Canon Pixma IP4000 5 ink tanks Black (main tank BC3e) will not print at all. Nozzle check pattern does not print any black at all. Tried 3 new cartridges. Cleaned and deep cleaned. Tried re-aligning print heads but that requires a pattern check and there's no black printed so can't do it. Has the black print head packed up?

Try:

• How do I check the amount of ink I have remaining?
• How do I display the remaining ink level indicator?
• What does it mean when the Black Ink or Color Ink LED is steady or flashes?

On your nozzle check, do you see the grid at the top (indicated by red arrow in picture below)? If you don't see this, your pigment black nozzles aren't working. The black bar at the bottom is from the dye black nozzles (small black tank). You may have either plugged nozzles or a bad print head.

The big black tank is pigment based ink used mainly for printing text documents and copies and the smaller black is dye based ink used along with the color inks during photo printing.

ANSER #1

Assuming that you are using original Canon cartridges or a brand of Compatibles that you have used before.

If print results are blurred, colors are faded or not printed correctly, the pint head nozzles are probably clogged.

Follow the procedure below to print the nozzle check pattern, check the print head nozzle condition, then clean the Print Head. You may have to do this 2 or 3 times.

If printed ruled lines are misaligned or print results are otherwise unsatisfactory, aligning the Print Head may improve print quality.

Caution Do not rinse or wipe the Print Head and ink tanks. This can cause trouble with the Print Head and ink
tanks.

Note Before performing maintenance
Open the Top Cover and make sure that all lamps on the ink tanks are lit red.
If not, see Checking the Ink Status and take an appropriate action.
Increasing the print quality in the printer driver settings may improve the print result.

Clean the contacts on the back of the print head.

Colour not printing. Check vent hole on cartridge not blocked by glue or bit of the orange tape, cleared mine with knife now works fine

Print Nozzle Check Pattern

1. Press the Open button to open the output tray.
   
   
   
   
2. Load letter-sized plain paper in the auto sheet feeder (ASF) or the cassette.
   
   
3. Display the Maintenance screen on the printer.
   
   
4. Press the up or down cursor to select [Nozzle check], then press the <OK>.
   
   
   
   
5. Press the up or down cursor to select [Yes], then press <OK>. (The nozzle check pattern is printed.)
   
   
6. Confirm the nozzle check pattern.
   

< 1 > The normal nozzle check pattern
< 2 > The abnormal nozzle check pattern

< 3 > Some black ink lines are broken.

< 4 > White lines are present in the color ink pattern.

< 5 > Both black and color inks are not present.
Note:

1. When all patterns are printed normally, press the up / down cursor button to select "All A" and press the OK button.
   
   
2. When any patterns are printed abnormally, press the up / down cursor button to select "Also B" and press the OK button.
   

Print Head Cleaning:

1. Display the Maintenance screen on the printer.
   
   
2. Press the up or down cursor to select [Cleaning], then press <OK>.
   
   
   
   
3. Press the up or down cursor to select [Yes], then press <OK> to start print head cleaning.
   
   Note:
   Do not do any other operations until print head cleaning is completed.
   
   
   
4. Print the nozzle check pattern and check the print head status.
   

Deep (Print Head) cleaning:

1. Display the Maintenance screen.
   
   
2. Press the up or down cursor to select [Deep cleaning], then press <OK>.
   
   
   
   
3. Press the up or down cursor to select [Yes], then press <OK> to start print head deep cleaning.
   
   Note:
   Do not do any other operations until print head deep cleaning is completed.
   
   
   
4. Print the nozzle check pattern and check the print head status.
   
   Note:
   Ifthe printed result does not improve even after doing print head deepcleaning, turn off the printer. Then, after 24 hours or later, do printhead deep cleaning again. (After a given time interval, ink coulddissolve itself, resulting in ink unclogging.
   
