I first noticed that there was a problem when I was unable to print any black text to plain paper. I tried printing a test pattern, and found that the black grid portion of the test pattern (PGBK) didn't print at all. All of the other inks (dye) printed fine. After the standard and deep cleaning routines both failed (no improvement to test pattern), I started searching the web, which led me to this (very helpful) forum.
I then tried several suggestions that had worked for other posters on this form. I tried cleaning the print head manually. I removed the print head and used an eye dropper to run liquid through the PGBK nozzle -- first isopropyl alcohol, then distilled water -- until liquid passed through quickly and no longer stained the paper towel beneath with black ink. This did not help.
I then explored whether the purge unit might be at fault. I used the eye dropper to put distilled water on the parking pads for the purge unit. The water drained fairly quickly from both the dye pad and the PGBK pad -- I don't think I was able to get it to stand for more than about a minute. Closing the printer before the water had drained removed any remaining standing water. Since the water drained from both the dye pad and the PGBK pad at about the same speed, and since I've had no problems with the dye inks, I don't think I have a problem with the purge unit. I guess I could have a leak, but I would think that the PGBK pad would drain more quickly than the dye pad if that were the case. Is this correct?
I also tested the PGBK purge unit by dabbing the PGBK parking pad until clean and then running the deep cleaning routine for PGBK only. When I reopened the printer, the previously clean PGBK parking pad was covered with black ink. As I understand it, this means that the purge unit is working correctly. It also suggests to me that the PGBK ink tank and the print head are also working, since they are able to transfer ink from the tank to the pad. Neither cleaning the PGBK parking pad with water nor dabbing it with paper towels helped restore PGBK printing.
I have always used OEM Canon ink -- no refills or replacements from other brands. There's plenty of ink in the PGBK cartridge -- I replaced it less than a week before the problem began. The printer did warn me earlier this summer that the PGBK cartridge was completely out and needed to be replaced immediately. I just needed to scan at the time, so I used a button combination to bypass the warning. About 3 weeks (and two small print jobs) passed before I was able to replace the PGBK cartridge. Printing with the empty PGBK cartridge worked OK, although the the black text was a bit faded in the last few prints I made before changing the cartridge. I can't recall if the new, full PGBK cartridge ever worked -- I didn't do a test print when I replaced the cartridge, and can't remember if I successfully printed anything between the time when I installed the cartridge and when the PGBK failed.
Given the above, I've concluded that I either have a purge unit leak, or more likely that I burned out the PGBK print head by using it when it was (nearly) empty. Are there any other possibilities, or tests that I should perform? Would it be worthwhile to take it apart to check the purge unit?
The cheapest price I've found for a replacement print head is about $55. Since I can buy a new printer of similar quality for around $80, this isn't worth it. Any suggestions before I ditch the printer and buy an new one?
Many thanks for any tips you can offer!
I then tried several suggestions that had worked for other posters on this form. I tried cleaning the print head manually. I removed the print head and used an eye dropper to run liquid through the PGBK nozzle -- first isopropyl alcohol, then distilled water -- until liquid passed through quickly and no longer stained the paper towel beneath with black ink. This did not help.
I then explored whether the purge unit might be at fault. I used the eye dropper to put distilled water on the parking pads for the purge unit. The water drained fairly quickly from both the dye pad and the PGBK pad -- I don't think I was able to get it to stand for more than about a minute. Closing the printer before the water had drained removed any remaining standing water. Since the water drained from both the dye pad and the PGBK pad at about the same speed, and since I've had no problems with the dye inks, I don't think I have a problem with the purge unit. I guess I could have a leak, but I would think that the PGBK pad would drain more quickly than the dye pad if that were the case. Is this correct?
I also tested the PGBK purge unit by dabbing the PGBK parking pad until clean and then running the deep cleaning routine for PGBK only. When I reopened the printer, the previously clean PGBK parking pad was covered with black ink. As I understand it, this means that the purge unit is working correctly. It also suggests to me that the PGBK ink tank and the print head are also working, since they are able to transfer ink from the tank to the pad. Neither cleaning the PGBK parking pad with water nor dabbing it with paper towels helped restore PGBK printing.
I have always used OEM Canon ink -- no refills or replacements from other brands. There's plenty of ink in the PGBK cartridge -- I replaced it less than a week before the problem began. The printer did warn me earlier this summer that the PGBK cartridge was completely out and needed to be replaced immediately. I just needed to scan at the time, so I used a button combination to bypass the warning. About 3 weeks (and two small print jobs) passed before I was able to replace the PGBK cartridge. Printing with the empty PGBK cartridge worked OK, although the the black text was a bit faded in the last few prints I made before changing the cartridge. I can't recall if the new, full PGBK cartridge ever worked -- I didn't do a test print when I replaced the cartridge, and can't remember if I successfully printed anything between the time when I installed the cartridge and when the PGBK failed.
Given the above, I've concluded that I either have a purge unit leak, or more likely that I burned out the PGBK print head by using it when it was (nearly) empty. Are there any other possibilities, or tests that I should perform? Would it be worthwhile to take it apart to check the purge unit?
The cheapest price I've found for a replacement print head is about $55. Since I can buy a new printer of similar quality for around $80, this isn't worth it. Any suggestions before I ditch the printer and buy an new one?
Many thanks for any tips you can offer!
