Printer problems and solutions for the Canon PIXMA IP4500

Problem: Waste Ink Tank Almost Full

Solution 1: You can reset the waste ink tank counter yourself. Be aware that this doesn't actually empty the waste ink tank itself (a little felt pad deep inside your printer), but it does allow you to continue printing.

1: Power off printer
2: Hold Resume button then press and hold POWER, the beeper will sound once.
3: Hold POWER and release RESUME
4: Press RESUME twice, then release all buttons
5: When the indicator lights steady, press RESUME three or four times. The indicator should be orange.
6: Press Power to set data

To actually drain the waste ink tank, you'll need to take your printer to pieces and find, clean, wash and dry the felt pads found in the base of the printer. This is a complicated procedure, but it is a good idea to do it if you're technically minded. Many people have just reset the code without actually draining the pads and very few have run into problems as a result. If you do this, you risk damaging your printer and/or the surface it sits on if the pads absorb too much ink. However, if you're going to buy a new printer anyway, you might just reset the code and stand it on a piece of paper or card. It's up to you, just understand the risks.

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Problem: Prints are coming out too dark

Solution 1: This is a common issue that is largely down to personal taste. The only real way to improve (i.e. lighten) your prints is to first lighten them using a piece of photo editing software. A good choice would be Adobe Photoshop elements, but there are free alternatives. Do a google search for "Free Photo Editing Software" (there should be a google search box on this page near the top).
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Problem: Very low print quality

Solution 1: There are a number of steps you can take to solve this problem (in order of easiest & least expensive first).

1. Make sure you have tried printing a nozzle check and you've carried out all the maintenance tasks that the manual alows (align print head, clean print head etc).
2. Your cartridge may be faulty. Ink cartridges that use non-genuine ink are of variable quality and you use them at your own risk. Even genuine cartridges can expire if used after the expiry date. Bad ink can clog your nozzle. It may be that you have a dried-out ink cartridge - try another one if you have one handy.
3. The print head may need cleaning. There are Canon print head cleaning kits available (use Google top right) or you could try doing this yourself - some people have had success immersing the print head (not the cartridge) in cleaning alcohol, warm water or using compressed air to gently blow through the nozzles.
4. Buy a new print head. Check the prices before you do this as (a) you may be throwing good money after bad, and (b) the price of a new printer may be the same as a new print head. Again, use Google (top right of this page) to search for these if you wish.
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Problem: Genuine original Canon vs Compatible & Refill Cartridges - which should I use?

Solution 1: It really is up to you. There are many people who swear by refills and compatible cartridges, and many others who have had problems with them. In a nutshell:

Dangers: Compatible/refilled cartridges vary in ink quality. Poor quality ink can dry out your print head and cause damage. You can replace your print head, but this can cost as much as a new printer. You will also invalidate your warranty by using non-genuine ink.

Benefits: Canon ink is very expensive and good quality compatible substitutes can severely cut the cost of printing without damaging your printer.

Minimise the risks - you can take the following steps to minimise the risks of damaging your printer (it's a good idea to follow this advice whether you use genuine cartridges or not):

- Try not to let your cartridges run dry - this can clog the print head.
- Always power off the printer using the printer's power switch rather than simply unplugging and switching off at the mains. The reason is that some printers keep the ink in a ready (i.e. open) state when they are printing to keep printing time shorter. When you power off the printer, it closes the ink cover, keeping the ink tanks sealed. If you just unplug the unit, it will not cover the print head and leave it exposed. For this reason, you should restart your printer and shut it down again if you experience a power cut while the unit is on.
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Problem: alarm light flashes 12 times

Solution 1: I had 12 orange light flashes on a Canon IP4500 and could figure out why. I thought I was doomed. I searched other sites which gave me the solution. Found the little ink wipers under where the inkhead is normally parked. At first I did a weak cleaning attempt, but that didn't work. Then I cleaned them really good with q-tips and windex. I used a lot of q-tips, and it wasn't easy to reach. I cleaned all around the little wipers too and tried to get up as much dried ink as possible where ever I could see and reach . It actually became pretty clean. I then tried powering on again and wal-la it worked. Hope this helps.
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Problem: 5 orange blinks

Solution 1: replace or clean print head
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Problem: printer will not turn on. power cable checked 245v at printer end

Solution 1: Have had similar problem post a power cut. Disconnect mains cable from printer for about 5-10 minutes, then reconnect and try to switch machine on. Product was returned for repair and they were unable to reproduce fault.
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Problem: Not print black colour, and not print word doc.

Solution 1: Problem: Your printer will not print using the pigment cartridge.
There can be several reasons for this. It usually happens when a printer is laid up for a long time or has been left with

dry cartridges for a long time.

Solution 1:
Power up the printer, lift the top lid, and the carriage will move to the centre. Unplug the printer without switching it

off. Take out the cartridge tanks. Lift the grey print-head release lever and pull out the head assembly. Get some

Isopropyl alcohol and some cotton buds. Soak a cotton bud in the alcohol and clean each ink filter in turn with a clean

alcohol-soaked cotton bud. Do not use the same bud on different filters. Once clean, soak another cotton bud and gently

apply it to the long head on the underside of the head assembly. Repeat with clean soaked cotton buds until there is no

more ink coming off the head. Place the head assembly on a wad of clean kitchen roll and then the fun begins.
Really soak a clean cotton bud and drip it onto the large Pigment Ink filter.The alcohol will seep through the filter and

out onto the kitchen roll. keep this up for about ten minutes and that should clear the head. If you have troubles with

the other colours, do the same.
Reassemble, and run the cleaning sequences (this may take a couple of deep cleans), and then do a pattern check.
Hopefully, you're good to go!

If this fails, you need to do a bit more cleaning.


Solution 2:
You might find it easier to dismantle the printer to do this. There are a few guides on the internet that shows how to do

this.

WARNING: If you do remove the cover, you MUST BE REALLY CAREFUL of the two thin plastic rotary-encoder discs on the left-

hand side of the printer, and the linear encoder strip at the back of the head assembly.

**Get these dirty, scratched or distorted, and your printer is now junk**

What you will need to clean is the two hard foam sponges that reside on the right hand side of the printer where the

carraige normally parks. Warm water is your friend.
There are three clear plastic scrapers that will need CAREFUL cleaning with alcohol-soaked cotton buds, as well as a

little 3cm-long spring-loaded white hinged plastic widget on the opposite side of the sponges. The latter will probably be

filthy. Carefully hold it up with a finger and clean once again with a alcohol-soaked cotton bud.
Reassemble, and and go through the normal head-cleaning routines.

Good luck.
Susi xx

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