Canon i950 drop tray then lelves problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter JimGC
  • Start date Start date
J

JimGC

My i950 came back with 7 orange flashes which Canon said was
servicing needed on the drip tray. I cleaned the sponge,
replaced it, then reset the drip tray counter. Now the
Status monitor shows the ink cartridges as full when one is
almost empty. Any ideas? Thanks....


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To email go to my address and take out the dog ...
 
JimGC said:
My i950 came back with 7 orange flashes which Canon said was
servicing needed on the drip tray. I cleaned the sponge,
replaced it, then reset the drip tray counter. Now the
Status monitor shows the ink cartridges as full when one is
almost empty. Any ideas? Thanks....


¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
To email go to my address and take out the dog ...
Click to expand...


When you reset the waste counter did you use option 3 on the service menu or
option 4 or both?
If you used option 3 at any time then you have reset the EEPROM which I believe
holds the ink level information for the printer....this will have resulted in
all ink cartridges showing full.
All you can do is replace the cartridges when they become very low (fortunately
you can see how much ink is left) and everything should then revert to normal.
Tony
 
Tony said:
When you reset the waste counter did you use option 3 on the service menu or
option 4 or both?
If you used option 3 at any time then you have reset the EEPROM which I believe
holds the ink level information for the printer....this will have resulted in
all ink cartridges showing full.
All you can do is replace the cartridges when they become very low (fortunately
you can see how much ink is left) and everything should then revert to normal.
Tony
Click to expand...

Thanks Tony.

I can't see anything like a service menu on the PC it's all
being done on the printer. I did have info to press 4 times
which I did then three. It all got a bit confused.

The problem is I AGAIN have had the 7 orange flashes
suggesting a waste counter problem which won't clear. I
suspect this is software more than anything else.

Any hints?
Thanks...
 
JimGC said:
Thanks Tony.

I can't see anything like a service menu on the PC it's all
being done on the printer. I did have info to press 4 times
which I did then three. It all got a bit confused.

The problem is I AGAIN have had the 7 orange flashes
suggesting a waste counter problem which won't clear. I
suspect this is software more than anything else.

Any hints?
Thanks...
Click to expand...

Ah I see. You cannot reset the waste counter from the PC, it has to be done
from the printer control panel.

This is the waste counter reset process.

1) With the printer power OFF, while pressing the Resume button, press the
Power button. (Do not release the power button.)
2) While pressing the Power button, release the Resume button, press the Resume
button again twice, and then release the Resume button and release the Power
button.
3) The green indicator flashes during initialization. When the indicator stops
flashing and remains on, press the Resume button 4 times. (The indicator
toggles between orange and green each time the Resume button is pressed and
should end up green for this function.) [Be sure that you press the Resume
button exactly 4 times in this step otherwise you will execute a different
function].
4) Press the Power button, and the green indicator will light, and the function
will be executed.
5) When the lights stop flashing (probably immediately, but there may be a
short delay) press the Power button once more to turn the printer off and to
exit service mode.

After this you should no longer get the 7 orange flashes but it does not
explain why one of the cartridges is being reported full when empty, maybe it
is in the cusp.....ie just about to indicate empty. As stated above, you can
monitor the cartridges visually and change each of them when there is no ink
left in the transparent portion of each cartridge (ignore the sponge filled
portion). It is important to not run the printer if the non sponge filled
portion of the cartridge is empty because this may cause head failure so you
may want to change each cartridge just before it is empty, maybe when there is
1mm of ink left in the bottom. After you have replaced each cartridge the
indicators should return to normal.

Let us know how you get on.
Tony
 
Tony said:
When you reset the waste counter did you use option 3 on the service menu or
option 4 or both?
If you used option 3 at any time then you have reset the EEPROM which I believe
holds the ink level information for the printer....this will have resulted in
all ink cartridges showing full.
All you can do is replace the cartridges when they become very low (fortunately
you can see how much ink is left) and everything should then revert to normal.
Tony
Click to expand...
 
Tony said:
Let us know how you get on.
Tony
Click to expand...

