Canon ip5200 problem - no ink on paper - not even nozzle check

[PW]

I had an initial problem with what appeared to be blocked cyan nozzles. (A nozzle print check showed the cyan area as the (ordinarily) two cyan solid colour areas of intensity printed as three different areas of intensity (not two)

That is to say the upper area shown as 6c in the nozzle check was itself two tones, (an upper denser area and a lower area less dense) and the 'normal' second 6c area. See correct nozzle check illustrated on the sticky on this forum.

I have a scan of the problem, but cannot see any way to attach it to this post.

The printer has been used almost daily for several years using original and compatible cartridges and refilled cartridges without any problems.

I suspected part of the printhead was blocked and before attempting to clean it removed the ink cartidges and removed the print head. Then simply replaced the printhead and cartridges to ensure I knew the way the printhead fitted, without having attempted any cleaning.

The printer then realigned the printhead as expected (at least I presume that is what the slightly unfamiliar movements indicated). However it then gave an onscreen message 'wrong printhead installed' (or something to that effect). That error did not reappear after several restarts.

But now whatever I do there is no ink on the paper whether nozzle print check or several pages of text.
The printer is not indicating any errors, makes all the familiar noises and apparently runs as if everything is normal but there is no ink whatsoever on the paper (not even a smudge!)

(I have since removed, cleaned and reinstalled the printhead, but the problem described persists.)

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[PW]

Since removing and refitting the printhead in a Canon iP5200 injet the paper feeds OK but without any ink flowing onto the paper.

Is it possible I may have not fitted the printhead correctly?
Is it possible to reset any options to 're-activate' the printhead?
Time to scrap it?

When the printhead was removed (I think) it seemed necessary to gently squeeze the two tabs before it would release but when relocating the printhead it just seemed to 'drop into place' - the printhead frame just slides in the indented chutes either side and there is now no resistence on the tabs which (I think) needed to be gently squeezed to originally release the print head which now lifts straightout once the locking bar is lifted.

(There are no errors indicated. The printhead and locking bar appear to be correctly positioned - the tanks illuminate as expected. All the 'normal' proceses of the printer appear to function except there is now no ink on paper either afer a nozzle check or 'normal' print job or anywhere else inside the printer).

The printer is about 6 years old and had perhaps above average home use. I guess the printhead may just be end of life.

Apologies but my earlier question (22nd Aug) has had many reads and no replies!
I am now desperate and may need to simply buy another printer as I have to submit important documents and cannot print anything.

Any help or suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[ghwellsjr]

Sorry to have missed your original post on this problem.

It sounds like your cyan had an electrical problem that usually can't be fixed by cleaning, if I understand you correctly. If you meant that one of the bars was printing in two shades of cyan divided exactly in half along the length of the bar. This will usually mean you need a new print head.

But you may also have another problem. Have you checked to see if your purge system is working? This is what primes the print head to get the ink to flow in the first place. If you are not planning on getting a new print head, then it doesn't really matter but if you do want to fix your printer by getting a new print head, you should first make sure you can get your printer to work like it did before you removed the print head.

Here's what you can do:

1) Open the cover and wait until the print head stops in the middle of the printer.

2) Look off to the right where the print head parks for a couple dark pads. The one on the right that is more squarish is for the dye inks that have the thin cartridges. The one on the left, which may be a little harder to see, is for the pigment black ink from the wide cartridge.

3) Deposit some Windex or other window cleaner or just plain water on the two pads using a syringe, eye dropper or just a bent straw.

4) Make sure the pads now appear shinny due to the liquid deposited on them and remain that way for a half minute or so. In other words, you don't want the liquid to drain away.

5) Now close the cover and do a cleaning.

6) Open the cover and see that the liquid has been sucked away and that the pads appear a dull black color.

Let us know what happens.

 

[PW]

ghwellsjr
InkJet Master

Thank you for the response a few days ago. A long weekend public holiday here in the UK and then I got rather preoccupied with a problem with the car...

I presume there is little likelihood of the printhead not being positioned correctly if the printer detects, illuminated the cartridges and report the ink state.

The normal nozzle check pattern has two solid cyan areas, the upper one darker in tone than the lower one. Prior to the printer not working the last nozzle checks I did had the upper cyan area itself as two tones, a upper darker and a lower lighter, each the normal width on the paper. Then the second cyan area printed as normal. In effect giving three different tonal bands, (two in the first area and a third as normal).

So your impression of the nozzle check result was almost correct except the two tone cyan bar is two equal size horizontal areas across (rather than as I think you suggested a lighter tone from half way across. But I guess that makes little difference.

I did as you proposed. (The right hand, the more square foam pad appears dark but with some obvious cyan ink staining.)
I wet (both accidentally) the pads and then did a clean. The moisture on the pad had been drained after closing the lid, cleaning and reopening the lid.

I also then attempted a nozzle check and several pages of text. Still nothing printed on paper.

I expect it is a fatal printhead problem.

Peter

 

[ghwellsjr]

I expect you're right.

 

[PW]

Oh well, time for a new printer.

Thanks again for the help, I appreciate it.

 

[stratman]

If the printer appears to function properly other than the print head, and you think the problem is solely the print head, why not order a new print head from Canon?

 

[PW]

The answer to that is simple economics.
A new printhead is rather more expensive than a new printer. (65 UK pounds plus delivery whereas a new 9600dpi printer can be bought for rather less).

I don't know if this is the fact in other countries (I presume it is) but here in the UK with some printers it is actually cheaper to buy a brand new printer rather than buy a set of new branded ink cartridges! It is an economic and environmental nonesense which should be stopped by legislation if necessary.

I have borrowed a printer for the short term but now begins the task of trying to identify a suitable printer which isn't going to cost a fortune in ink cartridges......

What we want is a printer capable of high quality photo prints upto A4 and which will print in greyscale using the black inks only and ideally will continue to print greyscale if colour inks are exhausted (ie a direct replacement for the Canon iP5200).

 

[stratman]

If you refill cartridges yourself then the simple economic answer is to get a new print head, presuming that your issue is with the print head solely. There are no printers in production today, nor most likely found on shelves in stores, that match the performance, build, and ease of refilling as your IP5200.

But by all means, get a new printer and trash your old one because that's the environmental thing to do, especially before government tells you what you must do.

 

[panos]

PW, at least sell your old iP5200 on eBay. I believe there will be a lot of users who have a different opinion about its current value and hopefully you won't regret it when you start refilling Canon's new mini-cartridges again and again and again.

I think stratman, despite a bit angry, does identify a slight oxymoron in your statement.