HP IIISi "55 SERVICE"? - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

28 Oct 2013

...
  Date: Sat, 26 Oct 2013 20:16:09 -0400 (EDT)
 Subject: HP IIISi "55 SERVICE"?

 I have an HP IIISi printer.  It was working fine.  Then it sat idle for
 quite a while (some small number of years, I think); then it was moved
 (the movers picked it, and a bunch of other stuff, up and held it for a
 few months before bringing it to the new place).

 Now, the printer doesn't work.  I turn it on and the front panel does a
 brief lamp-test (each lamp in turn turns on briefly), the display says
 "05 SELF TEST", then "SWITCHING TO PS", then "55 SERVICE"
with the 55
 flashing.

 I did a little noodling around and found hints that this indicates some
 kind of internal communication failure - and, indeed, I don't hear the
 brief motor-and-solenoid noises that (admittedly hazy) memory says
 normally accompany selftest; after the clunk of the power switch as I
 turn it on, the next sound is the clunk of the power switch as I turn
 it off in exasperation at seeing "55 SERVICE" again.  (It's possible
 there are fan noises, but there are enough fans in the room that it
 would be had to tell unless they're fairly noisy fans.)

 I found a PDF on www.lbrty.com which purports to be a IIISi/4Si manual,
 probably a service manual from the context and the "sm" in the
 filename.  But every page just gives me "**** ERROR: Unable to process
 JPXDecode data. Page will be missing data." and an empty page.  I am
 looking into other possible ways to get its content, but, in the
 meantime, does anyone have anything to suggest?  I'm not afraid of
 voltmeters and soldering irons, but my test equipment is limited - I
 don't, for example, have a 'scope or logic analyzer I can use here.  I
 do have a pretty good multimeter - a Fluke 87 - though.

 I took the printer apart to some degree.  I've had it apart before;
 there was a power filtering cap that went and arced enough to eat away
 some of the PC board under it.  I cleaned it up and replaced it and
 it's worked fine ever since...until now.

 Any thoughts, anyone?

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The Service Manual at www.lbrty.com says:

"55 SERVICE" Initialization Error
The "55 Service" error indicates that the printer failed to initialize
correctly at power ON. This means that the Formatter cannot
communicate with the engine in order to establish the initial
condition of the engine. This problem can be caused by a bad
Formatter, bad cable, or by problems with the line voltage. Check and
reseat connectors J4 and J5 on the DC Power Supply, and J8, J9, and
JIO on the DC Controller PCA. Cycle the power several times to clear
the error or to get another error that may better indicate the cause
of the problem. If this clears the error, run an engine test print. If
the error persists, replace the Paper Pickup PCA, the DC Controller
PCA, the DC Power Supply PCA, the Formatter PCA. Finally, replace the
Paper Input Unit. If these fail to correct the problem, check all
associated cahles for damage and replace if required. Any 57.1 Main
Motor problem can also cause this error.

I can copy & paste the manuals info on any other error messages you
see if you'd like.  Or convert the PDF to a TIFF file or similar if
that would help.

Bob