Black ink not printing on document, but OK on test print

[Dave_RM]

I need to print an incoming PDF document with colour logo, black text.  Logo prints, text doesn't.

Ran Print and Scan Doctor - test page prints out fine - solid blacks and lines.  Colours OK too.

Ran Test Print from Print dialog - no black.

Tried printing using a different set of Print Settings - still no black.

Ink level (black) shows OK (and one test page prints black OK, another doesn't!)

I'm baffled. 

[sandytechy20 · Accepted solution]

@Dave_RM

Welcome to the HP Forums. I would be happy to help you with your HP Deskjet F2480 printer. I understand that it is not printing in black and you have already done some preliminary troubleshooting. 

Don't worry though as I have a few steps to determine the issue and find a solution as well,

Print and evaluate an extended self-test report and troubleshoot defects.

1. Make sure you have plain white, letter-size paper loaded in the input tray.

2. Press and hold the Power button () and the Cancel button () for 10 seconds. The extended self-test report prints.

In general, if the product and its cartridges are working correctly, all the color bars should be present, unstreaked, and uniform in color. The black text on the page should not show ink streaks.

Clean the cartridges using an automated utility.

Open HP Solution Center:

1. Click the Windows icon ().

2. Click All Programs.

3. Click HP.

4. Click HP Solution Center.

HP Solution Center opens in a new window.

1. Click Settings ().

2. In the Print Settings area, click Printer Toolbox. The printer Toolbox opens.

3. On the Device Services tab, click Clean the Print Cartridge(s) ().

4. Click Clean to begin the process.

Align the printer

1. Make sure that you have plain paper loaded in the product.

2. Open HP Solution Center:

3. lick the Windows icon (), click All Programs, click HP, and then click HP Solution Center.

4. In HP Solution Center, click Settings ().

5. In the Print Settings section, click Printer Toolbox. The printer Toolbox opens in a new window.

6. Click Align the Print Cartridges ().

7. Click Print Page. The product prints an alignment page.

8. Lift the product lid.

9. Place the alignment page with the printed-side down on the right-front corner of the scanner glass. See the engraved guide next to the scanner glass for help loading the alignment sheet.

10. Lower the product lid.

11. Press Start Copy Black, or Start Copy Color to start the alignment.

12. When the cartridge alignment is complete, recycle or discard the alignment page.

Clean the area around the ink nozzles.

1. Remove and set the cartridge on a piece of paper with the ink nozzles facing up.

2. Lightly moisten a clean, foam-rubber swab with distilled water.

3. Clean the face and edges around the ink nozzle with the swab.

Click here and refer the document to perform the above steps.

Let me know how it goes.

Cheers.

[Dave_RM]

Thanks very much for that reply.  It gives me a whole 'toolbox' for printer troubleshooting and maintenance - very helpful.

However, I got impatient (tsk tsk) and fitted a new black cartridge.  All OK now.

Still doesn't explain why one diagnostic test produced apparently satisfactory black print, while another, as well as 'straight' printing didn't!

(I've bookmarked your reply for future reference, if needed.  I never knew about that self-diagnostic thing, for instance.)