How to clean Print Heads?

Ink streaks are usually caused by a buildup of died in on the print heads. There are two print heads in that unit. Remove one at a time and look for build up - clean it if you find any. Once you finish cleaning both print heads you will need to do a print head cleaning routine in the HP software to clear out any in clogging the print nozzles.

The print heads are located right underneith the ink cartridges. there is usually a plastic flip down lever that you snap open and reveals the print heads. They look like little bottles with sponge tops on them. They are about 1/3 the size of the ink cartridges. They remove easily. Most of the time when the printer starts showing messages about the print heads, it means that ink has leaked out in that area. Its easy to fix that problem.

Turn off the printer and press and hold the power button for sixty seconds, then Remove the ink cartridges, snap open the plastic piece to show the print heads and then take a link free cloth or paper towel and soak up any visible ink. Then remove the print heads and look for metal connectors on back like the ink cartridges have and use a wet qtip to remove any ink that has dried or hardened there. After you have cleaned and removed and visible ink, try putting them back in and install the ink cartridges. then plug it back in and turn it on to see if the error is gone. If not, you can replace the print heads but I am unsure of the price of replacements? They might cost as much as a new printer depending on the price of your model?

Is it possible that someone has removed your print heads?

Maybe the print quality if set to text print quality, change it to photo print quality to get print quality.

You can look at this webpage for info on the printhead. I expect the print head(s) are blocked. This happens if the unit is unused for a long time or the unit is allowed to run out of ink. This is NOT a thermal printer.
I think you will need ALL new print heads.

You said you just replaced the ink jets. Did you clean the print heads? Here is Link on Web. If you find this helpful pls rate me. Thanks
http://www.brother-usa.com/ModelDocuments/Consumer/Users%20Manual/UM_MFC_210C_420CN_EN_286.PDF

How to improve print quality
Cleaning the print head
To ensure good print quality, the MFC will regularly clean the print
head. You can start the cleaning process manually if needed.
Clean the print head and ink cartridges if you get a horizontal line in
the text or graphics on your printed pages. You can clean Black only
or three colors at a time (Cyan/Yellow/Magenta), or all four colors at
once.
Cleaning the print head consumes ink. Cleaning too often uses ink
unnecessarily.
Caution
Do NOT touch the print head. Touching the print head may cause
permanent damage and may void the print head’s warranty.
1 Press Ink.
2 Press ▲ or ▼ to select Cleaning.
Press Menu/Set.
3 Press ▲ or ▼ to select Black, Color or All.
Press Menu/Set.
The MFC will clean the print head. When cleaning is finished,
the MFC will go back to standby mode automatically.
If you clean the print head at least five times and the print has
not improved, call Brother Customer Service (see Brother
numbers on page i).

Have you tried performing a head cleaning? Usually running the cleaning process will clear it right up. After cleaning run an alignment to make sure the heads are straight.

You can find the utility in the print driver properties and look for maintanence tab.

Hope this helps
TankMurdock

If it has been laying idle for yers, then it is likely the ink on printer heads, that has dried out, and now the print head are obstructed.

Try performing the head cleaning procedure a couple of times. If that does not work, you can try removing the printer heads (there must be a release lever at the side of carriage), and soaking the printer heads in isopropyl alcohol for several hours.

If that does not work , then the print heads must be replaced.

Note if cartridges used are also 3 years old, then it can also be the cartridge, try a new replacement cartridge set.

Hi again,

This is a placeholder in case there is a need for followup on the Live Session.

1st how old are the cartidges ink could be solidified.
2nd did you take the plastic off of the new ink heads?
try runninng clean pint heads from printer control