Printhead removal

[Jklbrownie]

I’m having trouble with the colors not being accurate.  I have cleaned the printheads but it’s still not correct.  
I was going to try to remove the printheads but when i turn the printer off, the printheads are stuck in the left hand side of the printer and I cannot move them to the center. Any suggestions

[Sneha_01]

Hi @Jklbrownie,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

To address issues with print quality and color accuracy on your HP printer, you may need to remove and clean or replace the printheads. If the printheads are stuck and you can't move them to the center, follow these steps to manually move the printhead carriage and clean the printheads:

Steps to Move the Printhead Carriage Manually

Turn Off the Printer: Make sure the printer is turned off and unplugged from the power source.

Open the Printer Access Door: Open the door that provides access to the printhead carriage. This is usually the same door you open to change the ink cartridges.

Manually Move the Carriage:

• Unlock the Carriage: Look for a lever or latch near the printhead carriage that can unlock it. Some HP printers have a mechanism that locks the carriage in place when the printer is off.
• Gently Move the Carriage: If there is no locking mechanism or it has been unlocked, gently move the printhead carriage towards the center of the printer by hand. Do not force it; it should move smoothly.

Remove the Printheads:

• Once the printhead carriage is in the center, you can access the printheads. Follow your printer’s specific instructions for removing the printheads.
• Typically, you will need to lift a latch or press a release button to remove the printhead.

Cleaning the Printheads

Clean the Printhead Contacts:

• Use a lint-free cloth and distilled water or a printhead cleaning solution to gently clean the copper-colored contacts on the printhead.
• Also, clean the corresponding contacts inside the printhead carriage.

Soak the Printheads (if necessary):

• If cleaning the contacts does not resolve the issue, you can soak the printheads in warm distilled water to remove dried ink.
• Place the printhead in a shallow dish with just enough distilled water to cover the nozzles. Let it soak for about 10-15 minutes.
• After soaking, gently blot the printhead with a lint-free cloth to remove excess water.

Reinstall the Printheads:

• After cleaning, reinstall the printheads into the printer. Make sure they are seated correctly and the latches or locks are securely in place.

Run a Printhead Cleaning Cycle:

• Turn the printer back on and run a printhead cleaning cycle from the printer’s maintenance menu. This helps to clear any remaining ink blockages and align the printheads.

If the Problem Persists

• Update Firmware: Ensure your printer's firmware is up to date by visiting the HP Support website.
• Replace Printheads: If cleaning the printheads does not resolve the issue, you may need to replace them. Printheads can wear out over time and need to be replaced periodically.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support