Canon S520 5 or 6years old. Was working & printing great. Now the Print Head is jammed. On a command to print a page the head tries to move but seems to be stuck. It bumps & grinds in place but cannot move. I have not tried anything. What can I try ?????? please "e" mail response to ryoakem@zoominternet.net Thank You.

Inkjet printers need to be used frequently to prevent inkdrying out in the print head nozzles.
If the print head cleaning maintenance routine does not clear the blockages,then print head needs replacing, but it may be expensive.
It may be more cost effective to buy a later model and better printer thanreplace the print head.

I'm not sure if you tried this, yet, but try the following link from canonusa.com website regarding clearing paper jams. Click on 'clearing paper jams inside the printer' on the page:

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer/printers_multifunction/pixma_mp_series/pixma_mp810#ServiceAndSupport

The problem you are having is with the print head and not the printer. Unfortunately, with these canon print heads, they are not dated, so it is possible to install a print head that was bought new and sealed, but is still dried out because it is old.

Try running the print head through one deep cleaning cycle, this sometimes will start to get an old print head flowing.

Deep cleaning cycle can be found by going to PRINTERS , right clicking on the BJC icon, selecting PROPERTIES from the drop down menu, and then selecting the MAINTAINENCE tab.

Check to make sure that the ink tank in the print head isn't dry. Even a new print head can have a dry tank if it's old.

Hi, To ensure this is only an issue with the black, I recommend printing off a nozzle check. This will show you if this problem is effecting any of the other colours.
To print a nozzle please refer to chapter 12 page 115 of the manual,
If colours are missing I recommend cleaning the print head. You have two options for cleaning the print head a normal clean and a deep clean, start by doing a normal clean if required try doing a deep clean.
You can download the manual here:
http://www.fixya.com/support/p360568-canon_multipass_mp390_all_in_one_inkjet/manual-10203#

The 6A00 is a Canon generic code for paper path jam.

Solution 1:
Move the printhead carriage back and forth a few times.

Solution 2:
Check the purge unit: Moving the print head assembly will not clear a purge unit if its jammed with paper, paper clips, push pins, screws, cookie crisp, flower bud pods or the like.

Solution 3:
Press the ink pads down in the purge unit.

The problem does indeed seem to be a print head fault. Remove it and take it to your local printer re-inking firm. Get them to do a thorough clean of the print head (they have the equipment that us mere mortals don't) and test it (should cost you nothing or very little). If it works, great! If not then get a new printer. The cost of replacing the print head would be the same or more than replacing the entire unit.

Yes vintos after long storage problems with the printer heads may arrise.

Thermal changes from being in storage can cause the printer heads to dry up and fail.

DO NOT USE ALCOHOL or other solvents in an attempt to clear the printer heads.

1. Attempt to change ink cartridges , this may clear the issue.

If that fails , you may be forced to change printer heads at that point.

Link to Printer Trouble Shooting. ( generic steps for all printers )
http://www.duxcw.com/digest/Howto/troubleshoot/print/index.html

Thank you for choosing FixYa!
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I removed the ink tanks then I removed the print head very carefully.
I rinsed the print head with the cleaner that comes with my refill
bottles, let it dry and carefully reinserted the print head. I "cleaned"
the nozzles and ran nozzle check and it worked fine.

I no longer trust this iP5000 printer for photos so I have purchased a new
Canon iP6700D which is great. I will use both printers...only using
the new one for photos only.

The main thing I have learned from my Canon printers is not to clean
the print heads as often due to that "Absorber almost full" message!
I still like the Canon for the ink capacity and separate tanks.

Your site has been so helpful! Thank you!

try to move the blue nozzel over the printing head to the from the right to the left and try, it will work

Since making my query post my husband seems to have solved the problem. I first tried the solution offered here for another printer model (remove then replace actual print head unit with the cartridges intact) but that didn't help. So my husband put a small amount of WD40 (also known as CRC) on the slide bar that the print head moves along. That seems to have freed everything up.