Lexmark X1195 Fails to print with black cartridge, have cleaned nozzles, replaced cartridge, suctioned nozzles, used ink solvent, cleaned contacts on machine and head with alcohol and cotton bud. Color cartridge prints fine.

Just make sure you are inserting genuine Lexmark cartridges. Lexmark does not recommend the use of refilled, remanufactured or clone cartridges, you might not get the print quality you expect from ink that is specially formulated by Lexmark.

Try cleaning the cartridge nozzles using the Lexmark software installed on your computer instead:
1. On your computer, go to Start menu.2. Go to Programs.3. Go to Lexmark 2600 Series folder.4. Select Lexmark Solution Center.5. From the Maintenance tab, select Clean to fix horizontal streaks. Your printer will then print a page forcing ink through the cartridge nozzles and clean it from dirt and possible clogs.
If that doesn't help but you're using genuine Lexmark supplies, please contact Lexmark Technical Support for additional assistance, otherwise, please replace your color cartridge with a genuine one.

Make sure you are inserting genuine Lexmark cartridges.
Try to clean the cartridge nozzles. Refer to the steps below:

Cleaning the Print Cartridge Nozzles:

1. Open the Lexmark Solution Center. Click Start > Programs or All Programs > Lexmark 1300 Series. Select Solution Center.

2. From the Maintenance tab, click Clean to fix horizontal streaks.

3. Click Print. A nozzle page prints, forcing ink through the nozzles to clean the clogged nozzles.

4. Print the document again to verify that print quality has improved.

Using the control panel

1. Press Menu.

2. Press the down arrow button until you highlight Clean Cartridge.

3. Press Select. A nozzle page prints, forcing ink through the nozzles to clean the clogged nozzles.

4. Print the document again to verify that print quality has improved.

Try to insert a different known working black cartridge to identify if it's a faulty cartridge issue.

Here's what I found here:

http://www.lexmark.com/publications/pdfs/x5150/eng/ug.pdf

Cleaning the print cartridge nozzles
To improve print quality, you may need to clean the print cartridge nozzles.
Clean the nozzles when:
• Characters are not printing completely.
• White dashes appear in graphics or printed text.
• Print is smudged or too dark.
• Colors on print jobs are faded or they differ from the colors on the
screen.
• Vertical, straight lines are not smooth.
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You can use the operator panel or the Lexmark X5100 Series Solution
Center to clean the nozzles.
Using the operator panel
1 Load paper in the All-In-One. For help, see page 16.
2 Press Options until Cartridges appears on the display.
3 Press the right arrow until Clean appears on the display.
4 Press Select.
A nozzle page prints forcing ink through the nozzles to clean the
clogged nozzles.
5 Print your document again to verify your print quality has improved.
6 To further improve print quality, try wiping the print cartridge nozzles
and contacts (see page 44), and then print your document again.
7 If print quality has not improved, try cleaning the print cartridge
nozzles up to two more times.
Using the Lexmark X5100 Series Solution Center
1 Load plain paper in the All-In-One. For help, see page 16.
2 Click Start Programs Lexmark X5100 Series Lexmark X5100
Series Solution Center.
3 Click the Maintenance tab.
4 From the Maintenance tab, click Clean to fix horizontal streaks.
5 Click Print.
A nozzle page prints forcing ink through the nozzles to clean the
clogged nozzles.
6 Print your document again to verify your print quality has improved.
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7 To further improve print quality, try wiping the print cartridge nozzles
and contacts (see page 44), and then print your document again.
8 If print quality has not improved, try cleaning the print cartridge
nozzles up to two more times.
Wiping the print cartridge nozzles and contacts
If the print quality does not improve after cleaning the print cartridge
nozzles, dried ink may be on the nozzles or contacts. To wipe the print
cartridge nozzles and contacts:
1 Remove the print cartridges. For help, see page 38.
2 Dampen a clean, lint-free cloth with water.
3 Hold the cloth against the gold nozzle area for about three seconds.
Gently blot and wipe dry in one direction (this prevents the colors in
the color cartridge from mixing).
4 Hold a clean, damp section of cloth against the contacts for about
three seconds. Gently blot and wipe dry in one direction.
Nozzles
Contacts
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5 Let the nozzles and contacts dry completely.
6 Reinstall the print cartridges, and then print your document again.
7 If the print quality has not improved, try cleaning the print cartridge
nozzles up to two more times.
8 If print quality is still unsatisfactory, replace your print cartridges. For
help, see page 38.

You should try cleaning your cartridge nozzles. If you're using Windows, go to Start -> Programs -> Lexmark X6100 Series -> Lexmark Solution Center -> Maintenance tab -> Clean to fix horizontal streaks. The printer will then print a test page.
You can also manually clean the cartridge nozzles. Follow the steps in this article : How to Clean the Print Cartridge Nozzles and Contacts Manually.
Thanks.

Your cartridges may need cleaning. This article in the Lexmark website on How to Unblock (Clean) the Cartridge Nozzles might help you. You can also clean the nozzles using the printer operator panel, press Options -> Cartridges -> Clean -> Select. Or manually: How to Clean the Print Cartridge Nozzles and Contacts Manually.

