My Canon Pixma MP210 is leaving black streaks horizontally across the page. I've already done a deep cleaning and print head alignment, any idea why this is occurring?

Sounds like it's congealed ink on the print head. You can buy cleaning kits and do it your self. Relatively in expensive compared to leaving it into the shop.

The print head is still probably still partially blocked. Cleaning/deep cleaning tries to clear the head by flushing ink through, doesn't always work but does use up your ink.

You can get print head cleaning kits, PC shops,ebay etc. Try one of those.

Here's a really useful ebay url. with some youtube links, if you run the second video down you should get a pretty good idea.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Printer-Print-Head-Printhead-Cleaning-kit-Epson-Canon-/130479422758?pt=UK_Computing_Printer_Paper_Accessories_ET&hash=item1e612dfd26

Here's a direct link :- http://www.printheadhospital.co.uk/quickshop/

You don't have to buy this one, there may be cheaper, have a shop around.

Inkjet printers need to be used frequently to prevent inkdrying out in 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 thanreplace the print head.

The instructions as copied from the Pixma 480 "onscreen manual." (Only the text -- not the images -- could be pasted into the solution. Hope you can follow the text.) Steve G.

Prepare 2 sheets of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper

1. Make sure that the power is turned on, and load 2 sheets of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in the Rear Tray.

2. Open the Paper Output Tray gently, and open the Output Tray Extension.

3. Print the print head alignment pattern.
- Press the Menu button.
- Select Maintenance, and press the OK button.
- Select Print head alignment, and press the OK button.
Note: To print the current head position adjustment values, select Head alignment print in the Maintenance menu and press the OK button. See Selecting Menus on the Top Menu Screen.)
- Select Yes, and press the OK button to print alignment sheet.
- Check the pattern is printed correctly, select Yes and press OK button.
- Confirm the displayed message and press the OK button.

The Print head alignment screen appears.

4. Adjust the print head position.
- Check the printed patterns, and use the (Left) or (Right) button to select the number of the pattern that has the least noticeable streaks for column A.
Note: If it is difficult to select the best pattern, select the pattern that has the least noticeable white streaks.
(A) Less noticeable vertical white streaks
(B) Noticeable vertical white streaks
(C) Less noticeable horizontal white streaks
(D) Noticeable horizontal white streaks
- Repeat the same procedure to input the pattern number for each column from B to L, then press the OK button.
- Select Yes to continue printing, and press the OK button.
- The second page of print head alignment sheet will be printed.
- Confirm the message for print head alignment, and press the OK button.
- Check the printed patterns and use the (Left) or (Right) button to input the number of the pattern that has the least noticeable horizontal streaks for column M.
- Repeat the same procedure to input the pattern number for each column from N to R, and press the OK button.

most probably your "soak" pad need exchange. check your manual and change it. when you "deep clean" heaps of ink is absorbed into the pad exacerbating the problem, not solving it.

remove cartridges first and check them for existence of any foreign matter,

check for presence of debris under the head and parking place, remove if any,

i would suggest cleaning of printheads, albeit this can be risky (check first if your ink is soluble in water, isopropyl alcohol or methylated spirit, use that which solve your ink without clumping as cleaning agent), remove cartridges and allow appriopriate solvent to sit few second on metal rasters, wipe them with clean absorbing tissue and repeat procedure till solvent is "sinking" through the net.

remove old and install new absorbent pad under the print heads,

re-install inks, print rest page and then "normal" page. ink on first test page maybe very weak as solvent need to go through first.

if you follow the steps correctly, your should have clean print on the end.

"deep cleaning" is just waste of time, effort and ink. it is better if you create yourself a document with alternative lines of all three basic colours and black and then print it.

You need to continually clean and deep clean and realign the black until the results are acceptable. Try manual alignment if the auto does not work. Also clean around the exit hole of the black ink cartidge with a cotton bud and isoproyl alcohol.

Clean the print head nozzles (Mac OS X) MP210 Clean the print head nozzles (Windows) MP210 Clean the print head nozzles - MP210 Perform Print Head Alignment (Mac OS X) MP210 Perform Print Head Alignment (Windows) MP210 Replace ink cartridge(s) MP210 Reseat ink cartridge MP210

Visit

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&tabact=SupportDetailTabAct&fcategoryid=238&modelid=15402

Hi it's Gill again. I've been looking around more on the net and I think the problem is our printers need new printheads which I'm told are spare parts easy to change. Hope this helps. Gill

as i can suggest you that it can be the problem of head clogged internally where you insert your black cartridge .and the other main cause is while you give a head cleaning command to get the cartridge cleaned it sucks or pulls  the ink from the cartridge in such a huge quantity that 3-4 cleanings make the cartridge totally empty .due to this the ink gets very low and the printouts come with streaks.many a times setting the print mode in best makes the copy perfect.but the printing gets too slow in that best mode.

hmmm..can you do a test page to see if it's also the case?

http://tinyurl.com/6qcpgy