Cyan not printing on brand new printer

[MK147]

I had an HP OfficeJet Pro and the cyan quit printing, and the printer was about 5 years old.  So I purchased a new HP Envy Inspire printer, and just got it all set up.  CYAN DOES NOT PRINT! WHY?!? I have searched and searched for answers and had HP Support remote in and view my computer and couldn't find an issue, so he said they would send me a new cartridge.  I do not feel that it's a cartridge issue, because the same thing was happening to my old printer with completely different cartridges.  I have run all the software updates, and HP support ran all of the "cleaning" things and nothing worked.  Any suggestions?

[Bob_Headrick]

What was the model number for your Officejet printer?  Most Officejet printers in recent years have individual ink cartridges for each color, as well as a separate printhead.  The Envy printers use an entirely different design, with a tri-color cartridge with the ink supplies and printhead integrated into the cartridge.

It is likely just a coincidence both are missing cyan.  

You can verify the cartridge is at fault in the Envy printer cartridge as follows:  remove the color cartridge and gently blot the printhead against a damp tissue.  A good cartridge would have a strong blot of cyan, magenta and yellow.  Likely your cartridge will show only magenta and yellow, with perhaps a slight smudge of cyan.  A new cartridge will very likely resolve your issue.

While waiting for the replacement cartridge you could try the following to resolve the issue:

• Get a clean cup and put 1" of very hot (but not boiling) water in the cup.
• Remove the cartridge from the printer and place it in the water, with the printhead pointing downward (in the orientation it would be in the printer).
• Let the cartridge soak in the water for fifteen minutes.
• Remove the cartridge from the water and dry the electrical contacts with a lint free wipe.  A clean coffee filter works well for this.
• Put the cartridge back in the printer and run a cleaning cycle.  It may take two cleaning cycles to resolve the issue.

[MK147]

This is actually very helpful.....it is blotting as very strong magenta and yellow with cyan being not quite as strong.  Hopefully just a coincidence and a new cartridge will solve the problem.  Thank you soooo much! I'll keep you posted.

[Bob_Headrick · Accepted solution]

I am confident a replacement cartridge will resolve the issue.  Since at least some cyan is blotting on the tissue it is also possible the cyan will recover after a day or two in the printer.

[MK147]

The new cartridge solved the problem.  The cyan continued to blot on the damp paper but would not ever print.  But happy that the new cartridge I received today seems to have solved the issue.

[Bob_Headrick]

I am glad your printer is back to printing as expected.

Be sure to visit the forum here in the future if you have any further questions.