Printer Problem

[ajbrun]

I have a Canon MP360 multi functional printer. Since about a year ago now, it hasn't been printing right. It can print text, but very faintly, and it often misses printing about half way through each line of text. This is for both black and white.

After reading info on the internet, I've come up with 2 solutions. One costing money, and one not, but possibly not safe...

The first solution is to simply buy another printer head, but since it seems to cost £30, I'd rather not unless I need to. This is probably what put me off fixing it before. This would fix it if it's a lack of contact between the metal plates of the printer head and the printer, which is what my dad thinks.

The second way I've read is to put the bottom on the printer head (the ink bit only, not the metal bit) in a tiny pool of water on a saucer. This would hopefully clear out any blockages of ink.

The problem is, is that I don't know if it's a lack of contact between the printer head and the printer, or simply not enough ink getting through. Whilst I'm pretty sure that simply buying a new head would probably fix both causes, I'd rather try the other way assuming it's safe enough, and not going to damage anything.

Has anyone got any ideas? Or maybe even where to get cheap printer heads from?

[PieEater]

Are there no tools available with the drivers to get the printer to clean and align it's printheads. I've not owned a Canon printer before but these tools are available with HP and Epson printers?

[ajbrun]

I've done the cleaning things loads of times so far. I've pretty much give up now. I may just buy another printer head, but the only problem is that I've finished uni now, so I don't really need a printer so much any more.

Thanks for the input though. All in all, a fairly useless thread I suppose .

[Agent]

Talk to Canon.
Explain how long you have had the issue. Canon support has been excellent for me in the past.

[Areku]

Dipping the print head in some "warm" water will be fine. Just dont dump the whole thing in there. You could also use some deionized water, rubbing alcohol on the print head.

Id reccommend using the warm water, then getting a cotton bud with some rubbing alcohol over the print head. If this clears the problem, gratz! If not then your pretty much stuck into getting a new print head.