Deskjet 6980 - removing ink cartridge

[CaroG]

I'm trying to change the ink cartridges in my old HP Deskjet 6980. The HP Manual has bad info, must be for another model.

I cannot get the ink cartridge protective barrier to drop so that I can remove the old cartridge and put in new ones. I'm told there is also a problem getting the printer to recognize that it is a new cartridge. The cartridges are new HP cartridges.

any ideas? thanks.

caro g.

[Bob_Headrick]

The troubleshooting steps in the document here may help resolve changing cartrdiges on your Deskjet 6980 printer.  Note the printer must be turned on to change the cartridges.  

The troubleshooting steps in the document here may help resolve the cartrdige error.  If not please indicate exactly the error message you are seeing.

[CaroG]

Neither the troubleshootingn info nor the second item in your reply show the HP 6980. there is a white plastic guard of some sort in front of the cartridges that is supposed to drop down to allow removal and insertion of cartridges. By fiddling with teh control buttons (on, off, X, and check) I somehow managed to get it to drop down once in order to replace the black ink cartridge. I cannot figure out how to get that to work again. Also, there are no "error" messages. This is model HP does not have an error screen nor a screen of any sort.  

Also, even though it has a new black HP-made cartridge, it is saying that the cartridge needs replacing. the printer is a paperweight at this point.

Do you have any idea what will get the cartridge barrier to drop?

thanks!

Caroline

[Bob_Headrick]

My comment about the error message was based on your statement in your original post that said: "I'm told there is also a problem getting the printer to recognize that it is a new cartridge."

The guard should move out of the way when the lid is opened with the power turned on.  If it does not it may be an issue with the lid switch (actually an optical sensor that looks for a tab of plastic on the lid).

You mention "Also, even though it has a new black HP-made cartridge, it is saying that the cartridge needs replacing. the printer is a paperweight at this point."  Is this based on a message on the computer or blinking lights on the printer? Cleaning the cartridge contacts as shown in the document I referenced above may help this.

[CaroG]

Hi Bob,

I found the plastic tab and succeeded in getting the barrier to drop so that I could properly remove and replace the color cartridge. I also cleaned the contacts on the cartridge. I powered my computer and the printer completely off and back on.

the printer still has a blinking light indicating that the color cartridge needs to be replaced. ( It's a brand new HP cartridge)

And the printer still shows offline on my computer. No print task will print.

I'm ready to pitch it out the window. If I had a window.

You've been so kind so I hate to ask, but do you have any remaining ideas?

thanks again,

Caroline

[Bob_Headrick]

If cleaning the cartridge and printer contacts does not resolve the issue then check the spring as shown in this page.  It may help to compare the black and color sides, they should be the same.  If the spring is dislodged (1) you will need to have the printer serviced if the flex is damaged (2).  If the spring is dislodged but has not damaged the flex circuitry (2) then some have reported success epoxying the spring back in position.