Printing red color is yellow?

[ANTant]

Hello!

I am having a printer problem. It seems like my HP Photosmart 8450 Series printer lost its ability to print red color. When I print a solid red from anywhere (computer, printer itself with samples), I get yellow color.

According to HP Photosmart 8400 Series Toolbox in viewing Tri-color Print Cartridge, I still have about half amount of ink (light blue, purple?, and yellow). The cartridge status reported the same on the printer's LCD screen. Photo print cartridge is almost full (never used its photo printer feature) and gray photo print cartridge is about half.

I tried cleaning cartridges many times via the printer and computer, no improvements. I tried taking the tri-color cartridge out, the ink head seems OK and I cleaned it with a soft tissue. No improvements there.

Since tri-color cartridge has three color inks, is there a way to check if any of them are low? Or do I need to buy a new cartridge (they're expensive). I noticed the expiration date for this cartridge was in year 2007 so I still had a long way to go! I bought this printer and ink cartridge (don't remember if I bought it separately or it came with the printer) back in November 2004 from CompUSA.

Thank you in advance.
--
"It's like stepping on ants... I don't step on ants, Major." --Odo and Kira from Star Trek: Deep
Space Nine
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[XO]

I'm using a 7960. But to see what cartridge may be bad, or whatnot, I
hit the Menu button on the printer, go down to Tools, and select Print
Test Page. This will show the colors in a band and also tell you which
cartridge the band belongs to. Here you can tell if it is the printer
or not. The 8450 probably has same feature.

 

[ANTant]

Oh, I printed that one out before. The problem is are those colors even
correct? One of them is empty (no grids) so I don't know if that is
normal. There eight visible grids with two thick vertical bars.

I have gray, black, light gray, pink, black, light blue, white/invisible,
yellow, and then blue. That was left to right.

I'm using a 7960. But to see what cartridge may be bad, or whatnot, I
hit the Menu button on the printer, go down to Tools, and select Print
Test Page. This will show the colors in a band and also tell you which
cartridge the band belongs to. Here you can tell if it is the printer
or not. The 8450 probably has same feature.
-----

--
"It's like stepping on ants... I don't step on ants, Major." --Odo and Kira from Star Trek: Deep
Space Nine
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[XO]

I might be of no help here. You are using the Menu to print the Test
page using the Printer itself and not the HP software Toolbox?

Anyway, there should be color in each grid. Mine will have labels with
the cartridge which is printing that grid located above the grid. One
grid for the Black cartridge, 3 grids for the Photo, and 3 grids for
the Color cartridge - again with a label above the grids telling which
cartridge is printing what. Then I get the solid bands of the 7 colors
(in my case) beneath that.

As to whether the color is correct, I can't say. But when mine was
printing perfectly, I pinned the Test printout on the wall so I could
tell if refills were printing correct colors.
--

 

[Bob Headrick]

Oh, I printed that one out before. The problem is are those colors even
correct? One of them is empty (no grids) so I don't know if that is
normal. There eight visible grids with two thick vertical bars.

I have gray, black, light gray, pink, black, light blue, white/invisible,
yellow, and then blue. That was left to right.

Your color cartridge has an issue with magenta. If you are in the US this
would be your 97 or 95 cartridge. Assuming this is an original HP cartridge
and your ink level indicator indicates you still have ink left contact HP at
1-800-HPINVENt for a warranty replacement.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, not speaking for my employer HP

 

[ANTant]

I might be of no help here. You are using the Menu to print the Test
page using the Printer itself and not the HP software Toolbox?

I used both. I wanted to be sure the software wasn't the cause. It's not.
--
"It's like stepping on ants... I don't step on ants, Major." --Odo and Kira from Star Trek: Deep
Space Nine
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Ant @ The Ant Farm: http://antfarm.ma.cx
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links: http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Please remove ANT if replying by e-mail.
( )

 

[ANTant]

Your color cartridge has an issue with magenta. If you are in the US this
would be your 97 or 95 cartridge. Assuming this is an original HP cartridge
and your ink level indicator indicates you still have ink left contact HP at
1-800-HPINVENt for a warranty replacement.

I am using 97 cartridge. Does that mean I have to send the printer back?
Or just the cartridge? I am hoping it is not a printer problem since I
need the printer even if I can't print red color.
--
"It's like stepping on ants... I don't step on ants, Major." --Odo and Kira from Star Trek: Deep
Space Nine
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Ant @ The Ant Farm: http://antfarm.ma.cx
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links: http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Please remove ANT if replying by e-mail.
( )

 

[CWatters]

I am using 97 cartridge. Does that mean I have to send the printer back?
Or just the cartridge? I am hoping it is not a printer problem since I
need the printer even if I can't print red color.

