Technical Support, Instructions & Repair Service

Home | My Expertise | My Products | Sign In

All Products > Canon > PIXMA MP780 All-In-One InkJet Printer > Troubleshooting

PIXMA MP780 - not printing black chararcters

shared by 8 users

posted by Piet L on Jan 02, 2008

Hi - I loaded new cartridges 12mths ago and did not use. Today I set it up again only to find that when I print it will print the background graphics (in colour) nicely but will not print ant text? I then replaced the old black cartridges ((6 and 3e BK) and it made no difference.
I cannot print any black text?
Appreciate your help.
thanks Pieter

Comment posted on Jan 06, 2008

I was advised top soak the print head in turpentine for an hour and dry overnight.

I can confirm if you do this it destroys the print head unit ie all the rubber rings dislodge and the solonoid/chip unit detaches also.

My question is - it is worth replacing the printer head (and if yes, where can I buy it?) and if so will it work? Or is it a new boat anchor?

regards, Pieter

I have the same problem

I know someone who can solve this problem

7 Other Users Have The Same Problem

Posted by Guest on Sep 09, 2008

The cleaning and deep cleaning does not seem to be cleaning the nozzle I have to print on High to have even a light print. What do I do next?

Posted by Guest on May 04, 2008

Same problem. Will not print in black. Colour is fine. Yorky

Posted by stuarts2 on May 01, 2008

Same problem here. My printer prints everything but black.

Posted by Chalupa on Feb 14, 2008

I have the same problem - suddenly no black. Cleaned heads, called canon tech support - they advised getting a new head - replaced head, same problem, it still does not print - WEAK

Posted by Guest on Feb 09, 2008

I am having the same problem with my printer not printing black, this has been a great printer up to this point, we moved recently and I do not have the disc to reinstall. What can I do?
rbiest@myclearwave.net

View All

Best Solution

posted on Feb 06, 2008

Ferrets

Rank:

Apprentice
Rating: 89%, 4 votes

About a month ago my Pixma MP780 suddenly stopped printing the 3e black as well. Did some research & wound up calling Canon tech support. They advised me that there was an 80% chance that the problem would be fixed by buying a new $50 print head. Against my better judgement, I purchased & installed it. (I liked the printer & am biding my time for color laser multifunctions to come down)

To make a long story short - if your problem ocurrs from one day to the next - it is not likely to be caused by bad ink, "non OEM ink" or clogged heads etc.

I think the black head driver IC is shot - seems to be a very common problem - just like canon's E18 error - which I was burnt by as well.

So I'm looking at the MF8180C

Anyone want to buy a almost new print head ?????

Was this solution helpful? Show your Appreciation by rating it:

Inappropriate Thanks for Trying Helpful FixYa!

Thank You!

Was the solution helpful?

Show your appreciation by commenting on PIXMA MP780 - not printing black chararcters:

Solution #2

posted on Jan 02, 2008

Soulvisitor

Rank:

Guru
Rating: 88%, 1566 votes

Print head is a user replaceable part like inks, clicks out replace it.

INFO link

Comment posted on Jan 06, 2008

Comment by Kobber, posted on Jan 04, 2008 Our MP780 will not print at all. Other functions working. have replaced all the cartridges and also a new Print Head.

Any suggestions?

Clean print head connections, must run a few cleans to prime new head!!

Comment posted on Jan 06, 2008

After Installing your Printhead
You may need to perform a head cleaning routine after installation and the print head will need to be re-aligned, refer to your user manual on how to do this

Read instructions, use only real canon ink to prime it!

Comment posted on Jan 06, 2008

No it is probally not worth repairing any inkjet printer it is more economical to buy new with warrenty and new consumables

Comment posted on Jan 06, 2008

Whats with rating Pieter

You didn't even buy a new head as I suggested

You followed not my advice in along shot but you rate me (who is helping you) for your mistake. Peolpe just love to vent their own frustrations at others.

Cheers Mate!

Comment posted on Jan 06, 2008

Link to purchase head

Comment posted on Jan 07, 2008

???

Comment posted on Jan 08, 2008

I just finished fixing another of these that makes about 20 in all.

This customers complaint, can't do head alignment, the reason couldn't print with 6BK.

All I did once again was replace the two non genuine inks the customer had installed with the proper canon item, tested it, made no difference cause crap ink had blocked head, so then a new canon print head was put in, ran an alignment, picture perfect!

Customer was advised not to give printer any more injections

Fix is Replace any non Canon or old inks, test, if auto head alignment still fails, then buy a new head and fit it, run a alignment, if it fails run a couple of cleans, try alignment again, if it fails, clean contacts, test.

My bet is everyone of the posters here have not in fact replaced ink with Canon product, they have changed crappy ink with crappy ink that they get cheap or have not replaced head at all.
I just cant see any other possibility except maybe if you have been using crap ink, it has leaked and damaged head contacts.

P.S. I am not a employee of canon, just telling what is seen in a printers workshop, all brands of machines end up stuffed cause of inferior products fed to them. Wake up recyclers you are filling the world with wrecked machines.

Rating Locked! (?) Piet L has rated this solution as Thanks for Trying

Thank You!

Was the solution helpful?

Show your appreciation by commenting on PIXMA MP780 - not printing black chararcters:

Solution #3

posted on Apr 27, 2008

hofmk

Rank:

Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes

I have had this problem on 2 of these printers. With much patience, I have been able to solve it by repeated cleanings including print head alignment, followed by turning off the maching for an extended period of time (preferrably a couple of hours), then cleaning again. After repeating this process, I finally got the black to partially print, then repeated the process again and it finally worked!!! Hooray!!!

Was this solution helpful? Show your Appreciation by rating it:

Inappropriate Thanks for Trying Helpful FixYa!

Thank You!

Was the solution helpful?

Show your appreciation by commenting on PIXMA MP780 - not printing black chararcters:

Suggest a new solution for this problem