Z3100 error 02.1:10

[Kyle Jackson]

Yes I have the exact same result as the OP on the Carriage electronics service test: 02.1:10 error for the pens voltage Vpp. (That's why I joined this thread.) You have that same error too?

Just following up that a new carriage PCA appears to have fixed my 02.1:10 error and Vpp pens voltage failure on my Z3100ps. How I got there...

I confirmed that the carriage trailing cables and the printhead contact flex strips in the carriage were okay by trying the ones from my Z32 in my Z31 and there was no change, still same error and still rejecting any B-GN printhead.

The next suspect was the carriage PCA itself. Z31 and Z32 have different carriage PCA so I couldn't do a similar test. Ordered an entire unused carriage assembly because it was cheaper than just the PCA itself. Included the trailing cables and all sensors.

Installed the new carriage/trailing cable assembly and the error was gone and it accepted B-GN heads again. Win.


(After that it still fried 2 more printheads (total of 4 now...) and faulted a fresh ink cartridge but I think (hope) it's for reasons specific to the heads/carts themselves -- veryyy old heads which I may have damaged during ink priming, and the usual challenges with air in the system.)

[kers]

the solution to my problem: a new PCA board ( from LPS)
the left ink reservoir for spilled ink was full and had dropped ink on the pca-board...
(never seen it full before with my older printer)
I cleaned it but that was not enough to solve the problem...
after replacing it the problem was gone but a new problem came up: the right reservoir had a broken primer motor. the plastic clickers broke off...(?)
I ordered a new one in china 300€- so spend some money but with also a new belt from LPS in place i believe it will do well...
and have a great 44 inch printer again -I Hope

second hand ink and heads- buy them cheap as you still can... the ink will stay good forever -or at least some years i find.

[Kyle Jackson]

the solution to my problem: a new PCA board ( from LPS)
the left ink reservoir for spilled ink was full and had dropped ink on the pca-board...

That was giving a 02.1:10 error?

[kers]

no, it just gave an error while doing the ink delivery test: bongo 1 not working

[Kyle Jackson]

no, it just gave an error while doing the ink delivery test: bongo 1 not working

Ah ok, good we clarified that then for anybody reading this thread in the future, since it's about the 02.1 error and they might confuse it with the issues you had and think they need to replace the mainboard. (Replacing the mainboard PCA is only the very last resort item for the 02.1:10 error in the service manual.)

Glad you got it working tho!

[sharadn]

I just went through something similar. My HPZ3200 kept rejecting multiple printheads. It started with a bad E/G head. I replaced it with a new one from a sealed package and the new one was bad also. I then replaced it with another new one and this one worked. When I ran the carriage test is showed the same error: 02.1:10. It seems that one bad printhead can cause other printheads to be rejected also.

[Kyle Jackson]

I just went through something similar. My HPZ3200 kept rejecting multiple printheads. It started with a bad E/G head. I replaced it with a new one from a sealed package and the new one was bad also. I then replaced it with another new one and this one worked. When I ran the carriage test is showed the same error: 02.1:10. It seems that one bad printhead can cause other printheads to be rejected also.

What is the specific failure in your the carriage test?

For my Z3100 it was the "Vpp pens voltage", and replacing the carriage PCA fixed it. (Actually replaced the entire carriage + trailing cable, because cheaper, as described above.)

If you have access to multiple printers, try the heads in another printer to confirm if they are ok.

Five printheads fried while working thru my error 02.1 saga.  Basically melted/debonded where the orangey contact strip is bonded to the nozzle face, like shown here:
https://www.lpscomputer.com/blogs/news/designjet-rejecting-good-printheads-hp-70-hp-72
Use those photos to visually inspect for damage.

[sharadn]

This was the error when I did the carriage test: When I ran the carriage test is showed the same error: 02.1:10. FAIL pens voltage out of limits. A new E/G head fixed it. Helpful link to the LPS site!