ADJUST THE COLOR AND PRINT SPEED You may need to adjust the color and print speed. CHECK THE LEVEL OF INK IN THE PRINT CARTRIDGES 1 From the Finder desktop, double-click the Lexmark X5400 Series folder. 2 Double-click the Lexmark X5400 Series Utility icon. 3 From the Maintenance tab, check the ink levels of the cartridges. If an exclamation point (!) appears on a cartridge, the ink level is low. Install a new cartridge. Improving print quality These are possible solutions. Try one or more of the following: CHECK PAPER • Use the appropriate paper for the document. If you are printing photos or other high-quality images, for best results use Lexmark Photo Paper or Lexmark PerfectFinish Photo Paper. Do not use Lexmark Premium Photo Paper. Your print cartridges are not compatible with this type of paper. • Use a paper that is a heavier weight or bright white. CHECK PRINT CARTRIDGES If the document still does not have the print quality you want, follow these steps: 1 Align the print cartridges. For more information, see "Aligning print cartridges" on page. If print quality has not improved, continue to step 2. 2 Clean the print cartridge nozzles. For more information, see "Cleaning the print cartridge nozzles" . If print quality has not improved, continue to step 3. 3 Remove and reinsert the print cartridges. For more information, see "Removing a used print cartridge" on and "Installing print cartridges" . If print quality has not improved, continue to step 4. 4 Wipe the print nozzles and contacts. For more information, see "Wiping the print cartridge nozzles and contacts". If print quality is still not satisfactory, replace the print cartridges. For more information, see "Ordering print cartridges". CHECK PRINT CARTRIDGES If the document still does not have the print quality you want, follow these steps: 1 Align the print cartridges. For more information, see "Aligning print cartridges" on page 124. If print quality has not improved, continue to step 2. 2 Clean the print cartridge nozzles. For more information, see "Cleaning the print cartridge nozzles" . If print quality has not improved, continue to step 3. 3 Remove and reinsert the print cartridges. For more information, see "Removing a used print cartridge" and "Installing print cartridges" If print quality has not improved, continue to step 4. 4 Wipe the print nozzles and contacts. For more information, see "Wiping the print cartridge nozzles and contacts"
If print quality is still not satisfactory, replace the print cartridges. For more information, see "Ordering print

Try cleaning the contacts on both the ink cartridge and the carriage with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. If that does not work, the nozzles on the color ink cartridge may be clogged with dry ink.

There is a nozzle cleaning utility in the Lexmark Solutions Center. Use that to clean the nozzles of your ink cartridges. The Lexmark Solutions Center is installed on your computer. You can find it in the Windows Start Menu under "All Programs" in a folder marked "Lexmark".

If your printer has been sitting without use for more than a few weeks, the nozzles may be too clogged with dry ink to clean by conventional means.

It nothing works, replace the color ink cartridge.

Print nozzles will be at bottom of cartridge...Make sure that u do not wet copper contacts ... first try using dry paper towel and check where ink comes and follow the procedure given below....

Cleaning procedure

1. Remove the print cartridges.
2. Moisten a clean, lint-free cloth with water.
3. Gently hold the cloth against the nozzles for about three seconds, and then wipe in the direction shown below.
4. Using another clean section of the cloth, gently hold the cloth against the contacts for about three seconds, and then wipe in the direction shown.
5. With another clean section of the cloth, repeat steps 2 through 4 above.
6. Allow the nozzles and contacts to dry completely.
7. Reinsert the print cartridges.
8. Print the document again.
9. If the print quality does not improve, repeat the steps for cleaning the nozzles and contacts up to two more times.
10. Check the warranty and try to get replaced
    

It's been my experience when an inkjet printer produces unfavorable printing results ("scan lines or no color) the most common cause is clogged print nozzles. The most common cause of clogged print nozzles is lack of use and the ink dries and hardens in the nozzles.
Your particular model of Lexmark as well as other brands generally have a utility to assist in unclogging the jets by forcing ink through the nozzles. This does "waste" ink, but it is the "easiest" way to attempt in unclogging the nozzles.

For your model try the following: (This is an excerpt from the Lexmark site.)

1. Load paper.
2. Click Start Programs Lexmark 4200 Series Lexmark Solution Center.
3. From the Maintenance tab, click Clean to fix horizontal streaks.
4. Click Print. A nozzle page prints, forcing ink through the clogged nozzles to clean them.
5. Print your document again to verify that your print quality has improved.
6. If you are not satisfied with the print quality, continue with step 7 and then print your document again.
7. Wipe the print cartridge nozzles and contacts:

1. Remove the print cartridges.
2. Dampen a clean, lint-free cloth with water.
3. Gently hold the cloth against the nozzles for about three seconds, and then wipe in the direction shown.
   
4. Using another clean section of the cloth, gently hold the cloth against the contacts for about three seconds, and then wipe in the direction shown.
   
5. With another clean section of the cloth, repeat steps c through d.
6. Let the nozzles and contacts dry completely.
7. Reinsert the print cartridges.
8. Print your document again.
9. If the print quality does not improve, repeat step 7 up to two more times.
10. If print quality is still not satisfactory, replace the print cartridges.