T2500 "printhead replacement not complete"

[pbrooks259]

I have read the "hp DJ T2500 plotter" post by 1stcavvet. I have a T2500 and am getting “ printhead replacement not completed”. I am trying to prepare for all contingencies. I recently picked this up last Monday. The seller said that a few? Months ago they got the message “replace printhead (PH)” (not sure of exact wording) so they proceeded to replace it; I asked them to send me the PH they originally replaced. They installed a new PH, then they got the same msg. as I am getting “PH replacement not completed”. Assuming they could have gotten a bad PH, they obtained a 2^nd new PH, and got the same result—“PH replacement not completed”. This 2^nd PH is presently in the T2500. (Ultimately I may have to get a 3^rd new PH, hope not.) There appears to be ink in the top of the present 2^ndAny insight on steps I should take or precautions I should take? Thanks very much!

[copyman]

Re: T2500 "printhead replacement not complete"

^ndnd PH is presently in the T2500. (Ultimately I may have to get a 3^rd new PH, hope not.) There appears to be ink in the top of the present 2^ndAny insight on steps I should take or precautions I should take? Thanks very much!

I just went through this same scenario last week with a T930. Machine was working fine, customer replaced printhead and machine gave a code. Looked up code, researched online and pointed to the PCA board, replaced that and still didn't work. Then replaced the trailing cable (2 hour job!). No code now but still shows print head failed. Customer ordered all new genuine inks and that didn't help. Having my friend who works on HP check it out. Will report back. This is one of those times wish I didn't get involved with this repair. Only reason I did was after researching online everything for the error code pointed to the PCA which is an easy fix. I don't charge customer if I can't repair the machine so as of now I'm out $150 for parts & 4 hours labor! Never learn my lesson to just stick with copiers I know !!!!

[pbrooks259]

Re: T2500 "printhead replacement not complete"

Copyman, thanks for your response. I too will be sure to post back whatever I find. I have my fingers crossed (and eyes too, ha) that it is ONLY the M cartridge that needs to be replaced to bring it to completion. Again MK needs to be 40ml and other colors 30ml, and need 60ml of each color to purge. BUT I highly doubt that it will be but am hopeful. One guy in a post in here said he had to get all new ink and a new printhead to get through this! (I think I made a mistake above; my M cartridge is 32ml which should be enough to do a printhead replacement but the T2500 tells me it the M cartridge needs to be replaced.)

[Kiran Otter]

Re: T2500 "printhead replacement not complete"

Make sure they're using the ink cartridges that come with the printhead. And plan on replacing the service station if it's that old.

Kiran

[Kiran Otter]

Re: T2500 "printhead replacement not complete"

Oops, I misspoke. The printhead apparently does not include inks. I was thinking of the T830 etc. So I would start with a set of new inks. But also the drop detect on the service station needs to be cleaned probably, and if it's been through that many heads, I would assume it needs a new service station.

Kiran

[Massimo Italy]

Re: T2500 "printhead replacement not complete"

quote Kiran,

a customer replaced the printhead and received the configuration error.
I went to see the plotter and repeated the procedure with no luck.
I updated the firmware and repeated the procedure and it still didn't work.
The service station was very dirty and noisy, i suggested the customer to replace it and ask hp to replace the printhead under warranty and also ask for the ink cartridges that we ran out of in the various attempts.
After replacing the service station and inserting the new printhead and it worked again.
Maybe the previous one would have worked too, but having the new one I didn't try.
Surely the problem was in the drop detector, it can be ordered separately but it is included in the new service station.

If your customer uses original inks I recommend updating the firmware, also because the date you mentioned is strange.

At the moment, since the service station test is ok, you can try to clean the drop detector well and do the calibration as described on page 210 of the manual, and possibly "Mark Printhead as Filled" page 194.

Good luck.

Massimo

[pbrooks259]

Re: T2500 "printhead replacement not complete"

Thanks, Massimo. I cleaned the drop detector, no change. I will calibrate the drop detector and try to mark the printhead as filled. Again it looks filled based on the ink visible at the top of the printhead.

I am contemplating a new service station as the present is seemingly very nasty. And I assume the present printhead is still under warranty and hopefully I could get a replacement if necessary.

Again it is telling me the M ink cartridge needs to be replaced although noted at 32ml which is just over the required 30ml; I am awaiting its arrival. I am still not understanding why the 32ml cartridge is rejected for printhead replacement. And to me it is obviously more full than 32ml, it is rather heavy; so to me something is up with the detection of the amount of M ink in the cartridge. Maybe there is some other problem with the M cartridge or its detection, not sure.

How do I initiate an RMA or whatever for an in warranty printhead? I suppose I'll scour hp.com.

Thanks again.

[Massimo Italy]

Re: T2500 "printhead replacement not complete"

Again it looks filled based on the ink visible at the top of the printhead.

This sound good, check that the pipes are full and without air
93 warnings pertain to lack of ink pressure or head overheating due to lack of ink, as the head is full, this does not seem to be the case. You must see the subcode, anyway check the pipes.

I am contemplating a new service station as the present is seemingly very nasty. And I assume the present printhead is still under warranty and hopefully I could get a replacement if necessary.

After 7 years I am not surprised to have to change a service station, even if it seems to work.

