OfficeJet Pro 6978 Cyan printing streaks or not printing at all

[Mbundy62]

When printing color or gray scale, printout has streaks through areas that should be using the Cyan color.  Ink cartridge has been replaced, with the same outcome.  The printer is 4 years old, out of warranty.  I assume this is a hardware issue, and would like to know if it can be fixed, or parts replaced to fix, short of buying a new printer.

[Raj_05]

Hi @Mbundy62,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

If you're experiencing streaks or incomplete printing with cyan color on your HP Officejet Pro 6978, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue.

• Clean Printhead: Print heads can sometimes get clogged, leading to streaks or incomplete printing. Most printers have a built-in printhead cleaning utility that can be accessed through the printer's settings menu. Run the printhead cleaning utility to see if it resolves the issue.
• Manual Printhead Cleaning: If the automatic printhead cleaning doesn't work, you can try manually cleaning the printhead. HP provides instructions on how to do this for various printer models. You'll typically need lint-free cloths and distilled water. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully to avoid damaging the printhead.
• Check Ink Levels: Ensure that the cyan ink cartridge has enough ink. Even if you've replaced the cartridge recently, it's worth double-checking to make sure it's not empty or low on ink.
• Reseat Cartridge: Sometimes, simply reseating the ink cartridge can resolve printing issues. Turn off the printer, open the cartridge access door, remove the cyan ink cartridge, and then reinsert it firmly into the cartridge slot. Turn the printer back on and try printing again.
• Print Quality Diagnostic Report: Most HP printers have a diagnostic tool that can print a test page showing the quality of each color. This can help you identify if the issue is specific to the cyan color or if it's a more general printing problem.
• Check Printer Settings: Ensure that the printer settings are configured correctly for color printing. Sometimes, settings like "Black and White" or "Grayscale" can inadvertently be selected, causing the printer to not use the cyan color.
• Update Printer Firmware: Check if there are any firmware updates available for your printer. Updating the firmware can sometimes resolve compatibility issues or bugs that may be causing printing problems.

By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the issue with cyan color printing on your HP OfficeJet Pro 697

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. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4

HP Support 

[Mbundy62]

Alden4,

Thank you for your suggestions, but I tried all of these options several times prior to posting for help.  The only thing I have not tried is to manually clean the printheads, because I have not found any instructions online on how to do that on a 6978 printer.  Based on how it is reacting, I think it is something to do with the ribbon cable connecting the printhead.  Possibly a loose connections or broken wire.  The reason I say this is because the place it does not print is generally to the left of the page, when the cable is bent the most.  If you can point me to manual cleaning instructions, I can give that a try.  Otherwise, are there instructions and possibly replacement parts to check the cable or replace the cable or printhead assembly?  Thanks again.

[Raj_05]

Hi @Mbundy62,

Thank you for your response, 

Is there anything else that I can help you with today?
 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4

HP Support