Printer says "waste ink near full" therefore we can't print!

The waste ink is a set of sponges inside the ink jet that absorb ink during the printhead cleaning.
For now you can keep printing by pressing and holding the printer's On/Off button for one second. Then wait 10 seconds and press the On/Off button again. Wait until the printer finishes cycling before trying to print again. See Canon's support page for details: http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer/printers_multifunction/multipass_series/multipass_mp700#ServiceAndSupport . Search for Waste Ink Full.

When the waste ink tank is full, then you will not be able to print until the unit is serviced. Canon will service this for you. (Free except for shipping if the printer is under warranty, standard $$ otherwise) However under normal use, the waste ink full counter should be reached its limit near the expected end of life of the printer. Additional failures may occur soon.

This is a messy job and may be a lot more work than you want to do. Have plenty of newspaper to absorb the ink if you try this. You need to disassemble the printer to reach them. One set is under the area where the printhead sits when the printer is idle. The other is further down in the center. You will need to remove a few small screws to access the bottom set. Once you get them out, blot off most of the ink and then run under water until the ink is completely out of the pads. Blot the areas where the pads sit of the excess ink as well. Then dry the pads (you can use a blow dryer to speed this step). Then reassemble the printer. (Alternatively, order replacement pads from Canon)
See http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/forums/inkjet/45693 for additional comments from others who have tried this.

Next you can reset the counter. (Do not do this reset before cleaning or replacing the ink pads; waste ink will smear everywhere.)

Resetting the Waste Ink Volume Counter
1) Enter SERVICE MODE.---
By pressing [Menu] then [Copy] then [#]
2) Select TEST MODE. (using + or - keys)
3) Press the [OK] key.
3) Press the [8] key. (TEST MODE)
4) Press the [3] key.
5) Press the [0] key. (INK COUNT).
6) Press the [OK] key.
7) Press the [Stop/Reset] key
9) Press the [ON/OFF]

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

HI,

Your printer has a built-in waste ink tank for the ink used during print head cleaning. As time goes by, the waste ink tank gradually fills. When the waste ink tank is nearly full, you should receive a "Waste ink warning" error when you print. Press the RESUME button on the printer to cancel the error so you can continue printing. Before the waste ink tank becomes completely full, have the waste ink tank replaced.

There is a collection area in the printer that when the print head are not in use they rest over. It usually has a sponge\foam material. It collects excess ink and keeps the print heads clean. Any way, waste ink near full means it needs to be changed.

Hi, printed lines? the waste is probably full. therefore causing ink to spill on the printed document.

Issue: Alarm / Power light flashes orange 8 times consecutively (Waste Ink Nearly Full Error)
Solution: Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button to clear the error (1700)
Waste ink absorber error 1700
The printer has a built-in waste ink absorber to hold the ink used during print head cleaning. Eight flashes indicates that this absorber is nearly full.

Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button on the printer to clear the error, so you can continue the print job. The printer will need to be serviced as soon as possible.

Issue: Alarm / Power light flashes orange 8 times consecutively (Waste Ink Nearly Full Error)
Solution: Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button to clear the error (1700)
Waste ink absorber error 1700
The printer has a built-in waste ink absorber to hold the ink used during print head cleaning. Eight flashes indicates that this absorber is nearly full.

Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button on the printer to clear the error, so you can continue the print job. The printer will need to be serviced as soon as possible.

Issue: Alarm / Power light flashes orange 8 times consecutively (Waste Ink Nearly Full Error)
Solution: Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button to clear the error (1700)
Waste ink absorber error 1700
The printer has a built-in waste ink absorber to hold the ink used during print head cleaning. Eight flashes indicates that this absorber is nearly full.

Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button on the printer to clear the error, so you can continue the print job. The printer will need to be serviced as soon as possible.

Issue: Alarm / Power light flashes orange 8 times consecutively (Waste Ink Nearly Full Error)
Solution: Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button to clear the error (1700)
Waste ink absorber error 1700
The printer has a built-in waste ink absorber to hold the ink used during print head cleaning. Eight flashes indicates that this absorber is nearly full.

Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button on the printer to clear the error, so you can continue the print job. The printer will need to be serviced as soon as possible.

Issue: Alarm / Power light flashes orange 8 times consecutively (Waste Ink Nearly Full Error)
Solution: Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button to clear the error (1700)
Waste ink absorber error 1700
The printer has a built-in waste ink absorber to hold the ink used during print head cleaning. Eight flashes indicates that this absorber is nearly full.

Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button on the printer to clear the error, so you can continue the print job. The printer will need to be serviced as soon as possible.

Issue: Alarm / Power light flashes orange 8 times consecutively (Waste Ink Nearly Full Error)
Solution: Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button to clear the error (1700)
Waste ink absorber error 1700
The printer has a built-in waste ink absorber to hold the ink used during print head cleaning. Eight flashes indicates that this absorber is nearly full.

Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button on the printer to clear the error, so you can continue the print job. The printer will need to be serviced as soon as possible.

Issue: Alarm / Power light flashes orange 8 times consecutively (Waste Ink Nearly Full Error)
Solution: Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button to clear the error (1700)
Waste ink absorber error 1700
The printer has a built-in waste ink absorber to hold the ink used during print head cleaning. Eight flashes indicates that this absorber is nearly full.

Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button on the printer to clear the error, so you can continue the print job. The printer will need to be serviced as soon as possible.

Issue: Alarm / Power light flashes orange 8 times consecutively (Waste Ink Nearly Full Error)
Solution: Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button to clear the error (1700)
Waste ink absorber error 1700
The printer has a built-in waste ink absorber to hold the ink used during print head cleaning. Eight flashes indicates that this absorber is nearly full.

Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button on the printer to clear the error, so you can continue the print job. The printer will need to be serviced as soon as possible.

Issue: Alarm / Power light flashes orange 8 times consecutively (Waste Ink Nearly Full Error)
Solution: Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button to clear the error (1700)
Waste ink absorber error 1700
The printer has a built-in waste ink absorber to hold the ink used during print head cleaning. Eight flashes indicates that this absorber is nearly full.

Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button on the printer to clear the error, so you can continue the print job. The printer will need to be serviced as soon as possible.

Issue: Alarm / Power light flashes orange 8 times consecutively (Waste Ink Nearly Full Error)
Solution: Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button to clear the error (1700)
Waste ink absorber error 1700
The printer has a built-in waste ink absorber to hold the ink used during print head cleaning. Eight flashes indicates that this absorber is nearly full.

Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button on the printer to clear the error, so you can continue the print job. The printer will need to be serviced as soon as possible.

Issue: Alarm / Power light flashes orange 8 times consecutively (Waste Ink Nearly Full Error)
Solution: Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button to clear the error (1700)
Waste ink absorber error 1700
The printer has a built-in waste ink absorber to hold the ink used during print head cleaning. Eight flashes indicates that this absorber is nearly full.

Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button on the printer to clear the error, so you can continue the print job. The printer will need to be serviced as soon as possible.

Issue: Alarm / Power light flashes orange 8 times consecutively (Waste Ink Nearly Full Error)
Solution: Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button to clear the error (1700)
Waste ink absorber error 1700
The printer has a built-in waste ink absorber to hold the ink used during print head cleaning. Eight flashes indicates that this absorber is nearly full.

Press the <RESUME/CANCEL> button on the printer to clear the error, so you can continue the print job. The printer will need to be serviced as soon as possible.