Canon i960 flashing 5 times

My trusty i960 of 3 years stopped working the other day, shortlyafter I
replaced some cartridges. It's giving me the 5 blink amber alert, which is
print head problems. I removed and reseated the print head a dozen times;
cleaned it several times. I've managed to print one page (looked great...
cleanest the printer has ever been). But the light has come back. I presume
that the print head is damaged, although it shows no signs of it. I'm
currently shopping around for a replacement, seeing that the cost of a new
print head is so high (people asking $60 on Ebay for used ones). Is there
anything else I can try before I abandon this otherwise great printer?

"Dennis Gordon" <> wrote in message
news:. ..
> My trusty i960 of 3 years stopped working the other day, shortlyafter I
> replaced some cartridges. It's giving me the 5 blink amber alert, which is
> print head problems. I removed and reseated the print head a dozen times;
> cleaned it several times. I've managed to print one page (looked great...
> cleanest the printer has ever been). But the light has come back. I
> presume that the print head is damaged, although it shows no signs of it.
> I'm currently shopping around for a replacement, seeing that the cost of a
> new print head is so high (people asking $60 on Ebay for used ones). Is
> there anything else I can try before I abandon this otherwise great
> printer?
>
>
>
try this link for a new, factory sealed printhead. I bought one a few
months ago. I think it is a good price for a new, sealed unit.
http://www.inkcessories.com/index.as...TS&Category=49

Thanks for the link. The price is better than from Canon for a new head, but
at $77.95 I'm still thinking it might be time for a whole new unit. I've
been eyeing the MP500 as well as the discontinued MP780. In the meantime I
can print wireless to my son's i560 until I make up my mind...

>>
> try this link for a new, factory sealed printhead. I bought one a few
> months ago. I think it is a good price for a new, sealed unit.
> http://www.inkcessories.com/index.as...TS&Category=49
>

If you have been using generic ink that may be the problem on why the
printhead is clogged.

Dennis Gordon wrote:

>My trusty i960 of 3 years stopped working the other day, shortlyafter I
>replaced some cartridges. It's giving me the 5 blink amber alert, which is
>print head problems. I removed and reseated the print head a dozen times;
>cleaned it several times. I've managed to print one page (looked great...
>cleanest the printer has ever been). But the light has come back. I presume
>that the print head is damaged, although it shows no signs of it. I'm
>currently shopping around for a replacement, seeing that the cost of a new
>print head is so high (people asking $60 on Ebay for used ones). Is there
>anything else I can try before I abandon this otherwise great printer?
>
>
>
>
>

Yep, I've been using generic. Are you suggesting that the head can be
unclogged? I presumed that there may be electronic damage, but I could give
it another good cleaning if that might help...

"measekite" <> wrote in message
news:n44Lg.1242$ ...
> If you have been using generic ink that may be the problem on why the
> printhead is clogged.
>
> Dennis Gordon wrote:
>
>>My trusty i960 of 3 years stopped working the other day, shortlyafter I
>>replaced some cartridges. It's giving me the 5 blink amber alert, which is
>>print head problems. I removed and reseated the print head a dozen times;
>>cleaned it several times. I've managed to print one page (looked great...
>>cleanest the printer has ever been). But the light has come back. I
>>presume that the print head is damaged, although it shows no signs of it.
>>I'm currently shopping around for a replacement, seeing that the cost of a
>>new print head is so high (people asking $60 on Ebay for used ones). Is
>>there anything else I can try before I abandon this otherwise great
>>printer?
>>
>>
>>
>>

Dennis
Be assured that the problem you have is not a head clog, it is a printhead
failure and cannot be fixed other than replacing the printhead. There is no
evidence that compatible ink damages printheads. Canon printheads are thermal
and eventually fail, this appears to have happened to your printer
unfortunately.
Tony

