Light strips horizontally across page (blurred and faded stripes)

The print-head is like a paint-brush -- brush sideways across a white-coloured wall, and you should get a wide "band" of paint. If only half of the paint-brush has paint on it, then only half of that "band" on the wall will get painted, leaving a horizontal strip of white showing through.

So, launch the Canon software that is installed on your computer, and run a few "print-head-cleaning" cycles, to unclog those ink-jets that are _NOT_ shooting the ink onto the paper.

The print-head is like a paint-brush, in that it prints a "band" as it goes across the page.

In your case, some of the ink-jets are CLOGGED, and thus are not shooting ink as the print-head moves HORIZONTALLY across the page.

Run a few "print-head-cleaning-cycles", to try to unclog those ink-jets.

Hi
If a single inkjet in your printer is not functioning then output will appear as a horizontal line across the page. If one of the jets is on all of the time then output will have black or colored lines across the page. Use the following steps to isolate the problem: - Replace the ink cartridge - Check the flexible cabling for continuity and for short circuits between adjacent conductors - Exchange the control board for a good one - Finally check the power supply
Good Luck

Checked ink cartridge's, two had dried out, still had ink in them but the exit apertures were blocked.
So new set of ink cartridges and problem fixed.
Thank you
Jim

Hi.
First check if u r using compatible cartridges for your lexmark printer. You may use the following weblink to find the comaptible cartridges for lexmark printers:

http://www.lexmarkstore.com/store/lexmark/DisplayProductFinderPage

If using correct carts and stil issue, then check the below info to clean the print contacts and cartridges:

Remove the cartridges from the printer. Take a dry lint free paper towel and gently wipe the contacts on the back of the cartridge (not the bottom from where ink is present). Wipe the contacts inside the printer (on cartridge carrier). Snap the cartridges back into the cartridge carrier.

To clean cartridge nozzles:

Click on "Start," go to "All Programs," and down to the Lexmark. Click on the "Solution Center." Next, click on the "Maintenance" tab. Select "Clean to fix horizontal strips." This will produce a printed page.
The colors that you should see here are black, yellow, magenta (a reddish purple) and cyan (a dark sky blue). You should notice the diagonal lines above and below the solid horizontal lines. These diagonal lines should be solid from left to right with no gaps.
If there are gaps in the lines or the print diminishes across the page, you should run the "Clean to fix horizontal strips" page a couple more times to try and clear it up. If you still have gaps at the top and bottom, you should "wick" the cartridges by following the steps given below:
1. Please open the "Solution Center" again and go to the "Maintenance" Tab.
2. Select "Install color/black cartridge" and remove the cartridge (or cartridges) from the printer.
3. Get a damp paper towel.
4. Set the ink cartridge right side up on the damp paper towel so that the ink nozzles are against the towel and hold the cartridge in this position for about 15 seconds.
5. Now wipe the print head (on the bottom where the ink comes out) across in one direction only (left to right) until it looks clean. Also, wipe the contacts inside the printer (on cartridge carrier).
6. Next dab the cartridge on the towel to make sure that the ink is flowing.
7. Snap the cartridges back into the printer.
8. On your computer, select "Old Cartridge install."
9. Repeat the "Clean to fix horizontal strips" one more time. If this fails to address the problem, the entire procedure may need repeating.

Try it out..
:-)

hi..

You can clean the cartridge using the following steps:

Click on "Start," go to "All Programs," and down to the Lexmark. Click on the "Solution Center." Next, click on the "Maintenance" tab. Select "Clean to fix horizontal strips." This will produce a printed page.

The colors that you should see here are black, yellow, magenta (a reddish purple) and cyan (a dark sky blue). You should notice the diagonal lines above and below the solid horizontal lines. These diagonal lines should be solid from left to right with no gaps.

If there are gaps in the lines or the print diminishes across the page, you should run the "Clean to fix horizontal strips" page a couple more times to try and clear it up. If you still have gaps at the top and bottom, you should "wick" the cartridges by following the steps given below:

1. Please open the "Solution Center" again and go to the "Maintenance" Tab.
2. Select "Install color/black cartridge" and remove the cartridge (or cartridges) from the printer.
3. Get a damp paper towel.
4. Set the ink cartridge right side up on the damp paper towel so that the ink nozzles are against the towel and hold the cartridge in this position for about 15 seconds.
5. Now wipe the print head (on the bottom where the ink comes out) across in one direction only (left to right) until it looks clean. Also, wipe the contacts inside the printer (on cartridge carrier).
6. Next dab the cartridge on the towel to make sure that the ink is flowing.
7. Snap the cartridges back into the printer.
8. On your computer, select "Old Cartridge install."
9. Repeat the "Clean to fix horizontal strips" one more time. If this fails to address the problem, the entire procedure may need repeating.

try out..

I've cleaned it every which way..but still all the pictures print out really realled faded with slight lines horizontally runnung across.

What you are describing is a bad print head. You can try running the eliminate light stripes several times, and jet substitution, but most likely the print head will have to be replaced to remedy your problem.
You can try googling. Phaser printer print heads or phaser printheads.
There seems to be a secondary market appearing for those print heads. I can tell you from Xerox, if you have no maintenance agreement, they cost $750 per print head.
Honestly, having worked on about every type of color printer known to man, the new solid ink phaser printers, produce a dry ink image of 2400 x 2400 dpi with ink particles that align end to end. The resolution of those printers are remarkable and can be purchased for less than the price of one of those new print heads.
Now for reliable, albeit somewhat not as sharp a color image, but still exceptional, you really can not beat an HP.
The ink stick technology really no longer has the color vividness advantage it initially had. The inks that align end to end, have ended that advantage and are sure a lot cheaper to operate per page.

There is a small strip of glass on the left side directly under the edge of the scanner, About a half an inch wide. It has something on it.
May be very hard to see, use a strong glass cleaner or some alcohol and a regular piece of paper to clean it with.

REPLACE PAPER AND THE INK CARTRIDGE