   

Hi vdkmail,
Perform nozzle check pattern from maintenance menu in printer driver properties first. Is all black nozzle printed?. Is it perfect or partially printed?. Or no black nozzle printed at all. Then perform printhead cleaning procedure to fix this. If problem still persist means the printhead should be replaced with new one. But be careful, print blank (no nozzle printed at all) might be caused by faulty purge unit too so that ink not flows down from ink tank.
Regards,

Source:
Canon Inkjet Forum

FYI: This was Canon's reply to me (for my MPS 390) and it worked !
Dear Doug:
Thank you for contacting Canon product support. We value you as a Canon customer and appreciate the opportunity to assist you. We regret that black ink does not print from your MP390.
The issue may be with the print head. The print head holds the ink tanks.
You can print a Nozzle Check Pattern to confirm whether the inks are being correctly ejected from the print head nozzles and whether the print head is correctly aligned. Please follow these steps to do so:
1. On the MultiPASS control panel, press [Additional Functions].
2. Press '<' (left) or '>' (right) arrow to select [MAINTENANCE].
3. Press Set. [NOZZLE CHECK] will appear.
4. Press Set again and a Nozzle Check Pattern will print. If lines are broken or white lines are present, clean the print head nozzles.
Verify if the black grid pattern prints at the top. If not, then the nozzles may be clogged.
Please follow these steps to perform a Print Head Refreshing for the
MP390:
1. On the MultiPASS control panel, press Additional Functions. '1. FAX SETTINGS' will appear on the bottom row of the display.
2. Press '<' (left arrow) or '>' (right arrow) to select '3.
MAINTENANCE.'
3. Press Set. 'Nozzle Check' will appear.
4. Press '>' the right arrow to select '3. HEAD REFRESHING' and then press Set. The print head cleaning takes approximately 1 to 2 minutes to complete.
5. Perform a Nozzle Check Pattern.
Nozzle Check Pattern:
Please follow these steps to print a Nozzle Check Pattern to confirm whether the inks are being correctly ejected from the print head nozzles and whether the print head is correctly aligned:
1. On the MultiPASS control panel, press Additional Functions. '1. FAX SETTINGS' will appear on the bottom row of the display.
2. Press '<' (left arrow) or '>' (right arrow) to select '3.
MAINTENANCE.'
3. Press Set. 'NOZZLE CHECK' will appear.
4. Press Set again and a nozzle check pattern will print.
5. Check the printout for broken, white lines and uniformity.
If the lines are broken, or white lines are present, clean the print head.
Please follow these steps to perform a Print Head Nozzle Cleaning:
1. On the MultiPASS control panel, press Additional Functions. '1. FAX SETTINGS' will appear on the bottom row of the display.
2. Press '<' (left arrow) or '>' (right arrow) arrow to select '3.
MAINTENANCE.'
3. Press Set. 'NOZZLE CHECK' will appear.
4. Press '>' the right arrow to select '2. CLEANING' and then press Set. The print head cleaning takes approximately 30 seconds to complete.
5. Print a Nozzle Check Pattern to see if the print quality is improved.
6. Perform Head Refreshing if lines are still broken or white lines still appear. If nozzle check pattern is missing colors, replace the ink tank.
Once you have completed two deep cleanings, please perform another Nozzle Test. If colors are still missing, turn off the printer.
After 24 hours, turn the printer on and perform one more Deep Print Head Cleaning. Once the cleaning is complete, print another Nozzle Test.
After you have completed the Nozzle Test, please let us know the results.
This may be caused by the ink jets in the cartridge print head (the device that holds the ink tanks) wearing out or the ink nozzles starting to clog up. Remove and reseat the print head. Verify that ink has not built up on the bottom of the print head. Please follow the instructions below to reseat the print head:
1. Power the unit on.
2. Open the cover of the printer to bring the print head holder to the center.
3. Remove the ink tanks and set them on a protective covering, such as a rag.
4. Raise the locking lever to release the print head.
5. Remove the print head and reinstall it.
6. Lock the lever back down, gently.
7. Replace the ink tanks. Make sure they securely snap into place in the proper slots.
8. Lower the cover of the unit.
If you have performed multiple print head cleanings but the issue continues, it is most likely that the cartridge print head (the device that holds the ink tanks) will need to be replaced.
If your MP390 is past the one year warranty period, Canon offers two options to assist you, Canon's Loyalty Program or repair at an Authorized Service Facility (ASF).
You are eligible for Canon's Loyalty Program. This option allows you a one-time opportunity to purchase a new printer that uses Canon's next generation of technology at a discounted price. To help you get up and running quickly, we also offer free next business day shipping (if the order is completed by 12:30PM).
If you would like to take part in this option, please reply back to us within the next 14 days.
Once we receive your reply, you will be registered for the Canon Loyalty Program and provided with a Discount Code. The Discount Code will be emailed to you separately along with further instructions on how to use the Canon Loyalty program.
Another option is to have an Authorized Service Facility repair your product, at standard market rates for parts and labor. Here is the closest Canon Authorized Service Facility to the Zip code you have
provided:
BUSINESS MACHINES
1823 UNIVERSITY AVENUE,
BERKELEY CA 94703
510-841-7100
Please call the ASF first to make arrangements to take the unit in for repair. Take the print head, ink tanks and power cable with you to the ASF. The ASF will need these items to perform proper troubleshooting.
Unfortunately, we cannot provide an estimated time it will take for the unit to be repaired. The speed at which the unit is repaired is based entirely on the ASF and their current work load.
We hope this information is helpful to you. Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance with your MultiPASS MP390.
Thank you for choosing Canon.
Sincerely,
David
Technical Support Representative
Special Note: Certain issues are very difficult to resolve via email.
If your question remains unanswered after you have received this email, you may call our special toll-free number for email customers with unresolved issues and speak to a technician* by dialing 1-866-261-9362, Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. (excluding holidays).
If you prefer to continue to communicate via email, reply to this message and we will respond as quickly as possible.
*Telephone support for products no longer covered under the manufacturer's warranty may require a $9.99 fee for support.

