Printing in strips with gaps

The problem that you are experiencing is caused by the way the text is formatted in most word processing documents. By default envelopes are printed not in black, but a dark gray. This confuses the printer and causes it to use the color cartridge to process gray instead of using the black cartridge.

You can fix this problem with one of two ways:

1. Click on "Start", "Control Panel" and click on "Printers and Faxes." Right click on the "Lexmark Printer" icon and select "Properties." Click on "Printing Preferences." Go to "Quality/Copies" tab and select the option "Print color images in black and white."
2. You can also change the color of you text to a true black in your word processor. This will require you to resort to the word processor's documentation and help files.

Both of these settings will cause your printer to use the black cartridge instead of the color. If either one of these solutions solves your problem, it means your color cartridge needs to be cleaned or replaced. If you feel that the color cartridge should not be out of ink, please follow the steps given below:

Clean Nozzle Procedure:

1. Go to the "Solution Center" and click on the "Maintenance" tab.
2. Select "Clean to fix horizontal strips."
The colors that you should see here are black, yellow, magenta (a reddish purple) and cyan (a dark sky blue). You should notice the diagonal lines above and below the solid horizontal lines. These diagonal lines should be solid from left to right with no gaps.

If there are gaps in the lines or the print diminishes across the page, you should run the "Clean Print Nozzles" page a couple more times to try and clear it up. If you still have gaps at the top and bottom, you should "wick" the cartridges by following the steps given below:

“Wicking” Procedure:

1. Select "Install color/black cartridge" and remove the cartridge from the printer.
2. Get a damp paper towel.
3. Set the ink cartridge right side up on the damp paper towel so that the ink nozzles are against the towel and hold the cartridge in this position for about 15 seconds.
4. Now wipe the print head (on the bottom where the ink comes out) across in one direction only (left to right) until it looks clean.
5. Next dab the cartridge on the towel to make sure that the ink is flowing.
6. Snap the cartridge back into the printer.
7. On your computer, select "Old Cartridge installed."
8. Repeat the "Clean to fix horizontal strips" procedure listed above.

If this procedure does not help, please let us know so that we can continue with technical support.

? check that you did not leave the pull strip on the cartridge ?

Your printer will need either a new printhead, or possibly a purge assembly that cleans the printhead. Best to have a shop check it out so
you don't buy a part you don't need. If it can't clean then even a new printhead won't help.

Hi.
First check if u r using compatible cartridges for your lexmark printer. You may use the following weblink to find the comaptible cartridges for lexmark printers:

http://www.lexmarkstore.com/store/lexmark/DisplayProductFinderPage

If using correct carts and stil issue, then check the below info to clean the print contacts and cartridges:

Remove the cartridges from the printer. Take a dry lint free paper towel and gently wipe the contacts on the back of the cartridge (not the bottom from where ink is present). Wipe the contacts inside the printer (on cartridge carrier). Snap the cartridges back into the cartridge carrier.

To clean cartridge nozzles:

Click on "Start," go to "All Programs," and down to the Lexmark. Click on the "Solution Center." Next, click on the "Maintenance" tab. Select "Clean to fix horizontal strips." This will produce a printed page.
The colors that you should see here are black, yellow, magenta (a reddish purple) and cyan (a dark sky blue). You should notice the diagonal lines above and below the solid horizontal lines. These diagonal lines should be solid from left to right with no gaps.
If there are gaps in the lines or the print diminishes across the page, you should run the "Clean to fix horizontal strips" page a couple more times to try and clear it up. If you still have gaps at the top and bottom, you should "wick" the cartridges by following the steps given below:
1. Please open the "Solution Center" again and go to the "Maintenance" Tab.
2. Select "Install color/black cartridge" and remove the cartridge (or cartridges) from the printer.
3. Get a damp paper towel.
4. Set the ink cartridge right side up on the damp paper towel so that the ink nozzles are against the towel and hold the cartridge in this position for about 15 seconds.
5. Now wipe the print head (on the bottom where the ink comes out) across in one direction only (left to right) until it looks clean. Also, wipe the contacts inside the printer (on cartridge carrier).
6. Next dab the cartridge on the towel to make sure that the ink is flowing.
7. Snap the cartridges back into the printer.
8. On your computer, select "Old Cartridge install."
9. Repeat the "Clean to fix horizontal strips" one more time. If this fails to address the problem, the entire procedure may need repeating.

