My mfc 3100 has been a HUGE waster of ink. Every test print wastes a lot, every time a cartridge malfunctions, more paper, more ink. I finally bought ink from internet, and now the cyan will not exit the nozzle. It does exit the cartridge. I called Brother, and they won't help- since I used other than Brother ink Current problem- CYAN ink exits cartridge, but doesn't get to the paper. Are all ink-jet printers so bad?

The Waster Ink Absorber, does just that. When you switch the printer on a small amount of ink is forced through the nozzles in preparation for printing. When you Deep Clean, more ink is pulsed through. It doesn't alter print quality, so if it is not printing 'properly', the cause is something else. On most Canon MP, you can remove the cartridge holder and run hot water through it. Blot with tissue until there is no ink staining. You can get them serviced locally at a Canon Service Centre.

This happens regularly in some models when the alignment of paper is not done correctly. If the cartridge does not have a good print quality, the scanner can not correctly read the alignment and alignment repeated several times until you get it right.
Check the alignment with cartridges in excellent condition.

Number following "E"

Cause

How to correct

2

No paper. /
Paper does not feed.

If paper is not installed, load it and then press the <Black> or <Color> button. When paper is installed, check each of the following items and try printing again.

1. Confirm only recommended paper is installed.
2. Confirm paper is installed properly.
3. Confirm the maximum number of sheets in the auto sheet feeder is within the paper limit mark.
4. Clean the paper feed roller to resolve the error.

3

Paper jam

Remove the jammed paper.
If paper jams frequently occur, check the following:

1. Confirm there is no foreign material inside the machine.
2. Confirm only recommended paper is installed.
3. Confirm paper is installed properly.
4. Confirm the maximum number of sheets in the auto sheet feeder is within the paper limit mark.

4

Empty ink tank

An ink cartridge is empty.
To cancel printing, press the <Stop/Reset> button.
To continue printing, press <Black> or <Color> button.
After printing completes, replace the empty ink cartridge.
Printing with an empty ink cartridge may cause the machine to malfunction.

5

The ink cartridge(s) is not installed. / The ink cartridge(s) cannot be recognized.

The ink cartridge may not be installed properly, or an unsupported ink cartridge may be installed.
Install a recommended ink cartridge.

Make sure to install both ink cartridges even when you set the machine to use only one ink cartridge in printing.
If one of the ink cartridges is missing, this error can occur.

7

The ink cartridge is not installed in the appropriate position.

The ink cartridge is not installed in the proper position.
Install each ink cartridge in the proper position.

8

The waste ink absorber is almost full.

The waste ink absorber is getting full.
Press the <Black> or <Color> button to clear the error and continue printing.
Printing can continue until the waste ink absorber becomes full. If the waste ink absorber becomes full, the machine will require service.

The waste ink absorber is a part inside the machine, which absorbs ink used in the cleaning operations.

9

A specified period of time has elapsed without receiving a response from the digital camera. / A print mode compliant with PictBridge is not selected. / A specified period of time has elapsed without receiving a response from the digital camera.

The machine cannot communicate with the connected camera.
Disconnect the cable between the machine and the camera to clear the error.
Check the following items, then try printing again.

1. Confirm that the camera you are using supports PictBridge or Canon Bubble Jet Direct.
If the camera does not support either one, the machine cannot print directly from the camera.
2. Set the camera in PictBridge print mode before it is connected to the machine. This is required before printing for some cameras that support PictBridge.
Please refer to the camera instructions for more information about procedures required before and after connection to the machine.
3. There may have been no response from the camera for the prescribed time.
Re-connect the cable between the camera and the machine.

1 , 4
1 , 5

The ink cartridge cannot be recognized.

An unsupported ink cartridge may be installed.
Install only recommended ink cartridges.

1, 6

The ink level cannot be correctly detected.

A used ink cartridge may be installed, or the ink cartridge is empty.
Replace the ink cartridge.

Press the <Black> or <Color> button, to clear the error and continue printing without replacing the ink cartridge. However, the remaining ink amount cannot be detected properly, so the function to detect the remaining ink amount does not operate.

1 , 9

Scanning failed.

Scanning a document failed.
Check if the document is placed in the correct orientation / position and try the operation again.

2 , x
3 , x
4 , x

(Where x represents a number)

-

Turn the machine off, and remove the power cord from the electrical outlet.
Wait approximately ten minutes then plug in the power cord and turn the machine on.
If the problem is not resolved, the machine may require service.

