i have installed a new coloured ink cartridge and the printer will not now register ink levels

[oscarmilo]

I installed the new coloured ink cartridge which was sent through with my subscription plan. The cartridge shows a different  product number from the previous cartridge. The printer will not now register ink levels, the paper will not feed through without jamming and it keeps showing either error 3 or error 4. I have tried unplugging for 30 seconds, holding the on off button for 30 seconds. I have reinstalled the printer on my laptop, rebooted the router and nothing works or clears the errors.

[Garp_senchau]

@oscarmilo, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

It sounds like you’re dealing with a couple of issues: incorrect ink cartridge recognition and paper feed jamming. Here are some HP troubleshooting steps you can follow to resolve the issues with your HP DeskJet 3636 printer.

Verify Cartridge Compatibility

Since the new ink cartridge has a different product number from the previous one, it's possible that the printer is not accepting it because it may not be fully compatible with your model.

Check the product number: Ensure that the new ink cartridge is indeed compatible with your HP DeskJet 3636 printer model. Sometimes, cartridges can vary based on the region or version.

Ensure the cartridge is installed properly: Remove and reinsert the cartridge, making sure it clicks securely into place.

Reset the Printer

You’ve tried some basic resets, but let’s go through it in a more structured manner:

Turn off the printer and unplug the power cord from the wall outlet (not just from the back of the printer).

Wait for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Plug the power cord back in and turn on the printer.

Clear Any Paper Jams

Paper jams could be the reason the printer is giving error codes 3 or 4. Follow these steps:

Open the printer's ink cartridge access door.

Carefully remove any paper that might be jammed in the area where the ink cartridges are located.

Check the paper path (including the back of the printer or bottom tray) for any stuck paper. Remove it carefully.

Check the paper rollers: If there’s any debris, dust, or paper bits stuck to the rollers, use a soft cloth to gently wipe them clean.

Check the Paper Feed Mechanism

If your printer is not feeding paper correctly, it could be an issue with the paper feed mechanism. Here are a few things to check:

Ensure the paper is loaded properly: Make sure the paper is loaded straight into the paper tray and that the paper guides are set correctly.

Check the paper type: Make sure you’re using the correct paper type for your printer (e.g., plain paper vs. photo paper).

Remove any excess paper: If there’s too much paper in the tray, it could be causing the jam.

Test with a single sheet of paper: Try loading just one sheet of paper at a time to see if it feeds through correctly.

Run HP Smart:

• Download and run the HP Smart. Follow the prompts to diagnose and fix common printing issues.
• Refer: Use Diagnose & Fix in HP Smart to repair common printing issues (Windows, macOS) | HP® Support

Update Printer Firmware (Update the firmware on an HP printer | HP® Support)

• Go to the HP Customer Support - Software and Driver Downloads page. Enter your printer model number and search for the latest firmware update. Follow the instructions to download and install the firmware update.

Reinstall Ink Cartridges

If the printer is not detecting the ink cartridges correctly, try this:

Turn off the printer and unplug it.

Remove the ink cartridges carefully from the printer.

Inspect the cartridges for any protective tape or seals that might still be on them.

Reinstall the cartridges after inspecting them and ensuring they are properly seated in place.

Turn the printer back on and see if it detects the ink levels correctly.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

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