Again it is telling me the M ink cartridge needs to be replaced although noted at 32ml which is just over the required 30ml; I am awaiting its arrival. I am still not understanding why the 32ml cartridge is rejected for printhead replacement. And to me it is obviously more full than 32ml, it is rather heavy; so to me something is up with the detection of the amount of M ink in the cartridge. Maybe there is some other problem with the M cartridge or its detection, not sure.

I think that 2ml of residue is not a good margin to perform printhead priming.
Ink consumption is estimated based on the use of individual colors when printing, there is always a residue of ink in the cartridges.
However, marking the printhead as filled will correct the problem. First try to do this and see if the system restarts.

How do I initiate an RMA or whatever for an in warranty printhead? I suppose I'll scour hp.com.

Normally call customer support and explain the problem, the operator will ask you to run tests and decide whether to accept the warranty request, the purchase invoice is important to show that you are in good faith

[Kiran Otter]

Re: T2500 "printhead replacement not complete"

I've always been told that you return defective consumables to the place they were purchased. But you can try contacting HP and see where that gets you.

Kiran

[pbrooks259]

Re: T2500 "printhead replacement not complete"

Thanks very much for the input. Again, I only see about 1/4" length of air in the yellow tube at the carriage and about 1/8" length of air in the magenta tube. I assume these are not too consequential but perhaps I should purge them. Again I would tend to want to purge them with a needle and syringe.

One more thing, maybe: There are 4 LEDs on the carriage towards the front. From L to R they are as follows: 1st Amber = solid, 2nd Amber = solid, 3rd Amber = flashing slowly, Red = flashing fast.

I assume these have meaning but do not know what the LED sequence means. Does anyone know? I see nothing in the SM.

[Kiran Otter]

Re: T2500 "printhead replacement not complete"

Attached is the troubleshooting for the carriage LEDs from the service manual.

Kiran

[pbrooks259]

Re: T2500 "printhead replacement not complete"

I did this: I tried to calibrate the drop detector DD 1st. I assume a mistake. It failed. I assume it is obvious without a working printhead you cannot calibrate a DD as I assume it needs to fire droplets into the DD to calibrate unless it is done in some "ghost" fashion/manner. So I then "marked printhead as filled". Tried DD calibration again and "failed". And I got no further than that. Nothing. Back to square one: "printhead replacement not completed" And I do not really know whether to note the printhead as "used" or "new"--I assume "new" but on the printhead I see no evidence of Magenta when I try to blot it, I only see black(s), cyan, and yellow. I am fairly certain the previous owner was trying to install a new printhead but came up against the message "printhead replacement not completed".

I think I am being too impatient. This is not a McDonald's (reg. trdmrk.) drive thru--it takes frickin forever. I need to wait for the new M cartridge to arrive via Pony Express and see what happens. As again when I try to replace the printhead it tells me the Magenta does not have enough ink to complete the printhead replacement although it has about 32ml. Those Pony Express boys may be wiry and orphaned but they will get it here someday, eventually--1 to 2 weeks or thereabouts.

Thanks for all the input!

[pbrooks259]

Re: T2500 "printhead replacement not complete"

The previous owner again told me this is the 2nd "new" printhead that is in the T2500. She said they went through a lot of ink in priming these new printheads but kept again getting "printhead replacement not completed" and even had to buy more ink while trying to replace and prime the printheads. So apparently the reason M ink is so low is because of all the priming and I have just recently again ordered a new M ink cartridge. (But again M ink feels a lot heavier than 32ml.)


Seems something is up with priming the printhead. One ink compartment in the printhead on the end has a clear side (on R side of the printhead as it sits in the printer and as you face the front of the printer) and I see no ink in that compartment at all. Looking at the nozzles, one side with the cyan has a line of cyan but I see no other colors. Again I see no Magenta at the nozzles. I try to blot it on a damp paper towel gently and "no" magenta is blotted.

It does seem to have some ink in it PK or MK or Gray and cyan and yellow. When I blot the printhead I see cyan and yellow but am not sure whether I am seeing PK or MK or Gray. I see ink in the top of the printhead but not sure they are all present.


Could this be something with the primers? But I have tested them; they both top and bottom blow out puffs of air on the L side of the carriage and based on that seem to pass in the service station tests but I don't know whether it is adequate pressure.

She said the original bad printhead stated "replace printhead" which could have actually stated something else but that is the best she could recall.

Don't know; maybe the service station is gunking up the printhead. Maybe it’s the primers. I'm presently stumped. ….still awaiting new M cartridge.

[Massimo Italy]

Re: T2500 "printhead replacement not complete"

I had understood that the printhead was full of all colors.
you said you see air in the tubes, with all those refill attempts done it shouldn't be there, you might have a problem in the ink pumps, you say magenta looks bigger than reported 32%, you might try weighing the cartridges to check, if it were as you say more full than reported you have to check the pumps.
have you tried to suck the ink from the head socket with a syringe?

[pbrooks259]

I just weighed the M ink cartridge compared to the C & Y. C is 5.4oz noted at 54%, M is 6oz noted at 25%, Y is 4.6oz noted at 55%. So something is off in the detection of the M ink--it weighs more than either of the C & Y inks but is presented at 25%.

Thanks very much for your input!