HP 6954 will not print cyan - possible printhead problem

[IsaiasB]

HP 6954 All-in-one printer Product number:P4C81A

Replaced the Cyan 902xl cartridge because the prior cartridge one ran out. I've replaced cartridges successfully multiple times on this printer, so I follow the proper replacement procedure.

The "print quality" diagnostic page prints all colors correctly, except for cyan. Any attempt to make a color photo copy also fails to print any blue/cyan related tones. I ran thru the "clean the printhead" stages on the printer multiple times (all 3 levels) and it does not fix the problem. The printer ink status shows the Cyan cartridge has more than enough (at or near full).

I attempted to align the printer following the printer prompts but apparently the printer cannot scan the printed alignment page (because presumably the alignment page needs to have a portion of the page printed in cyan color and since cyan does not print, printer cannot complete the scan, and alignment fails). I use clean white paper for all these attempts.

I tried replacing cartridge with another new Cyan 902xl cartridge. Same results.

I reset the printer by removing the power cord in the back, as directed by the printer user guide. Same results.

I suspect the printhead is the problem. Is there a procedure to "manually clean" the printhead? I could not find one in the user's guide.

[Valsimot]

Leave it overnight to allow liquid ink to get from ink cartridge inside printhead it's possible it will start printing cyan again.

[IsaiasB]

After letting it sit overnight, it began printing cyan again slightly, but not enough to complete printing an alignment page, as if the color was running out again after 15% of page was done printing (alignment scan failed).  The ink status (on the printer LED) still showed about 80% for cyan.

I tried going thru the three stages of "clean printhead" again.  Sadly, each page printed all the other colors... except for cyan (missing color each time). 

After this, I even tried inserting another brand new 902xl cyan cartridge (my third full one thus far!) and it would not print cyan on the "Printer Status" page, even though all other colors printed well.

[Valsimot]

Leave it turned OFF for a few days with that new cyan and try again printing if that doesn't help it's time for a new printer.