Problem with black printing on Envy 5010

[Sabre999uk]

My Envy 5010 has been working well till I ran out of black ink, I've replaced the cartridge but solid black prints ok for the first couple o inches then gets streaky and greyer until it stops printing black before it's got halfway down an A4 sheet.

I've cleaned the cartridge multiple times both in the firmware and also in distilled water I've also tried 3 different cartridges - all HP genuine - with the same results, any suggestions please?

Thanks in advance.

Steve

[Jerry_57 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Sabre999uk,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.

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

I understand you're experiencing issues with black ink not printing correctly on your HP Envy 5010. There are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue:
 

Check Ink Levels: Make sure that the black ink cartridge is not empty or low. You can check the ink levels from the printer’s control panel or the HP Smart app.

Use Genuine HP Cartridges: Ensure that you are using genuine HP ink cartridges, as non-HP cartridges can result in poor print quality and other issues.

Clean the Printhead: If the print quality is poor, run the "Clean Printhead" utility:
 

• From the printer control panel, go to "Setup" > "Tools" > "Clean Printhead".
   
• You may need to clean it multiple times to see improvement.

Inspect the Vent Area: Check the ink cartridge vent area to ensure it is clear:
 

• Remove the black cartridge.
   
• Inspect the vent area on the top of the cartridge. If it's clogged, clean any adhesive residue with a pin or paperclip.

Run an Extended Cleaning: Some printers offer a more in-depth cleaning option. Check if your printer model has this feature and run the extended cleaning process if available.
 

Manual Printhead Cleaning: As a last resort, you can perform a manual cleaning:
 

• Remove the printhead and soak it in warm distilled water to remove any dried ink.
   
• Let it dry thoroughly before reinserting it into the printer.

Check for Firmware Updates: Ensure your printer's firmware is up-to-date, as updates can fix known issues. Update the firmware on an HP printer | HP® Support.

Reset the Printer: Turn off your printer, unplug it from the power source, and wait for about 60 seconds. Plug it back in and turn it on to perform a reset.
 

I hope this will help.
 

Take care and have a good day.

Jerry_57
HP Support

[Sabre999uk]

Hi Jerry,

I've tried all you suggest already on 3 different cartridges (2 genuine refilled and 1 genuine original) and I'm just about to try again with the genuine original.  I'll let you know what happens, one other thing is it easy to clean the contacts on the Envy 5010 in case they aren't making proper contact with the cartridge?

Thanks

Steve

[Jerry_57]

Hi @Sabre999uk,

Thank you for your persistence—it’s like carefully polishing a lens to bring clarity. Cleaning the contacts gently can indeed help ensure a smooth connection.

Regards
Jerry_57
HP Support

[Sabre999uk]

Further update took the cartridges out and installed them in my old printer - deskjet 2630 - and they work fine. It looks like I'm going to have to forgo automatic duplex printing till i can afford a new printer, not going to give up on the 5010 yet though.

Steve