Really in need of suggestions I have run out of ideas.

[ThrillaMozilla]

And while you're going back to square 1, maybe you can answer a question. Does it or does it not work with a new OEM cartridge?

That is the definitive test on whether the cartridge (or ink) is to blame, but from what you wrote (quoted below), it doesn't sound like you've tried it.

Ive also tried 2 OEM carts that have NEVER been refilled. One of these had been used previously to check a print head that was plugged. The second one I just purchased on Saturday and tried it today. All produced the same results. Nozzle checks were printed for each and most came out perfect, a couple required a nozzle cleaning to get a good nozzle check printout. At one point Sat nite I thought I finally had something going.
I installed one of the carts that I had flushed and top filled last week.

Did the OEM cartridge give problems already on the same day? If not, what's the hurry?

 

[mikling]

Reread post #9 after you digest my hypothesis about a slow heat source in the nozzle.

 

[ThrillaMozilla]

Reread post #9 after you digest my hypothesis about a slow heat source in the nozzle.

I agree, mikling, you're probably right. Two heads apparently clogged in a row. But if so, that means -- what? -- tossing the printer? Or at best leaving the printer off all the time and autopurging every time he prints a page?

On the other hand, he seems to have most colors fixed(?), and if a new OEM magenta cartridge works, then the problem is essentially fixed, or at least narrowed down. There's only one way to find out, but so far he hasn't replied. From what he has written, it's not clear to me what the facts are, and it seems possible that there could be a happy ending.

 

[pearlhouse]

Dont mean to leave you guys hanging. Im working on a long reply. will post some time today. The new OEM Mag. cart did not do the trick still the same problem.

 

[ThrillaMozilla]

I was afraid of that.

 

[pearlhouse]

Well here’s the whole story. I’ve written so much about this problem that I’m leaving out some important info. I’m sorry I forgot to say that neither of the two OEM Mag. Carts solved the problem of the ink starvation.

I recently had the printer turned off and unplugged for 36 hours. Plugged it back in and turned it on and immediately printed a nozzle check which looked ok but once again the magenta was a little bit light in its intensity. I then printed one of the two test prints I’ve been using and it came out all magenta streaked just as before. So I’m not sure what this says about Miklings transistor theory.

I’ve been trying to get this printer into service mode so I could print an extended nozzle check for PeterBJ but all the Russian links that he lead me to show nothing about a Canon service mode. I did (I think) get it into a service mode by using the resume button 5 times technique but then the printer info screen was blank.? Was this because I needed to have service tool V3400 running first before going into this service mode?? I have the printer connected by USB cord to a Win 7 64bit laptop. If not then I really didn’t get into service mode like I thought. Some of these links lead me to Rapid share, which now requires a membership which I don’t have. So can anybody get me some up to date info on this subject and Ill try again.

I wanted to do this because all you guys are trying to help but now I’m really lost.

Well, I decided to call Canon and see what they had to say about this. I told the tech the printer was bought in early June so it was just about 2 months out of warranty. He verified this from a previous call I had made 6 months ago. I also told him I was on my second printhead because the first one quit working after I had taken a vacation and left the printer on for 3 weeks without any usage. Maybe this one wasn't really clogged like I thought but maybe this was the start of this so called electrical problem. He said that should not have happened. After doing some research he came back and said it sounded like something electronic was the problem. HMMMMM! He offered to send me a new refurbished printer at no charge as a swap. But he wasn’t sure it would be my same exact model MX892, that it could be a newer model the MX922 as the old MX892 were no longer in stock. Well today I received an MX922 on my doorstep. Well I guess it’s better than nothing. At least it shows they want to back up their product.... They want the old MX892 back but don’t want the printhead or carts back. To keep this newer MX892 printhead from clogging would it be wise to make up a set of carts with just pharmacists solution in them and run these by printing something with all colors. a couple of times to sort of flush the printhead? Then store the head with the solution in the head. I'm just thinking it may be usable to someone else.

I have read there are new completely different carts used in this MX922 printer and they are not very friendly as refillables. So I may have to go through a new learning curve when it comes to refilling these. I know all my old refillables will be scrap to me. So will this new printer still use the same ink I’ve been using or will I have to buy new ink? The ink I have now is only about 3 months old. One thing that bugs me about this new printer is I have read that there are no chip resetters on the market. Is there any late and great news on this subject. Maybe there are some second party refillable carts on the market with ARC chips.?? Also I’m not sure if these new model carts are fillable using the German refill method. As I have said before I am really a fan of using this refill method.
I really would like to come up with a definite answer on this problem before I send the printer back to never never Canon Land. After all you guys have weighed in and tried, it would be good to at least come up with an answer we can all live with for future prosperity.
Anybody out there interested in trading a new MX892 for the MX922.??? I’m not going to open this new printer box for a couple of days just in case I can find a swapper. Right now I've got an old HP PSC 1610 doing my bare minimum printing projects.

 

[mikling]

Electronic problem in the logic board. The look of starvation is because either ink was getting baked much faster now or the drive circuits are not able to deliver anymore...it is in its death spiral.
Canon knows this and we should be cognizant of this possibility when clogging occurs at idle or when power is left on.
A persistent sign of low level clogging is also likely due to the logic board when printheads have been changed and the same occurs.
So when diagnosing, the whole background story needs to be accounted for.

 

[ThrillaMozilla]

So I’m not sure what this says about Miklings transistor theory.

Mikling knows his stuff, and I think this is completely consistent with his diagnosis.

 

[mikling]

To answer grandad's question about the serial link. Yes, it probably is a serial link of some type and then there is the mutiplexing circuit internally in the printhead.
The serial link is the signalling signals that turn the heaters on and off. It does not provide the power...just signal. Switching high currents into the serial link is more difficult that sending a low level signal. If the serial link carried power, then the multiplexing circuit would also have to withstand this current. All of this would make a circuit that would need to be much sturdier. So each heater is probably driven by a transistor(power buffer) and serial link provides the signal to turn on and off. However, if the "valve" for simplistic reasons is leaky, the switch cannot turn off the flow on and off as it should.
It may do so reasonably OK at the start but fail when it is used afterwards..but still always leaking some power into the heaters even at standstill.

 

[stratman]

Mikling sells aftermarket cartridges with ARC chips ready for top refill for the MX922: http://www.precisioncolors.com/C5Ecart.html. Easy breezy, lemon squeezy.