Pixma MG7150 print alignment problem

Annie1960

I have a Pixma printer MG7150 which I've had for a couple of years, and it's all been ok until today.

I tried to print something (a multicoloured drawing) and it's coming out with either blank pages or very light grey.

I ran the print clean function, and it told me it was clean and did not need a deep clean. I then got an error code, 2500, which is to do with print alignment. I printed the print alignment pattern, and think something is wrong.

Columns A and B are blank. Columns C, D E and F look OK to me. There are two columns below (G an H), both of which are also blank.

Basically, the black/grey columns have come out OK, but all the coloured ones are blank.

I bought some new cartridges recently (including all the coloured ones), but these are branded as genuine Canon, so I'm not sure if there is something wrong with the cartridges, or if it something else.

I'm stuck about what to do next. Any suggestions?

poppellerant

Take the printhead out and swish it around in a sink of fairly hot water - but don't use any detergent etc, just use plain old hot water. I use the light pressure of the running water from the tap and aim it in the holes where the cartridges sit. Be careful when doing this, as one of the rubber rings may come loose without warning and go down the drain.

If you have alcohol to hand, put some in a saucer, place some folded tissue in the middle of the alcohol and put the printhead nozzle on top of the tissue so it soaks in the alcohol. Very gently push the printhead up and down on the tissues a few times to work the alcohol through the nozzles and leave for a good hour.

Lift the printhead up and pour some alcohol where the cartridges sit, then clean the copper contacts at the back with clean alcohol. Gently sponge the nozzle with tissue until it's dry! If the colours were strong on the tissue just before it dried, you might have a blockage coming loose - if so repeat the hot water and alcohol soak.

I've done the above once or twice and it's worked each time. The worst part is getting ink on your hands, so wear gloves if you want to avoid getting ink on them. The important part is to make sure the printhead is dry before using it. The alcohol helps a lot with this, but just be patient.

psychic_teabag

Has it been a while since you've printed anything ?

Perhaps before trying the above, force it to do a deep clean, regardless of its opinion on the cleanliness of the heads. (The above is trying to dislodge dried ink from within the printhead.) A deep clean will use a lot of ink - I guess the bowl-of-water approach saves that.

A quick google also suggests printing a "nozzle check pattern". eg
https://support.usa.canon.com/kb/index?page=content&id=ART105706

Annie1960

Thanks both of you for your suggestions.


I tried the deep clean (as I don't know where the print head is to be found), and it's all working lovely now.


It goes to show you can't rely on advice from what the printer is telling you!