Pixma MX922 printing blank pages

[bocaboy]

My Pixma MX922 has suddenly started printing nothing but blank pages. It doesn't matter whether I try and print on letter or photo paper. I've done a dozen deep cleanings to no avail. I went on YouTube to learn how to remove and clean the print head. Still no difference.

This printer is only 2½ years old. I'm astounded that it has stopped working, especially since I thought Canon was a premium brand. I've Googled the problem and I'm really surprised how wide spread it is. What I'm trying to find out is if anyone has ever solved the problem, or whether this is another $85 down the toilet.

I've talked to Tech Support and they suggested a new print head. As I said, I removed and cleaned the print head and still got nothing but blank pages. I don't want to throw good money after bad, especially since I've yet to read of one user who replaced the print head and fixed the problem.

So, the question is open to this fine forum: has anyone actually fixed the problem of a Pixma MX922 printing blank pages? If you'd be kind enough to share the solution, I'd sure appreciate it, as I'm sure many others would as well.

Thanks to all!

[PDIT]

My method above is only applicable if all cartridges have ink, the cartridge chip is reading that they have ink and the printer was printing ok within the last few days (ie the printhead has not dried out). It works by completely re-booting the software that drives the printhead and also by removing and replacing the printhead, the large number of electronic contacts to the print-head are re-seated.

Re-aligning the printhead will do nothing because the printer has to print alignment blocks onto a page and scan them to make any adjustments, so if there is nothing printed on the page there is nothing to scan!  Obviously the same for a manual printhead alignment which asks you to look at alignment blocks printed on the page.

If a complete software re-boot as I described above (not missing any steps) does not work then the printhead may have died (it is a user replacable consumable part) and can be replaced. However most likely cheaper to replace the printer.

[kevkbut]

PDIT,

Thanks for the info.  I spoke with Canon support who basically said the same thing.  That it was likely a circuitry issue with the printhead, I could bring it to a certified Canon services center but most likely not worth the expense.  Guess it's time for a new printer

[Amyb007]

Removing cartridges & the printhead usually remedies this issue for my office printer. Just did this on Friday, printed fine over the weekend, print one page this morning, then blank pages after that. I had to do this printhead removal twice today to get it to print again. 
Canon: We just need these printers to print ink on the page! How hard can that be? HP is on my boycott list, You are skirting it for now. I will have to replace this printer soon & just bought this one a couple years ago.  Planned obsolescence will just make us buy another brand. 
At home, my husband's old HP from 2001 is still working fine!! I will never replace it- well - until I can't buy ink for it I guess.
I purchased the last HP I had for my office two years before this Canon, which only worked for two years...so it seems two years is now the new standard.  We keep filling up the landfills because of your greed. LAME. LAME. LAME.

[fr8hlr]

Our brand new MX922, is mixing blank pages in with other printed pages. I printed 7 pages yesterday and they printed fine with the exception that there were 4 blanks between the 2nd and 3rd page. What causes this?

[abc1872]

After trying every potential fix listed on this forum, my MX922 is still printing nothing but blank pages.

I finally gave in and called Canon support. After spending 10 minutes convincing the tech that I had already done everything he wanted me to try (multiple times), he asked about the ink cartridges. He is convinced that the problem is that I am not using OEM cartridges (which I've never used in the 2 years I've owned the printer). He said that non-OEM cartridges can "lose connection" abruptly (in my case literally between pages of a document).

The only fix, according to him/Canon, is to buy a set of OEM Canon ink cartridges. Of course, buying a full set of OEM cartridges is a minimum $60 expense and more typically $70+. However, I have found deals on several comparable printers for $60-100, so am not interested in throwing another $60+ at this printer.

I did try replacing all ink cartridges at the same time with a matching set of non-OEM "compatible" cartridges (like I've always used), and still no luck. 

I hope something works better for you. Thanks to everyone who took the time to post potential fixes. Always worth a try before sending this expensive brick off to be recycled! 

[PDIT]

Hi @fr8hlr, If the inserted blank pages were just "extras" inserted and you also got all the requested pages printed, then this is a paper feed issue. This is where several pages may feed together instead of being separated properly for printing.  This can happen for several reasons but the most common are:

1. The paper edges are not flat (or a corner bent) that stops them from easily separating - solve by flattening out bend corners and fanning paper before replacing back in tray.
2. The paper has absorbed moisture from the air and the sheets do not "slip"past each other as they should. - solve by replacing with fresh paper or at least fanning paper (to get air between the sheets so they slip easier) and replacing.  Old paper doesn't feed very well.
3. The paper feed roller and corresponding friction edge of the tray are dirty or dusty and are not gripping the pages as they should. - Solve by cleaning front edges of paper tray and rubber feed roller with q-tip moistened with water or iso-propanol. Let dry before using.
4. The paper guides are not set to the correct position for the paper size. - solve by adjusting guides to marked positions. especially the page length guide should not be closed up any further than the marked size.

[bocaboy]

PDIT, with all respect, your solution isn't the problem. Multiple users have had this issue, including me, and it does appear to be linked to using non-Canon ink replacements. I agree with other users who have thrown their Pixma MX922 printers in the garbage, as I have. There is no reason to repair an inexpensive printer that requires expensive ink. I replaced ours with an Epson Expression ET-2750 EcoTank and couldn't be happier.

I've been screwed by Canon products twice, and they've definitely lost me as a customer.

[PDIT]

Hi @bocaboy,

No problem, my solution above only addresses one scenario and that was "extra" blank pages inserted into the print bundle. I see a lot of printers in my workshop of all the popular makes and Canon is no more or less than others. Each brand has its own "quirks" 

Unfortunately your problem I have also seen when only Genuine cartridges have been used. Company techs are always quick to blame anything that is not part of their brand. Also unfortunately, not all non-genuine cartridges are of equal quality and range from ok very high quality to damagingly useless quality.

Your eco-tank machine will make you very unhappy if you put inferior quality refill ink into it. As this is a Canon forum, I would point out that there is a Canon competitor product to your new Epson - the Pixma G2600 series.

[fr8hlr]

Thanks for the reply, makes perfect sense. The other replies about using other than canon ink cartridges do not apply at all as these are the original cartridges. I will address the paper tray issues you described.

[SueEllingson]

Here is a weird twist: Our Canon MX922 has started printing only blank pages from my computer. But my husband was able to print with no problem. We both have MacBook Air computers.

I reinstalled the driver, but it didn't help.