Printer is only half printing doc on each line, have done test page, very faint, aligned ink, clean cartridges, all with top v faint and bottom dark ink, new cartridge last fri and was working well, stopped yesterday and need to use asap, can u help?

It has to be because print heads are dirty. I find it is best to use the printer every few days whether you need it or not. Just print a test page to keep your ink from drying it the heads.

A technique to improve print quality is to try and clean the cartridge nozzles. You may clean the cartridge by following the steps given below:
1. Go to the "Lexmark solution center." This can be done by clicking on "Start," go to "Programs" and Lexmark printer group. Click on the "Lexmark Solution center." Next click on the "Maintenance" Tab.
2. Select "Clean and Fix Horizontal streaks." Click on "Print". 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 Print Nozzle" 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 Nozzle Page" one more time. If this fails to address the problem the entire procedure may need repeating.

Good Luck!!!!

try a print head cleaning, then try a test page you may have to do this more than once the test should come out better each time

Cleaning the print-heads is the correct action to take -- if the ink-jets are clogged, then the ink (in either old or new cartridges) cannot be sprayed onto the paper.

Note that the print-head has multiple jets -- like painting across a wall with a wide paint-brush.
So, if you don't have paint on the top half of the brush, then only the bottom half of each row on the wall will get painted.

Try some more head-cleaning cycles.

You said all new cartridges.. But are they Epson Genuine Cartridges???? I had the same problem when I replaced with new, but generic cartridges.
After finally, going thru 2 sets of each, removed them and put in Genuine., and finally, everthing started printing fine. Weird , but true.
I suggested my answer problem below.
Good Luck :0)

Problem for Epson Stylus C84 InkJet Printer
Re: C84 I'm using generic ink, but the red
By mclamemo on Nov 12, 2009 re: C84 I'm using generic ink, but the red doesn't work at all. I've done all the printer cleaning programs and swabbed inside the printer with alcohol, and re-inserted the cartridge multiple times. it still doesn't print at all.

Also now even the black every few lines prints the top half of the line or the bottom half of the line, or its smeared, etc...

Help!
Best Solution
posted on Nov 12, 2009


cns assoc


Rank: Wiz Expert
Rating: 84%, 22 votes
I have learned from experience, that Epson does not like generic ink. You must use Epson Genuine Cartridges. Hopefully, you haven't screwed up the printer, like I did. I did try cleaning the heads and doing everything possible. Use 2 cartridges of ech set, for cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. ......But Nothing.
Had to go out and purchase a new printer.;
Good Luck :0(
Asker's Testimonial
" Thank you. Called Epson also and they didn't say it as directly, but advised real Epson ink too. Hope I didn't kill the printer! Generic ink for sale " - mclamemo

Comments:
Nov 12, 2009
- Funny. hahahahah,
Me too! I would say, about 2 dozen cartridges to be exact.

lol :0) :0) :0

make sure the bottom of the print cartridge is clean. If not tak etape and then tape it off if theres too much ink leakin on the cartridge.

i had the same problem and just repeated the cleaning and testing, eventually the black showed up but took more than a few repetitions

i think the inside printer have dirt or obstacles that blocken the cartridges while printing.
try to clean manually the printer by using powerful air blower,repeatedly.

I had the same problem. This is what The Geek Squad recommended:
1) Make sure your ink cartridge isn't low.
2) Go to Setup on the printer, choose Tools, then choose Clean Print Cartridges
3) Then, go back to Tools and choose Align Print Cartridges

This worked for me -- good luck

I think your printer is running out of ink. HP have their own toolkit which is a software programme which comes with printers on a disc.You have to download it off the disc then go to printers, Go to control panel select printers, highlight your printer left click go to properties and you should have an option for toolkit which allows you to clean cartridge head, align cartridge, check ink levels etc.Hope this helps.