"Dennis Gordon" <> wrote:
>Yep, I've been using generic. Are you suggesting that the head can be
>unclogged? I presumed that there may be electronic damage, but I could give
>it another good cleaning if that might help...
>
>"measekite" <> wrote in message
>news:n44Lg.1242$ t...
>> If you have been using generic ink that may be the problem on why the
>> printhead is clogged.
>>
>> Dennis Gordon wrote:
>>
>>>My trusty i960 of 3 years stopped working the other day, shortlyafter I
>>>replaced some cartridges. It's giving me the 5 blink amber alert, which is
>>>print head problems. I removed and reseated the print head a dozen times;
>>>cleaned it several times. I've managed to print one page (looked great...
>>>cleanest the printer has ever been). But the light has come back. I
>>>presume that the print head is damaged, although it shows no signs of it.
>>>I'm currently shopping around for a replacement, seeing that the cost of a
>>>new print head is so high (people asking $60 on Ebay for used ones). Is
>>>there anything else I can try before I abandon this otherwise great
>>>printer?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>

I guess you need to bite the bullet and either get a new printhead (not
from ebay) and a new set of Canon OEM ink carts or look to see if an
IP5200 is on sale. This happens once in a while. While somewhat slower
on photos you can usually find an IP4200 on sale for around $80.00.
This is cheaper than a new printhead and a set of carts for your old
printer. Canon's new ink has been touted to be improved with reduced
fading.

I have not experience any fading in over 18 months using BCI6 Canon
ink. Some say that the results of the new CLI ink is better but from
the IP4200 I used I saw no noticeable difference but I did not do any
comparison tests using the same images.

Not to be nasty I hope you will not use Canon ink. At least you know
what you are getting.

Dennis Gordon wrote:

>Yep, I've been using generic. Are you suggesting that the head can be
>unclogged? I presumed that there may be electronic damage, but I could give
>it another good cleaning if that might help...
>
>"measekite" <> wrote in message
>news:n44Lg.1242$ t...
>
>
>>If you have been using generic ink that may be the problem on why the
>>printhead is clogged.
>>
>>Dennis Gordon wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>My trusty i960 of 3 years stopped working the other day, shortlyafter I
>>>replaced some cartridges. It's giving me the 5 blink amber alert, which is
>>>print head problems. I removed and reseated the print head a dozen times;
>>>cleaned it several times. I've managed to print one page (looked great...
>>>cleanest the printer has ever been). But the light has come back. I
>>>presume that the print head is damaged, although it shows no signs of it.
>>>I'm currently shopping around for a replacement, seeing that the cost of a
>>>new print head is so high (people asking $60 on Ebay for used ones). Is
>>>there anything else I can try before I abandon this otherwise great
>>>printer?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>
>
>

Yeah, it's a goner. I shouldn't be that surprised though. I've seen enough
printers die over the years. It puzzles me how a $175 printer can have a
print head that costs $80 to replace. It's almost like they want to
encourage you to just buy a new printer. Nah, I'm just being paranoid. I
don't mind shelling out the cash for the new printer, but I hate having to
discard what is otherwise a functional machine because of the high cost of
one part.

I have several unused printers at work, an i850 and an s900, that I can use
while I do a search for something new. Thanks for the input...

"measekite" <> wrote in message
news:VBcLg.24768$ om...
>I guess you need to bite the bullet and either get a new printhead (not
>from ebay) and a new set of Canon OEM ink carts or look to see if an IP5200
>is on sale. This happens once in a while. While somewhat slower on photos
>you can usually find an IP4200 on sale for around $80.00. This is cheaper
>than a new printhead and a set of carts for your old printer. Canon's new
>ink has been touted to be improved with reduced fading.
>
> I have not experience any fading in over 18 months using BCI6 Canon ink.
> Some say that the results of the new CLI ink is better but from the IP4200
> I used I saw no noticeable difference but I did not do any comparison
> tests using the same images.
>
> Not to be nasty I hope you will not use Canon ink. At least you know what
> you are getting.
>
> Dennis Gordon wrote:
>
>>Yep, I've been using generic. Are you suggesting that the head can be
>>unclogged? I presumed that there may be electronic damage, but I could
>>give it another good cleaning if that might help...
>>
>>"measekite" <> wrote in message
>>news:n44Lg.1242$ et...
>>
>>>If you have been using generic ink that may be the problem on why the
>>>printhead is clogged.
>>>
>>>Dennis Gordon wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>My trusty i960 of 3 years stopped working the other day, shortlyafter I
>>>>replaced some cartridges. It's giving me the 5 blink amber alert, which
>>>>is print head problems. I removed and reseated the print head a dozen
>>>>times; cleaned it several times. I've managed to print one page (looked
>>>>great... cleanest the printer has ever been). But the light has come
>>>>back. I presume that the print head is damaged, although it shows no
>>>>signs of it. I'm currently shopping around for a replacement, seeing
>>>>that the cost of a new print head is so high (people asking $60 on Ebay
>>>>for used ones). Is there anything else I can try before I abandon this
>>>>otherwise great printer?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
>>

