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Check some of the most frequent questions about Instant Ink: HP INSTANT INK, HP+ PLANS: INK AND TONER.


Check out our Black or Color Ink Not Printing, Other Print Quality Issues info about: Print quality and Cartridge Issues.
HP Recommended

HP Deskjet 2632 Printer

I have checked everything I know of and run a test on the printer - no problems found.
Cartridges are bona-fide HP brand.
Cartridge ink levels are good. Have aligned the cartridges - OK and done a couple of jet cleans.
All OK , but although the print output is perfect, colour red prints as brown !

Has any member had this ? If so how can it be fixed ?

It used to print red but some time ago started to print red as brown.

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions
HP Recommended

Hi @yabbadoo,

Thank you for your reply 

Yes, infrequent use of a printer can indeed lead to issues with the ink cartridges, even if the software and settings remain unchanged. Here are a few ways in which the ink cartridges can be affected:

1. Ink Drying or Clogging

When a printer is not used regularly, the ink in the cartridges can dry out. This is especially true for the printhead nozzles, which can become clogged with dried ink. This is a common issue and can result in poor print quality or missing colors.

2. Air Bubbles in the Ink Cartridges

Over time, air can seep into the ink cartridges, leading to air bubbles. These bubbles can block the flow of ink, causing uneven printing or missing colors.

3. Expired Ink Cartridges

Ink cartridges have a shelf life. If they are used past their expiration date, the ink quality can degrade, leading to problems like inconsistent color output or complete failure to print certain colors.

4. Ink Settling

In cartridges that have been in the printer for a long time, the ink can settle or separate. This can cause inconsistent color output, as different components of the ink may separate and not mix properly when printed.

5. Environmental Factors

Environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity can also affect the ink cartridges. High temperatures can cause the ink to dry out faster, while high humidity can cause clumping or other issues.

Preventive Measures and Solutions

Regular Test Prints: Continue doing test prints every 2-3 weeks as you have been, but consider increasing the frequency slightly if you notice issues with the print quality.

Cleaning the Printhead: Most printers, including the HP Deskjet 2632, have a printhead cleaning function. Running this maintenance task can help clear clogs and improve print quality.

Replacing Cartridges: If the cartridges have been in the printer for over a year and are causing problems, it might be time to replace them with new ones.

Storing Cartridges Properly: If you have spare cartridges, store them in a cool, dry place to extend their shelf life.

Environmental Control: Ensure that the printer is located in an area with stable temperature and humidity to minimize the risk of ink drying out or other related issues.

Conclusion

Infrequent use can indeed lead to problems with ink cartridges over time. By taking preventive measures and performing regular maintenance, you can mitigate these issues and keep your printer functioning properly. If problems persist despite these efforts, replacing the cartridges might be necessary to restore proper printing performance.

I hope this helps. 

 

Take care and have a good day.

 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. 


A_Gayathri
HP Support Community Administrator.

View solution in original post

3 REPLIES 3
HP Recommended

Hi @yabbadoo,

 

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

 

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

 

I understand you've already taken several troubleshooting steps, but let's see if we can delve into some additional possibilities.
 

  • Check Ink Levels: You've mentioned that the ink levels are good, but it might be worth checking again to ensure that there's enough red ink specifically. Sometimes, even if the overall ink levels seem fine, one color might be running low.
  • Printer Settings: Verify that the printer settings are configured correctly. Sometimes, the printer settings can inadvertently affect color output. Make sure that the color settings are set to their default or desired values.
  • Color Calibration: Perform a color calibration on your printer. This process adjusts the colors to ensure accurate and consistent printing. Your printer's manual or online support resources should have instructions on how to perform this calibration.
  • Software Update: Check for any available software updates for your printer. Sometimes, firmware updates can address issues related to color accuracy and printing quality.  Software and Drivers for HP DeskJet 2632 All-in-One Printer
  • Driver Reinstallation: Try uninstalling and reinstalling the printer drivers on your computer. Sometimes, corrupted drivers can cause color printing issues.
  • Test with Another Device: Print a test page from another device if possible. This will help determine if the issue is specific to your computer or if it's a printer-related problem.
     

Refer to this document: HP DeskJet 2632 All-in-One Printer User manual

 

I hope this helps. 

 

Take care and have a good day.

 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. 


A_Gayathri
HP Support Community Administrator.
HP Recommended

A million thanks for that excellent and comprehensive reply.
It will take me some time to explore all of it and some actions seem beyond my capability in accessing.

My printing is negligible, I only do a test print of black and coloured text every 2-3 weeks to ensure the jets don't get clogged.
The cartridges have been in the printer now for at least a year. I have never had any trouble over years until this colour problem occurred 2-3 months ago.

1. Software and settings should not change over time unless updated or tampered with.
My rule is "If it 'aint broke don't fix it", so all should be working normal.
2. Question ?
With no frequent use, can the ink modules become contaminated or disrupted in some way ?

HP Recommended

Hi @yabbadoo,

Thank you for your reply 

Yes, infrequent use of a printer can indeed lead to issues with the ink cartridges, even if the software and settings remain unchanged. Here are a few ways in which the ink cartridges can be affected:

1. Ink Drying or Clogging

When a printer is not used regularly, the ink in the cartridges can dry out. This is especially true for the printhead nozzles, which can become clogged with dried ink. This is a common issue and can result in poor print quality or missing colors.

2. Air Bubbles in the Ink Cartridges

Over time, air can seep into the ink cartridges, leading to air bubbles. These bubbles can block the flow of ink, causing uneven printing or missing colors.

3. Expired Ink Cartridges

Ink cartridges have a shelf life. If they are used past their expiration date, the ink quality can degrade, leading to problems like inconsistent color output or complete failure to print certain colors.

4. Ink Settling

In cartridges that have been in the printer for a long time, the ink can settle or separate. This can cause inconsistent color output, as different components of the ink may separate and not mix properly when printed.

5. Environmental Factors

Environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity can also affect the ink cartridges. High temperatures can cause the ink to dry out faster, while high humidity can cause clumping or other issues.

Preventive Measures and Solutions

Regular Test Prints: Continue doing test prints every 2-3 weeks as you have been, but consider increasing the frequency slightly if you notice issues with the print quality.

Cleaning the Printhead: Most printers, including the HP Deskjet 2632, have a printhead cleaning function. Running this maintenance task can help clear clogs and improve print quality.

Replacing Cartridges: If the cartridges have been in the printer for over a year and are causing problems, it might be time to replace them with new ones.

Storing Cartridges Properly: If you have spare cartridges, store them in a cool, dry place to extend their shelf life.

Environmental Control: Ensure that the printer is located in an area with stable temperature and humidity to minimize the risk of ink drying out or other related issues.

Conclusion

Infrequent use can indeed lead to problems with ink cartridges over time. By taking preventive measures and performing regular maintenance, you can mitigate these issues and keep your printer functioning properly. If problems persist despite these efforts, replacing the cartridges might be necessary to restore proper printing performance.

I hope this helps. 

 

Take care and have a good day.

 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. 


A_Gayathri
HP Support Community Administrator.
† The opinions expressed above are the personal opinions of the authors, not of HP. By using this site, you accept the <a href="https://www8.hp.com/us/en/terms-of-use.html" class="udrlinesmall">Terms of Use</a> and <a href="/t5/custom/page/page-id/hp.rulespage" class="udrlinesmall"> Rules of Participation</a>.