Z3200 had a really bad day!

[macguiver]

It started this morning. Sent 5 24X36 prints stored in memory through to print (that printed fine before). Came back to discover they all printed but not like before. They were dull, grey and lacked the usual contrast they have on the Z. Tried cleaning heads, calibrating etc. but the prints were still off from the way they usually print. Tried different media but it exhibited the same flat dull color. Tried printing from the file stored on the mac, same results. Checked all my settings on the printer and nothing had changed.
Since I was on a deadline I decide to recalibirate media and mac with APS software. Tweeked the file that printed beautifully before by adjusting contrast and I do a small proof and it looks great.

Go to print the 24X36 version only to return to find the print color perfect but blue drips of ink scattered all over it. Read online that you can wipe your print heads with lint free cloth when this happens to clean it. Removed heads, wiped and replaced them. Now it want to do an alignment check. Fine but now I get a message saying the alignment check was canceled because of a scanning problem? Then I also discover that one of the print heads is not spraying either of the inks it hosts but the printer seems to think the printhead is fine?

So to sum it up here are is my problem.
1. Could the print head be OK but I need to do something else? Tried reseating it twice, no help. Do I need to replace it and why wouldn't the printer recognize its not working?
2. How on earth do I get the scanner working again? I had read that a piece of dirt or lint on it can cause this problem but I haven't  any idea how to check or or clean it. Anyone have experience with problem 1 or 2 that could offer some advice?

Now I need a stiff drink!

Thanks
Paul.

[Mark Lindquist]

Sorry to hear you're having these problems.  Here is a trick I use to diagnose and clean printheads:

Put just the bottom of the offending printhead in a small tray of warm water under the sink.
Continue soaking the bottom of the print head, ocassionally cleaning the bottom with a lint free cotton cloth.

After 15 or 30 minutes, dry off the print head and "stamp" a folded over paper towel.

Look carefully at the pattern.  If the print head is working right, a consistent line of blue and green (if it is a BG head) will show up perfectly.  If there is a clog, only part of the line will show.  Compare the lines side by side, looking carefully.  These line patterns will correspond exactly with a diagnostic image.  Keep soaking and cleaning until the printhead shows a clean stamp pattern.

Here is the long and short of it IMHO:  printheads are relatively cheap.  Less than an ink cartridge.  Spring for a new printhead and be done with one critical aspect of a methodical trouble shooting excercise.

Apparently you can't get to the EPS without removing the carriage so try blowing some canned air up under the carriage carefully to clear any debris blockage that may be causing a problem.
It is possible that the color sensor can't scan because the print is not clear because of a bad printhead, however.  You can try just powering the printer off, replace the printhead, then power back on.  Then run a diagnostic print before aligning the head to see if the head is still clogged.  If the head is not clogged, then try another print head alignment cycle.

Above all, don't panic.  Be methodical, and carefully research and continue troubleshooting until you solve the problem.  

Frequently pilot error is at the root of things.  Check and recheck until you get back on track.

[Colorwave]

It sounds like you aren't sure if your printheads are all working, so you should start with a diagnostic print from the front panel.  One or two channels out might give you the scan error (although you might be able to see the problem in the cancelled alignment print).  If you do have a scanning problem, the lens is not easily accessed.  You need to do a teardown to remove the carriage, so it's the same procedure as a belt change plus another ten minutes of work.  It shouldn't be a cause of this behavior, but make sure to wipe out the NEDD (drop detector), which is the matchbox size slot between the service station and print area.

[macguiver]

Thanks for the wonderful tips guys!

Could it be that there is actually nothing wrong with my scanner? When I go to print the alignment sheet it starts printing some of the test page and looks like its scanning (I see a green light on the paper). But maybe its looking for lines that are supposed to be printed from my now non printing (Photo Black-light grey) printhead but because nothing is printed, the software assumes an issue with the scanner?

Maybe getting a new printhead is the best fix. I'm betting the scanner error is really just caused by the fact that nothing is printed on the sheet where it is looking to scan it.

Colorwave: I did do a print head test sheet and all heads were printing fine with the exception of PhotoBlack-lightGrey. It printed absolutely nothing and this problem began immediately after I had removed and wiped the bottom of the print heads with a lint free cloth.

[Colorwave]

I'd say your chances are quite good that all that is wrong is you have a bad printhead.  FWIW: HP recommends blotting, not wiping with a coffee filter moistened with distilled water.  The ink nozzles are unfathomably small, and easily plugged by things dragging across them.  I use Windex as a second step if needed.  In most cases, though, it's best to not spend too much time with the printheads and to just replace them.

[Mark Lindquist]

I'd say your chances are quite good that all that is wrong is you have a bad printhead.  FWIW: HP recommends blotting, not wiping with a coffee filter moistened with distilled water.  The ink nozzles are unfathomably small, and easily plugged by things dragging across them.  I use Windex as a second step if needed.  In most cases, though, it's best to not spend too much time with the printheads and to just replace them.

I don't see Windex mentioned anywhere iin the HP manuals, Ron, LOL!  
When a printhead is clogged and you need to print, a little back and forth wiping (in solution) works wonders, I've found. I mentioned "stamping" in my above post - meaning the same as "blotting".  I just used the wiping technique on all print heads on a machine that had been sitting for two years, and only had to replace one head.  All the rest came back fully, according to the diagnostic print.  It's printing beautifully now.
But when a head won't come back, replacing it is best - agreed.  

Beautiful website, by the way, Ron -

-Mark

[Damir]

I never clean heads for my 3100, I always replace them, until now it was MK-R head several times. I can not remember what other heads was replaced, after all printer is with me for 7 – 8 years. But I clean heads for my Pro B 9100 which use same heads except MK-R. I found that head cleaning solution that people use for cleaning heads on Epson is the best choice. I just put liquid in white plastic that surround ink cartridges. I use that plastic as some sort of plate, pour in 1 cm deep cleaning solution and drip head in it. After some time wipe head and do the same stamp patterns test as described. If needed I return heads to cleaning but replace cleaning liquid before second round, as it is colored by ink. These usually do the trick.

In 3100 paper and ink cost is too high to waste it during trying head cleanings it is much cheaper to just replace head. I always have full set of heads prepared, as it always happened that something is going wrong in the Friday afternoon when you want to do printing over the weekend :-)

[Mark Lindquist]

Damir - have you had to replace the belt on your Z3100? 

[Mike Sellers]

Could you get an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner and pour in one cm of cleaner of choice then set your printhead down and turn it on for a few seconds would unclog the head?  The ultrasonic cleaners are cheap at WalMart.
Mike

[Mark Lindquist]

Could you get an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner and pour in one cm of cleaner of choice then set your printhead down and turn it on for a few seconds would unclog the head?  The ultrasonic cleaners are cheap at WalMart.
Mike

That's a cool idea Mike.  Very interesting.  Might experiment with that for fun.

[Damir]

Damir - have you had to replace the belt on your Z3100? 

Yes I did replace it, not by myself serviceman did it. It cost around 150 USD which includes printer cleaning and lubricating moving parts.