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Question about Brother MFC 420CN All-In-One InkJet Printer

6 Answers

Brother MFC 420 CN

Error msg,"Near Empty Black?. Replaced the ink cartridge & performed reset and cleaning function, still the same message. Old cartridge was 80% full! Given print command, print process starts, attempts to print or I will say goes through the print motion but the output is blank white paper. It has printed before. In total I will say printed about 20/25 pages from this printer since I have purchased. Very light use. I am not able to fax anything from this machine either. Always finds the receiving fax machine as busy, never able to send fax. Only thing it can do now is scan any documents to the computer. I bought this multi function brother printer after reading review on the CNET website.Please help before I have to buy some other brands. I had high hopes about the performance of this printer but it had failed me so far.

Posted by Mike Hansen on

  • 7 more comments 
  • b46love Jan 16, 2008

    when we fax papers ,we get back , busy/no response .it print good it has ink in it tell me how to fax step by step and see if i am to this right .think you .mrs. belcher

  • Anonymous Mar 07, 2008

    My printer just started this it will print off line but wont print on line. I unstalled it and then installed it but that did not work. Every thing else will work

  • Anonymous Mar 23, 2008

    When I reset the printer a message comes up cyan is empty. I purchased a new cartiridge and replaced it. Message is no cartridge after replacing and will not print.

  • Anonymous Mar 25, 2008

    near empty lack and i can't clean-et

  • marty gross Mar 30, 2008

    I've replaced the black cartridge and when I clean and test print, there continue to be lots of missing dots on the black pattern. Tried cleaning about 10 times. The colors are OK.


    This printer is about a year old and new cartridges are $42/pair for black. I'm debating just investing the money in a different brand printer that works.

  • the warrior May 22, 2008

    I have tried all solutions to this problem where black ink says near empty and that is after trying 2 brand new ink replacements.wont clean the black ink either. any Help would be appreciated

  • Anonymous May 24, 2008

    No Cartridge .
    But i changed new cartridge




  • Anonymous Mar 12, 2014

    replaced drum and cartridge and printing is too light to read; all errors have been cleared/reset; operating (receives and prints job) but is not legible

  • Anonymous Mar 30, 2014

    My brother multi- function printer will print, but when I scan it says "check connection."

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6 Answers

Henry Thomas

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The brother printer is not a good brand i also have a brother mfc 3220cn and it gives the same problem, what you have to is unplug the machine and let it stand for about 2 days take out the cartridges and clean the printing with air replace back them and plug in.that should remedy your problem.i urge on you never to buy brother printers.if you buy them get a bottle of phensic along with it.good luck my brother.

Posted on Apr 04, 2007

Anonymous

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What is the meaning of unable to initiate? where is the ink sensor located?

Posted on Jun 01, 2009

Anonymous

I just use tape on one end of the ink cartridge, fools the sensor

Posted on May 14, 2008

Anonymous

Take out black cartridge. clean sensor with que tip slightly moist with water. while doing this readout will say replace black cartridge. do so and it should work. mfc 420cn

Posted on Apr 27, 2007

Anonymous

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Do you use your Brother printer regularly? There are pipes that conduct the ink from the cartridges to the head. Maybe ink cannot flow because they are obstructed with dry ink.
Word of advise: when the printar says that the ink cartridge is empty, there is still some amount of ink in it. Brother states this is by design, to avoid drying inside pipes. So, don´t use tape to fool the sensor.

Posted on Mar 15, 2009

Anonymous

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I have done a similar task to fix mine. I take out the cartridges,put them back in and let the machine think they are new cartridges and perform a cleaning. then that usually gets it working again

Posted on Apr 11, 2007

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