Recently my Canon PIXMA iP4200 started "printing" a 1/2 inch wide vertical streak all the way down the middle of the back side of my printouts. If the printer sits without use for awhile, the streak is really heavy and dark, so heavy the ink is still wet. As I print a few pages, the streak gets lighter and lighter until barely noticeable. It happens with a low black cartridges and new full cartridges. I've cleaned the area inside with alcohol (the white rollers and the little tray where there was some stray ink). That didn't help, this steak is THICK, not just residue. Any help is appreciated!
Re: Canon PIXMA iP4200 - Black streak on back side by Bliss149 (6/25/07 5:59 PM) reply
Thanks for the reply. I think you're right that something is LEAKING because sometimes the ink is a big WET streak - not just a little smudge.
Turns out I'm still under warranty but it's just such a hassle to load that big old thing up and take it somewhere. I'm trying to get my husband to do it.
Re: Canon PIXMA iP4200 - Black streak on back side by MarteF (12/14/07 9:19 AM) reply
I, too, am having this problem with a Pixma MP500. I have written to Canon to find out what to do. VERY frustrating and, of course, it's out of warranty. I sure hope someone responds with a fix.
mf
Re: Re: Canon PIXMA iP4200 - Black streak on back side by twcinnh (6/24/08 4:10 AM) reply
During excessive printing, ink does not get absorbed into ink pads fast enough causing a build up of ink on the platen roller and the exit rollers. Canon techs are instructed to replace the ink absorbers with a modified kit that includes a silicon tube, plastic joint, and mylar sheet. The shape of the waste ink pad has been changed to prevent the ink build up. If you have a mind to do it yourself and your not under warranty you can purchase the blotter kits at beckscrs.com
BAB Authorized Canon Tech
Re: Canon PIXMA iP4200 - Black streak on back side by twcinnh (6/29/08 12:03 PM) reply
We are having the same problem. If you let it sit there long enough the whole black ink cartridge will eventually drain away. It seems to me that the print head is the leaky part. Has anyone tried replacing the print head? Looks to be about $40 plus shipping.
Re: Canon PIXMA iP4200 - Black streak on back side by frimton (9/8/08 2:43 AM) reply
The black stripe on the back of the paper is caused by the purge unit waste ink pad becoming saturated and the drain pipe not taking away the excess ink. There is a modified assembly available from Canon but the cost of this and the difficulty in fitting it make the repair not viable. Canon will only fit it free of charge if it is under warranty. It is far cheaper to just buy a replacement printer. This is quite a common problem on this series of printers.
Re: Canon PIXMA iP4200 - Black streak on back side by Anonymous (9/19/08 12:23 AM) reply
Since first posting I changed my cartridge. (I have been refilling cartridges for a number of years, and these are refilled cartridges.) I noticed the black streak was not as much a problem with the 2nd cartridge. To test, I refilled the first cartridge and the problem came back with the same amount of streaking.
I've thrown that cartridge away and have now put a new cartridge into the printer and not had any streaking. I'm coming to the conclusion that there is a lifetime to the cartridges when they begin leaking. It looks like that has been the problem in my case. If anything changes I'll post. But for now, it looks like I'll be using the new cartridge and refilling that.
Good luck all.
Tom
Re: Canon PIXMA iP4200 - Black streak on back side by Anonymous (9/19/08 12:40 AM) reply
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