topic Re: printer not printing black in Desktop Inkjet Printers

PIXMA MX922 printer not printing black

traciflome — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 12:10:29 GMT

My pixma MX922 is not printing black text. It will print color. I have changed my ink, cleaned it and shut it on and off. Thoughts?

Re: printer not printing black mp830

rousu — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 07:42:39 GMT

years of no problem, no not printing black text.

did cleaning, deep cleaning, new cartridge.

Is there a local greater seattle service location?

Re: printer not printing black

Patrick — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 14:22:46 GMT

Hi traciflome,

First, please make sure that the installed ink tanks are correct and full of ink. The correct order is:

CLI-251M magenta
CLI-251BK black
CLI-251Y yellow
PGI-250BK black
CLI-251C cyan

Next, please print the nozzle check pattern to determine whether the ink is ejecting properly from the print head. To do this, please follow these steps:

1. Make sure that the machine is turned on.

2. Load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in the Auto Sheet Feeder or the Cassette.

3. Open the Paper Output Tray and then open the Output Tray Extension.

4. To print the nozzle check pattern:

     4-1. Press the MENU button.

     4-2. Press the Setup button.

     4-3. Select Maintenance, then press the OK button. The Maintenance screen is displayed.

     4-4. Select Print nozzle check pattern and then press the OK button. The pattern print confirmation screen is displayed.

     4-5. Select Yes and then press the OK button.

The nozzle check pattern is printed and the pattern confirmation screens are displayed alternately. Please compare your printout to the example that has been attached to the bottom of this post.

If they differ, perform a few cleanings. Please perform the following steps to perform a Cleaning:

1. Press the MENU button.

2. Press the Setup button.

3. Select Maintenance then press the OK button.

4. Select Cleaning and press OK.

5. Press OK to select Yes.

The cleaning will be performed. After 2 or 3 cleanings, print another test page.

Does the test page print correctly?

If is does not, please contact our support group using the following link:

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/standard_display/contact_us_consumer

Re: printer not printing black

rousu — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 17:52:40 GMT

I do not see any "setup" button on my mp830.

under "settings" there is no "maintenance" entry

The test print from the Canon drive program on the computer looks different than your example.

Re: printer not printing black

Patrick — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 10:19:08 GMT

Hi rousu,

The steps I provided were for the original poster, who owns a PIXMA MX922.

For your PIXMA MP830, please make sure that the installed ink tanks are correct and full of ink. The correct order is:

CLI-8BK Black
PGI-5 Black
CLI-8Y Yellow
CLI-8M Magenta
CLI-8C Cyan

Next, a test of the printer should be performed. The Nozzle Check pattern shows if each print head nozzle is operating properly. Please perform the following steps to print a Nozzle Check pattern:

1. Load letter-sized plain paper in the auto sheet feeder.

2. Press the <FAX> button.

3. Press the <MENU> button.

4. Press the right arrow to select Maintenance / Settings, then press <OK>.

5. Press <OK> to select Maintenance.

6. Press <OK> to select Nozzle check.

7. Press <OK> to select Yes.

The nozzle check pattern will now print. Please compare your printout with the example that has been attached to the bottom of this post. If the page prints blank, or there is missing lines or streaks, printhead cleanings should be performed.

Please perform the following steps to perform a Deep Cleaning:

1. Press <FAX>.

2. Press the <MENU> button.

3. Press the right arrow to select Maintenance / Settings, then press <OK>.

4. Press <OK> to select Maintenance.

5. Press the down arrow to select Deep Cleaning and press <OK>.

6. Press <OK> to select Yes.

The Deep cleaning will be performed. After 3 or 4 cleanings, print another test page.

Does the test page print correctly?

Re: printer not printing black

rousu — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 18:50:36 GMT

Did all that, mostly via the computer control of the printer, but still not printing PGBK.

Local retailers say they do not repair old printers, it is cheaper to buy a new one. RIP MP830

Re: printer not printing black

Russ — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 21:14:42 GMT

Patrick,

Thank you for the trouble-shooting routine for the PIXMA MP830. I have the same problem that rousu had back in August 2014 (color black is not printing). I printed the nozzle check pattern and everything printed properly except the PGBK line, which was completely blank.

I then ran the Deep Cleaning and printed another nozzle check pattern. It came out exactly the same (PGBK line was totally blank).

Is this something that can be fixed?

Russ

Re: printer not printing black

rousu — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 00:20:15 GMT

The final solution: Today MP830 was relegated to the local electronics recycling site for a fee of $10.

4 square feet of surface freed, 5 cubic feet of volume freed.

I have now figured out most of the routine mysteries of operating the replacement MX922.

It still seems like there should be a fix for the black text print function not working when everything else still works....

The disposable society sits restlessly on my conscience.

Re: printer not printing black

Russ — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 05:28:09 GMT

rousu,

Wow, that's not good news. I agree with you that it seems like there should be a fix for this. There's no mystery about what the problem is. I'm hoping Patrick or another Canon rep will comment.

