Canon S820: Only the cyan "alignment" test print is poor!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Paul Soderman
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Paul Soderman

I know my way around this printer a bit and have successfully cleaned the
print heads manually without problems. I even have a second S820 in storage.

I've encountered a problem I can't diagnose lately. The test print comes out
fine (that is, the 6 lined prints in 3 rows), but the cyan box below, which
indicates whether the alignment needs to be adjusted, doesn't print out in a
complete rectangular box. The upper left part of the box isn't complete,
like the ink ran out. I've looked at the print test of the adjustments, and
the setting is on the appropriate one. There's plenty of ink and I've tried
the clean/deep clean cycles. Like noted above, the regular part of the test
prints are fine.

Any suggestions?

Thanks for any help!
Paul
 
Paul Soderman said:
I know my way around this printer a bit and have successfully cleaned the
print heads manually without problems. I even have a second S820 in storage.
Click to expand...
As you're an S820 expert, perhaps you can diagnose my problem. When my
S820 was running out of ink on all the cartridges six months ago, I
started to get problems with it printing. When I tried to print, the
green light would just flash on and off for a bit and then it shut
down. I bought a full set of six new cartridges, but still it wouldn't
print anything. When it's powered up I can't get it to do anything at
all.

In the end I gave up and bought a laser printer, but I'm reluctant to
throw the S820 away, especially as I paid a fortune for a new set of
cartridges.

Can you offer any advice.

TIA
 
I had a similar problem - nozzle check showed a problem but the alignment
was obviously messed up (never could get solid box). After all of the
cleaning techniques known to mankind I called Canon. After a few diagnosing
comments, tech decided it was likely a board problem. Sent me a replacement
the next day! Refurbished computer with new print head. After some switching
I diagnosed problem to be the print head, not the board. None-the-less I had
a like new printer that worked flawlessly. My warranty was 2 months shy of
expiring.
 
I seem to have resolved my problem; I used the print head from the other
S820 I have (I'd experienced problems with *that* one and bought the 2d;
after doing so I did a complete ammonia clean of the heads on the first one)
and after a couple of clean cycles, it works fine. I suspect that perhaps
I'd somehow fouled the electric contacts on the problem print head assembly
when I put in a dripping cartridge, although I still don't understand how
the rest of the test print would be OK except for the alignment part of the
Cyan box.

I've cleaned off the problem heads, but will wait trouble with the working
set before seeing if that was the bug!
 
What exactly is a "complete ammonia clean?"

I have one of the Canon Multifunction machines which is presently only
printing color from the cyan cartridge. I've tried head clean, and head
refresh. Might a deeper cleaning be possible before I resort to ordering a
new print head?

Thanks!
 
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