HP 8600 Ink System Failure: There is a problem with the printer or ink system. Turn printer off……

[TonyJag]

HP 8600 "Ink System Failure: There is a problem with the printer or ink system. Turn printer off……"

‎12-26-2020 09:42 AM

Product: HP 8600 Officejet Pro +

Operating System: MacOS 10.14 Mojave

PROBLEM: 

After years of great service and few jams, the 8600 Printer’s display is hung up with the following alert and only the “?” Key enabled: 

"Ink System Failure: There is a problem with the printer or ink system. Turn printer off……" I cannot clear that despite many attempts as described below. 

Printer Details:

HP Officejet Pro plus 8600 N911g, 

Model CM750A, 

Service ID 22319

Firmware Version CLP1CN2011AR

Total Page count 38353

USA

Uses HP 950XL and 951XL ink cartridges (all new or 80% full now, only OEM HP inks ever used)

Print head CM751-60013 REV A

Computer Details:

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014)

macOS Mojave 10.14.3

Wireless connection to printer working

eprint works, puts job in print queue

Printer web page works

HP utility works

Scanning works

Print queue works, but won't actually print

Ink levels work, though sometimes confused

I tried everything I could find in You Tubes and HP support, including all of the following multiple times:

Clearing all residue from past paper jams and loading new paper

Replacing ink cartridges

Power cycling

Removing power with the printer on (delays of at least a minute and some overnight)

Reseating the print head 

Cleaning the print head with a syringe and BestPrinter fluid

Disassembling the print head to clean all contacts and ensure that clear membranes above tanks are OK

Measuring the resistance of each of the 4 tank level sensors through the 8 springs (500K to 6M ohms)

Trying to get the set up menu by pressing the (unlit) return key 4 times

Downloaded “HP smart” and "HP firmware downloader”, but it said there was no new firmware for my printer

We are otherwise happy with this printer and have many spare 950XL and 951XL cartridges, so wish to stay with it or equivalent. 

QUESTIONS I am hoping you can answer:

1. If I replace the Print head, will that solve this problem, or could there be some other issue with the printer?

2. What is the purpose of HP set up cartridges?

3. HP has in stock print heads type CR322A NA/LA Whaler Rplcmnt Kit (PHA, Setup Carts, inst.), but ours is CM751-60013 REV A. Will that work?

4. ANY ADVICE WILL BE APPRECIATED

Thanks and Happy Holidays. Tony Jagodnik

[Valsimot]

1. Very likely it will work, the printhead failure is a pretty known issue on those printers series.

2. The SETUP cartridges contain more ink for a first time printhead initialization, the new printhead comes empty and amount of ink is used to fill the new printhead, that's where SETUP cartridges come in.

3. Yes, the CR322A will work in all printers that use HP 950-951 ink cartridges. The CM751-60013 is a service code, don't be confused.

4. If you have a stock of 950-951 ink cartridges then replacing the printhead would be considerable, if not a new printer might be a better solution because of the amount printed pages.

[TonyJag]

Thank you (hvala?). I will order a new printhead from HP. 😀

[RonM264]

I have the same problem with officejet pro 8600 n911g, using windows 10

Replaced all printer cartridges

Ran all printer maintenances. Still not printing black correctly.

Cleaned printer head.  received "There is a problem with the printer or ink system" message on printer screen.

Followed all the steps you took.  no luck

Order new print head and installed.   same message on the screen.

Disconnected the power (again).  

Same message when restart.

Out of options.

Help

[TonyJag]

RonM264,

I did order a new printhead with startup cartridges, but after a few days,  the authorized HP supplier declared that it was on backorder until mid January. Fortunately, I was able to find a good lightly-used HP Officejet Pro 8600 premium (dual feeder trays) on eBay for the same cost as a printhead. That works fine and I can use all of the HP950XL and 951XL ink cartridges we have on hand.  I cancelled the printhead order with no problems and will keep the old 8600 HP Officejet Pro 8600 plus for parts or until someone reveals how to reset it so it will accept a new printhead.

Sad to hear that replacing your printhead did not solve your problem. I will leave this thread UNSOLVED, hoping that we will hear from the HP experts how to reset the printer to make it useful again. Happy New Year.