User`s guide

5-20 Problem Resolution
Troubleshooting Print Cartridges
Short Print Cartridge Life
There are several causes for a short print cartridge life. The information below describes the average
print cartridge life for the two recommended print cartridges and possible causes for a reduction to this
expected print cartridge life.
1. The 51626A black print cartridge life specifications are based on printing Courier 10. The lower numbers in the specifications are based on using
letter-quality print mode and the higher numbers in the specifications are based on using draft print mode.
2. The 51625A color print cartridge life specification is based on using Normal print mode in Windows with an average 8% area fill.
Table 5-7. Print Cartridge Life Specifications — Ink Used
Print Cartridge Part Number
Print Cartridge Life Based on Ink Used
1000 Characters Per
Page Coverage
1500 Characters Per
Page Coverage
Normal Print Mode
(8% Area Fill)
Black Print Cartridge
1
51626A 500 to 1000 Pages 333 to 666 Pages
Color Print Cartridge
2
51625A 250 Pages
Table 5-8. Possible Causes for Short Print Cartridge Life — Black or Color
Possible Cause Explanation
Pages used a higher rate of ink
coverage than that used for the
cartridge life specification
The rate of coverage on the page has a significant impact on the number of pages
per print cartridge. Heavy concentrations of ink and higher print quality
significantly reduce the number of pages per print cartridge.
Pages contained graphics Generally, graphics use ink at a much higher rate than the Courier 10 font at the
1500 characters per page specification. If possible, print drafts of documents
without the graphics.
The selected print mode uses
ink at a higher rate
Higher quality print modes use more ink than draft print mode. To maximize print
cartridge life, print drafts of documents in draft mode, then print the final copies in
letter-quality mode.
The print cartridge is past the
expiration date
Replace the print cartridge. Use a First In-First Out (“FIFO”) inventory process to
avoid a stock of expired print cartridges.
The printer was turned off with the print
cartridge away from home position
A service station is located at the right end of the mechanism. This service station
caps the print cartridge nozzles to minimize ink drying in the nozzles. Always allow
the print cartridge to return to the home position so that the service station can
cap the print cartridge nozzles when the printer is not in use.
The print cartridge was open outside
the printer
Opened print cartridges must be stored in the printer or in the print cartridge
storage container supplied with the optional Color Kit.
The print cartridge was refilled Hewlett-Packard does not recommend or guarantee the print quality or cartridge
life of refilled print cartridges. Replace the print cartridge with a new print
cartridge.