topic Re: "ink absorber is almost full." in Desktop Inkjet Printers

PIXMA MG6120 "ink absorber is almost full."

kelneka — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 12:50:57 GMT

I keep getting that "ink absorber is almost full" message. I contacted customer support and was redirected to a third party tech support who said I am getting that message because my network is congested and that they could fix it for $249 and that I probably should just get a new printer. Seemed like a scam. Any advice? Thanks

Re: "ink absorber is almost full."

Danny — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 15:51:18 GMT

Hi, kelneka!

So that the Community can help you better, we will need to know exactly which Canon printer model you're using. That, and any other details you'd like to give will help the Community better understand your issue!

If this is a time-sensitive matter, our US-based technical support team is standing by, ready to help 24/7 via Email at http://bit.ly/EmailCanon or by phone at 1-800-OK-CANON (1-800-652-2666) weekdays between 10 AM and 10 PM ET (7 AM to 7 PM PT).

Thanks and have a great day!

Re: "ink absorber is almost full."

kelneka — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 18:08:37 GMT

I have the Pixma MG6120 . The IT support I was referered to by Canon was a 3rd party. I connected to their site and the tech was able to access my computer. The Tech said I was getting the message becasue of a problem with my Network and that he could fix the issue for a one time payment of $249. He also said that would fix the Network problem but not the message I was getting on the printer and that I should just buy a new printer. The Tech wanted to contact my provider to get access in to my Network. It seemed a little weird. Also If I have a Network problem I would think I could deal with Comcast to resolve that issue.

Re: "ink absorber is almost full."

Danny — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 18:19:38 GMT

Hi, kelneka!

There appears to have been some misunderstanding regarding Canon support. All of our tehcnical support for our PIXMA printers is handled in-house with no third parties involved. Additionally, all of our support is completely free of charge. We do not patch into your computer, and there's no cost to talk to us.

We invite you to go right to the source and call us toll-free at 1-800-OK-CANON (800-652-2666). You'll reach a member of our award-winning USA-based technical support team at one of our contact centers in Virginia and New Mexico. Our PIXMA printer team is ready to go weekdays from 10 AM to 10 PM ET (7 AM to 7 PM PT).

Support is also available 24/7 via email at http://bit.ly/EmailCanon

Again, there is no charge for any of our support.

We look forward to talking to you!

Re: "ink absorber is almost full."

rondis — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 17:23:30 GMT

Pixma MP 990

Re: "ink absorber is almost full."

ravritch — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 05:26:42 GMT

The e-mail page you show for service is not available. Do you have another address that is available for e-mail support.

I am looking for the printer "service tool" for my mx882 printer.

Re: "ink absorber is almost full."

Patrick — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 17:23:46 GMT

Hi ravitch,

The Service Tool is only available to authorized service technicians. It is not available for download.

Re: "ink absorber is almost full."

ravritch — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 19:23:02 GMT

So, if I understand this correctly, my printer was working fine until Canon forces me to pay you to fix a problem that your company created. The ink absorber works on a counter and not on a measurement of ink in the actual absorber. This sounds like financial extortion by Canon. Hopefully I do not understand the problem correctly but this does not pass the smell test. I can not find anything in the documentation that came with the printer that tells me that Canon will tell me that after a given time I should pay for a repair that does not really exist.

Please let me know where I went wrong.

Thank you,

Re: "ink absorber is almost full."

MatthewC — Sun, 11 Aug 2019 08:16:16 GMT

I have this problem too and I totally agree with you. It is basically an extortion racket to maintain Canon's income stream and does not encourage me to ever buy another Canon product (of any sort). Basically the product is not fit for purpose as customers are not told that there is a finite life on it.

Re: "ink absorber is almost full."

ravritch — Sun, 11 Aug 2019 19:38:41 GMT

Just to add to the problem, Canon has a printer Service Tool download that can fix the problem by setting the counter back. This would not solve the problem if the ink absorder is actually full but that could be fixed by the user. But Canon will not let a user get the download. As you say, they want to sell another printer. If I can't fix the problem my printer is scrap so what would I risk by using the tool? It's time for Canon to stop this crap.

Re: "ink absorber is almost full."

MatthewC — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 10:04:01 GMT

Don't you love it when there is no reply to this from the Canon employees on here? Because there is just no answer to this - it really is beyond the pale!

Persuade me why I should buy a Canon product again?

Re: "ink absorber is almost full."

ravritch — Sat, 17 Aug 2019 00:00:31 GMT

I agree. Canon has decided to limit the life of it's printers without telling buyers. This is a DIRTY TRICK with no real justification. Then you find out they have a solution to the problem but will not share it with the users. That's DIRTY TRICK #2. Where is the Gov. when you need them? Where are the lawyers when you need them? What we have is BIG BUSINESS GONE BAD.

Re: "ink absorber is almost full."

MatthewC — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 13:22:43 GMT

Well today my Canon MG2950 stopped printing. It is fully serviceable but seems to have reached the end of the road as it has printed the number that Canon will allow as the ink absorber is full (85%) and we have now used the remaining 15 %, it seems. This is absolutely disgraceful!

