Printer left in closed trunk of car

[Krys20]

I left my printer for 5 days in a closed trunk in my car. 3 days of those days it was cold. But the other 1.5 days it was in the mid 70s. Today I removed my printer from my trunk and realized it was warm. But it quickly cooled down. Is my printer safe to use?

[Max3Aj]

@Krys20, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 

Leaving your HP printer in a closed car trunk for several days, especially through cold and warm weather, can potentially affect it, but if it powers on and operates normally, it's likely still safe to use. Here's a breakdown:

Temperature Concerns:

• Cold exposure (freezing or near freezing): Can thicken or dry out ink in cartridges and potentially cause condensation inside the printer when warmed quickly.
• Warm temperatures (70s°F in a trunk can mean 100°F+ inside): Can cause mild warping or pressure changes in ink cartridges, though it's usually not severe unless temperatures are extreme (over 100–120°F consistently).

What You Should Check:

Ink cartridges:

• Look for leaks or dried ink at the nozzle.
• Run a print head cleaning cycle before printing.

Internal condensation:

• If the printer was cold and then rapidly warmed, moisture might have formed inside. Let the printer sit unplugged for a few hours at room temperature before powering it on.

Mechanical components:

• Listen for unusual noises when powering it on or while printing.
• Print a test page to check for streaks or ink flow issues.

>>If the printer is an inkjet model, the ink is more sensitive to temperature swings than the hardware. If it's a laser printer, the toner is more stable, and the risk is lower.

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Select "Yes" on the bottom left to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support