Canon i9950 does not print black

[gilkinted]

I've replaced all the inks and I cannot get any black output. I notice that when the carts are removed the small circular sponge feeding the black to the print heads has not delivered its ink. All the others look ok. I've tried flushing the heads (not overnight) - no difference. I notice I get black output (or is it?) when printing A4 from Photoshop but if I go to A3 with edge to edge printing black text turns in to an outline and black won't print in depth. No output from Notepad or Word unless I change font colour. Any ideas, anyone?

Allan

 

[ghwellsjr]

Have you done a nozzle check to see if the black ink as well as all the others have any clogged nozzles?

 

[gilkinted]

Lots of nozzle checks. Now had the print head in soak overnight - no change. It seems that every time there is a cleaning session a large amount of ink is used so now I'm down to the three inks that I replaced (inc. black) as empty and the ones that weren't now are! Something I find odd is if I look at the print out of the 'print check pattern' in Column 1 6BK is blank but the marker shown like this: I 6BK I (and all other markers) print out in black (or is it?). Tried flushing the black purge filter - no change. I'm stuck.
Allan

 

[ghwellsjr]

The markers are printed with a combination of several other colors which make them appear black.

Let me see if I understand your situation: you have done enough cleanings to indicate that your black ink is not being used at all but all the other inks are working fine and you have basically drained all of them except black, correct?

First off, let me suggest that when you command a cleaning from the computer, you can limit the cleaning to one of two groups. If you specifiy just the group that contains the black ink, you won't be wasting ink in the other group.

Second, if you refill your cartridges then it's no big deal that you have gone through a lot of ink but if you buy either OEM cartridges or compatibles already filled, then I would suggest that you "rejuvenate" some of your empty cartridges by dripping Windex or other window cleaner or just plain water into the outlet port until the sponge is saturated. You can then use these "refilled" cartridges to continue your cleanings without incurring a lot of expense.

Third, you need to make sure your purge system is working. This is a pump inside your printer that sucks on the bottom of the two purge pads off to the right where your print head parks. This sucking action is necessary to get the ink to start flowing through the print head. Using a syringe, eye dropper or pinched straw, deposit some window cleaner (or water) on the two pads, do a cleaning cycle and see if the liquid has disappeared. If it remains, then that would explain why you cannot get your black ink started flowing.

If you don't have a purge system problem, then you need to determine if the black set of nozzles has an electrical problem or an ink flow problem. One piece of evidence is to remove the print head and press it into a piece of paper towel folder over and saturated with window cleaner or water. You should see ink coming up through all of the ink entry ports on the top of the print head. If you don't see any for the black port, this would imply that you have a clog but it is not 100% sure.

I presume you have tried different black cartridges to assure yourself the problem is not in your cartridge. If you don't have any, you can interchange your black cartidge with one of the other colors and see if it works in the other position.

If you blow into the air vent on the top of the black cartridge, will ink drip out of the bottom? If you press a paper towel against the outlet port, do you get a solid black ink stain?

How did this problem start? Did the black suddenly quit working? How long was it since the last time it worked? Had you just replaced the black cartridge or some others?

 

[gilkinted]

Greatly appreciate your responding in such detail. Just to clear up a couple of things. As in the last sentence of my last post I've tried the purge test. The liquid seems to be getting through so suction is happening. I suspect the black had been empty for a while (others have used the printer). I'll try switching another colour in to the black position and report back.

Cheers, Allan