Misreads ink tanks: says full ones are empty and there are 2 cyans, etc.

INK PROBLEM
Inkjet printers need to be used frequently to prevent ink drying out and blocking the print head nozzles.
If the print head cleaning maintenance routine does not clear the blockages, then print head needs replacing, but it may be expensive.
It may be more cost effective to buy a later model and better printer than replace the print head.

Common problem with this (and other) canon printers. I usually just lift the cover and lift the highlighted tank out and put it back in, sometimes I have to do that 2 or 3 times before it will let me print. If lifting that tank doesn't do it, try lifting all the tanks and putting them back. Eventually you will get a message that the tank you are refilling is empty (even if it's full). When that happens, press and hold the "stop/reset" button for 5 seconds (this is from Canon) then you will get a message that Canon will not be responsible for damage to the printer because you are using different ink than theirs (just ignore it). You can also try cleaning the contact points on both ink cartridge and on printer w/ cotton swab lightly dipped in alcohol.

Show empty or not recognized (cross sign)? Check connector at chip and at head carriage. Do replacement procedure form status monitor (how to..). Do replacement ink tank one by one with cyan ink first.

Canon printers do not like the refilled ink cartridges. After having ruined a few printers trying to "save" money. I went back to genuine Canon ink and have never had a problem since.

Epson gives you a miserable 12 ml of ink. Then it reports empty when there is still 10-15% of the ink left. I saw someone set up a brand new CX8400, print a single 4x6 photo and it said he was out of cyan. I use reusable cartridges from http://www.ccs-digital.com They hold 20 ml, which is 2/3 more ink. The chips automatically reset to full if you take the cartridge out and put it back in, so you get to use every drop. The ink is in a separate container inside the main cartridge. When it's really empty, you pop out the ink tank and pop in a new one. The tanks are under $3 each. I think this is brilliant because it's like refilling only it avoids the risks and mess of refills.

slowly off and on the printer for five times without cartridge, printer saves data of cart of last 5 only so next time it reads full ink..

Theres a simple trick to cheat the machine.
BUT
you will definitly destroy the printhead when doing so for a longer periode!

You have to put some black adhesive tape around the middle part where you can see this black palstic flag inside the cart. This flag signals the printer that the cart is insert and later on when the ink is down to give the waring: near empty.

I do give you the advice to do another but saver cheating:

You can refill the cart with a mixture of 8 ml destill water and 3ml 85%-Glycerol (e. g. Glycerin alc. which can be bought at a drugstore for a few cents). Shake the mixture well (within the syringe) before refilling the cart.
See pics here how to do so (LC1000):
http://www.hstt.net/refill-faq/brother.html#LC-1000 - Refill
(brother has changed the construction of the carts! If you can see a plastic quad in the middle of the cart, you have to drill the hole just behind the air valve (white plastic looking out of the cart)

Yes it is possible, Try injuctions to refill your cartidates.

1) Make sure the tape was removed from the cartridge when installing the new one.

2) Try running a few cleaning cycles as this primes the cartridge.

3) DO not print without ink as it may damagew the head.

That is happening because you have "smart" chips on your cartridges, so even though you know there is still some ink left in the tank, if the chip says stop, the printer will stop printing. There is a way to bypass that and that is by using a re-setter. You can either buy one or ask to re-set your cartridge in a refill shop.
You can also try holding the "resume" button (triangle in circle for about 10 seconds for each cartridge, sometimes doing that resets the cartridges.
Do not refill the magenta and cyan cartridges if they are not empty, you'll just be wasting your money. Better use it to buy a re-setter ;)
Hope that will help!