Printer HP5160 black ink not working

[SMMM65]

Printer was printing in very faint black altho the cartridge was half full. Bought a new cartridge in case. I have cleaned the heads automatically twice & now it says it is aligned correctly. When I print a test page, the black ink is still a bit faint but better. No problems with the colours on the test sheet. I then tried to print a crossword puzzle. The black blocks all have lines through them & the clues underneath are faint & jumbled up.

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @SMMM65,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

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

Thank you for contacting HP Support. I understand you’re experiencing issues with faint or distorted black printing on your HP Deskjet 5160, even after replacing the cartridge and performing printhead cleaning. I appreciate your detailed description — it helps narrow down the issue.

Let’s walk through some tailored steps to address this.

1. Run Deep Cleaning (if available)

• Some HP printers offer a "deep clean" or "second-level cleaning" option.
• Check your printer software on your PC:
  • Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
  • Right-click your HP Deskjet 5160 → Printing Preferences → Maintenance tab.
  • Look for Clean Printhead or Deep Cleaning.

2. Print a Diagnostic Test Page

• This helps identify if the black ink nozzles are clogged.
• Press and hold the Power button, then press the Resume button 4 times.
• Release both buttons. A test page should print.
• Check if the black grid or text is broken or missing.

3. Manual Printhead Cleaning (Advanced)

If automatic cleaning doesn’t help:

• Remove the black cartridge.
• Gently blot the nozzle area on a damp paper towel (use distilled water).
• You should see a solid black line. If not, the cartridge may be clogged.
• Let it sit on a damp paper towel (nozzle side down) for 5–10 minutes, then reinstall.

4. Check Paper Type and Print Settings

• Make sure you're using the correct paper type in the print settings.
• Set print quality to Best or High Quality in the printer preferences.

5. Try a Different Document

• If the crossword puzzle is a PDF or web-based, try printing a Word document or text file to rule out formatting issues.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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

VikramTheGreat

HP Support

[SMMM65]

Thank you for your suggestions. I had already tried all of them apart from printing a text based doc. I have now done that. The results are still pale with horizontal white lines through the words. The ink is a bit darker on some lines than on others and the top line was missed out altogether.  When I remove the new black ink cartridge, there is clear evidence of fresh ink  both on the cartridge head and the printer head, so it doesnt seem like a blockage. I just tried printing the same page in "Best" on the printer choices. It is better, there is no white line but the font is more like "draft" than best & it still missed the first line. 

[SMMM65]

Just tried printing a colour picture on plain paper and the black-based colour comes out dark red.

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @SMMM65,

Thank you for letting me know,

Please help us with the Printer serial number or the product number in a private message for further assistance.
 

Here is the link to find the product number: - Click here

To access your private messages, simply click the private message icon in the upper right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your profile and send a private message to me with the serial number, because we value your privacy.
 

VikramTheGreat

HP Support