Hi,
I have a Canon i455 (AKA i450, Pixma 455i, Pixma 450i.....) with a
faulty print head. It worked fine for a while, then (through my own
negligence, as far as I can tell), the black output dried up and ceased
altogether. However, the colour-nozzle output was (and remains) fine.

The problem is this; I purchased a brand-new print-head (QY6-0054-000).
It did not output *at all* (that is, the head and paper moved as
expected, but the paper remained blank). I tried different ink tanks
(*), including my old ones, and brand new Canon ones. Still no output.

When the old print head was put back in the printer, the colour output
worked again.

I exchanged the new print head for a second. This also did not work at
all.

One person I'd spoken to at the supplier mentioned (IIRC) that they'd
had a faulty batch. Another suggested that Canon's quality control was
rubbish, and that other people had encountered similar problems. They
were actually very helpful about it, but I didn't want to risk another
faulty print head from the same batch. So I got print head #3 from a
different supplier.

This one has the exact same problem as the first two, regardless of
which ink tanks are used. And yet, whenever the old print head is
replaced, I'm able to print colour (i.e. yellow, cyan and magenta) with
no problems.

This is weird (and annoying). If my printer was mechanically or
electronically damaged, why would it continue to provide partial
operation with the old print head, and yet not work at all with the
three new ones?

Have I really been unlucky enough to get three faulty print heads? Has
anyone else out there had the same experience?

(*) Bear in mind that Canons generally have separately-replaced ink
tanks and print heads.

- (E-Mail Removed)

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>Hi,
>I have a Canon i455 (AKA i450, Pixma 455i, Pixma 450i.....) with a
>faulty print head. It worked fine for a while, then (through my own
>negligence, as far as I can tell), the black output dried up and ceased
>altogether. However, the colour-nozzle output was (and remains) fine.
>
>The problem is this; I purchased a brand-new print-head (QY6-0054-000).
>It did not output *at all* (that is, the head and paper moved as
>expected, but the paper remained blank). I tried different ink tanks
>(*), including my old ones, and brand new Canon ones. Still no output.
>
>When the old print head was put back in the printer, the colour output
>worked again.
>
>I exchanged the new print head for a second. This also did not work at
>all.
>
>
IT SOUND TO ME LIKE YOU SHOULD HAVE LEARNED A LESSON. YOUR PRINTER IS
ONLY WORTH THE TRASH HEAP. BUY A NEW IP5200, USE CANON OEM INK AND STOP
WASTING YOUR TIME.

>One person I'd spoken to at the supplier mentioned (IIRC) that they'd
>had a faulty batch. Another suggested that Canon's quality control was
>rubbish, and that other people had encountered similar problems. They
>were actually very helpful about it, but I didn't want to risk another
>faulty print head from the same batch. So I got print head #3 from a
>different supplier.
>
>
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SHOULD NOT LISTEN TO. ALSO DO NOT LISTEN
TO MANY OF THE CHURCH MEMBERS IN THIS NG.

>This one has the exact same problem as the first two, regardless of
>which ink tanks are used. And yet, whenever the old print head is
>replaced, I'm able to print colour (i.e. yellow, cyan and magenta) with
>no problems.
>
>This is weird (and annoying). If my printer was mechanically or
>electronically damaged, why would it continue to provide partial
>operation with the old print head, and yet not work at all with the
>three new ones?
>
>Have I really been unlucky enough to get three faulty print heads? Has
>anyone else out there had the same experience?
>
>
JUST STUPID ENOUGH TO WASTE YOUR MONEY

>(*) Bear in mind that Canons generally have separately-replaced ink
>tanks and print heads.
>
>- (E-Mail Removed)
>
>
>

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:

