Dell V515W: "There is a problem with the printhead. Consult user guide"

If this printer is still under warranty, get a new printhead from Dell.  If you can get a printhead, make call and make Dell pay to fix their poor quality printers.  They will only fix the problem if it costs them money directly (in support call costs, in shipping costs and in parts costs).  At the very leasst they will stop using poorly designed products made by Lexmark.

Printheads in these Dell printers are horrible.  If I lived in the States, I'd probably try and launch a class action against them for poor product, poor support, maliciously playing with acceptable use and adding to the landfill and environmental costs to the country.

- jagtarsingh

Hi stilldisappointed.

    When you get the replacement printhead, could you please post the exact part number, etc. from the packaging so that others might be able to source this (probably) inexpensive part to get/keep their printers running?  I really don't know why Dell refuses to sell this part.  Do they **REALLY** think customers will just buy another Dell printer once their current one dies well before it's useful life expectation (which in my case is three to five years for a printer)?

And while Dell might delete your "rant" (which it really isn't, since it's the truth), I have a copy of it in my Inbox.  Long live the educated consumer!

Actually, yesterday, I got on a Dell "support" chat line with somebody and got the right guy. He did the remote control thing and some diagnostics, reinstalled the driver, and out of the blue told me they were sending me a new printhead! I knew it was still under warranty, but had no thoughts they'd send one, especially after reading the blogs in this forum about no replacements, none you could even buy, etc. I'd already decided it was a brand new printer going into the trash. So we'll see. After my experience with my laptop, I'm relatively sure something else will go wrong - to the extent that I've already ordered a new HP printer which I'll keep stored away in anticipation of this Dell piece of junk crashing. I haven't even had a chance to see if the scanner/fax/copier works or if it works wired because it died so quickly. As to my XPS 15 laptop, Dell has spent close to what I paid for it ($1400!!!--tried to get the newest technology and all the bells and whistles because it was to replace both my desktop and laptop). 3 home service calls, hours on chat and telephone lines, labor, new parts. We've replaced the DVD drive twice, the hard drive and OS 3 times, the entire bottom half of the case and all the cables, the touchpad. Why in the world haven't they just said "Here's a brand new computer, with our blessings" or, better yet, refunded all my money so I can go buy an HP which I've always had and never a complaint--they last forever. Dell is so off my Christmas card list! Oops, did I vent? They probably won't publish this rant anyway--I'll get a thinly veiled nastygram email from them telling me I should read the rules for posting in this forums. It's happened a couple of times. As the movie says, "You can't stand the truth!".

Got the new printhead (plus 2 new ink cartridges!!) and it works. So far. Here's all the info from the bar code on the packaging for the printhead: DP/N 0D724N   Made in the Phillippines    PH-0D724N-71868-19Q-01U2        14N0700     Rev A01     (I put all the 0s as zeroes vs the letter O so I hope they are).  Hope this helps. Boy, since I've been trying to figure out how to fix this thing, I've found some miserable reviews. The one on CNET (which wasn't there when I got the printer) absolutely says NOT to buy this printer, that it unreliable, it's an ink guzzler, etc. Since I got a good deal on it ($84) and 2 new printer cartridges are more than that, I'll either toss it and get a new printer (HP) when the ink runs out or use the LD cartridges that are only $7.95. They get reviews from RUINS YOUR PRINTER (big deal for this printer, right?) all the way to FABULOUS!!! Anyhow, I'm back in business, at least until something else happens. Good corresponding with you. If I hadn't talked to you in the beginning, I probably wouldn't have even tried to get Dell to do anything. All indications on their website is that this printer comes with no Dell support. But apparently I had a one-year warranty and the printhead's covered!

Hi stilldisapointed,

Thanks for the information.  From what you provided, it looks like this is a standard Lexmark inkjet printhead.  The best price I could find for it was $60 shipped from Europe.  That's it, if you can get a free one from Dell, get it; otherwise, unless Dell relents and sells replacement printheads for a reasonable price, once it's out of warranty, get rid of it and the headaches that come with it and get something better.

I'm glad that you were able to revive you're printer.  Then these things do print, they print well.

