Washed out colors when printing

Cleaning the Print Head

Using the Head Cleaning utility
Using the control panel buttons

If you find that the printout is unexpectedly faint or some dots are missing, you may be able to solve these problems by cleaning the print head, which ensures that the nozzles are delivering ink properly.

You can clean the print head from your computer using the Head Cleaning utility in the printer software or from this product itself by using the control panel buttons.

Note:

• Print head cleaning uses both color and black inks. To avoid wasting ink, clean the print head only if the copy quality drops (for example, blurred printout, incorrect or missing color.)

• Use the nozzle check first to confirm that the print head needs to be cleaned. This saves ink.

• When the Error light is on and a message appears on the LCD panel to prompt you to replace the ink cartridge or to indicate the ink is low, you cannot clean the print head. In this case, replace the appropriate ink cartridge first.

Using the Head Cleaning utility

Refer to the appropriate section below to use the Head Cleaning utility.

For Windows

Follow the steps below to clean the print head using the Head Cleaning utility.

Make sure that A4 or Letter size paper is loaded in the sheet feeder.

Make sure that this product is on and the ! Error light is off.

Access the printer software.Accessing the Printer Software for Windows

Click the Maintenance tab, then click the Head Cleaning button.

Follow the on-screen instructions.

Head cleaning... appears on the LCD panel while this product performs the cleaning cycle.

Caution:Never turn off this product while Head cleaning... appears on the LCD panel. Doing so may damage this product.

When Head cleaning... disappears from the LCD panel, click Print Nozzle Check Pattern in the Head Cleaning dialog box to confirm that the print head is clean.

Good: print head does not need to be cleaned yet.

Not Good: print head needs to be cleaned.

If the nozzle check page does not print satisfactorily, you may need to repeat the head cleaning and print the nozzle check pattern again. See Cleaning the Print Head.

Note:

• If the copy quality has not improved after repeating this procedure four or five times, turn this product off and leave it alone overnight. Then, perform the nozzle check again and repeat the head cleaning if necessary.

• If the copy quality still has not improved, one or both of your ink cartridges may be old or damaged and may need to be replaced. To replace an ink cartridge before it is empty, see Replacing an Ink Cartridge. If the copy quality remains a problem after replacing the ink cartridges, contact your dealer.

• To maintain good copy quality, we recommend copying a few pages at least once every month.

Printouts printing in the wrong colors is often due to ink cartridges drying out or running out of ink. Try to use your printers cleaning utility to clean the ink carts, if that doesn't work, you may need to replace your cartridges,

You may have put the wrong color cartridge in the wrong print cartridge position.

Hi

The ink reservoir doesnt have to be completely empty to fail. Replace the cartridges. Some of the jets or all of them may be clogged especially if you have not used your printer in a while. If there are cleaning instructions in the manual clean the jets and then try to print from the printer's self test

Goodluck

clogged nozzles caused by the lower quality of ink in refilled or aftermarket cartridges. There cartridge inks may not be up to specification. This is especially true for the ultra fine printers.
To clear the problem you need to insert an OEM cartridge, run the deep nozzle cleaning utiliity at least twice followed by the alignment utility. This should clear up the problem with the spotty and washed out printout.
Let me know if this solves your problem.
Please rate this solution. Thanks.

Typically you do not have to change the color cartridge when you replace the black cartridge.
As far as the spotty printing, it sounds like you have some clogged nozzles caused by the lower quality of ink in refilled or aftermarket cartridges. There cartridge inks may not be up to specification. This is especially true for the ultra fine printers.
To clear the problem you need to insert an OEM cartridge, run the deep nozzle cleaning utiliity at least twice followed by the alignment utility. This should clear up the problem with the spotty and washed out printout.
Let me know if this solves your problem otherwise we can explore other solutiions. For the record, which printer do you have?
Please rate this solution. Thanks.

Turn off printer. Open Case. Move head carriage to parking position. Do suction from outlet pipe of head cleaning mechanic. It's for checking head. is there ink out? If printer not used for long time, may be ink inside head dried. Utility screen just show estimated not actually. If head clog, and do head cleaning more 5 times, screen show ink nearly out, but actually ink tank nearly full.

check the print head use print head liquit to wash it. Doing hardly wash.
Change your cartridge, use better ink refill or compatable cartridges.

This sounds like you are using either refilled cartridges or after market cartridges and the ink is clogging the print nozzle. To clear the problem you need to insert an OEM cartridge, run the deep nozzle cleaning utiliity at least twice, alignment utility. This should clear up the problem with the spotty and washed out printout.
Let me know if this solves your problem otherwise we can explore other solutiions.
Please rate this solution. Thanks.

I find the best way to clean the heads is buy some cleaning cartridges as they have cleaning fluid in them and use them to clean it will take about 10 or more times to clean the heads then put the color ones back in and try again.
Just keep putting it on clean the head don't do a print out till at lest you have cleaned 10 or more times.

Rgs


The StickMan