Call to Arms for the dreaded U052 Wrong Printhead Error

[macnicol]

This is a "call to arms" for all of you Canon customers who have had this problem and have had their printers disabled because of it.  Please respond with the model of your printer and if you were able to fix it, what you did to fix it. 

We need to put pressure on Canon to respond this product defect.  It appears to be bad firmware that does not allow the user to override the problem and to continue to use the printer even in a degraded mode.  From my investigations the problem is NOT a printhead issue - no way one can be printing fine and then have this error alert without having changed the printhead or ink cartridges!

Canon, PLEASE take this issue seriously and provide a solution across the affected models.  If nothing else there should be a trade-in allowance for those printers that have been affected by this product defect.

I have had many Canon printers because they have superior functional specifications. I want to be able to continue using Canon products but only if I can have confidence that this product defect will not destroy my investment.

If Canon is unresponsive our next step should be to aggressively publisize this product defect on social media and on major product vendor outlet sites as negatives reviews.

Forum Users, please reply with your affected model number(s) and with details of any succdessful fix procedure.

[cfOH]

I bought my PIXMA MP830 about 8 years ago and it's been used maybe twice a week on average, mostly for scanning, in my office at work. Walked into my office this morning to see the error "The type of print head is incorrect. Install the correct print head." Well how the heck did the wrong type of print head suddenly get installed in my 8-year-old printer?? It was working fine yesterday, but now none of the "fixes" do anything, regardless of there being any cartridges installed.

This is really frustrating. The printer appears to be physically just fine, so having it fail in an inexplicable fashion is aggravating.

[alejandrasulay]

I demand a free repair! You are doing nothing about this issue as I can see it's been years long since people have had it. You clearly don't care at all!!

[terabhrava]

Just had my mx860 report the U052 error, already tried the suggested solutions including cleaning the printhead, but no luck. Too bad, there's still no solution from Canon for this problem.

[Benick]

Pixma MG5220 failed with a U052 code today. What to do with those 8 unopened cartridges and a set almost full in the machine. I probably paid as much for the ink as the printer.

[Aardvark]

I had an idea. Such a shame it would cost so much. What if all the hundreds of people with this problem sent their now useless Canon printers to the CEO's home address?

[TonyB]

I bought a replacement print head advertised as "New Print head QY6-0073 for Canon IP3600 MP560 MP620 MX860 MX870"  via ebay (seller "longyue2012"  from Hong Kong for $A49.99  (about$US 38) delivered post free. Price has gone up $A5 since.  I figured I had nothing to lose.  Took 10 days to arrive.  I fitted the new head and have been working the printer hard since.  The printer died with a U052 message just after I had bought a couple of packs of cartridges so I figured that for $A49.99 extra I had little to lose.  I'll drive the printer until I have used the cartridges, and if its still going after that, I'll htink about what to do next.

Maybe its not necessary to pay top $$ tobuy from a Canon dealer.  There is a fair chance that this printer head comes from the same factory as the original head.

I suspect that the unhelpful U052 message comes up because Canon forgot to include a message: "Print Head worn out - replace it".

That has been my experience, your experience may vary.

Tony B

Hobart, Tasmania

[Aardvark]

Pleased to see you have found a solution that you are happy with. It doesn't however fully explain why people have been having the same issue with very lightly used machines when just out of the waranty period. And the fact that after some posters above have paid a much higher price for a new printhead from Canon the problem still remains. All they offer is a pitiful "loyalty discount" on a new printer that can be bought cheaper on Amazon.

[Benick]

Thanks Aardvark.  I did call Canon Tec Service when this happened.  Got through quickly and the tech was as helpful as he could be but, of course, could not resolve the problem.  His suggestions were the same as I found online.  I've only used Canon cartridges.  I removed all, cleaned the head contacts - both sides.  Returned all the cartridges.  No luck.  Tried a second time, no luck. I haven't tried putting in all new cartridges because it seems such a waste if it is the print head.  At first I thought it was a software thing since I had just installed a new driver update almost immediately before the failure but I'm thinking that was pure coincidence now.  Also put in a few new cartridges a couple of days ago.  I'm going to bite the bulled and buy a new machine.  Probably not Canon.  I've used Epson before and was happy with their product.  I've found one that seems a bit more efficient on ink and the total cartridge replacement price is less.  Also, while I value new technology, it seems a pity that each year the inkjet manufacturers revamp their lines and obsolete their previous products.  I can't buy a new machine that uses the 225/226 cartridges of my MG5220.  I would probably do that if one was available - even if a different model.  But what I will end up doing is changing brands. 

[jitsupa]

I have the same issue with my MG5370. It's really frustrated as I've tried all steps to resolve the issue that I could find on the internet. I sent it back to Canon and they kept it for 3 months. Once they sent it back, the first thing I saw is the same error message. Really dissapointed and I think the only solution here is changing the brand. I've tried EPSON while waiting for them to fix my MG5370. It works really well and I don't think I'll ever use Canon again. 

[Tash]

Me too.