S9000 waste tank full error? - baffled

[ashleygreen14]

I'm using Canon S9000 with my OSX10.6 MacBook Pro. I can't stop it from flashing 7 orange and 1 green light.

I realise that this is yet another Canon clogging thread, but this S9000 is used for my business, and I'd like to get it up and running asap so I can print some postcards for a client.

It's been working great for about 6 years - I've only ever used Canon inks - until today I noticed some banding on one of my postcard prints. I tried reprinting and got the same problem. So I then did a Clean, Deep Clean, and Nozzle Check - but there was no difference to the print, it was still banded. I searched around on the internet and saw many many links to similar problems, all pointing towards the printhead. So I took out the printhead and cleaned it with lint free cloth, wiping away as much of the ink as I could see. I removed the 2 small silver screws from the printhead and removed and cleaned the small rubber connectors beneath the contacts. I then put all back together, but then I got the flashing 7 orange and 1 green light.

After more research I've tried various power/resume on/off combinations both with/without the printhead in there, but it makes no difference. Still the flashing lights.

I see that the waste pads can get full of ink, but I'm not sure what I should be doing first.

Can anyone recommend a procedure for me to go forwards, and hopefully sort it out?

Thanks.

 

[ghwellsjr]

The waste pads have no bearing on this problem. The printer will tell you when i thinks the waste pads are 95% full. If that isn't happening then you don't have a waste pad/tank problem and when you do, you have to take the printer in for new pads before it reaches 100%. If the waste pads get too full, they will leak ink out the bottom of your printer but it won't cause any kind of printing problem.

I would never try to repair a print head by taking it apart. There is far to much risk in damaging it which I suspect is what happened in your case. It's hard to know if a new print head will solve your problem but it looks like you're going to need one if you want to continue with this printer.

 

[ashleygreen14]

I sourced a new printhead for the S9000 and all is working perfectly now. Do you have any tips on best day-to-day practice? The printer tends to get used 2 or 3 times a week. Is it better to leave it on, or turn it off? Thanks.

 

[ghwellsjr]

Better to leave it on always so that it can do head cleanings to avoid clogged nozzles. It is also a good idea to do a nozzle check once a week so that you can detect a problem early on and fix it before it gets any worse. And the next time you have any clogged nozzles that don't clear up with normal head cleanings, ask here for more specific advice before removing your print head from the printer. And if you do see any clogged nozzles, don't print any thing else except nozzle checks until you get it cleared up.

 

[ashleygreen14]

Roger that.

Is there an example of what a fully functioning nozzle check should look like, so I know what I'm looking for? And would I just use the Utility to do a Cleaning cycle if I see a problem?

Thanks for having me on board.

 

[ghwellsjr]

Different printers have different looking nozzle checks so I don't know what yours should look like but they generally fall into two categories. Some print a grid pattern where each horizontal segment is from a different nozzle making it very easy to see if one is clogged and others print a block of color where the nozzles are "blended" making it more difficult to see the individual nozzles. I recommend that you do a nozzle check on matte photo paper to get the best image to distinguish problems.

Usually, when you finish with a nozzle check, it will ask you if the printout looks like "A" or "B" where "A" is perfect and "B" has problems. If you indicate that it looks like "B", then it will do a head cleaning for you but you can also use the utility to do it directly.