d5160

[TonyL2]

3 days ago after printing to several CDs via the caddy the printer stopped and up came the flashing light.

HP Solution Center gave me 'Cartridge problem' message on the left hand (Tri Color) cartridge.

HP Print and Scan Doctor gave same error.

Uninstall, reinstall, same problem.

Reset via a power down overnight...same error. New cartridge tried. Cleaning electrical cartridge contacts tried. Same problem.

USB disconnected and power down reset..same problem. So it is the printer itself

Now the strangeness starts. A hardware self test using OK+<left arrow> works (sometimes) ! A perfect printout results. Red led stops flashing. Left hand cartridge error clears. Everything looks OK.

For about 10 seconds. When the cartridges park the red led starts flashing again and the lcd cartridge error comes back up.

Stranger still...I tried a self test with USB connected and immediately (within a few seconds) after the self test the printer worked perfectly and printed some text!

So the printer can print. There is ink in the cartridges. But I can't use it. Any help appreciated.

BTW, the self test included lots of numbers and some 'System event' numbers. Anyone know what they mean?

TIA

Tony

[Gemini02]

Hello @TonyL2,

Thanks for showing your interest in the HP Forums! I see that you are getting a 'Cartridge problem' error, but you can print standalone. Thanks for providing that information. I would like to help.

I would suggest trying the Workaround in this document to see if you have the same results: A Print Cartridge Error Message Displays on the Computer in Windows After Installing a Cartridge.

Are you using Genuine HP Cartridges?

Let me know the results.  If they did, that’s awesome!  Give us some reinforcement by clicking the solution and kudos buttons, that’ll help us and others see that we’ve got the answers! Good Luck!

[TonyL2 · Accepted solution]

Hello Gemini,

Thank you for your response and the link.

Firstly, I'm using remanufactured cartridges. I tried the contact cleaning steps yesterday with no effect, this was cartridges and printer contacts...yes I did use distilled water.  I tried 3 from different third party brands with no effect. Also tried hard reset by power down. I just gave it one more try. Still no effect and started typing this message...

After a few minutes I looked around to the printer and saw the red led was not flashing and error messages cleared. A test page printed from the PC worked OK! So, problem solved, thank you so much. This printer has been excellent for years and I would hate to bin it needlessly.

I still have questions, though.

Why did the error status take so long to clear? If this is by design then such a delay can be highly confusing when troubleshooting by swapping cartridges etc.

Do certain errors latch or set flags so a hard reset is required to clear them?

I'm going to accept as solution, fingers crossed the issue doesn't return as soon as I do that 🙂

[Gemini02]

Hi @TonyL2,

I was going to suggest to update the printer's firmware, but there isn't one available. It may just be a issue with recognizing the Non-HP Cartridges.

Usually, a power reset will resolve a lot of hardware issue.

Thanks!

[TonyL2]

Hello,

Me again. Unfortunately the fix didn't last.

I got a very nice image printed to a CD (quality really nice)  then took a 60 minute break before resuming...only to find the error had returned 😞

This time no amount of cleaning and power resetting worked.

But I discovered a workaround !! This applies to printing onto printable CD/DVD, which is what I mostly use this printer for but the idea might work with docs as well.

During my earlier troubleshooting I noticed that a printer self-test procedure temporarily supresses printer error mode so it could print a report. I also noticed that the cartridge error was not propagating back to the PC, the print job was simply  queued. So here is my workaround for CD (and possibly other) printing while the printer is showing error:

1) With D5160 switched on. Pull down the CD print door, insert CD in caddy as usual.

2)  In your image editor with required image loaded select print..   and set print properties 'To CD'. Then OK to print. Printer does not respond, it is in error mode.

3) Do a tap 10 self test. That is, press OK then tap left arrow. 'Tap 10' briefly appears in the lcd display and the printer temporarily exits error mode ready for the test report. But there is your print job in the queue, so it prints it first.

4) Unless you want to waste paper on the self test report don't restore the CD print door. The printer is waiting to print the report and will do so as soon as you close it. Instead, unplug the printer.

Job done.

Not ideal and it will not work unless your printer self-test functions. But it gets the job done and I do have another printer for document printing. It's an HP as well 🙂 Of course, there is a possibility that bypassing the error will damage the printer or cartridge so treat it as a last resort that is better than binning it.