My Canon printer MX860 will get half low on ink and freeze up with error U163 telling you to replace the ink cartridge. Is there a way to override this error so you can use the remaing ink?

Watch this Clear Canon Check Ink E13 E16 U162 U163 1686 and 1688 Error Messages Low...

If you refilled the cartridge yourself you need to get a chip resetter. You can find them at ink refilling websites. They are printer specific so there is no one fits all.

The title of this topic is for the MX860. It has no "RESUME" button, so the advice submitted by cene765 does not work. But there is a solution.

The MX860 has two black ink cartridges--one small (like the colored ones) and one large. So, you will run out of colored ink way before you run out of black. I found that by selecting the "Gray scale" printing option, I could still print with color cartridges being very low. Even when the printer told me that the color cartridges were empty, I could still print by clicking the "OK" button. However, this does not last. Eventually, the printer will flag the color cartridges with an alarm. When that happens, the printer stops working, freezing at the alarm until you replace the cartridge.

However, you can still print. What you need to do is press and hold the STOP button for a few moments. The alarm will be released and then you let go of the button. Printing can resume. This happened to me where the alarm was triggered by the cyan cartridge, before I could even try to print. When I used the STOP button bypass, printing started but was then flagged by the magenta cartridge. I thought for sure that pressing STOP while in the middle of starting the print cycle would abort it, but thankfully it did not--the alarm was cleared and printing resumed.

HI there,

Your printer software does not provide this option. You should try to get a black ink cartridge ASAP so the printer head for that cartridge does not dry out. If it does, you'll end up having to replace the head and you really won't be happy with what that takes.

Regards,

Selk

I can then help you with your specific problem.

Error Code U163 (Ink Cartridge Empty or Low)

First of all, Yes, this is a common problem.

When you open your printer up, by lifting the Scan Cover, you will see lights blinking for the cartridge that is low or is empty.

1.) A lamp blinking once every three seconds means your cartridge is low.
2.) A lamp blinking once every second means your cartridge is empty.

Using your printer with an empty ink cartridge is capable of harming your printer, according to Canon Engineers.

Until such time as you can replace the cartridge you can use the method described below to temporarily turn off the error message.

Press and Hold the Stop/Reset button for 6 full seconds and then release it? Use the one Mississippi method of counting.

The Scan cover must be closed completely and locked in place. And the ink cartridge must be firmly locked in place as well.

The ink tank is not compatible with this machine. (The lamp on the ink tank is off.) You can try reseat the cartridge if that doesn't work, you need to replace it.

Here's instruction on how to replace an ink cartridge for MX860 http://support-au.canon.com.au/contents/AU/EN/8200407400.html

Reset the printer ink level detection.

Press and hold down STOP/RESET button and wait for the printer to restart.
Release button when printer completely initialize (This will clear the U163 error)

Hope that is what you need to know

Please try this solution first, it might resolve your faxing transaction by resolving first the u163 error.

What happened when ink ran out from a refilled cartridge and the printer detected it?
The printer will display an error U162 or U163. All functions of the all-in-one printer will stop and your printer will not work. The next thing you will know is you are in the front of a computer shop and buy a genuine canon cartridge.
But wait, there is still a way to fix this. Reset it again using a different procedure. Reset the detections of reusable cartridge.
1. Turn off your printer an turn it on again
2. After the printer initialize try to copy or print. The error will appear.
3. When the error is displayed on the display panel of the printer, Press and Hold the STOP/RESET button and wait until it self restart.
4. Release the STOP/RESET button the the printer is restarting.
5. Wait for a few seconds and the pending print jobs will commence.

Please rate this answer.
Thanks for using Fixya.

Just press and hold down the STOP button :) Works a treat :)

Replace the ink
cartridge(s), or press the
OK button.
When selecting to press
the OK button, ink may
run out during printing.