printer problems

hi guys

my printer has needed its black ink cartridge replaced for ages....so today i finally bought a new cartridge (and yes it's the right one), popped it in, but it's not printing?!?!.....the colour cartridge that was already in there still prints, but not the black one at all.

when i do the print head alignment and the printer test page it only prints colour.

My printer is a Canon i350.

Thanks for any help cause this is really baffling me.
Dean

 

This is just a guess. Did you remove the tape that covers the ink outlet?

 

lol yes i definitely did....and i know cause i got annoyed and shook the damn cartridge and got ink all over the desk lol

 

Had to ask. Sometimes it's the simple things we overlook. Try making sure the contacts are clean by using alcohol and a q-tip, beyond that, I am at a loss.

 

I agree. Use alcohol and clean the contacts specially since you shook it and had ink flying around.

 

I'm guessing you've had the printer around 2 years? Basically it is the print heads that are built into the cheaper Canon printers that get dirty, and it is impossible to clean them adequately. You can buy replacement print heads, but the cost of those are so high it's probably more cost effective to purchase a new printer.

 

yeah i've had it for a while now, i think about 3-4 years actually. and yeah it was a very cheap printer that my dad bought for me...

guess it's just time for an upgrade then! oh well....

thanks for the help guys!

any advice on a good quality printer that's not too expensive?

ta!

 

just a quick question....if it is the print head, then why can the colour still print but not the black ink?!?!

 

Seperate heads.

 

If you like the printer and it suits your purpose go ahead and buy another one the same. They are very good value for money for 3-4 years usage.

 

You may have a print head cleaning software included you could try running it about 10 times, worked on my HP for the the black red and blue after 2 years of no use in my basement on a shelf... i did need a new colour as only 2 of 3 were working but i mainly use black so i did not bother.

If your buying new HP printers the print heads are on the cartridges so you get new ones every time... (lexmark too but don't buy one they are crap)

 

This might help you. (from a DIY forum)
I found an old junked Canon i350 with the head completely clogged.
Repeated cleaning of the nozzles by running the cleaning software with the head filled with alcohol was having promising results, and I was happy I'd soon have a free working printer, but after a while it said the waste tank was full.
Sounds like you want to avoid this. (He took it further apart then was necessary and couldn't get it back together)
I know you can reset it with maintenance mode and some tool, but I wanted to avoid the waste felt pads getting full and overflowing.
In the time-honoured tradition of taking stuff apart before thinking, I made the mistake of removing the whole plastic assembly right under the print head. It seemed a simple enough job, but a plastic part flew out and I've no idea where it goes, I just know that it doesn't work right without it.
And lastly. (The answer)
Probably not what you wanted to hear, but the i350 is a disposable printer, never really intended to be repaired.

I really like HP printers. I recently picked up a nearly unused one for $10 at a yard sale. My old one was 8 years old and not a lick of trouble from it. (Other then sounding like a tank when it printed and it was like that new.)LOL