PIXMA MG5320 - Thorough printhead cleaning method?

[SkedAddled]

So, I have a MG5320. I like it because it has a nice-quality scanner,
among other features. But the display threw up the dreaded
"Incorrect Printhead" error.

History:
Purchased new some years ago, around 6 years.
Print output: Probably less than 300 pages.
Inks used: Canon OEM at first, Monoprice when replacement(s) needed.

The Monoprice carts worked fine until empty, but new replacement carts
from Monoprice were rejected by the printer. A few more sets were on hand,
so I tried more.

Long story short, the printhead died.

Rather than spend the cash on a service center diagnostic, I grabbed a used
printhead from eBay for around US$23. It transfers only pigment black to paper.
It has spit out all other colors, albeit very briefly, on less than a few occasions.

I'm currently using Precision Colors refill ink, their supplied carts, and their
chip resetter. All instances of refill/reset have been successful.
The carts are reported by the printer as being used, but none of the 4
photo colors get to the paper.

I have soaked it in Windex, rinsed it with water, applied naptha to the ink
channels. It still works, and spit out some cyan after sitting a while, and
a tiny bit of magenta, but goes back to pigment black only after 2 or 3
nozzle checks. It's now sitting on a saturated napkin loaded with Windex
while I occasionally drip Windex onto the ink inlets.
I can also see fluid moving through the head when pushing the head down
and lifting it from the towel.

At this point, while I have hope for this head, I'd like to ask the well-versed
folks here if I'm simply beating a dead horse.
Does this head need a more intensive cleaning?
What should I do differently?

 

[The Hat]

What should I do differently?

@SkedAddled, honestly, I reckon your best bet is to call it a day and let the printer hit the dumpster, the print head you bought was a lemon, and a new printer would probably be cheaper than getting a new head from the Canon Service Centre.

The best way of using the MG5320 is with OEM XL cartridges and refilling them and using a resetter with Precision Colours inks, all other ways are not as reliable and as you have found out, will lead to print head failure.

Theses printer are made to fail when using 3rd party cartridges if their owners are not 100% comfortable with the art of refilling, a stand-alone scanner is also a better option, and all cheap EBAY purchased print heads a crap shoot...
Sorry...

 

[SkedAddled]

Theses printer are made to fail when using 3rd party cartridges if their owners are not 100% comfortable with the art of refilling, a stand-alone scanner is also a better option, and all cheap EBAY purchased print heads a crap shoot...
Sorry...

Thanks for your feedback, @The Hat.

My only scanner uses have been to make copies of documents
and DVD/disk covers, not film/slides or such, so I don't need
such higher quality output that a stand-alone provides.

So, are you saying that the 3rd-party cart chips are likely to render color printing
non-existent? There's still an occasional color output, though it's very rare.
It's come through from all colors, except maybe dye black.
The inks are certainly being drained from the carts, though I'll be damned
if I know where they've been going. The wipers don't seem to have any unusual
or new additions to them.

I'm actually considering spending the $100 or so for an OEM printhead.
It's far less costly than an equivalent new unit to use the same carts.
I'd continue to use OEM carts with the PC inks and resetter.
Good idea, or a bad one?

 

[SkedAddled]

Hmmm. No further feedback?

Respectfully bumping this thread in hope of some further opinions
on the issue. I simply hate to trash this thing, as it has served me
quite well until very recently.

 

[The Hat]

Yes, it has severed you well, but its time to let it go and learn from the few mistakes you’ve made and move on to another printer, but this time use what you’ve learned to avoid the usual first-time mistakes and get better at refilling...

Always remember that Canon loves you when you don’t follow their rules..

 

[SkedAddled]

Always remember that Canon loves you when you don’t follow their rules..

Yes, well...

@The Hat :
Are you actually confirming my query about non-OEM chips disabling color print?
The used head from eBay has printed some, so is it illogical to believe that a new
OEM printhead will restore function with OEM carts and a proven resetter?

I suppose I don't understand the thinking; please bear with me...
1. Printhead died(and is still dead = tested a few times)
2. Used, replacement printhead is functional, but only with PGBK
3. Used head has printed all colors(except dye black) on a few occasions
4. This tells me the mainboard of printer still works properly = Yes? or No?
5. Liquid flow can be seen travelling both ways through all ink channels
6. Flow pattern through each channel's nozzle is VERY different from each other
7. Cleaning/flushing restores SOME color output, but dies after about 2 nozzle prints
8. Conclusion is a bad/clogged printhead, albeit not fully dead as reported to printer
9. Haven't tried the above with original printhead = "It's dead, Jim!"

So after all the above, it appears to me that the printer IS still capable of normal
functionality. It's just that the head in it now isn't in the functional state it's
supposed to be in. Not knowing all the ins-and-outs of the Canon printerverse,
but understanding a small amount of electronic device communication,
my conclusion is that a new or known good printhead would restore function.
This follows my own logic, but if I'm missing something I hadn't thought of,
I will respectfully request some clarification on my muddled thoughts.

 

[The Hat]

The only thing I picked up on and sounded the alarm bells for me was, Question 7...

Your current cartridges maybe causing your problems, get a set of cheap filled compatibles cartridges and try them to see if your ink flow gets any better, if your printer is functions (Works) then your mainboard is not damaged.

Because 99% of all print and ink flow problems stem directly from the cartridges themselves and if not picked up quickly then that leads to the head over heating and failure, Epson printer don’t have this issue...

Non-OEM chips will not harm your printer, but non-OEM cartridges if not handled correctly most definitely will, and so will poor or universal inks, and if your choose to refill it must be done properly..

P.S. All print head are OEM, but not all print heads purchased on EBay are new...

 

[SkedAddled]

The only thing I picked up on and sounded the alarm bells for me was, Question 7...

Aha!
That's maybe not the rub, then.

As mentioned, the carts are from Precision Colors:
Part of a complete refill kit including inks, chip resetter,
and flushed OEM Canon carts. The carts and used head are working as expected,
with the exception of not putting ink down to the paper(other than PGBK).

I tried another set of those cheap Monoprice carts to the same result.
It may be worth mentioning that every cart placed into the used printhead
has most certainly laid down some ink into the head, and they've been
draining from use. I'll still be damned if I know WHERE the ink is going.

With a minimally sporadic output of all colors to paper, except dye black,
and the fact that water forced through the ink channels produces DRAMATICALLY
different(and blocked) output spray patterns, I'm more inclined now to believe the unit's
mainboards are still properly functional and the used printhead is simply a dud.
It cost a helluva lot less than a trip to a Canon service center, too.

Considering my cost for the PC kit with carts & the cost for a replacement head,
weighed against the cost of a replacement printer with similar functions and
quality to take the same carts, and not wanting to gamble on a used unit,
I'm quite likely to get a replacement head to restore the unit I have.

 

[PeterBJ]

If you would like to try a new print head I suggest instead of getting it from Ebay to get it from a reliable seller, in the US meaning Canon! See this post by @turbguy . They are reasonably priced, maybe the least expensive source of guaranteed new and unused OEM print heads!

 

[SkedAddled]

If you would like to try a new print head I suggest instead of getting it from Ebay to get it from a reliable seller, in the US meaning Canon! See this post by @turbguy . They are reasonably priced, maybe the least expensive source of guaranteed new and unused OEM print heads!

Yes, this seems to be the general concensus, and not just here.

I'll contact Canon Parts for availability/pricing, comparing against price of a Canon-authorized
dealer with new stock on eBay.