The scanner still works and I assume the fax does too, so I don't plan to get rid of mine even if it's not fixable, at least not right away. I have a small black & white laser printer, which I bought a couple of years ago because I got tired of the expensive per-page cost of printing black & white documents on the MP830. So I can still print in black & white.

Yes, this is absolutely a disposable society.

Russ

Re: printer not printing black

Ramona — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 08:09:42 GMT

Hi Russ,

When inks do not print, we recommend performing at least one cleaning and two deep cleanings on the printer to try and get the ink to print. Since you have already performed the cleanings and the ink still does not print, we recommend having the unit serviced to try and resolve the issue. Please call or email us at one of the methods on the Contact Us page for servicing options.

Re: printer not printing black

rousu — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 08:23:03 GMT

Too late. The non-functioning printer is now at the electronic junk recycling site. I looked for a printer service location, but they said analysis and repair was more expensive than buying a new printer. They had NO service department for the printer even though they were a major retail outlet for the new ones.

Re: printer not printing black

Russ — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 21:49:34 GMT

Thank you, Ramona. I filled out the email form and sent it. By the way, I ran a "Cleaning" and another "Deep Cleaning" just now to see if there was any improvement. Same result--PGBK prints totally blank on the nozzle test pattern.

One other thing to tell you is that I bought this printer in August of 2006. I'm not sure how long these units are expected to last. Everything has worked beautifully until now.

I don't see the "Accept as Solution" button mentioned in your response. Where do I find that so I can click it?

Russ

Re: printer not printing black

klloyd — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 02:32:33 GMT

I am having the same problem with a brand new print head I got from Canon just today. My old printhead prints the pgbk pattern with some missing segments but not an entire line in any direction but the colors have non-firing pins and bad print and gray barely prints at all. The new printhead all the colors are perfect no black grid pattern at all. I can put the old head in and it still works the same and then insert the new and it as well performs the same, no PGBK grid pattern at all and perfect colors. I have already emptied brand new magenta and cyan cartridges performing cleanings and deep cleanings. Due to the disclaimer I got when I purchased the printhead I saw verbiage to the effect that due to the fact that I had made the diagnosis there is limited recourse.

I am a level 3 intelligent data management support analyst at Dell. I have a well developed skill set in technical troubleshooting. Matter of fact in my early years after college I actually worked on printers of all types. What can we do to get this printer/printhead issue corrected. Thank you, Ken

Re: printer not printing black

JlBuchanan — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 15:21:51 GMT

I'm having the same problems as the others...no printing black in 'some' but not all documents. Photos print fine as well as web pages. However, spreadsheets and .PDF documents do not...they only print the color text. If I print the same document on my laser printer all text shows-up just fine. I have completly removed the printer driver, did a registry scan, did a hard re-boot and re-installed the latest driver that I just downloaded from the Canon web site. Please advise the fix. Thanks!

Re: printer not printing black

Patrick — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 15:54:49 GMT

Russ,

It sounds like the printhead may be clogged in your PIXMA MP830. It is recommended that you contact live technical support . There is NO charge for this call. Please dial 1-866-261-9362, Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. ET (excluding holidays). A Canon technical support representative will be able to diagnose what is causing your PIXMA MP830 to not print black and if your PIXMA MP830 requires service, provide you with your service options.

Re: printer not printing black

rousu — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 16:14:57 GMT

after much fuss and gnashing of teeth, the cheapest solution I found was to buy a new printer.

Re: printer not printing black

JlBuchanan — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 20:57:05 GMT

I found the solution in my case. When you print out a nozzel check pattern make sure there are a total of nine (9) line items: one that shows PGBK black that has lines at the top, three shades of cyan, three shades of megenta, one shade of yellow and one black (BK). I had the BK and the other colors and so I thought all was good. But I later noticed that I was missing the top BGBK with the lines. I changed that cartridge and shazam! All is well now. Hope this help others.

All the best...JB

Re: printer not printing black

klloyd — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 21:46:37 GMT

In my case, second new canon print head, brand new canon cartridge from Office Depot. I had to use a ink syringe to force ink through the pgbk it never would prime on it's own. Next printer will be the one from another manufacturer that has only 4 color inks with refillable reservoirs on the side/outside right. Years of canon printers and the support blaming it on everything else.

goodbye canon.

Re: printer not printing black

Russ — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 22:17:40 GMT

Thank you, Patrick. You gave some helpful answers in the earlier part of this thread. I did contact live tech support way back during the period when I was posting about the problem. The person I spoke to said the MP830 is no longer supported and so there was nothing Canon could do for me. They did offer me a certificate good for a discount on a new printer, but I decided not to go that route.

I still have the MP830 but I just don't print black & white on it. I have a small laser printer for that.

I appreciate your kind suggestions.

Re: printer not printing black

amenchaca11 — Mon, 02 May 2016 00:06:22 GMT

I also have a MX922 with no black pigment printing, but all of the dye ink prints well.

Is there a way to turn off the black pigment ink so that the printer no longer tries to use that ink?