Try it out..
:-)

hi..

You can clean the cartridge using the following steps:

Click on "Start," go to "All Programs," and down to the Lexmark. Click on the "Solution Center." Next, click on the "Maintenance" tab. Select "Clean to fix horizontal strips." This will produce a printed page.

The colors that you should see here are black, yellow, magenta (a reddish purple) and cyan (a dark sky blue). You should notice the diagonal lines above and below the solid horizontal lines. These diagonal lines should be solid from left to right with no gaps.

If there are gaps in the lines or the print diminishes across the page, you should run the "Clean to fix horizontal strips" page a couple more times to try and clear it up. If you still have gaps at the top and bottom, you should "wick" the cartridges by following the steps given below:

1. Please open the "Solution Center" again and go to the "Maintenance" Tab.
2. Select "Install color/black cartridge" and remove the cartridge (or cartridges) from the printer.
3. Get a damp paper towel.
4. Set the ink cartridge right side up on the damp paper towel so that the ink nozzles are against the towel and hold the cartridge in this position for about 15 seconds.
5. Now wipe the print head (on the bottom where the ink comes out) across in one direction only (left to right) until it looks clean. Also, wipe the contacts inside the printer (on cartridge carrier).
6. Next dab the cartridge on the towel to make sure that the ink is flowing.
7. Snap the cartridges back into the printer.
8. On your computer, select "Old Cartridge install."
9. Repeat the "Clean to fix horizontal strips" one more time. If this fails to address the problem, the entire procedure may need repeating.

try out..

Please remove the cartridges from the printer. Take a dry lint free paper towel and gently wipe the contacts on the back of the cartridge (not the bottom from where ink is present). Wipe the contacts inside the printer (on cartridge carrier). Please try to print the self test page.

A technique to improve print quality is to try and clean the cartridge nozzles. You can clean the cartridge using the following steps given below:
Click on "Start," go to "All Programs," and down to the Lexmark. Click on the "Solution Center." Next, click on the "Maintenance" tab. Select "Clean to fix horizontal strips." This will produce a printed page.
The colors that you should see here are black, yellow, magenta (a reddish purple) and cyan (a dark sky blue). You should notice the diagonal lines above and below the solid horizontal lines. These diagonal lines should be solid from left to right with no gaps.
If there are gaps in the lines or the print diminishes across the page, you should run the "Clean to fix horizontal strips" page a couple more times to try and clear it up. If you still have gaps at the top and bottom, you should "wick" the cartridges by following the steps given below:
1. Please open the "Solution Center" again and go to the "Maintenance" Tab.
2. Select "Install color/black cartridge" and remove the cartridge (or cartridges) from the printer.
3. Get a damp paper towel.
4. Set the ink cartridge right side up on the damp paper towel so that the ink nozzles are against the towel and hold the cartridge in this position for about 15 seconds.
5. Now wipe the print head (on the bottom where the ink comes out) across in one direction only (left to right) until it looks clean.
6. Next dab the cartridge on the towel to make sure that the ink is flowing.
7. Snap the cartridges back into the printer.
8. On your computer, select "Old Cartridge install."
9. Repeat the "Clean to fix horizontal strips" one more time. If this fails to address the problem, the entire procedure may need repeating.
If you have replaced your ink cartridge with a new one and are continuing to experience difficulties with print quality, please try cleaning and wicking the ink cartridge. If this fails to resolve the issue, the maintenance station may have an excess build-up of ink.
The maintenance station is located inside the printer on the right hand side. This is the same area where the cartridges sit when in the "idle" position. To access the maintenance station: Unplug everything from the back of your printer, open the front cover and look above the steel rod. You should see a conveyor belt with rubber teeth on it, like a fanbelt. On some models, the cartridge access will be very small, but the belt should still be visible. Take the top part of the belt and move it gently to the right.
***Note*** please do not pull outwards on the belt. The cartridges should come over towards the left side of the printer. The maintenance station will be on the right side on the bottom of the printer behind the fixed cover. Clean the area with several damp cotton swabs or damp papertowels until the build up of ink is removed.
Once the maintenance station has been cleaned you should "wick" the cartridges. Remove the cartridge from the printer. Get a clean damp paper towel and lay it on a flat surface. Set the ink cartridge right side up, with the ink nozzles touching the towel and hold in this position for about 15 seconds. Then wipe the nozzles across in one direction only (left to right). Repeat this process, each time using a clean spot on the paper towel, until it looks clean. Dab the cartridge on a dry towel to make sure that the ink is flowing.
After you have wicked the cartridges place them back into the printer, securing them into place. Plug the power back into the printer. Close the cover and click on "Old Cartridge Installed" on the "Control Program" screen. Once the printer has reset, run the "Clean Print Nozzles" page twice. This should resolve the issue.


