I have a lexmark 5470 model and have a 1203 error.

The 1203 error indicates either a communication problem between your cartridges and your printer or a short in one of the cartridges. Please follow the steps below to identify and fix the issue:

1. Make sure the printer is on.

2. Open the printer cover. The print cartridge carrier moves and stops at the loading position, unless the All-in-One is busy.

Note: If the carrier does not automatically move to the center, turn off the printer/unplug the printer from the power source and then slide the carrier to the center.

3. Remove both cartridges from the carrier.

4. Close the printer cover.

5. Re-brick your printer. Pull out the power supply, black box where the power cord is plugged in at the back of the printer, and put it back after 30 seconds.

6. When the printer turns on, reinsert one cartridge first.

7. Close the printer cover and check for any errors.

8. If no error appears, reinsert the other cartridge. Close the printer cover.

9. Replace whichever cartridge is causing the error to appear with a new cartridge. Then try to print a document again to verify that the problem is fixed.

1203 error indicates a defective cartridge is detected. It would be best not to use your burnt black cartridge anymore to prevent further damage to the printer. Try to replace it with a new genuine cartridge. However, if error continues even with a new cartridge, please contact Lexmark technical support for additional assistance. Thanks.

Hello and Welcome to FixYa!
This error means that the cartridge is bad, but as you said you have replaced it. Then there may be other issues, all of them are discussed thoroughly on there support site, Kindly navigate to this link and follow all the suggestions one by one. I hope you will end up with the query resolved.
If you are still having any issues/questions, do ask me.

Concerned, Nooh

It sounds like the printer thinks it is not a genuine ink cartridge. Fit a Lexmark cartridge to cure it.

Here is what Lexmark says:

Cartridge Error: 1203 Your print cartridge has a short.

1. Press Power to turn your All-In-One off.
2. Unplug your All-In-One from the wall outlet.
3. Plug in your All-In-One.
4. Reinstall the cartridges.

If this does not resolve the problem, see More troubleshooting options, or replace your cartridges.

Also the cartridge that should be installed looks like Lexmark 32 ink for black and 33 ink for color.

Cartridge World stores have a 100% satisfaction guarantee; they will repair, replace, or refund any cartridge you find unsatisfactory. You need to go to the store you purchased this cartridge from and request a new one.

These steps are for a Lexmark 4200, but I suspect they will work for your printer as well:

Cartridge Error: 1203

Your print cartridge has a short.

1. Press Power to turn your All-In-One off.
2. Unplug your All-In-One from the wall outlet.
3. Plug in your All-In-One.
4. Reinstall the cartridges.

If this does not resolve the problem, see More troubleshooting options, or replace your cartridges.

Source: http://www.lexmark.com/publications/pdfs/4200/eng/trouble.html

How I solved this problem was, I took out the color cartridge (which seem to be the one giving the error message) and worked only with the black ink (and chose print black and white )

My color ink cartridge had been refilled at Walgreens. The Black ink cartridge is an original Lexmark

To determine whether this error is due to a cartridge failure or a hardware problem with the printer, do the following: Make sure the printer is powered on. Open the printer's top cover. The print cartridge carrier moves and stops at the loading position. Press down on the cartridge lever to raise the cartridge lid. Remove the cartridges. With the cartridges out of the printer, close the top cover. Power the printer OFF and then back ON. Check the operator panel to see if the 1203 error has returned or if a new message is displayed. If the message displayed is 1203, there is something wrong with the printer hardware. Please contact Lexmark Technical Support. If the message is Cartridge Missing, reinstall the cartridges into the printer. Insert the black cartridge in the left carrier. Insert the color cartridge in the right carrier. Snap the lids closed. Close the top cover. Check the operator panel. If the 1203 message is still present, you need to insert one cartridge at a time to determine which cartridge is producing the failure. With one cartridge in the carrier, close the top cover and check the operator panel. If the 1203 message is displayed, that cartridge is producing the error. If Cartridge Missing is displayed, the second cartridge is the defective item. Please replace the defective cartridge.

Normi, The 1203 error as you suspected deals with the ink cartridge. This is a common problem and Lexmark has a troubleshooting procedure posted on their web site. Here is the link for the web page. http://support.lexmark.com/cgi-perl/knowledgebase.cgi?ccs=229:1:0:439:0:0&emeaframe=&docid=ENUS21870 Hope this solves your problem and please don?t forget to rate this posting.