Print Head Cleaning / Head Refreshing If the printed nozzle check pattern is broken, missing, or a specific color is not printed, clean the print head. NOTE:
a. Cleaning the print head consumes a small amount of ink. Cleaning too often reduces the amount of ink in the ink tanks.
b. Print head cleaning is performed when you connect the power cord. Your machine may perform print head cleaning periodically to avoid clogging.

1. Press <COPY> or <PHOTO>.
   
   
2. Press <Menu> repeatedly until <USER DATA> appears.
   
   
3. Press < (left arrow) or > (right arrow) to select [MAINTENANCE].
   
   
   
   
4. Press <OK>.
   
   
5. Use < or > to select [CLEANING] or [HEAD REFRESHIN] as necessary.
   
   
   
   [CLEANING]: Performs normal print head cleaning.
   [HEAD REFRESHIN]: Performs deep print head cleaning.
   
   
6. Press <OK>.
   
   
   
   
7. Print a Nozzle Check Pattern to see if print quality improved.
   
1. Press <COPY> or <PHOTO>.
   
2. Press <Menu> repeatedly until <USER DATA> appears.
   
3. Press < (left arrow) or > (right arrow) to select [MAINTENANCE].
   
   
   
4. Press <OK>.
   
   
   
5. Press <OK> again.
   The machine prints a nozzle check pattern (A).
   
   
   
   
8. If broken or white lines appear in the pattern, perform two Head Refreshings (from steps 1 through 6) then print another Nozzle Check Pattern.
   
   
9. If print quality does not improve after two Head Refreshings, replace the appropriate ink tank.

Confirming The Nozzle Check Pattern
Broken lines
White lines
Click here to return to step x to perform Head Refreshings