Brother MFC-440CN won't print color

Posted by cooleen on Jan 24, 2008

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1. • By cooleen Jan 26, 2008

   • We have never used anything but brother ink.
     
     I can not get it to enter "maintenance mode" as you describe.
     I hit "menu" button once,
     Then I hit the "Black - Start" button once,
     then I hit the up-arrow 4 times. Nothing happens.
     
     There is also a button called "Ink". When you hit that there is a "cleaning" function. We have run that about 10 times.
     
     Thanks for responding!

2. • By cooleen Jan 26, 2008

   • ...I maybe should also clarify my original statement. It DOES print color, but really poorly. The test print comes out with all the black and yellow blocks showing, but only about half of the the blue and red blocks show up.
     

3. • By cooleen Jan 29, 2008

   • More information:
     
     The printer will print color, but not very well at all. Whe we run a test print, the black and yellow are OK, but the red and blue are only half there.
     
     
     
     We still can not get it to enter maintenance mode.

4. • By cooleen Jan 30, 2008

   • I tried to run the special cleaning mode again and it wont work. I pushed menu button, then black/start button, then arrow four times up. Nothing at all happens after any of the steps. Am I missing a step. Do I need to hold two buttons at the same time? Thanks Again!!
     
     I did run the regular cleaning mode again and it is a little bit better, but not much.
     

5. • By cooleen Jan 31, 2008

   • We ran the normal clean cycle about 5 more times and now the printer is working fine (total we ran the clean function about 15 or 20 times). Now all the ink is almost empty! Hopefully the new carts will work OK. We have never used anything but Brother ink, we never turn the machine off, and we keep the clock set.
     
     We also finally got it to enter maintenance mode. The problem was because the arrow-up-down button is very picky. You have to hit it just right for it to work right.

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7. • By Pete Schmidt May 11, 2010

   • Mix it up, thanks for that in depth info - really great. Can I just clarify something. I use generic ink with the original cartridges and refilling myself. The pack did come with some cleaning fluid with it. If you were refilling the cartridges how much cleaning fluid would you put in there? Or in other words how much cleaning fluid do brother cartidges typically contain?
     
     thanks
     
     Pete
     
     
     

8. • By thunderclash Feb 28, 2009

   • well guys i have the same problem with yellow ink and the above solutions had no effect :( anyone have some new ideas ? (and yes i had use generic ink and never had problems until now)
     
     

9. • By dfvklein Feb 26, 2009

   • Printer is not even one year old yet.  Will print black, blue, and magenta...but not yellow.  Have pressed the cleaning system over 100 times now....also bought new BROTHER cartridges....NOTHING works.  Yellos still doesn't come out.  Cannot get Maintainence screen to come up either.....what to do now?

10. • By TFBW Aug 27, 2008

    • I have the same problem with the Magenta cartridge. I DO leave the machine plugged in and have the clock running. The "Clean function" kicks off regularly -- however, I have had my original Brother ink cartridges refilled by a local service. Could this be the problem?
      
      Also - (in Copy mode) - when I press Menu, then Black/Start, then up arrow four times the Menu screen still shows "General Setup" selected - no flashing lights, etc. Any suggestions?
      
      
      

11. • By deannashort Mar 07, 2008

    • I am having the same problem as cooleen cyan and magneta will not print. we use alot of black and some yellow but the color has been sitting there for at least 6 weeks without being used, i use orginial brother ink and i even tried putting new cart in and still wouldnt work. i tired all steps as far as cleaning, and doing the special cleaning mode also and they still want work. so from what i am understanding is since this cleaning mode want work to fix the problem the printer head is probably damaged so it can not be repaired . Is that what i am understading?