Hi Tony,

I tried the process you described but could only get it to
work by removing the print head. After doing as your
suggested all looked well and I was then able to do a test
print that worked perfectly. However when I tried to print
an Excel spreadsheet, the printer started up but after a few
seconds the 7 orange flashes returned!

Doesn't look good, does it... ?!!
Thanks for your help,
Jim
 
JimGC said:
Hi Tony, IN DA BUSINESS

I tried the process you described but could only get it to
work by removing the print head. After doing as your
suggested all looked well and I was then able to do a test
print that worked perfectly. However when I tried to print
an Excel spreadsheet, the printer started up but after a few
seconds the 7 orange flashes returned!

Doesn't look good, does it... ?!!
Thanks for your help,
Jim
Click to expand...
 
JimGC said:
Hi Tony,

I tried the process you described but could only get it to
work by removing the print head. After doing as your
suggested all looked well and I was then able to do a test
print that worked perfectly. However when I tried to print
an Excel spreadsheet, the printer started up but after a few
seconds the 7 orange flashes returned!

Doesn't look good, does it... ?!!
Thanks for your help,
Jim
Click to expand...

Jim
There are some things you can do.
Firstly when you open the Status Monitor from your PC, does it report an error
code (open the driver from control panel and open the status monitor with the
printer online and powered on and head installed, if no error code then try to
print from the PC and check the status monitor again)? If there is a code
please advise what it is.
Secondly, I am surprised that the procedure only worked with the printhead out,
some of the service mode options require the printhead to be present....however
try this----
Repeat the procedure as described previously but at step 3, press the Resume
button only twice (indicator should be green), this requires the printhead to
be installed and should print an EEPROM information sheet.
Check the waste ink counter setting on the printout, it should be very low
(probably 0 or close to 0), if it is not then the counter has not been reset
and I suggest you do an EEPROM reset...this is achieved by following the same
procedure again but at step 3 press the Resume button 3 times (indicator should
be orange). Make sure you complete all the steps in the procedure or nothing
will happen. You can check the counter again if you wish with another EEPROM
information sheet.
Try that.

If the last procedure works the printer will be set for "domestic" (ie USA) and
you may find some anomolies with the printer behaviour....if that occurs you
will need to set the printer to "overseas" this is achived as follows.
Repeat the previous procedure once more, at step 3 press the Resume button 5
times (indicator will be orange) and in step 4 press the Resume button once
after you press the Power button, then go to step 6.
You can check whether the destination (domestic or overseas) is correct by
taking an EEPROM information sheet.
Please advise.
If you cannot get the counter to reset after several tries I believe you have a
failed logic board which is bad news. However the error code I mentioned at the
beginning of this message may be critical before you come to that conclusion so
it is important to see if you can get that code.
Tony
 
Tony said:
There are some things you can do.
Firstly when you open the Status Monitor from your PC, does it report an error
code (open the driver from control panel and open the status monitor with the
printer online and powered on and head installed, if no error code then try to
print from the PC and check the status monitor again)? If there is a code
please advise what it is.
Secondly, I am surprised that the procedure only worked with the printhead out,
some of the service mode options require the printhead to be present....however
try this----
Repeat the procedure as described previously but at step 3, press the Resume
button only twice (indicator should be green), this requires the printhead to
be installed and should print an EEPROM information sheet.
Check the waste ink counter setting on the printout, it should be very low
(probably 0 or close to 0), if it is not then the counter has not been reset
and I suggest you do an EEPROM reset...this is achieved by following the same
procedure again but at step 3 press the Resume button 3 times (indicator should
be orange). Make sure you complete all the steps in the procedure or nothing
will happen. You can check the counter again if you wish with another EEPROM
information sheet.
Try that.

If the last procedure works the printer will be set for "domestic" (ie USA) and
you may find some anomolies with the printer behaviour....if that occurs you
will need to set the printer to "overseas" this is achived as follows.
Repeat the previous procedure once more, at step 3 press the Resume button 5
times (indicator will be orange) and in step 4 press the Resume button once
after you press the Power button, then go to step 6.
You can check whether the destination (domestic or overseas) is correct by
taking an EEPROM information sheet.
Please advise.
If you cannot get the counter to reset after several tries I believe you have a
failed logic board which is bad news. However the error code I mentioned at the
beginning of this message may be critical before you come to that conclusion so
it is important to see if you can get that code.
Tony
Click to expand...