Just a quick follow up... I found an i860 in the office that I bought
several years ago and was discarded after we got our Minolta BizHub color
copier. It's been lying on the floor unprotected for 2 years. Took it home;
replaced the black cartridges, ran a few cleaning cycles and nozzle checks,
and it's working great. I'd expected it to be really clogged after all this
time sitting with the ink in it. Hope it stays that way...

"Dennis Gordon" <> wrote in message
news:Q7-...
> Yeah, it's a goner. I shouldn't be that surprised though. I've seen enough
> printers die over the years. It puzzles me how a $175 printer can have a
> print head that costs $80 to replace. It's almost like they want to
> encourage you to just buy a new printer. Nah, I'm just being paranoid. I
> don't mind shelling out the cash for the new printer, but I hate having to
> discard what is otherwise a functional machine because of the high cost of
> one part.
>
> I have several unused printers at work, an i850 and an s900, that I can
> use while I do a search for something new. Thanks for the input...
>
> "measekite" <> wrote in message
> news:VBcLg.24768$ om...
>>I guess you need to bite the bullet and either get a new printhead (not
>>from ebay) and a new set of Canon OEM ink carts or look to see if an
>>IP5200 is on sale. This happens once in a while. While somewhat slower
>>on photos you can usually find an IP4200 on sale for around $80.00. This
>>is cheaper than a new printhead and a set of carts for your old printer.
>>Canon's new ink has been touted to be improved with reduced fading.
>>
>> I have not experience any fading in over 18 months using BCI6 Canon ink.
>> Some say that the results of the new CLI ink is better but from the
>> IP4200 I used I saw no noticeable difference but I did not do any
>> comparison tests using the same images.
>>
>> Not to be nasty I hope you will not use Canon ink. At least you know
>> what you are getting.
>>
>> Dennis Gordon wrote:
>>
>>>Yep, I've been using generic. Are you suggesting that the head can be
>>>unclogged? I presumed that there may be electronic damage, but I could
>>>give it another good cleaning if that might help...
>>>
>>>"measekite" <> wrote in message
>>>news:n44Lg.1242$. net...
>>>
>>>>If you have been using generic ink that may be the problem on why the
>>>>printhead is clogged.
>>>>
>>>>Dennis Gordon wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>My trusty i960 of 3 years stopped working the other day, shortlyafter I
>>>>>replaced some cartridges. It's giving me the 5 blink amber alert, which
>>>>>is print head problems. I removed and reseated the print head a dozen
>>>>>times; cleaned it several times. I've managed to print one page (looked
>>>>>great... cleanest the printer has ever been). But the light has come
>>>>>back. I presume that the print head is damaged, although it shows no
>>>>>signs of it. I'm currently shopping around for a replacement, seeing
>>>>>that the cost of a new print head is so high (people asking $60 on Ebay
>>>>>for used ones). Is there anything else I can try before I abandon this
>>>>>otherwise great printer?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>

In message <t6adnTzVse8G3GPZnZ2dnUVZ_s->, Dennis Gordon
<> writes
>Just a quick follow up... I found an i860 in the office that I bought
>several years ago and was discarded after we got our Minolta BizHub color
>copier.

I take it your bizhub is a little older than the one sitting about three
feet to my left (c250). Pretty decent machines. Do you have a glossy
paper that you can suggest for use with it at all?

--
Timothy