Canon MG5220 B200 / U052 Error

[californiasekai]

Hello. I wanted to ask if there is anything more I can do before I literally turn my situation into the printer scene from Office Space.

I have a Canon MG5220 that I bought new back in 2013. I like to think I took good care of it, despite using non-OEM ink, since it lasted as long as it did. Yes, I know it is retired, and Canon's official stance would be to replace it. But money is tight and I need to do whatever else I can to fix this.

This is what happened.

I was cleaning my office about two weeks ago and unplugged my printer; it was on. This isn't the first time I have unplugged it with it on, though it's always by accident. The day before, I used it to scan some documents, and there were no problems. On Monday, I was about to do some more scans when I realized that it wasn't on. When I turned it on, it immediately gave me a B200 error. I looked it up and began troubleshooting the problem as best I could (not necessarily in order):

• Removed and reseated all the ink cartridges.
• Replaced all the ink cartridges.
• Removed and reseated the head.
• Cleaned the head contacts with isopropyl.
• Cleaned the ink supply ports.
• Cleaned the print head nozzles.
• Soaked the head in isopropyl for 10 minutes. Let air dry for 2 hours.
• Soaked the head in isopropyl alcohol overnight. Let air dry for 2 hours.
• Hard reset (power/reset button).
• Unplugged overnight.

At some point, after the soak, putting in the ink cartridges, hard resetting again, moving the head carriage down a few times, and powering it on, the error cleared. Then, I went into settings and thought I should initiate a cleaning cycle. After all, I did just soak it in isopropyl. I should spend some ink on maintenance of the head. It didn't get very far into the process before I got another error: U052. At this point, I:

• Removed and reseated all the ink cartridges.
• Removed and reseated the head.
• Cleaned the head contacts with isopropyl again.
• Cleaned the contacts for the head inside the printer itself.
• Taping over certain contacts (Board 7795 GCMK-G2XH -- QY6-0080) 
• Hard reset (power/reset button).
• Unplugged overnight.

It didn't work. So, I left it unplugged and ordered a replacement head. When I installed the replacement head, it still gave me the U052 error code. I tried:

• Removed and reseated all the ink cartridges.
• Removed and reseated the head again.
• Cleaned the head contacts with isopropyl again.
• Cleaned the contacts for the head inside the printer itself, again.
• Hard reset (power/reset button), again.
• Unplugged overnight.

Still, no change. U052 Error. Red lights are on on all ink carts. Other than taking this printer out like Old Yeller, what else can I do or inspect?

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

It doesn't sound like you've done anything wrong..  The printer has lived a good long life, 12 years.  You have received your return on investment and then some.  

You wouldn't keep a computer or a mobile device for 12 years. You shouldn't keep a printer for that long either.  The printer that you choose today will do whatever your old printer did better and faster.  It's a peripheral device, not something you hang on to for the rest of your life.  Don't spend another minute of your valuable time, or money trying to figure out what you can do.

It's unfortunate you threw money at new ink and a new printhead.  That money could have gone to a new device.  

Cut your losses .  Research and buy a new printer.  Be happy you got 12 good years.  This certainly represents the value of your Canon product and the performance it delivered.