Problems communicating With Printer when new cartridge installed

[autolycus1]

Yesterday printing a colour page the last few lines (in black) came out "highlighted" with sort of pink border around the text. After that, the printer stopped printing; there was a failure message indicating that windows could not connect to the printer. Nor could i connect using the various tools in the HP maintenance app. Currently, i can only print in B&W and only if I remove the colour cartridge. If i fit it, communication is lost and i get error messages from HP and windows.

This is a genuine HP 302 cartridge, almost new (old stock) which was working fine until the 'pink' episode and appears to be in good order. I've cleaned the contacts, but the colour cartridge warning light continues to flash.

Can you tell me what might be the problem? I use the printer only occasionally -  and for B&W/greyscale 99% of the time - but I'd like to get the colour working if possible.

Thanks.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @autolycus1 

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for posting your query! We're here to help you get back up and running.

I understand how frustrating this must be—especially when your HP DeskJet 3637 was working fine before the "pink border" issue. 

Since the printer loses communication when the color cartridge is installed, the issue likely stems from a faulty cartridge or a printhead problem. Let's go through some HP-specific troubleshooting steps to resolve this.

 

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting for HP DeskJet 3637 Cartridge Communication Issues

1. Perform a Hard Reset

• Turn off the printer and unplug it from the power source.
• Disconnect all cables (USB, Ethernet, etc.).
• Wait 60 seconds, then plug it back in and turn it on.
• This can help clear any temporary ink system errors.

2. Remove and Reinstall the Ink Cartridges

• Open the ink cartridge access door.
• Remove both cartridges and inspect them for any damage or leaks.
• Reinsert them firmly into their respective slots until they click into place.
• Close the access door and check if the error persists.

3. Clean the Cartridge and Printer Contacts

• Turn off the printer and unplug it.
• Remove the cartridges and gently wipe the copper contacts on both the cartridges and the printer’s cartridge slot using a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water.
• Allow them to dry completely before reinserting.

4. Try a Different Color Cartridge

• If possible, test with another HP 302 color cartridge (even an older one) to see if the issue is specific to the cartridge.
• If the printer works with a different cartridge, the original one may be defective.

5. Reset the Printer Using Button Combination

• Turn off the printer and unplug it.
• Press and hold the Power button and Cancel button simultaneously.
• While holding both buttons, plug the power cord back in.
• Continue holding the buttons until the printer turns on and displays the reset menu.
• Select Reset or Semi-Full Reset from the menu.

6. Update Printer Firmware

• Open HP Smart on your computer or mobile device.
• Go to Printer Settings > Advanced Settings > Firmware Update.
• Install any available updates and restart the printer.

 

Let me know if you need further clarification! I know how frustrating printer errors can be, but hopefully, this gets your HP DeskJet 3637 back to printing properly. 😊

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[autolycus1]

Hi -thanks for the suggestions, however, i have researched HP printer problems and already done all of those things,  (including trying an old colour cartridge), except 'Reset the Printer Using Button Combination'. The symptoms are exactly the same. I also tried connecting the printer to my laptop to no avail.

As far as 'Reset the Printer Using Button Combination' goes:

With colour cartridge installed - when i plug back in, the printer eventually just starts, with the colour light flashing i.e just like before.

With no colour cartridge installed - when i plug back in, the printer eventually prints a 'Printer Status Report' with '0' for items 24, 25 and 26 in the color column, and starts with the colour light flashing i.e just like before.

There is AFAICS no menu of any kind on the 3637.

Have you no idea what would make a printer malfunction in this way? The way the fault arose  - the lines of black text looking just like someone had used a pink highlighter pen on them - must surely suggest something specific?

[zoey7886]

@autolycus1, I see you were interacting with @Hawks_Eye however, he's away for now and I'd love to help you out!

Welcome to the HP Support Community! 

We're here to help you tackle that cartridge issue! Don't worry, we've got your back! 

To get you the best assistance, we need to take this conversation to a private chat. We're inviting you to a private message to protect your privacy and ensure that any sensitive information remains confidential. 

To access your private message, just click the little blue envelope icon on the upper right corner of your HP Community profile, next to your profile name.  

We're looking forward to helping you resolve this issue! 

Stay tuned, and thanks for your patience! 

Regards, 

[autolycus1]

This is useless - the "private message" just directs me to an AI chat assistant who was no help whatsoever.