Hi Tony,

Thanks for all of that. I will give it a try. Meanwhile, I
Googled to this following website and noticed some
disturbing similarities to what is happening on my printer.
For example, for the first time, there has been black
bleeding to yellow. Also, the 18-24 months of light use
followed by a sudden failure, often of (as you suggest) the
logic board.

http://www.beginners.co.uk/shop/B00008CMUB/Canon_i950_Photo_Printer.html

As for the EEPROM information sheet, I did try that, but
nothing is produced except some light patterned ink. No
information at all.

Perhaps it's time to add my experience to those on the
website!

Cheers,
Jim
 
JimGC said:
Hi Tony,

Thanks for all of that. I will give it a try. Meanwhile, I
Googled to this following website and noticed some
disturbing similarities to what is happening on my printer.
For example, for the first time, there has been black
bleeding to yellow. Also, the 18-24 months of light use
followed by a sudden failure, often of (as you suggest) the
logic board.

http://www.beginners.co.uk/shop/B00008CMUB/Canon_i950_Photo_Printer.html

As for the EEPROM information sheet, I did try that, but
nothing is produced except some light patterned ink. No
information at all.

Perhaps it's time to add my experience to those on the
website!

Cheers,
Jim
Click to expand...
Jim
Bugger....but well worth looking for the error code as it may confirm the cause
or otherwise.
Also the full EEPROM reset.
Tony
 
Tony said:
Jim
Bugger....but well worth looking for the error code as it may confirm the cause
or otherwise.
Also the full EEPROM reset.
Tony
Click to expand...


Well, there are no error messages on the Status monitor when
I start the printer, but when I try to print anything I get
the orange lights and "Operator Error". My attempts to reset
*anything* with the head in place come to nothing - the 7
orange lights come on after a few second, even if I do the
Reset, Power, 2xreset ...

In the words of a famous sketch, I suspect that this is a
dead parrot. It has ceased to be ...

Assuming logic board failure, could this just happen or -
given that I was having problems with my PC at the time,
could it actually have been caused by faulty *software*? I
had installed Norton on my PC and all kinds of strange
things resulted - Search, Windows Update wouldn't work for
example. I uninstalled Norton (and asked for my money back!)
and installed AVG which settled the PC down to normal. But
at that stage the printer had come up with the 7 warning
lights. Coincidence? It was a lightly used printer, and
although the small square sponge at the left side of the
printer under the heads was certainly inky, the longer
sponge (?) that runs across the width of the printer looked
dry.

Oh well, time for a little retail therapy. Thanks for your
help, much appreciated.

Jim
 
Tony said:
Jim I am in da business
There are some things you can do.
Firstly when you open the Status Monitor from your PC, does it report an error
code (open the driver from control panel and open the status monitor with the
printer online and powered on and head installed, if no error code then try to
print from the PC and check the status monitor again)? If there is a code
please advise what it is.
Secondly, I am surprised that the procedure only worked with the printhead out,
some of the service mode options require the printhead to be present....however
try this----
Repeat the procedure as described previously but at step 3, press the Resume
button only twice (indicator should be green), this requires the printhead to
be installed and should print an EEPROM information sheet.
Check the waste ink counter setting on the printout, it should be very low
(probably 0 or close to 0), if it is not then the counter has not been reset
and I suggest you do an EEPROM reset...this is achieved by following the same
procedure again but at step 3 press the Resume button 3 times (indicator should
be orange). Make sure you complete all the steps in the procedure or nothing
will happen. You can check the counter again if you wish with another EEPROM
information sheet.
Try that.

If the last procedure works the printer will be set for "domestic" (ie USA) and
you may find some anomolies with the printer behaviour....if that occurs you
will need to set the printer to "overseas" this is achived as follows.
Repeat the previous procedure once more, at step 3 press the Resume button 5
times (indicator will be orange) and in step 4 press the Resume button once
after you press the Power button, then go to step 6.
You can check whether the destination (domestic or overseas) is correct by
taking an EEPROM information sheet.
Please advise.
If you cannot get the counter to reset after several tries I believe you have a
failed logic board which is bad news. However the error code I mentioned at the
beginning of this message may be critical before you come to that conclusion so
it is important to see if you can get that code.
Tony
Click to expand...
 
