Thanks for your response. I've tried following all your instructions, though I think I've done all these things before (as described above). Results same: With Main Tray (Cassette), end up in a loop with Support Code 1003. With Rear Tray, end up in a loop with Support Code 2114.
> "This often happens when the rear tray has been used frequently for glossy photo paper in the past." That's mostly what I've used it for. It does seem to be stuck on that type of paper, keeps asking me to Register it, though I've put Letter size plain paper in the Rear Tray.
> "If the problem continues after doing this and power-cycling the printer, it usually points to a failing paper feed sensor or tray detection issue, which is a common hardware fault on this model and typically requires sensor cleaning or professional repair."
In the Maintenance screen there is "Cleaning", but it looks to be for the print heads, which is not the problem here. I've looked in the manual for "sensor cleaning", but don't find it. Is there a way I can do this?
I noticed that the top sheet of paper in the Main tray (cassette) had two faint marks on it, near the leading edge: could those be from rollers trying and failing to pick up the paper? I saw Roller Cleaning in the online manual, so tried that procedure.
However, Step 10 says: "Select OK. [Which I did.] The printer starts cleaning. The cleaning will be complete when the paper is ejected." But no paper has been ejected. Step 11: "When the completion message appears, select OK." I did, and the screen returned to the Maintenance list. But still no paper has been ejected. The 3 sheets of Letter paper are still in the cassette.
Next I tried cleaning the Rear tray rollers, following the instructions. This time there was a repeated little noise – though the Cassette cleaning was silent. Then, again "Check that 3 or more sheets of A4 or Letter size plain paper are loaded, then select [OK]." Done. Again, "Cleaning the roller…", with the repeating noise. Why would it need paper loaded in the cassette if it's cleaning the rollers in the Rear tray? Completed roller cleaning. OK. Return to Maintenance list.
Restored the stack of paper in the cassette. When I pushed in the cassette, it said "Cover is open". Meaning top cover of the printer? It's not open. Nor is cover of the rear tray open. Registered paper as Letter. Tried again to print single, simple page. Specified every detail in Print dialog. Print. Support Code 1003: "There is no paper in the cassette." Tried again: Support Code 1003. Stuck in loop.
Tried printing via Rear Tray. Put in several sheets of Letter paper. Once again, the printer thinks it is 4"x6" Glossy. Okay, try to print. Support Code 2114: "The size or type of the paper loaded in the rear tray is different from the print settings." Yeah, I know that, but I had no opportunity to set it as Letter. Tap OK. "Check whether the paper that matches the following print settings is loaded," Letter, Plain paper. OK. "Select what to do from the following. Replace paper and print, or Cancel." Replace paper and print. "Load the appropriate paper in the rear tray." It's already loaded. I pull it out and put it back in. Once again, it wants me to register it as 4"x6" glossy. I do nothing; it returns to Support Code 2114. Once again, stuck in a loop.
I also note the manual says: "Cleaning will wear out the paper feed roller, so perform this only when necessary." So now the rollers have sustained some wear, to no purpose? Not very reassuring.
It looks like this printer's rudimentary brain is somehow scrambled. Is that fixable? I bought this printer in 2018, so I've had it for a while. But used it very little, probably printed no more than a couple hundred pages. I neither want, need, nor have the money to buy a new one. There is a local shop that fixes printers; I'll have to see if they can fix it at a reasonable cost.
Meanwhile I have a couple older Canon multifunction printers; I'll see if either of them will work. But then of course I'll have to buy ink for them, though I have plenty of ink for the TS8120. I've been using Canon printers since Apple stopped selling printers under their own name, on the theory that since Apple's printers were made by Canon, that would be a minimal transition. (And I'd had some experience with HP DeskWriters, which were not impressive.) But it's turning out to be a considerable frustration.
Hmm. Tried to post this, but was told "Your post has been changed because invalid HTML was found in the message body. The invalid HTML has been removed." Maybe it was the URL for the manual page? But that's still there. I don't know what else. Trying again. Same result. If the "invalid HTML has been removed", why is it still a problem? Okay, removed the URL of the Canon manual page. Try again. Yeah, that was it. Why is this Canon Community forum allergic to the Web address of the Canon manual? SMH.
Thanks again.