Nothing will bring it back - I have tried various suggestions online. I will never buy a Canon printer again and, for that matter, why should I ever buy any other Canon product?

I am now off to buy a new printer by choosing on the ABC method - Anything But Canon.

I am happy to recommend the same to anyone else - don't buy Canon as you are buying built in obsolescence just to improve their bottom line.

Re: "ink absorber is almost full."

MikesCanon1956 — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 04:30:16 GMT

There was another incident like this one where an error message appeared in the display and the printer wouldn't print anymore. The error message said to contact my Cannon Service Center. I called Canon and the representative told me that I for the Error Mesage I got, I needed a new print head, and I would probably be better off if I bought a new printer, because the cost of a Print Head was about the same price as a new printer. At that point, I researched the problem on line and after a bunch of searches, I found a woman that had figured out a way (or maybe once worked for CAnnon) to re-set the error message. Gent this....(the steps may not be complete, because I'm doing this from memory) It went something like this: With the printer off, I believe I opened the printer service door like you wold to rplace ink. Then I turned the printer on and waited for the ink printer carriage to start moving to the far left. As it passes the half way point, and is on the left side, I closed the lid on the printer. I swear following this woman's instructions got rid of the error and I was able to use my printer again. That was over three year ago !!. I must say, except for that error issue, this has by far been the best printer I ever owned. I bought it in 2011 (eight years ago) and it works great. Now though, I'm also getting this ink absorber near full message. But I can always press the OK button and keep printing. I hope I can keep doing that for a while before I get a "Totally Full" message.

Re: "ink absorber is almost full."

BillTuel — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 15:31:40 GMT

Apparently Canon's printer support policy has changed. I was just informed that I must sign up for the paid support before anyone will talk to me about the message that the ink absorber is full. I don't know where it is, what is required to clean/replace it, etc. If my understanding is incorrect, someone from Canon please contact me at (removed as per forum guidelines).

Thanks

Bill Tuel

Re: "ink absorber is almost full."

MatthewC — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 16:00:52 GMT

@BillTuel

I wouldn't bother. Just go and buy another printer made by a different company!

I think the entire situation is reprehensible - I will NEVER buy another Canon printer, and will have to be persuaded with difficulty to buy any other Canon product.

Re: "ink absorber is almost full."

ravritch — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 19:01:44 GMT

Your printer is about to go belly up. Not that the printer is bad. It's just that Canon thinks you have had it long enough and it's time to buy a new printer. If you replace the ink absorber, you still have to resett the ink counter. That takes a special program that Canon does not want you to have. Changing your printer brand may not help. It seems that other manufacturers do the same thing. Check carefully before buying a different brand. Good luck.

Re: "ink absorber is almost full."

bgrinstein — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 03:09:36 GMT

When you get this on a pixma mx700 (probably also on other models) you can simply override it for a while by pressing "OK". Eventually (after a looong time) the printer will give you an "error 5B00" and get completely stuck. Then you look for instructions on the web on how to do a reset. Then it works again. This worked for me:

Try this: With the power OFF on the printer,

1: press and hold the RESET (or RESUME, perhaps) button (to the right side of the printer's controls/buttons, if I have this right for your model), and at the same time, also press and hold the POWER button too.

2: after a second, release the RESET (or RESUME) button but keep holding down the POWER button...

3: while still holding the POWER button, press and release the RESET (or RESUME) button, two times.

4: Then, after a moment, release the POWER button too, and wait for about 10 seconds or longer for the printer to turn ON and initialize.

5: the printer should now show 'SERVICE MODE' on the LED screen.

6: Press the RESET (or RESUME) button four times, then press the Power button once, to confirm 'Reset Counter Absorber' as an action.

7: After which, if that's what you just got done, you press POWER again to turn OFF the printer.

8: Wait a while, then turn it On again normally, and it should now have the error cleared.

Re: "ink absorber is almost full."

usaer — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 20:43:37 GMT

Thanks for your instructions. I tried it but I think it does not work because I have not yet actually received the 5B00 Error Code yet. I am still getting the message warning that my ink pad is almost full. I have to press the OK button on the LCD to print. When I tried your instructions, I could not get past the error code for the "almost full ink pad" ... I THINK it was a code 1700. I would have to hit the OK button then continue with the instructions. I am going to try it again when I cool down some. grrrrrrrrrr!

I think I read that once you get the "almost full ink pad" warning that you will still have about 15% left before you get the fatal 5B00 error. I have had my printer for about 5 1/2 years. So the math tells me I have about 9.9 months left to print before the printer shuts down. I guess I will be back here then.... or sooner if I get it working to share.

BTW.. I have a Canon MAXIFY mb2720. I converted it to use the big ink tower containers, so my ink cost is cheap. The printer has everything you could want and is fast. Best of all, it has operated flawlessly with daily office use. BUT, if Canon does not allow me to RESET this error message, it will be my last Canon purchase!

Re: "ink absorber is almost full."

BassBonePhotog — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 17:14:41 GMT

THIS SIMPLY IS NOT TRUE. CALLING THE NUMBER SENDS YOU TO A EXTERNAL SUPPORT COMPANY - WITH A HIGH FEE.