Z3200 faulty ink cartridge. Already replaced it 3 times.

[Mark Lindquist]

NEXT,

Go to section 3-38 in the service manual.

In the diagnostics menu on the front panel of your printer,

scroll to 7. IDS and press OK.
the front panel will show the 7.IDS submenu.
In the IDS submenu scroll to INK DELIVERY SYSTEM and press OK to start the test.
The Ink delivery system test prompts you to remove all of the ink supplies.
Continue and follow all directions to the letter.

You actually push the bongos down when the front panel prompts you to.

Good luck - let's see what happens.

You'll need to check the ink delivery system tests fully.

You might end up replacing the left and right service stations - it's just a hunch.  There are some on eBay.

-Mark

[Mark Lindquist]

Also, while we're at it,
Go into Utility,
Then All Settings,
Then fourth row down printer settings,
Then CONFIGURE PRINTER SETTINGS

Make sure ALL your settings correspond exactly to the image below:


-Mark

[rodrigogil76]

Hello, IDS test came out OK, just one issue with F cartridge, see attached image. (OK purge: NO)
Also attached error log.
Cleaned parking station, no change on error message.

[rodrigogil76]

Also, I noticed that under Current Media, Printhead and Ink Information the capacity of the Gloss cartridge appears as -1 ml, image attached.

[Mark Lindquist]

OK.  Try this.  Go into inks, from the front panel, replace inks.  Pull out the inks next to gloss enhancer so the you can get your hand in around the cartridge. 
If you can, leaving GE cart in, gently squeeze the cart sides pumping it until ink flows from the bladder.
Keep squeezing on off, on off.  The idea is to see iff you can squeeze ink into the line, building back pressure so the line will move whatever is in there.
After you've done that enough, remove the cartridge, replace the others, then turn the printer off, pull the plug, turn off the switch in the back.  Wait a good five minutes then restart.  When the panel tells you to, replace the GE cart.  See if it will initialize. 
-M

Did you replace the Gloss Enhancer printhead?

[rodrigogil76]

Hello! I finally had the chance to perform the suggested procedure... no luck Gloss enhancer printhead has been replaced twice.
Not sure what the next step should be, I was thinking about changing all the printheads and cartidges bit its a lot of money and maybe I should start saving for some spare parts or maybe a new printer...

OK.  Try this.  Go into inks, from the front panel, replace inks.  Pull out the inks next to gloss enhancer so the you can get your hand in around the cartridge. 
If you can, leaving GE cart in, gently squeeze the cart sides pumping it until ink flows from the bladder.
Keep squeezing on off, on off.  The idea is to see iff you can squeeze ink into the line, building back pressure so the line will move whatever is in there.
After you've done that enough, remove the cartridge, replace the others, then turn the printer off, pull the plug, turn off the switch in the back.  Wait a good five minutes then restart.  When the panel tells you to, replace the GE cart.  See if it will initialize. 
-M

Did you replace the Gloss Enhancer printhead?

[Mark Lindquist]

Hello! I finally had the chance to perform the suggested procedure... no luck Gloss enhancer printhead has been replaced twice.
Not sure what the next step should be, I was thinking about changing all the printheads and cartidges bit its a lot of money and maybe I should start saving for some spare parts or maybe a new printer...

OK.  Let's try one more thing.  Shut down.  Pull the plug.  Pull the formatter board again.  Pull the battery off the board and let the board sit for 10 minutes or more.  Replace the battery.  Replace the formatter board.  Power on.  The unit will power on very slowy after about 17-18 percent.  It will be rechecking the firmware.  Could take a long time.
Please try this and see what happens.  Don't give up.

Let me know, OK?  I have a few other things to try, but I'm hoping this might make a difference.

Mark

[Mark Lindquist]

If this quick test does not work, if you want to continue, please answer questions below - history of printer.

Did you buy the printer new?  If yes, when?

If no, please describe when and what condition the printer was in?

How long have you been printing with this printer?

Please list repairs that have been made to the printer and if they were done by you, or HP.

What is the date of manufacture?  (Look on label in back of printer).

Is your printer a 3200, or 3200ps?

Rev A, or B?

How often have the printheads been changed?

Have you replaced the E/G. (Gloss enhancer/ Gray) printhead.  What is it's current status?

Please list all repairs / cleaning you have done to the printer since you have had it?

Have you had the belt changed?

This history could be very important going forward.

Again, thus far, we have done nothing invasive, but rather just have tried to kick start the printer.
If we can't get past initialization, it difficult to make any headway, without replacing parts.

I'd like to point out that you could call HP and tell them the problem and ask if they will work on it, or how much a service pack would cost.  Alternatively, you could do a search for Large format printer/plotter technicians in your area.  Some of them moonlight.  I once put an ad in Craigslist and found a pretty good guy.

At any rate, please answer the questions if you want to continue working with me to try some more things.

Best,

Mark

[rodrigogil76]

Thanks a lot, Mark for helping so much. formatter board pulled out, battery removed,waited 30 min, no change on the error.