- jagtarsingh

I have never commented in a forum ever, but the issues I have had with this printer compelled me to join this one.  I purchased a Dell 515w printer in Dec 2011.  Constantly my ink would run out after printing only a few pages.  Since I didn't print much, I decided to live with it.  Last week, I received the error "There is something wrong with your printhead."  I contacted customer support.  In the 1.25 hrs I was on the phone with them, I was transferred 4 times.  After the 3rd time, I asked the support person to make sure I am transferred to the correct department.  He said he would stay on the line and talk to his collegue to be sure.  Of course, as soon as the connection was made, I was hearing music..and no support person.  I stayed on the line 20 more minutes.  Got the next support person.  He told me to upgrade my firmware.  As I was attempting to do this, he said he would transfer me to the correct department.  I refused and asked to speak to a manager.  He said his manager could not help.  I said he was transferring me back to where I have just been.  I only wanted to know what to do to fix the issue.  He finally said the error meant that the printhead was broken and the printer will not work now.  I said..fine...I'll go get an HP" and that was the end.  This printer is absolutely worthless as is their customer support.

stilldisappointed,

We have located a Replacement Printhead that has helped to solve the issue. Cheaper than spending all that money on a new printer.

Rick

Don't care. I'm out of the Dell User business. Only had 2  Dell products, both in the last year, both were lemons, both were continual problems. Back with HP and am now a happy camper once again. HP printers and laptops take a licking and keep on ticking; Thanks anyhow, tho.

This is the first time I have ever commented in a forum however, I am so upset with the service I received from one of Dell's technician's today.  I have a Dell 515w printer which I purchased in 2010.  I just purchased a new color ink cartridge, after installing the cartridge I received an error message which said " There is a problem with the print head. I followed all of the steps in the product guide to no avail.  Dell's technical representative told me this message means I need to purchase a new printer.  I feel I have been nickel and dime to death by Dell. Everything they do cost me money.  I purchased a hardware agreement for my Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop computer a year ago.  Just had some repair work done to my system. Dell has decided not to support the hardware for this system starting in Feb 2013.  I just made .  Over the past 4 years I've spent so much money with Dell for repairs, warranty, and supplies that I would have probably have been better off to just purchase and Apple computer and be done with it.  Should I purchase a new print head for my printer before buying a new one?

No, I would never buy another Dell product. Certainly don't buy a new printhead. They cost almost as much as the printer (as do the toner cartridges). My Dell 515W failed the first time I set it up - yet, printhead. I pitched a fit til they sent me a new one. But read the reviews. The 515W is an ink hog. And that's so true. To exacerbate that, you can only buy the ink cartridges, to the most part, from Dell, so they get to charge whatever they want. Even after that,the printer only lasted about 5 months. I was happy when it totally died so I could get a printer that worked. Back to HP, the workhorse of printers. HPs keep on printing without costing a fortune. So, in my opinion, give that printer to Goodwill, buy yourself an HP printer, and never look back. In fact, I ditched Dell products altogether. Their technicians don't know what they're talking about in the most part, even those that speak English (tho that's not necessarily a deterrent except the outsourcers have no authorization at all to do or say anything and you spend most of your life on the phone). I'll never buy another Dell product of any kind. Dell used to be good, in fact one of the best. They've fallen so far down that even start-up companies produce and support better computer and printer products. Give up on Dell. I did and am so happy I did.

upset57,

Try reading...

Cleaning the Printhead on Dell AIO V313w, V515w, V715w, P513w, and P713W Printers

and

Troubleshooting Printhead Problems on the Dell AIO V313w, V515w, V715w, P513w, and P713W Printers

The Printer Does Not Recognize the Ink Cartridge or Only Prints in One Color

We have found a Replacement Printhead at a reasonable price.

Rick

Rick,

As most of the former posters stated, they did clean and replace print cartridges. I've cleaned and deep cleaned, realigned and replaced. The printer blows through the ink cartridges. The mere act of aligning the heads over and over and over quickly depletes the cartridges. This is a problem I have dealt with since the second week of ownership. I received the same poor service whether I used online or telephone customer service. All I can say is I am completely disappointed with the Dell printer product.

I have had few problems with our laptops, so far.

Please be assured I will warn everyone I can away from Dell printers.

Your responses are rote. Try a different response. The others have already done what you've suggested.

Dart

Have had nothing be problems with my printer also.  Now I have the printhead malfunction error and I went thruogh the same process as you describe.  Think I'll send it back to Dell with a note to stick it where the sun won't shine.  Bad, bad printer.