GX4020 stopped printing color

[awalsh6611]

It worked fine one day, stopped printing color the next day.  Tried printing from two phones and two different computers and still will not print color.  Color printing definitely selected on all devices.  Two Windows 11 PC and one Android phone and one iPhone were used.  Tried cleaning, deep cleaning, powering off and unplugging.  Still no color printing.  And I mean absolutely no color -- not faint or streaky or smudged color -- absolutely no color.

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

How old is your printer?  Have you performed a nozzle check print?  Since you've already performed cleanings. The next step would be an ink flush.  This pushes ink through the lines to the printhead.  

From the printers control panel navigate to Setup > Maintenance > Ink Flush. Choose to flush colors or all colors.

[awalsh6611]

Hi Rick.  Thanks for the quick input.  The printer was bought in early 2025, I think.  I'd have to check to be sure.  The nozzle print check shows the "BK" section fine.  The remaining sections are completely blank.  On my printer, there is no ink flush option on the maintenance screen.  I do have a "replace ink in print head", which I assume is what you are referring to.  I'll review the manual instructions for it and give it a try

[DerrickL]

You are correct, the ink flush is called replace ink in the print head:

https://ij.manual.canon/ij/webmanual/Manual/All/GX4000%20series/EN/NTR/ntr_h_01.html

[awalsh6611]

I don't think I'm going to try this right away.  Manual says I shouldn't do it with the ink levels I currently have.  I don't think I'm going to run out and buy 3 new ink tank refills to run the replace ink in print head process.  I suppose if I don't find any other options, I'll have to bite the bullet and buy the ink.

[awalsh6611]

Broke down and bought color ink cartridges, genuine Canon.  Ran the replace ink in print head process.  Had to change maintenance cartridge as a result.  Now about $130 into this troubleshooting and the colors still don't print. Black continues to print fine.