Will not print in black

Sounds like the black pigment cartridge is clogged solid which is not surprising as pigment clogs very easily compared to the other cartridges/colours which are of the dyebase type.

There are a lot of different ways to resolve this but the key is to having the right cleaning solution and a LOT of patience.

The right cleaning solution is basically mildly ammoniated so if you can source the original windex (with ammonia, not the new stuff) and dilute that slightly with some distilled water that's a good start. You can purchase cleaning solution on places like eBay as well so look around there or Google if Windex is not available.


Right, with the solution to hand you then have to remove the cartridges (put some tape over the ends to they don't dry out) and then the printhead.

Find some absorbent paper kitchen roll and then turn a sheet of this into a pad by folding it 3 times.

Soak a reasonable sized area of this with the cleaning solution and then gently place the printhead on this so the whole ceramic plate on the base of the printhead is resting on the solution soaked pad.

Note: DO NOT rub the printhead back and forth across the pad, you will scratch and damage it. Paper is like sandpaper to something as delicate as printhead nozzles!

If possible use a syringe to apply a few small drops of cleaning solution on the large receiver pad in the printhead (where the cartridges sit).

You should leave the printhead for 30 minutes or so and then soak a new pad with the solution, move the printhead to this and repeat for a few hours...

You may find that gently pressing down on the printhead will force some solution up into the printhead and out of the top of the ink receiver. Dab this away and then reapply some solution to the receiver.



Essentially what this approach does is allow the cleaning solution to work on the clog, breaking the dried ink particles up and back into a soluble form which is easier to eject and clear.

The key thing is that the solution will take considerable time to work its magic but more often than not it is well worth the effort.


Worth also noting that you can buy a replacement printhead for your printer so you may feel it's worth contacting Canon and finding out prices. If time is of the essence then that may be a more cost-effective approach.

Hope that helps...

Martin