OK.  Let's try one more thing.  Shut down.  Pull the plug.  Pull the formatter board again.  Pull the battery off the board and let the board sit for 10 minutes or more.  Replace the battery.  Replace the formatter board.  Power on.  The unit will power on very slowy after about 17-18 percent.  It will be rechecking the firmware.  Could take a long time.
Please try this and see what happens.  Don't give up.

Let me know, OK?  I have a few other things to try, but I'm hoping this might make a difference.

Mark

[rodrigogil76]

Did you buy the printer new?  If yes, when?
No, used, two and a half years ago, bought from AAA imaging.

If no, please describe when and what condition the printer was in?
Excellent mechanical condition, it arrived with no inks, purged and worked great from the first run.

How long have you been printing with this printer?
2 and a half years.

Please list repairs that have been made to the printer and if they were done by you, or HP.
No repairs.

What is the date of manufacture?  (Look on label in back of printer).
jul 05, 2010

Is your printer a 3200, or 3200ps?
3200

Rev A, or B?
B

How often have the printheads been changed?
As soon as I see problems on a print I change a printhead, I get around 8 months from the printheads.

Have you replaced the E/G. (Gloss enhancer/ Gray) printhead.  What is it's current status?
Yes, twice. It has a brand new printhead that appears as OK.

Please list all repairs / cleaning you have done to the printer since you have had it?
No repairs, I only cleaned the parking station two weeks ago when you suggested it.

Have you had the belt changed?
No

Thanks!

[Mark Lindquist]

OK, good work. I'm concerned that it's something simple that has been overlooked.  At this point, I'm out of "quick fixes".  The next step would be to look at the ink delivery system, the ink delivery tubes, and a system purge, and replacement of all printheads and inks using setup carts/heads.  This would be expensive.
Since the printer is not throwing any errors, it is difficult to impossible to discern whether it's the ink delivery system including the carriage, or any number of boards, of which there could be a bad connection, or faulty component causing the problem.

I have to say that from here out it would be shooting in the dark without being able to have hands on the printer.  I'm hesitant to make any more recommendations without being able to physically examine the printer.  Replacing one part after another is pretty much guess work and would get expensive.

I think that buying new inks, new printheads, etc., then new replacement parts, tearing the machine down to the frame, doesn't make sense without guidance or being done by a professional at this point.
I can't help but think it's something simple we've overlooked, but that's not always the case.

You can get a brand new Z3200ps 44" from ProImaging delivered for $3,000.  If you feel you have nothing to loose, you could continue to tear your machine down, replace the carriage and a new belt while you are at it, and change out the trailing cable, etc., etc.  By the time you buy all new printheads, carts, and components, I think you'd be better off just getting a new printer now that this one is as old as it is.

I wish you luck with it. Maybe someone else will have a fresh approach and find the answer.

Mark

[Mark Lindquist]

Just one last ditch effort.  I suggest you try pulling the Gloss Enhancer printhead and the Gloss enhancer cartridge.  Go in to the carriage and clean super thoroughly all the contacts where the printhead touches, and the print head again.  Extra thourough.

Then re-clean where the cartridge mounts super clean.

Then clean the encoder strip very carefully and thoroughly.

Start the printer up with printhead missing and cartridge missing.

Be sure you have shaken both really well.  I know you've done this before, but try it one more time.

Good luck.  Mark

[rodrigogil76]

Hello! So I threw the towel. After changing the ink delivery system and the motherboard and still getting the same error message I decided to stop and bought a Canon Prograf 2000.

Thanks a lot to everybody that kindly helped me in trying to fix it.

Regards,

[Mark Lindquist]

Hello! So I threw the towel. After changing the ink delivery system and the motherboard and still getting the same error message I decided to stop and bought a Canon Prograf 2000.

Thanks a lot to everybody that kindly helped me in trying to fix it.

Regards,

You probably did the wise thing.  I advocated not pushing forward more in my last post, but I see you did continue.  What error message is it, just out of curiosity, at this point? What are your plans for the HP printer now?

Good luck with your new printer. 

Mark/

[rodrigogil76]

Hello Mark, first of all thanks a lot for all your advice. I know that I should have stopped earlier, but I always thought "This is the right one". The printer is going to be sold I guess in pieces. I have two main boards now... I have 11 new ink cartidges listed already on mexican ebay but they aren`t selling, so maybe Ill post those on ebay. If you are interested in a piece let me know and Ill gladly send it to you.

Regards,

[Mark Lindquist]

Hello Mark, first of all thanks a lot for all your advice. I know that I should have stopped earlier, but I always thought "This is the right one". The printer is going to be sold I guess in pieces. I have two main boards now... I have 11 new ink cartidges listed already on mexican ebay but they aren`t selling, so maybe Ill post those on ebay. If you are interested in a piece let me know and Ill gladly send it to you.

Regards,

Did you get a new formatter board with hard drive?
I'd love to have that.

[Mark Lindquist]

I've sent you a PM.

I'll work directly with you if you want to give it a last ditch effort.  I hate to see it parted out.

Check your PM please - if we can get it going, then you can at least sell it as a working printer if you still want to.

Mark

[rodrigogil76]

Did you get a new formatter board with hard drive?
I'd love to have that.

Ill send you photos of what I got since I´m not very good with the names.

Regards,