HPLC, GC and UV-Vis Instrument Troubleshooting
Fault-finding notes from our own service visits — written by the engineers who do them, for the engineer standing in front of the instrument. 16 models we support, 13 guides published so far.
By instrument
Pick the model on your bench. 7 of these have a written guide today — the rest reach an engineer who works on them.
Agilent 1100 Series HPLC
HPLC · Agilent Technologies
1 guide
Agilent 1200 Series HPLC
HPLC · Agilent Technologies
2 guides
Agilent 1260 Infinity
HPLC · Agilent Technologies
2 guides
Agilent 6890 Gas Chromatograph
GC · Agilent Technologies
Service & spares — ask an engineer
Agilent 7890B Gas Chromatograph
GC · Agilent Technologies
1 guide
Agilent 8860 Gas Chromatograph
GC · Agilent Technologies
Service & spares — ask an engineer
Agilent 8890 Gas Chromatograph
GC · Agilent Technologies
Service & spares — ask an engineer
PerkinElmer TurboMatrix HS 40 Headspace Sampler
Headspace · PerkinElmer
Service & spares — ask an engineer
Shimadzu GC-2010
GC · Shimadzu
Service & spares — ask an engineer
Shimadzu GC-2014 Gas Chromatograph
GC · Shimadzu
1 guide
Shimadzu LC-2010
HPLC · Shimadzu
3 guides
Shimadzu LC-2030C Plus
HPLC · Shimadzu
Service & spares — ask an engineer
Shimadzu UV-1800 UV-Vis Spectrophotometer
UV-Vis · Shimadzu
1 guide
Waters 2489 UV/Visible Detector
Detector · Waters
Service & spares — ask an engineer
Waters 2998 PDA Detector
Detector · Waters
Service & spares — ask an engineer
Waters Alliance e2695
HPLC · Waters
Service & spares — ask an engineer
| Instrument | Technique | Brand | Guides | FAQ answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agilent 1100 Series HPLC | HPLC | Agilent Technologies | 1 | 8 |
| Agilent 1200 Series HPLC | HPLC | Agilent Technologies | 2 | 8 |
| Agilent 1260 Infinity | HPLC | Agilent Technologies | 2 | 8 |
| Agilent 6890 Gas Chromatograph | GC | Agilent Technologies | 0 | 7 |
| Agilent 7890B Gas Chromatograph | GC | Agilent Technologies | 1 | 7 |
| Agilent 8860 Gas Chromatograph | GC | Agilent Technologies | 0 | 6 |
| Agilent 8890 Gas Chromatograph | GC | Agilent Technologies | 0 | 6 |
| PerkinElmer TurboMatrix HS 40 Headspace Sampler | Headspace | PerkinElmer | 0 | 6 |
| Shimadzu GC-2010 | GC | Shimadzu | 0 | 7 |
| Shimadzu GC-2014 Gas Chromatograph | GC | Shimadzu | 1 | 6 |
| Shimadzu LC-2010 | HPLC | Shimadzu | 3 | 8 |
| Shimadzu LC-2030C Plus | HPLC | Shimadzu | 0 | 8 |
| Shimadzu UV-1800 UV-Vis Spectrophotometer | UV-Vis | Shimadzu | 1 | 7 |
| Waters 2489 UV/Visible Detector | Detector | Waters | 0 | 6 |
| Waters 2998 PDA Detector | Detector | Waters | 0 | 6 |
| Waters Alliance e2695 | HPLC | Waters | 0 | 8 |
By symptom
What the instrument is doing, rather than what it is called.
Fault finding
GC Broad or Tailing Solvent Peak: Causes and Fixes
Why the solvent peak in your GC chromatogram turns broad, tails or splits, and the order to check the column cut, splitless settings, liner, backflash and FID gas flows.
HPLCHPLC Pressure Problems: High, Low and Fluctuating Pressure Explained
What normal HPLC pressure looks like, and how to find the cause of high, low or fluctuating pressure on Shimadzu, Waters and Agilent systems, one connection at a time.
Agilent 1100 Series HPLCAgilent HPLC Pump Troubleshooting: Pressure Ripple, Leaks and the Purge Valve
How we track down pressure ripple, leaks and purge valve problems on Agilent 1100, 1200 and 1260 Infinity HPLC pumps, in the order that saves the most time.
Shimadzu LC-2010Shimadzu HPLC Troubleshooting: Common Error Messages and Fixes
The error messages we meet most often on Shimadzu LC-2010 and LC-2010C HT systems, what each one usually means on the bench, and what to check before you call an engineer.
Shimadzu LC-2010Shimadzu LC-2010C HT Pump Problems: High Pressure, Fluctuation and “No Pump Home”
The pump is the heart of the HPLC. Line filter, check valves, pump seal, and the sensor that counts — what we check, in the order we check it.
Agilent 1200 Series HPLCHPLC Baseline Noise and Drift: Causes, Diagnosis and Fixes
Most noisy or drifting HPLC baselines come down to ten causes. This is the order our engineers check them in on Shimadzu, Waters and Agilent systems, with a pattern table and a simple stop-flow test.
Maintenance
Calibration
Guides
Buying a Refurbished HPLC in India: A Practical Checklist
How to choose a refurbished HPLC in India: what refurbished should mean, which models are easy to support, what to test before you pay and the questions to put in writing.
HPLCHPLC Pump Repair or Replace? How to Decide
When to repair an HPLC pump and when to replace it: wear parts versus real failures, parts availability, software support, re-validation and the refurbished middle path.
GCGC Column Selection Guide for Routine Analysis
How stationary phase, film thickness and column dimensions affect separation - and how to pick a sensible starting point.
HPLCUnderstanding IQ/OQ/PQ Qualification for Analytical Instruments
What each qualification phase actually verifies, and why auditors ask for all three.
Questions we get asked
Instrument down right now?
Describe the symptom. Someone who works on that model will answer — not a form, not a ticket number.
What should an HPLC service or AMC enquiry include?
Send the instrument model, module details, laboratory location and a short description of the work required. For a breakdown, include the displayed error and when the symptom started. For an AMC, list the instruments and desired maintenance scope so that visit planning, parts and exclusions can be discussed before a quotation.
Where does Vision Analytical provide analytical instrument support?
Vision Analytical is based in Ambernath, Thane, Maharashtra, and works across Maharashtra and Gujarat. The business has operated since 2022 and serves pharmaceutical laboratories among its customers. Share your exact laboratory address and instrument details to discuss service arrangements; coverage does not imply a branch office or a guaranteed response time in every city.
How can a laboratory make a service scope clear before approval?
Prepare one equipment list that both the laboratory user and the purchasing contact can review. Distinguish planned maintenance from an existing fault and identify any parts already requested. Explain the records your laboratory expects for the work, the access arrangements and the contact responsible for questions. Ask for the proposed activities, exclusions and commercial terms in writing before approval, so that the service discussion and the purchase request refer to the same agreed scope.