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HP Officejet Pro 8000 Printer Series (A809) - 'Printhead Problem' Error Message Displays on the Computer or the Printhead Lights Blink

Issue
The message 'Printhead Problem' displays on the computer or the printhead lights blink.
  • Preventing printhead error messages
    HP has released a firmware update for Windows that can help prevent some printhead error messages that are caused by improper installation. HP recommends that you install the new firmware now. For more information, visit Update HP Firmware .
Figure 1: Location of printhead lights on the control panel
illustration of location of printhead lights on the control panel.
NOTE: If error messages display on the computer, clear the error messages after each of the following steps. You might have to delete pending print jobs from the print queue on the computer to clear the error messages.
Try the following solutions in the order presented to resolve the issue. When one of the solutions resolves the issue, there is no need to continue troubleshooting.
Solution one: Perform a power reset
Follow these steps to reset the product. Make sure that you connect the product directly to an electrical outlet and not to a surge protector or power strip.
  1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn off the product.
    NOTE: The product might not turn off after pressing the Power button. Continue to the next step regardless.
  2. Disconnect the power cord from the rear of the product.
  3. Disconnect the power cord from the electrical outlet.
  4. Wait 30 seconds.
  5. Reconnect the power cord to the electrical outlet.
  6. Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the product.
  7. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product.
  • If these steps resolved the issue , you do not need to continue troubleshooting.
  • If the issue persists , continue to the next solution.
Solution two: Clean the electrical contacts
Follow these steps to clean the electrical contacts on the printhead and inside the product.
CAUTION: Follow these steps carefully to avoid damaging the sensitive electrical components.
Step one: Clean the contacts on the printhead
Follow these steps to clean the contacts on the printhead.
NOTE: The ink nozzles on the printheads might clog if you expose them to air for more than a few minutes. The ink nozzles also might clog if you do not use the product for long periods of time.
  1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product.
  2. Open the top cover of the product.
  3. Press and hold the OK button for five seconds. The carriage moves to the left side of the product.
    CAUTION: Proceed only if the carriage is on the left side of the printer. If it is not, the printheads will be damaged when you install them. If the carriage does not move to the left side, try turning the printer off and then on again.
  4. Release the OK button, and the wait until the carriage is idle and silent.
  5. Unplug the product power cord from the electrical outlet.
    NOTE: Do not turn the product off by pressing the Power button ( ). This causes the carriage to move out of reach.
  6. Lift the printhead latch.
    Figure 2: Lift the printhead latch
    Illustration of lifting the printhead latch on the left side of the product.
  7. Lift the handle on the printhead that the error message indicates is missing or damaged, and then pull the printhead out of its slot.
    Figure 3: Lift the handle to remove the printhead
    Illustration of lifting the handle to remove the printhead.
  8. Use a dry, soft, lint-free cloth to remove any ink from the electrical contacts on the printhead.
    CAUTION: Wipe only the electrical contacts. Wiping the ink nozzles, located on the underside of the printhead, can damage the printhead. Do not touch the nozzles. Doing so permanently damages the ink nozzles, and the ink stains clothing.
    Figure 4: Electrical contacts and ink nozzles
    1 - Electrical contacts
    2 - Ink nozzles
    Illustration of ink nozzles on the underside of the printhead and electrical contacts on the front of the printhead.
  9. Wipe the electrical contacts with the swab until no ink residue remains.
  10. Wipe the electrical contacts with a fresh cloth to dry them and remove lint.
  11. After the electrical contacts on the printhead are clean and dry, place the printhead on a sheet of paper or a paper towel. Make sure that the ink nozzles face up and do not touch the paper.
Step two: Clean the contacts inside the product
Follow these steps to clean the contacts inside the product.
  1. Use a fresh, dry, soft, lint-free cloth to clean the electrical contacts inside the product.
    Figure 5: Clean the electrical contacts inside the product
    Illustration of reaching inside the product and cleaning the electrical contacts with a clean, dry cloth.
  2. Allow at least five minutes for the contacts to dry. Check the contacts for lint or debris, and then dry or clean the contacts again if needed.
Step three: Restart the product
Follow these steps to restart the product.
  1. Plug the product power cord into the electrical outlet.
  2. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product. 'Printhead missing or damaged, replace the printhead' displays on the control panel.
  3. Insert the printhead into its color-coded slot. Press down firmly on the printhead to make sure that the electrical contacts touch.
  4. Pull the printhead latch all the way forward, and then press down to engage the latch.
    NOTE: You might have to press firmly to engage the latch.
  5. If the error message indicates that both printheads are missing or damaged, repeat the steps in this procedure to clean the other printhead.
  6. Close the top cover of the product. The product restarts and then prints an alignment page.
  • If these steps resolved the issue , you do not need to continue troubleshooting.
  • If the issue persists , continue to the next solution.
Solution three: Replace the printhead
  1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product.
  2. Open the top cover of the product.
  3. Press and hold the OK button for five seconds. The carriage moves to the left side of the product. Release the OK button.
    CAUTION: Proceed only if the carriage is on the left side of the printer. If it is not, the printheads will be damaged when you install them. If the carriage does not move to the left side, try turning the printer off and then on again.
  4. Wait until the carriage is idle and silent.
  5. Lift the printhead latch.
    Figure 6: Lift the printhead latch
    Illustration of lifting the printhead latch on the left side of the product.
  6. Lift the handle on the printhead you are replacing, and then pull the printhead out of its slot.
    Figure 7: Lift the handle to remove the printhead
    Illustration of lifting the handle to remove the printhead.
  7. Shake the new printhead package six times.
    Figure 8: Shake the printhead package
    Illustration of shaking the package back and forth six times.
  8. Remove the new printhead from the package.
  9. Remove the protective caps from the printhead.
    Figure 9: Remove the protective caps
    Illustration of removing the two protective caps from underneath the printhead by pulling them away from the printhead.
  10. Insert the printhead into its color-coded slot. The label on the printhead must match the label on the printhead latch. Press down firmly on the printhead to make sure that the electrical contacts touch.
  11. Pull the printhead latch all the way forward, and then press down firmly to engage the latch.
    NOTE: You might have to press firmly to engage the latch.
  12. If the error message indicates that both printheads are missing or damaged, repeat the steps in this procedure to replace the other printhead.
  13. Close the top cover of the product. The product restarts and then prints an alignment page.
  • If these steps resolved the issue , you do not need to continue troubleshooting.
  • If the issue persists , continue to the next solution.
Solution four: Service the printer
Service the Product - Contextual Wrapper
There might be a problem with the product hardware or a component may not be functioning correctly. The next step is to service the product.
If you have completed all the preceding steps and are still experiencing a problem, service the product.
Determine if your product is in warranty or out of warranty. If you need help determining your product’s warranty status, go to HP’s Warranty Check Tool .
  • If your product is in warranty , contact HP.
  • If your product is out of warranty , fees might apply for contacting HP.
If you have completed all the preceding steps and are still experiencing a problem, service the product.
Determine if your product is in warranty or out of warranty. If you need help determining your product’s warranty status, go to HP’s Warranty Check Tool .
  • If your product is in warranty , contact HP.
  • If your product is out of warranty , click here to view additional printer support options starting as low as $20.

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