the printer or within the HP Smart app to make sure the black ink cartridge is truly full.

5. Perform a Printhead Alignment

If the printhead alignment is off, it can cause streaking or missing colors. In the printer settings, you should find an option to align the printheads. This might help improve the quality of black text.

6. Try Printing a Test Page

After cleaning, try printing a diagnostic page or a test page to see if the black ink is printing properly. If the problem persists, you may need to replace the black ink cartridge again.

Refer to this document: HP DeskJet 2752 All-in-One Printer User manual

Troubleshooting Print Quality Problems with HP Inkjet Printers
HP DeskJet 2600, 2700, 4100, 4800 printers - No black ink, wrong colors, other print quality issues
 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

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