Canon Error Messages

[AngelaTC]

I have been reading here and refilling for a little over a year. I could never find the long needles required for the German method, so I fill them through the top. I made a few messes while I was learning, but thought I had mastered it until today.

I have 3 sets of cartridges I rotate through. Two are OEM, and one is the original Canon. I fill them, reset them, seal them and store them.

Today, one of the OEM carts ran out, so I grabbed the original Canon cart and out it in. The printer said that cartridge wasn't recognized. Hmmm. I reset it again, but still got the same message. So I refilled the cartridge that I had just removed. I reset it and got a message that there was an error that required me to power off the printer. I did that a couple of times. When I started up the printer with the cart already installed, I got at a Canon error 5100. Last time I got that I had a leaky cartridge and I needed to clean that strip that runs across the back, but there's no ink or dirt on it now. It doesn't look like this cartridge is flooding the printhead at all.

What should / should I do? It is a Canon MP640. I don't know what type of ink I have, but I am pretty sure it came from an Amazon seller that people here were using.

 

[stratman]

All three of your cartridges are OEM if I understand you properly. I assume you meant that one of your three sets is the original that came with the printer.

We can help you with proper needles for using the Durchstich method if you want.

From an MP620 Service Manual:

Error 5100 is a carriage error. An error occurred in the carriage encoder signal.

Reasons and fixes:
(1) Smearing or scratches on the carriage slit film; clean the timing slit film.
(2) Foreign material or paper debris that obstructs the carriage movement; remove foreign material.
(3) Ink tank conditions; re-set the ink tanks.
(4) Cable connection
(5) Part replacement:
- Timing slit disk film
- Carriage unit
- Logic board
- Carriage motor

Before doing anything else, completely power off the printer, unplug from electrical outlet for a minute or so, then plug back in a power on the printer. Maybe the error will "magically" disappears. Stranger things have been known to happen.

Try cleaning your timing film/strip again. Make sure the ink tanks are properly seated and nothing is obstructing proper contact. Make sure no debris is obstructing movement of the carriage. Make sure all cables are firmly seated.

It's possible your resetter needs a new battery and it isn't resetting properly. One way to narrow your diagnosis is to try a known working cartridge. A new OEM Canon cartridge takes all the guesswork out, but you could try a compatible or "borrow" a cartridge that works in a different printer. You could also replace the battery(s) in your resetter and try resetting again.

For completeness, make sure the print head is relatively clean and free of debris or gunk. You do not need to flush it if it looks OK. Make sure the electrical contacts on the print head and printer are clean as well - use a soft rubber eraser or a lint-free cloth and isopropyl alcohol to clean oxidation/ink/dirt.

Try these simple/easy fixes first before considering parts replacement!

 

[AngelaTC]

I will try all of these things and post again. I'm just so sad this isn't working.

I think the resetter is ok, for a couple of reasons. First, I reset all my cartridges when I was filling them last time. Second, my resetter is USB, not battery powered.

Also, to clarify: there are 4 cartridges in a set. I have 2 sets of OEM, and 1 set of Canon. If it important to never mix OEM with the Canon...well, I didn't know that. It's the big 220 cartridge that I am wrestling with. The other 3 installed cartridges are OEM, I think.

I don't know that I have a known working cartridge, although I could go buy one I suppose. That's why I refilled the one I had just removed - it was fine 10 minutes prior.

I wish I was getting the same message with both cartridges.

As it stands now, I can't get the 5100 message again. I get the "cartridge not recognized" with the Canon cart, and a "The printer has encountered a system error" with the other.

 

[stratman]

Definitely try a new OEM Canon Pigment Black cartridge if that is the only one giving you a problem. Cartridge chips can go bad for whatever reasons. Resetters can be problematic as well.

OEM means Original Equipment Manufacturer. In this case, if your cartridges are all from Canon then they are all OEM's. Any cartridge not made by Canon is an aftermarket cartridge.

I hope you issue resolves simply.

 

[AngelaTC]

OK - Apparently I don't know what OEM means. I am so sorry. Two of the sets are aftermarket cartridges while one set is Canon.

I do have a third cartridge here. It's almost empty, but I put it back in anyway. With that cartridge installed I am back to the routine error message about the ink getting low.

What should I try next?

 

[stratman]

I recommend using only OEM Canon cartridges for refilling. Others may voice differently.

It may be your resetter is on the fritz and you will need a new one. It could be the two cartridges that are not working (are these the aftermarket cartridges?) have chips that have permanently malfunctioned or are out of proper position when placed in the print head. Trying a different resetter may reset these chips. You will know better when you try to reset a newly empty cartridge that obviously has been functioning properly.

If you want to try a new aftermarket cartridge from a reputable store, then give it a go. If it works then you know the print head and printer are not the problem. (Unless it's something intermittent.)

My best advice is to purchase a new OEM Canon cartridge and see what happens both in functioning properly in the printer and then, when it's time to refill, see if the chip resets. (Try resetting the chip BEFORE you refill) If the chip resets and the cartridge works, then breath easily and enjoy. If the chip does not reset then it could be your resetter needs replaced.

 

[AngelaTC]

I recommend using only OEM Canon cartridges for refilling. Others may voice differently.

It may be your resetter is on the fritz and you will need a new one. It could be the two cartridges that are not working (are these the aftermarket cartridges?) have chips that have permanently malfunctioned or are out of proper position when placed in the print head. Trying a different resetter may reset these chips. You will know better when you try to reset a newly empty cartridge that obviously has been functioning properly.

One of the malfunctioning cartridges is a Canon, and one is an aftermarket. They have all functioned properly in the past. The aftermarket was functioning properly today.

If you want to try a new aftermarket cartridge from a reputable store, then give it a go. If it works then you know the print head and printer are not the problem. (Unless it's something intermittent.)

My best advice is to purchase a new OEM Canon cartridge and see what happens both in functioning properly in the printer and then, when it's time to refill, see if the chip resets. (Try resetting the chip BEFORE you refill) If the chip resets and the cartridge works, then breath easily and enj If the chip does not reset then it could be your resetter needs replaced.

I will do that the next time I am at the store. In the meantime, if you could give me a source for the needles are are long enough, I'll plan on learning the German refill method with the new cartridge.

The resetter thing frustrates me. This will be my third one.

 

[stratman]

... if you could give me a source for the needles are are long enough, I'll plan on learning the German refill method with the new cartridge.

What country do you live in?

The resetter thing frustrates me. This will be my third one.

Where/who have you purchased your resetters from? Were they all USB models? What happened to the other two?