<!-- from fixya rte -->How do i find the ink cartridge on my MX 320 - Canon Black Pixma Mx 320 High Quality Remanufactured Printer Ink Cartridge

Check out the manual for the cartridge placement directions:

Replacing FINE Cartridge

Apparently the problem is that you are choosing to install (according to Canon), cheap, aftermarket ink cartridges rather than Canon ones. Therefore the machine is not recognizing them. Try this procedure, found on another forum, that was supplied by one of the cheapo ink companies. Who better to know how to fool the machines than them. If they want to sell these ink carts, they better know who to make them work!

U051 Error Correction procedure.

1- Switch off the Canon MX300 and disconnect the power cable.

2- While press and hold the power button, Connect the power cable to electric socket.

3- While pressing the power button, press the "Cancel/Stop" button (red button). (press TWICE che "stop\cancel" button)

4- Now release the power button and the printer turns into a kind of factory mode. Wait for 10 seconds until it says "idle".

5- Press ">" (next button) once "Shipping Mode 3? then Press the "OK" button. Press "OK" again for "without cleaning". A test page will print.

6- Open the cover, like you are about to change the cartridges.

7- Disconnect the power cable again without switch off the printer.

8- Take out the both cartridges.

9- Close the cover.

10- Connect the power cable and turn on the printer.

11- Now just put the cartridges back and the ink level in the canon Pixma MX300 have full again.

I'm assuming when you said "fine catridge" you meant FINE cartridge. FINE is an acronym for the Canon Ink Cartridges. Anyhow, plug your printer into the electrical outlet and turn the power on. Wait about 1-3 minutes and open it up and the Ink Cartridge holders should move to the left for you to properly insert your Ink Cartridges.

I had the same problem , couldnt rectify it and im afraid i had to buy a new printer

Try wiping each ink cartridge with a damp cloth at the ink dispensing holes

In most cases the printer driver software can have errors while being in use or is shut down. So to reset remove your printer from the PC and uninstall the printer software. Now reinstall the printer software and then connect the Printer ONLY WHEN PROMPTED, to be detected as a new hardware as it will be installed. Now check the printer properties to see the ink levels.
Activate head cleaning before a test is taken. Sometimes it is possible that the head is not reacting to the need of the PC command or can be an issue with ink drying or poor ink cartridge contacts. Also check the mechanical settings of the ink cartridge , if jammed or tight remove motor and manually free the drive before it is set back.

Thank you for using FIxya

5100 error means a Carriage Home Position Error.

Just make sure you remove the plastic strip covering the print head and the contact copper of the ink cartridge before you insert it to the cartridge holder.

Other possible solutions is that the cartridge is not properly seated on the carriage or cartridge holder. Once it is not properly seated the cover of the cartridge holder usually hit when it moves.

You may also clean the contact copper of the ink cartridge using an soft cloth or cotton moistened with alcohol to clean the surface. Please avoid touching the surface by your fingers.

there are two ways you can remove the error message from your printer..

the first is to reset the printer and the second is to replace the waste ink absorber. If the reset thing did not work for your then you'll be spending money to replace the absorber.

How to reset? follow these steps
1. Turn off your printer
2. Press and hold the STOP/RESET button
3. Press and hold Power ON button
4. While holding the Power ON button, release the STOP/RESET button
5. While holding still the Power ON button, press twice the STOP/RESET button
6. Release the Power ON button
7. Wait until it display an "idle" message. It will take about a minute.
8. When "idle" appear, open the top cover to expose the cartridges.
9. Lift up the cover for cartridge holder and take out both the black and color cartridges
10. Return the cover of cartridge holder and turn off the printer
11. Return the top cover and turn on the printer again
12. After the printer initialize, return the cartridges.

Hope that solve the waste ink absorber in your printer..

I had the same problem. Remove the ink cartridge. Use alcohol and lint free pad or cloth to clean print surface of head and cartridge. That worked for me.

google for it on the net like refil or new cartridge