Ink System Failure on HP Photosmart C6180, C5180

With error code "0xc..." , 0xc19a002e, 0xc18a0306, 0xc18a0206

Solution 1:

• Press and hold the “*” key.
• Press the “#” key and release both keys.
• Display should say “Enter Special Key Combo”
• Press and release in sequence the “1”, “2” and “3” buttons.
• Screen says "support" R0631M
• Press and release the right arrow button until the display says “System Configuration Menu”.
• Press and release the “OK” button.
• Display should say “Hardware failure status”. If not there already, Arrow Key over to “Hardware failure status”,
• Press and release the “OK” button.
• Display should say “Hardware failure status: Clear. Press OK to clear”.
• Press and release the “OK” Button. Message changes to “Hardware failure status Cleared. Press Cancel to continue”.
• Press and release the “CANCEL” button as many times as necessary, so that, either the “Welcome to Photosmart Express” screen appears, or, the “Ink System Failure” screen appears. DO NOT TRY TO PRINT AT THIS STAGE.
• Using the Power Button, turn the unit OFF and unplug the power cable from back of the printer and wall outlet.
• Wait 30 seconds for the power to get discharged and then plug the power cable into the wall outlet first and then into the back of the printer
• Turn the unit on. The printer may display message “USE POWER BUTTON TO SHUTDOWN THE PRINTER” followed by “PRESS OK TO CONTINUE”.
• Press OK. The Printer will start the “ONE TIME INK INITIALIZATION PROCESS”. Allow this process to complete and do not interrupt. Once the initialization process is complete, the printer will print out a Diagnostic Page.

Solution 2:

• Press * and # at the same time 
• Press 1, 2, 3 and "support R0632M" should display
• Press > and "information menu" should display
• Press > and "configuration menu" should display
• Press OK and "hardware failure status" should display
• Press OK "failure status: clear". Press OK to clear
• Press CANCEL
• Press CANCEL
• Press CANCEL
• Turn printer off, unplug power cord for 2 minutes, plug cord back in then turn printer back on.

• If the error came back, do the sequence again and the error will be replaced with the usual print cartridge initialization screens. Print a test page to make sure.

Solution 3 (thanks to a1224imac):

• This same error started occurring on my printer and eventually it would constantly power on and off. 
• Apparently some defective components were used in the construction of the logic board (see photo). 
• On my C6180 there were 3 failed capacitors (the green cylinders - the puffed top indicates failure) and a 4th from the same manufacturer (TEAPO - many unfavorable web references to this manufacturer). 
• I purchased 3x 330uF 16V and 1x 680uF 10v rated to 105 degrees Celsius (total about 60cents). 
• On the logic board, the capacitors I replaced are labeled C613, C614, C660 and C662. 
• If you are not comfortable replacing the parts yourself (or don't have a soldering tool), you will have to find someone who will. The time to repair should be less than 30 min - I did it in 25 min with only a solder pen. This also fixed the ink system failures the printer was having. A similar fix may apply to other printers.