Ink cartridge how to clean

Streaks or Lines in the Printed Image

An ink cartridge could be running out of ink or your ink cartridges require cleaning. Need to check ink levels, run the clean print cartridges utility and then print a diagnostic page.

Working through the steps outlined at the link below will help you to diagnose your specific problem.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00219790&cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&product=421139&tmp_track_link=ot_search

Trust this is helpful.

The black ink cartridge is larger than the photo black cartridge and black is used in photos to make the darker colors. Black text takes much less ink per page.

try to change the color ink. horizontal banding (the pink or other color lines appearing means horizontal banding) when there is a problem on one of the heating element of the printer head. since almost all canon printers have head built in the inks, replacing the faulty ink will solve the problem. if not then the controller of printhead on the carriage and mainboard needs to be checked.

I have a brother MFC 3240C. My Black ink stopped printing(initially printed horizontal faded lines and gradually got worse), the other colors were printing fine. I tried cleaning numerous time( 50 -100 times over 1-2 weeks ). Still no improvement. The way I print now is:
1. I go to Printer Properties
2. Change Media type from "Plain Paper" to "Inkjet Paper".
3. Change Quality to "Photo".

This takes a long time to print 1-2 minutes per page. However, this works for me since this is my Home printer and use it for printing only few pages here are there. Better than throwing the printer.

Good Luck
RK

The problem that you are experiencing is caused by the way the text is formatted in most word processing documents. By default envelopes are printed not in black, but a dark gray. This confuses the printer and causes it to use the color cartridge to process gray instead of using the black cartridge.

You can fix this problem with one of two ways:

1. Click on "Start", "Control Panel" and click on "Printers and Faxes." Right click on the "Lexmark Printer" icon and select "Properties." Click on "Printing Preferences." Go to "Quality/Copies" tab and select the option "Print color images in black and white."
2. You can also change the color of you text to a true black in your word processor. This will require you to resort to the word processor's documentation and help files.

Both of these settings will cause your printer to use the black cartridge instead of the color. If either one of these solutions solves your problem, it means your color cartridge needs to be cleaned or replaced. If you feel that the color cartridge should not be out of ink, please follow the steps given below:

Clean Nozzle Procedure:

1. Go to the "Solution Center" and click on the "Maintenance" tab.
2. Select "Clean to fix horizontal strips."
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 Print Nozzles" 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:

“Wicking” Procedure:

1. Select "Install color/black cartridge" and remove the cartridge from the printer.
2. Get a damp paper towel.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Next dab the cartridge on the towel to make sure that the ink is flowing.
6. Snap the cartridge back into the printer.
7. On your computer, select "Old Cartridge installed."
8. Repeat the "Clean to fix horizontal strips" procedure listed above.

If this procedure does not help, please let us know so that we can continue with technical support.

The problem you are experiencing is caused by the way the text is formatted in most word processing documents. By default envelopes are printed not in black, but a dark gray. This confuses the printer and causes it to use the color cartridge to process gray instead of using the black cartridge. You can fix this problem with one of 2 ways.
Please select the "Black" only option following the steps given below:
1. Click on "Start," "Control Panel" and click on "Printers and Faxes."
2. Right click on the "Lexmark printer icon" and select "Properties."
3. Select "Printing Preferences," click on the "Quality/Copies" tab and choose "Print Color images in Black and White."
4. Select "OK."
You can also change the color of your text to a true black in your word processor. This will require you to resort to the word processor's documentation and help files.
Both of these settings will cause your printer to use the black cartridge instead of the color. If either one of these solutions solves your problem, it means your color cartridge needs to be cleaned or replaced. If you feel that the color cartridge should not be out of ink please try the following:
1. Go to the "Lexmark solution center." This can be done by clicking on "Start," go to "Programs" and Lexmark printer group. Click on the "Lexmark Solution center." Next click on the "Maintenance" Tab.
2. Select "Clean and Fix Horizontal streaks." 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 Print Nozzle" 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.
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 Nozzle Page" one more time. If this fails to address the problem the entire procedure may need repeating.

Check the waste recepticle under where the ink cartridges rest in the home position. Over time, ink sprayed into this cup during cleaning cycles builds up to form a small mountain of congealed ink. If this gets too high, it makes contact with the printhead and drags ink across all your prints. If there is a ***** of ink present, scoop it out with a spoon or a popsicle stick.

Dont get it on you, its messy...

During the photo printing wizard, in printing options window, choose the printing preferences button. Once you are there, choose the maintenience tab located on the top of the screen. Choose the clean print cartridges button. Hope it works!

Hi George,

It sound's like an ink-feed issue:

1) Dirty heads, even after cleaning
2) No-ink or poor quality ink
3) Damaged head: some are part of the cartridge, some are not
4) Air bubbles in ink

The test page is typically not as hi-res nor as saturated as a
photo print. The hi-res photo puts the greatest demand on the print head.

The color lines you see are actually lines of missing color,
where the head has failed to deposit ink, so one or two primary
colors are missing from the complete picture.

For example missing yellow will make a blue line.
Missing magenta will make a green line
Missing cyan will make a red line.... etc..

Clean the heads again and again, print again and again,
hoping to flush the system.

BUT, keep in mind that cleaning wastes huge amounts of
ink and tiny little cartridges of ink cost more than many new printers.

Martin

Did u use the original ink cartridges or compatible ones or refilled?