A:Answer Replacing the printheads on the HP Officejet Pro 8500A is a simple task to do yourself. First open the door for the print cartridges and remove each one. Then open the access door and remove the two dual-printhead units by pulling them straight up using the attached blue tabs. Shake the new print head cartridges side to side 6 times to activate the chemicals, open the sealed wrapper, remove the two orange-colored plugs. (DO NOT touch the print head contact points. Using the blue tabs, insert the new print heads into the proper location (black/yellow or cyan/magenta), pushing firmly. When both sets of printheads are in, close the cover and replace the 4 ink cartridges.
Using the printer's maintenance software, indicate "Align new printhead". This task will take some time. If the initial print page doesn't look right ask for the deep cleaning.
Congratulations, you just saved the cost of the new printer over the cost of the print heads and the cost of paying a technician.
