Printer won't print. Is it as obvious as I think ?

[Gwylan]

Doesn't beep at all. It either turns itself off straightaway, or if it doesn't, the light flashes alternative green & orange.

Print head doesn't move at all.

Doesn't sound good. Epson ET séries with ink tanks. Cheap and the ink is cheap.

And now the but! Big but!
The ink is water soluble and runs if it gets damp! Real p.i.t.a
But cheap

 

[Reynard]

Doesn't sound good. Epson ET séries with ink tanks. Cheap and the ink is cheap.

And now the but! Big but!
The ink is water soluble and runs if it gets damp! Real p.i.t.a
But cheap

But isn't most if not all inkjet ink water soluble? It's not as if I'm going to be wanging my files into the bath LOL! Each document gets its own individual punch pocket.

Not many printers seem to come sans scanner, so something like an Epson Ecotank 2814 might well do me.

 

[classic33]

Doesn't beep at all. It either turns itself off straightaway, or if it doesn't, the light flashes alternative green & orange.

Print head doesn't move at all.

Alternating LED colours, ink waste full.
Requires a reset if you were to clean the felts.
Means sending it away.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Most printers have a Cleaning option. Run it a few times and it might just sort the problem.

There's some good suggestions here for fixing but I like this one the best. I have an old ink jet that wasn't used for a year or more, same problem, and running the cleaning option a few times did fix it.

 

[Reynard]

Alternating LED colours, ink waste full.
Requires a reset if you were to clean the felts.
Means sending it away.

But what explains the grinding noise when it first tried to print?

And is sending a 22 year old printer away to be repaired even worth it?

 

[Gwylan]

But what explains the grinding noise when it first tried to print?

And is sending a 22 year old printer away to be repaired even worth it?

Which bit of NO may it be hard to grasp?
Sadly not worth it unless you have a few other machines to cannibalise.

 

[classic33]

But what explains the grinding noise when it first tried to print?

And is sending a 22 year old printer away to be repaired even worth it?

If there's a sheet of paper in the paper feed, does it try feeding it through?
My guess is the belt has gone. Possibly locking the mechanism.

The paper feed and print head are synchronized through one motor drive.(Worm drive, so a bit of power behind it.)
In which case, No to getting it repaired. About half the price of a new one from canon.

If you feel like, you could take it apart before you throw it. See just how empty the casing is.

 

[Reynard]

Which bit of NO may it be hard to grasp?
Sadly not worth it unless you have a few other machines to cannibalise.

It was meant as a rhetorical question. It's hardly going to be a 5p fix. Parts are available (I looked earlier this year when the print head got gummed) but they're not cheap.

 

[Reynard]

If there's a sheet of paper in the paper feed, does it try feeding it through?
My guess is the belt has gone. Possibly locking the mechanism.

The paper feed and print head are synchronized through one motor drive.(Worm drive, so a bit of power behind it.)
In which case, No to getting it repaired. About half the price of a new one from canon.

If you feel like, you could take it apart before you throw it. See just how empty the casing is.

Nope. Doesn't pick up a sheet of paper at all.

I didn't mind to keep it going, old as it was. It did what I asked of it very well, but if it's time to call it quits, then so be it.

 

[classic33]

Nope. Doesn't pick up a sheet of paper at all.

I didn't mind to keep it going, old as it was. It did what I asked of it very well, but if it's time to call it quits, then so be it.

Have a close look round where the case parts are joined. There'll be no screws, as it'll be tab fittings.

See
https://www.fixya.com/support/t350585-waste_ink_absorber_almost_full_canon

if you feel like having a look inside.

Does it use BCI-6 ink cartridges?

 

[Reynard]

Have a close look round where the case parts are joined. There'll be no screws, as it'll be tab fittings.

See
https://www.fixya.com/support/t350585-waste_ink_absorber_almost_full_canon

if you feel like having a look inside.

Does it use BCI-6 ink cartridges?

Yes, BCI-6 cartridges. Well, third party clones.

Edit to say I don't get any error messages other than "printer offline"

 

[DaveReading]

Not used the printer for at least 12 months. Tried it t'other day.
It draws the blank paper through, makes the right noises and ejects the "copy" sheet BUT its totally blank.
Had a look at the ink (black plus colours) and tbh they look a bit sad.
So 2 questions.......
1. Is it simply that the ink has dried up?
2. Do I risk it or maybe a new printer (replacement inks are stupid prices).

Hard to suggest a fix without knowing more about the printer.

In particular, does it have the print nozzles integrated with the ink cartridge (as per most HP printers) or is the printhead separate from the cartridges (e.g. a Canon) ?

 

[Gwylan]

It was meant as a rhetorical question. It's hardly going to be a 5p fix. Parts are available (I looked earlier this year when the print head got gummed) but they're not cheap.

Sorry, just meant that doing repairs is not too much of an option

 

[Reynard]

Sorry, just meant that doing repairs is not too much of an option

's ok

 

[Dave7]

Hard to suggest a fix without knowing more about the printer.

In particular, does it have the print nozzles integrated with the ink cartridge (as per most HP printers) or is the printhead separate from the cartridges (e.g. a Canon) ?

Thankyou.
I will check that and get back to you tomorrow.