PIXMA MX922 prints tests and checks fine, but files sent to print are blank

[PrinterWinter]

I have a PIXMA MX922. It's 4 or 5 years old, I think. A couple of days ago it was printing without issue. Yesterday, it started sending out blank pages exclusively when files were sent to print.

I'm working in Windows 10. I deleted the printer from the system's devices, uninstalled programs and drivers, downloaded the latest drivers (which were the same version I've had, but new download), reconfigured the printer into the wifi, installed the drivers again.

The printer prints without issue when executing a nozzle test from its own Maintenance tab, or when I sent a test print (from the System interface?). Ink is good, mechanically it functions.

Yesterday when I send a file to print it would just spit out the number of pages. It did not sound like it was running through the process of printing the documents, the pages just spooled out pretty, pretty quickly.

Today, after the re-install, sending to print just hangs until Canon throws up a window in which it says "Printer not responding."

Do printers time out like that? Is there anything I can do to troubleshoot or fix? Thank you for the advice.

[PrinterWinter]

Apologies for the delay.

That worked! I followed your commands and was able to remove the printer (and the fax function, separately, as well) without any problem.

Now that I seem to have the printer removed from the system, how would you advise that I go about reinstalling it and the driver?

Thanks again.

[PrinterWinter]

Hello, Arthur—

I hope your are still there.

I followed the procedure from this Canon video. It appears to have been semi-successful, but also a significant failure in an important way.

I ran the set up file, it identified the printer and got it ready with drivers. I sent a test jpeg to print, seems to print without issue. However, sending a text document gets a failed result; the printer shoots a piece of paper through, but it does not seem to undergo any printing, and the page certainly comes out blank. I tried making a pdf and sending that to print via Acrobat. Same result: page shoots through, no printing. I use Open Office for my word processing. In an attempt to troubleshoot whether Open Office might be the problem I made a test document in Windows Notepad. Same result: page shoots through, no printing. I made a jpeg of the text document and sent that to print; it does print, just as the jpeg image printed, however the black appears as a garbled light grey.

So it can print, and will print images, but so far will not print from a text file. I will run some nozzle tests and replace the one low ink cartridge, but I don't see how that could cause the "paper shoots through with no printing attempted" issue.

Any thoughts on what to troubleshoot next? Thank you.

[PrinterWinter]

I've been running nozzle checks and trying the deep cleaning functions. I believe the PGBK nozzle seems to maybe be the issue.

When it prints the nozzle check the bottom rows (C, C, C, M, M, M, Y, BK) look great. The top PGBK row, however, is simply not there. Completely blank. Tried the deep cleaning several times, tried the realignment once (lots of cyans marks, a very few black marks, all of it with tight lines). Is there a way to approach the PGBK nozzle manually (or otherwise), to try to address the issue?

Also, I'm curious as to why the printer punts entirely on text files. It doesn't try to print at all, but it does bother to shoot paper through...

Looking forward to your thoughts. Thanks.

[PrinterWinter]

I've just checked, and now that the computer and the printer are back in communication, scanning is back online.

But text files get the "shoot a page out" treatment and the PGBK nozzle seems to be offline. Is there anything I can do to fix or troubleshoot these issues?

[ArthurJ · Accepted solution]

Hi,

If the grid portion of the nozzle check is not there after the cleanings, there is a issue with the print head. The PGBK is what is used for printing text and with it no working, that is why blank pages are coming out. 

It could end up costing more to service the printer so I recommend the Canon Upgrade program. 

This is for out of warranty units which have been diagnosed to require service or are incompatible with a new or upgraded system. This program allows you the opportunity to purchase a replacement product discounted from the list price. Free ground shipping is included with your purchase.

If you would like to take advantage of this offer, please call our Sales Department at (866) 443-8002 Mon-Sat, 9 AM to 9pm EST excluding holidays.

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