One last question...

The ink carts in my (dead) i950 are full or almost full. If
I replace it with a new one (the i8500 looks good), will I
be able to use the carts from the i950 a few weeks down the
road when I've run through the new carts on the i8500 or
will they dry up and clog from not being used? I really
don't want to wreck the new printer, but there is about £40
worth of ink in there... !

Thanks,
Jim
 
JimGC said:
One last question...

The ink carts in my (dead) i950 are full or almost full. If
I replace it with a new one (the i8500 looks good), will I
be able to use the carts from the i950 a few weeks down the
road when I've run through the new carts on the i8500 or
will they dry up and clog from not being used? I really
don't want to wreck the new printer, but there is about £40
worth of ink in there... !

Thanks,
Jim
Click to expand...

Jim all of the carts in the i950 will work in the ip8500. The ip8500 also uses
a red and green cart that is not used in the i950. Just tape over the broken
seal on the bottom of the old cartridges with some sort of sticky tape and
remove the tape when you want to use them. If you buy a new printer it will
probably come with the carts not installed so you can use the old ones first.
I think it is inconceivable that any software caused the problem by the way.
Probably coincidence.
Tony
 
IF THEY ARE CANON OEM INKS THEN YOU CAN PUT THEM IN A PLASTIC BAG AND
HAVE A FEW DROPS OF WATER IN THE BAG. CAREFULLY INSPECT THEM WHEN YOU
WANT TO USE THEM. IF THEY ARE AFTERMARKET INKS THEN TOSS THEM.
 
Tony said:
Jim all of the carts in the i950 will work in the ip8500. The ip8500 also uses
a red and green cart that is not used in the i950. Just tape over the broken
seal on the bottom of the old cartridges with some sort of sticky tape and
remove the tape when you want to use them. If you buy a new printer it will
probably come with the carts not installed so you can use the old ones first.
I think it is inconceivable that any software caused the problem by the way.
Probably coincidence.
Tony
Click to expand...

Okay, thanks for that. I've ordered an i8500. Thanks for
your help with the i950, pity it didn't work out...

Jim
 
JimGC said:
One last question...

The ink carts in my (dead) i950 are full or almost full. If
I replace it with a new one (the i8500 looks good), will I
be able to use the carts from the i950 a few weeks down the
road when I've run through the new carts on the i8500 or
will they dry up and clog from not being used? I really
don't want to wreck the new printer, but there is about £40
worth of ink in there... !

Thanks,
Jim
Click to expand...

No problem. But you should always keep the orange break-off caps from
the cartridges whether they be OEM or other. Then, if for any reason
you have to remove the cartridges and store them, just rubberband the
caps back on and tape over the air vents on top where you pulled off the
little seal. I have at least 3 sets of refill cartridges in rotation and
at least 5 BCI-3e's, all capped and sealed, put in storage in plastic
bags. There is absolutely no need to cause a liquid mess by adding water
in the bag. The re-sealed cartridges will not dry out in the bag and you
CANNOT CLOG a cartridge from lack of use or even long term storage, as
there are no small openings anywhere in the cartridge. Just keep them in
a relatively cool place. Remember, only a printhead can clog - and it's
NOT attached to the cartridge.

-Taliesyn
 
Taliesyn said:
No problem. But you should always keep the orange break-off caps from
the cartridges whether they be OEM or other. Then, if for any reason
you have to remove the cartridges and store them, just rubberband the
caps back on and tape over the air vents on top where you pulled off the
little seal. I have at least 3 sets of refill printhead clogging
cartridges in rotation and
at least 5 BCI-3e's, all capped and sealed, put in storage in plastic
bags. There is absolutely no need to cause a liquid mess by adding water
in the bag. The re-sealed cartridges will not dry out in the bag and you
CANNOT CLOG a cartridge from lack of use or even long term storage, as
there are no small openings anywhere in the cartridge. Just keep them in
a relatively cool place. Remember, only a printhead can clog - and it's
NOT attached to the cartridge.

-Taliesyn
Click to expand...
 
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