[Kyle Jackson]

This was the error when I did the carriage test: When I ran the carriage test is showed the same error: 02.1:10. FAIL pens voltage out of limits. A new E/G head fixed it. Helpful link to the LPS site!

Same test results I had, interesting. In my case however replacing all the heads with known good ones didn't fix it. It kept failing until I replaced the carriage PCA. So I wasn't as lucky as you were, I had to throw more money at it.   

That's the frustrating things with these printer errors, they can be from many different causes and it's not always possible to know which without the expensive trial-and-error of replacing things. And it's often like whack-a-mole...

[sharadn]

At least we can usually get them up and running again ! Not always so with other brands
During this troubleshooting process I received some help from the folks at https://plotter-nrw.de/. I bought a refurbed HPZ3200 from them and the follow up support has been excellent. I have two 3200s here is Switzerland and one in the US. They have been super helpful on both continents. The website is all in German. That is what translators are for.
One step that they told me to do when troubleshooting was to shut down the printer and then remove all the printhead and then restart it. If no errors are displayed and the printer is only asking to install printheads then this means that the printer is OK. That was one of the steps we used to identify the bad printhead. Actually 2 bad printheads. One of them was new in a sealed package and it was still bad. Fortunately I bought two and the second one was good. I share this for the benefit of the HPZ3200 DIY repair community

[Kyle Jackson]

One step that they told me to do when troubleshooting was to shut down the printer and then remove all the printhead and then restart it. If no errors are displayed and the printer is only asking to install printheads then this means that the printer is OK.

I don't think that technique works in all cases because I've done it manyyy times with known good heads from another printer and the printer was not okay, it needed a new carriage PCA.

I would not consider a head "bad" without confirming it in another printer, especially a brand new one just opened. The reason is air in the lines/head can cause these printers to reject good printheads.

If a head is rejected in more than one printer (and it's not full of air), then it's likely bad. This is easily confirmed by looking at the printhead error codes and status under Main Menu > Information > Printer Logs > Printheads. The corresponding codes/status are given in the Service Manual.

Did you try the "bad" printheads in your other printer(s)? Especially the new one from the package?

[sharadn]

I tried both heads in my other printer including both the new and old ones. Both were rejected by my other printer. That is how I determined that both the old one and one of the new ones was bad. When I put the second new one in the printer it accepted it and I was able to proceed with printhead alignment. When you did it with an empty carriage you only a got replace printhead message and no other error message? I was able to get a refund for the defective printhead.

[Kyle Jackson]

When you did it with an empty carriage you only a got replace printhead message and no other error message?

Yes, it prompted to install heads, but it would always reject the B-GN slot (and occassionally others) when known good printheads where installed. Running the carriage service test gave the 02.1:10 error with failure on Vpp / pens voltage. Replacing the carriage PCA ultimately fixed the problem.

So that's what I mean that starting printer without (or with) heads and not seeing an error on the screen doesn't necessarily mean the printer is ok. I think it's probably true for the majority of cases tho, because I assume most hardware failures would put an error on screen. But for whatever reason the particular carriage PCA issue I had did not, it only showed an error when running the service test (which requires heads to be installed).

[kers]

hello, just an update to my previous problem.. I installed a new HP servicestation from alibaba- china.

The good thing is this service station needs to be replaced after some years and is part of many HP printers - the reason you can still buy it new.
costed 350 incl 2month containership delivery...it comes with the ventilator -all the motors and drop detector.    (An ink cartridge/ printhead  new now costs about 100€ ex tax !!)
It seems to work fine and has made my printer work again.
The new servicestation weight was 2050 grams- the old 2850 grams - so 800 gram wasted ink.
I know that it can carry about 2kg of wasted ink before it spills over - but this one was 15 years old so that was the problem- the plastic tickkers broke off ( that control the waste ink tubes)

so with also a new LPS belt inside I hope it will do some more printing.