your's tech expert
Jeeth

Try to do an ink cartridge cleaning
Open the print page
Click on Preferance
Click on Color
Click on Printer Services
Select your cleaning options

You mentioned that you used refilled cartridges. Sometimes they don't work too well. Buy a set of genuine Canon replacement cartridges and see if that doesn't solve your problem.

Blank Pages Printed

Remove the protective tape from the cartridges:
With the printer power on, open the front cover of the printer. The cartridge carrier should move to the middle.
Remove the cartridge(s) from the printer.
Look on the underside of the cartridge(s). If there is yellow tape and/or transparent blue tape there, remove it.
Clean the cartridge nozzles:

Go to the Lexmark Control Program or Solution Center and run the Clean print nozzle test.
If a black cartridge is installed, you should see black lines only.
If the color cartridge is installed, you should see yellow, magenta (a reddish purple), and cyan (a dark sky blue) lines.
If a photo cartridge is installed, you may see different colors.
Examine the diagonal lines above and below the solid horizontal lines. These diagonal lines should be solid from left to right, with no gaps.
If there are gaps in the lines, you could run the Clean Print Nozzle page a few more times to try and clear it up or try the "wicking" procedure below to conserve ink.
If the page is faded from left to right and the wicking procedure doesn't clear it up, your cartridge is probably out of ink.

Clean ("wick") the cartridges:
Remove your cartridges following the instructions in your User's Guide.
Take a warm, damp paper towel and fold it so that it has about 4- to 6-ply thickness.
Set the ink cartridge right side up on the damp paper towel so that the ink nozzles are touching the towel, and hold the cartridge in this position for about 15 seconds. The nozzles are where the ink comes out of the cartridge.
Now drag the cartridge lightly across the paper towel in one direction only (left to right) until the bottom of the cartridge looks clean.
Turn the cartridge over so that you can see the bar code sticker on the back. Note: Only perform steps 6 and 7 if the contacts look dirty or corroded.
Using a clean pencil eraser, clean the contact points on the copper strip (only the little squares just below the bar code). Caution! Do not use the eraser on the nozzles that were cleaned, as this will damage the cartridge.
Using a clean part of your dry paper towel, wipe the eraser dust off the contacts; ensure that they are dry, and snap the cartridge back into the printer.
Make sure to install the cartridges following the instructions in your User's Guide, selecting Old Cartridge. Failure to do so could reset your ink levels as explained above.
Repeat the nozzle cleaning procedure one more time. At this point the diagonal lines should be solid.
If they are not and you think the cartridges should have ink in them, contact our technicians by e-mail and let them know the results of this test.

Reset the ink levels:
Lexmark printer cartridges do not have ink sensors. The levels of ink are produced by a mathematical calculation of ink drops and page counts. The printer stores this information and then writes it to the win.ini file on your computer.

Ink levels can be reset by telling the printer you have installed a new ink cartridge or by reinstalling the printer drivers and selecting Cartridges Installed. Once ink levels have been reset, there is no way to change them except by printing.

Accordingly, even if your computer says that your ink is full for a particular cartridge, it may be incorrect and the cartridge may need to be replaced. You may want to try a new cartridge to see if that clears up any print quality problems.

You could try doing an alignment which i think is a maintenance option on this machine. You should find it in the driver options. You could also look at my previous posts about under head cleaning. Look here -> http://www.fixya.com/support/t137335-problem_print_outs_from_printer