My HP Officejet 8500 keeps displaying that it's cleaning the printhead in an endless loop

[NKritter]

My HP8500 keeps displaying that it's cleaning the printhead. It won't stop to print documents. OS is Windows 7 64 bit

[Gordon_H · Accepted solution]

Hi NKritter,

I recommend you do a Power Reset on your printer. To do this, follow the instructions below:

1. Press the Power button to turn on the product.
2. With the product turned on, disconnect the power cord from the rear of the product.
3. Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.
4. Wait at least 15 seconds.
5. Plug the power cord back into the wall outlet.
6. Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the product.
7. If the product does not turn on by itself, press the Power button to turn it on.

[jeff00]

it keeps doing the same thing,checkingdevice,cleaning printhead.

[VisionAiry]

If the printer is stuck in its preperation mode, consequently I assume you tried the hard reset step above and that did not help you.  

1. How is the printer connected to your computer (USB, wireless, or Ethernet)? 
2. Is this printer plugged into a surge protector or a wall outlet?  
3. What is the exact model name of your printer (for example, the Officejet 8500 has a few of those in its series).  See image below and let me know which model of printer you have because steps may differ.

Answer those questions for me please and I will do my best to assist you.

[Ginnysjazz]

My printer is an Officejet Pro 8500A, A910a (Product #CM755A).  At first I was having intermittent printing problems, with  the printheads cleaning after the printing of only 5-6 pages, then it would print only in black,not in color.  Eventually it became stuck in the continuous loop of "checking the printer, this may take a few minutes" to "cleaning the printheads" on a constant basis, drinking up tanks of expensive ink in the process.  The hard reset did not work.  My printer cord is plugged into a surge protector, along with all of the other computer cords.  This printer is only a little over two years old, but I am ready to trash it.  My previous HP is 12 years old & still works!

[VisionAiry]

Hey Ginnysjazz,

That model is just so notorious for it's long printer processes. Would you like me to send you instructions that will either fix this or completely break it? I mean that's what a semi-full reset will do if it is stuck in this loop. So let me know if you are still interested and I will private message you those instructions.

Didn't mean to sound so blique but honestly if you're about to trash it anyway, I do know only one other possible solution besides throwing it away that works in 75% of these cases.

If I can help, let me know.

[Ginnysjazz]

Yes, please send me a possible solution.  I must either get this printer working or get a new one.  I cannot go on feeding this one ink that travels to some mysterious undisclosed location.  Thanks.

[VisionAiry]

Lol I completely understand. Thank you for your prompts response but I had literally just laid down and signing in on my phone took the last of my energy. I'll get that for you tomorrow or just Google (your model) semi full reset in the man time.it was a requirement to try before we replaced them because sometimes it worked. This model took up to 25 minutes of printer preparation after doing that step do it and walk away. It thinks it's new and if you're low on ink already you'll get a failed alignment. Also this model was an ink hog because of its printer preparation thing it does. I'll pm you tomorrow with instructions.

[Ginnysjazz]

Thanks!  Even tomorrow lunchtime will do, as I have a commitment till late tonight & won't get the chance to try the solution till tomorrow.  I appreciate the insight about this particular printer.  Wish I'd made another selection.  I do a lot of photos & so I liked the separate ink tanks, as sometimes I use a great deal of a single color & other times it will be a different color.  If your solution works I will be sure to post kudos.

[VisionAiry]

Good luck! It wasn't a bad printer when it came out but its just that technology hadn't caught up to its expectations yet and the 8600 was their attempt to fix everything wrong with the 8500 I suppose. Well either way best of luck, ignore any aligment failure message if your ink is 20% lower and the steps I sent you via private message will only work if it is on the home screen and not stuck in the loop unless you have the 8500 that had the key pad on it. If it has a key pad like what's on a phone, then I know one more thing to try if the original way I told you doesn't work.