Probably just the cart.

Try putting the cart head down on some kitchen paper for a few seconds. Can
you see any red on the paper? The same amount as the other colours or ??

 

[Bob Headrick]

I am using 97 cartridge. Does that mean I have to send the printer back?
Or just the cartridge? I am hoping it is not a printer problem since I
need the printer even if I can't print red color.

You only need to replace the cartridge, not the printer. Your dealer should
replace the cartridge if you take it back or call HP and they will send out a
replacement.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, not speaking for my employer HP

 

[ANTant]

Probably just the cart.

Try putting the cart head down on some kitchen paper for a few seconds. Can
you see any red on the paper? The same amount as the other colours or ??

AFAIK, I saw very little redish color when I was cleaning the cartridge
head yesterday with a tissue.

Can I ask for a tri-color replacement via e-mail? I cannot use the telephone
due to my speech and hearing impediments.
--
"It's like stepping on ants... I don't step on ants, Major." --Odo and Kira from Star Trek: Deep
Space Nine
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/ /\ /\ \ Ant @ The Ant Farm: http://antfarm.ma.cx
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links: http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Please remove ANT if replying by e-mail.
( )

 

[ANTant]

Your color cartridge has an issue with magenta. If you are in the US this

You only need to replace the cartridge, not the printer. Your dealer should
replace the cartridge if you take it back or call HP and they will send out a
replacement.

Thanks. I will take a print out of the print tests (including HP's,
Windows print tests, and CompUSA's red logo) to show the missing grid
gap, the problematic tri-color cartridge, and the receipt (I hope I can
find it) to CompUSA where I got the printer from.

I checked the cartridge on a tissue again, and I do see some red. Nice
rainbow colors.
--
"It's like stepping on ants... I don't step on ants, Major." --Odo and Kira from Star Trek: Deep
Space Nine
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[ANTant]

Thanks. I will take a print out of the print tests (including HP's,
Windows print tests, and CompUSA's red logo) to show the missing grid
gap, the problematic tri-color cartridge, and the receipt (I hope I can
find it) to CompUSA where I got the printer from.

Rats!! CompUSA store said no. I will try HP. In the meantime, I will
e-mail HP to get a free replacement.
--
"An Ant-Man has very low horizons." --Forrest Gump
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[ANTant]

Your color cartridge has an issue with magenta. If you are in the US this

Rats!! CompUSA store said no. I will try HP. In the meantime, I will
e-mail HP to get a free replacement.

I broke down and bought a new tri-color cartridge that came with two
of them and with black ink cartridge to save money compared to buying
one tri-color cartridge. Now, my printer can print red color again.

I sent HP my information. How does this replacement work? Do I send in
the defective cartridge to get the new one? And is it free without
shipping costs?

Thank you in advance.
--
"An Ant-Man has very low horizons." --Forrest Gump
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/ /\ /\ \ Ant @ The Ant Farm: http://antfarm.ma.cx
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\ _ / Please remove ANT if replying by e-mail.
( )

 

[Bob Headrick]

I broke down and bought a new tri-color cartridge that came with two
of them and with black ink cartridge to save money compared to buying
one tri-color cartridge. Now, my printer can print red color again.

I sent HP my information. How does this replacement work? Do I send in
the defective cartridge to get the new one? And is it free without
shipping costs?

How did you send in your information? If you were using the online chat with
support they should have given you the instructions, which vary depending on
your country.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, not speaking for my employer HP

 

[ANTant]

How did you send in your information? If you were using the online chat with
support they should have given you the instructions, which vary depending on
your country.

Bob, it was done via e-mails. HP collected the information and finally
put me on the cartrdige replacement. I found out that I will be needing
to send back the defective one. This is all done for free after asking
more questions.
--
"An Ant-Man has very low horizons." --Forrest Gump
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| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links: http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Please remove ANT if replying by e-mail.
( )

 

[Ant]

I broke down and bought a new tri-color cartridge that came with two

Bob, it was done via e-mails. HP collected the information and finally
put me on the cartrdige replacement. I found out that I will be needing
to send back the defective one. This is all done for free after asking
more questions.

FYI. It happened again recently. But I figured out how to sort of work
arounmd it. I told HP driver to print in best/maximum mode. Then, the
red color came out correct. It looked like Normal mode wasn't good
enough. Weird!
--
"Thanks for giving me the courage to eat all those ants." --unknown
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