If any of the ink cartridges need to be replaced the printer will not work. Also, if you are printing only black you will need to go into print properties and select black.

its not the cartridge it is the printhead, if your turn off the printer the printheads plug up. the cleaning just wastes OUR ink if you ask me. It says its "cleaning" my new cartridges what a waste/

The waste ink is your actual problem. This is an area of the printer devoted entirely to priming your ink cartridges. When it is full, you will see streaks and smudges on your printed paper.
Start your head replacement procedure by opening the lid of your printer, then disconnect the power. The primer waste area is usually located to the right inside area of your printer. This is a difficult area to access but not impossible. Be sure to wear some latex gloves before attempting this cleanup.
Isopryl Alcohol is a good cleaning agent for this and you will need some paper towels for the mess. Find an area with plenty of elbow room and place your printer there. Remember that this can get messy so the table should be covered with plastic or a garbage bag. My favorite tool for squirting the alcohol is squirt bottle (sprayers just melt down). Make sure the Ink cartridges are removed and the power plug is disconnected, then begin squirting this waste area liberally with alcohol. There will be a lot of ink at first so keep the paper towels ready and begin squeezing the ink into them by pressing down on the rubber primer plates. IF you are lucky, there will be a sponge in this same area that will be filled with the ink and your cleanup will go faster. Apply paper towls and alcohol until the ink colors start to fade then allow to dry, reassemble and do a test run. You cant get all the ink out so just get all that you can.

garetg,

Your issue with the black ink only is because the print head my be dried up. Witch me that the ink cant flow to the "paper" fast enough. So by time to rollers eject the paper, the ink cant print on the paper. I had the same problem with my Kodak EasyShare 5300 All-In-One. So I contacted Kodak and they are sending me a new one. Try doing the same. Contact your manufacture and ask them..... :)

Much Regards,

Kyle

The Power Light Flashes Orange - Error Codes When an error occurs, the power light flashes orange. The number of orange flashes followed by a long green flash indicates the cause of the problem.
Two orange flashes: Out of paper, paper jam, or paper feed error
If no paper is loaded in the auto sheet feeder, or if the paper is not loaded correctly, set the paper correctly and press the Resume button on the printer to continue printing.
Three orange flashes: Paper jam
If paper has jammed in the printer, carefully remove the jam and press the Resume button to continue printing.
Four orange flashes: A tank inside the BJ cartridge (print head) is out of ink
Replace the empty BJ tank and press the Resume button to continue printing.
Five orange flashes: BJ cartridge is not installed properly
Remove and reseat the cartridge correctly. Make sure the orange protective cap and tape have been removed. Make sure the blue locking lever is locked down securely.
Six orange flashes: BJ cartridge (printhead) is not installed
Remove and reseat the cartridge correctly. Make sure the orange protective cap and tape have been removed. Make sure the blue locking lever is locked down securely.
Seven orange flashes: BJ cartridge (printhead) is defective
Remove the BJ cartridge and check that the contacts on the cartridge and cartridge holder are clean. Make sure the orange protective cap and tape have been removed and reinstall the cartridge. If the error occurs again after you resume operation, you may need to replace the BJ cartridge.
Eight orange flashes: Waste ink absorber almost full
The printer has a built-in waste ink absorber to hold the ink that is consumed during print head cleaning. This error indicates that the waste ink absorber is nearly full. Press the Resume button to skip the error so you can continue printing.
The POWER light flashes orange and green alternately: Service error
A service error means the printer requires the attention of a qualified technician. Count the number of flashes. (You may be asked this information.)

I had a similar problem with my black ink. The printer had indicated that it was out of black ink. I didn't have one on hand, so, for more than a week I couldn't print anything, because if you are out of any one of the four ink cartridges, it won't print at all. That delay in replacing the black ink cartridge apparently was enough time for the printhead to dry out. Big Mistake! I contacted Brother's Tech Support and they suggested I run the cleaning cycle and try to print a test page. Still nothing printed. They had me run another cleaning cycle, and another, and another. Finally, after the fourth cleaning cycle, something started to show up on the paper. They had me clean it two more times, six in all, and it was back to normal. From now on, if it says one of the ink cartridges is empty, I change it yesterday. The major disadvantage of all of this, other than not being able to print for awhile, is that this procedure used up about 1/2 of a brand new black ink cartridge.

following error codes i found
E2-2 No paper (ASF)
E3-3 Paper jam
E4 No ink
E5-5 The ink cartridges are not installed or a non-supported ink cartridge is installed ,
or the ink cartridges are not installed properly
E8 Waste ink absorber full, or platen waste ink absorber full