> Hi,
> I have a Canon i455 (AKA i450, Pixma 455i, Pixma 450i.....) with a
> faulty print head. It worked fine for a while, then (through my own
> negligence, as far as I can tell), the black output dried up and ceased
> altogether. However, the colour-nozzle output was (and remains) fine.
>
> The problem is this; I purchased a brand-new print-head (QY6-0054-000).
> It did not output *at all* (that is, the head and paper moved as
> expected, but the paper remained blank). I tried different ink tanks
> (*), including my old ones, and brand new Canon ones. Still no output.
>
> When the old print head was put back in the printer, the colour output
> worked again.
>
> I exchanged the new print head for a second. This also did not work at
> all.
>
> One person I'd spoken to at the supplier mentioned (IIRC) that they'd
> had a faulty batch. Another suggested that Canon's quality control was
> rubbish, and that other people had encountered similar problems. They
> were actually very helpful about it, but I didn't want to risk another
> faulty print head from the same batch. So I got print head #3 from a
> different supplier.
>
> This one has the exact same problem as the first two, regardless of
> which ink tanks are used. And yet, whenever the old print head is
> replaced, I'm able to print colour (i.e. yellow, cyan and magenta) with
> no problems.
>
> This is weird (and annoying). If my printer was mechanically or
> electronically damaged, why would it continue to provide partial
> operation with the old print head, and yet not work at all with the
> three new ones?
>
> Have I really been unlucky enough to get three faulty print heads? Has
> anyone else out there had the same experience?
>
> (*) Bear in mind that Canons generally have separately-replaced ink
> tanks and print heads.
>
> - (E-Mail Removed)
>


Have you tried Canon's website and have you gone through all the
suggested steps? https://self-service.canon-europe.com/uk/pages/

I have used a number of Canon printers over the years and have
never had a problem with print heads or printed output. And I
only use dirt cheap replacement cartridges that I buy on eBay.

If you have access to an ultrasonic cleaner, you might try using
that on the old print head.

I've already spoken to Canon technical support twice, and they gave the
(entirely expected) pat answers and suggested steps, but nothing I
hadn't considered already. I'm afraid the site you suggested didn't
present anything new either.

I suspect the black component of the old print head is damaged beyond
repair; it probably died because (having used it briefly before, then
put it away), I forgot to remove a piece of sticky tape covering the
hole at the *top* of the tank. This eventually stopped the ink flowing,
the heads (I guess) got damaged, and it no longer worked. Perhaps using
methylated spirits instead of isopropyl alcohol to clean the heads a
second time was a bad idea too (worked first time round).

This doesn't explain why the new heads don't work, or why the old one
works where expected, and the new ones don't work at all.

Anyhow, thanks for your suggestion. To be honest, I wouldn't resent
having to replace the print head if I could get one that worked(!) What
I really dislike is the prospect of having to bin an otherwise working
printer that (up until now) I was very happy with- that, and the fact
that the "disposable" attitude underlying the consumer printer market
disgusts me.

- (E-Mail Removed)

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi,
> I have a Canon i455 (AKA i450, Pixma 455i, Pixma 450i.....) with a
> faulty print head. It worked fine for a while, then (through my own
> negligence, as far as I can tell), the black output dried up and
> ceased
> altogether. However, the colour-nozzle output was (and remains) fine.
>
> The problem is this; I purchased a brand-new print-head
> (QY6-0054-000).
> It did not output *at all* (that is, the head and paper moved as
> expected, but the paper remained blank). I tried different ink tanks
> (*), including my old ones, and brand new Canon ones. Still no output.
>
> When the old print head was put back in the printer, the colour output
> worked again.
>
> I exchanged the new print head for a second. This also did not work at
> all.
>
> One person I'd spoken to at the supplier mentioned (IIRC) that they'd
> had a faulty batch. Another suggested that Canon's quality control was
> rubbish, and that other people had encountered similar problems. They
> were actually very helpful about it, but I didn't want to risk another
> faulty print head from the same batch. So I got print head #3 from a
> different supplier.
>
> This one has the exact same problem as the first two, regardless of
> which ink tanks are used. And yet, whenever the old print head is
> replaced, I'm able to print colour (i.e. yellow, cyan and magenta)
> with
> no problems.
>
> This is weird (and annoying). If my printer was mechanically or
> electronically damaged, why would it continue to provide partial
> operation with the old print head, and yet not work at all with the
> three new ones?
>
> Have I really been unlucky enough to get three faulty print heads? Has
> anyone else out there had the same experience?
>
> (*) Bear in mind that Canons generally have separately-replaced ink
> tanks and print heads.
>
> - (E-Mail Removed)
>

Run the cleaning programme
https://self-service.canon-europe.com/uk/pages/

TIME 2 BY A NEW CANON IP5200 AND USE OEM INK.

SgtMinor wrote:

> (E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>> I have a Canon i455 (AKA i450, Pixma 455i, Pixma 450i.....) with a
>> faulty print head. It worked fine for a while, then (through my own
>> negligence, as far as I can tell), the black output dried up and ceased
>> altogether. However, the colour-nozzle output was (and remains) fine.
>>
>> The problem is this; I purchased a brand-new print-head (QY6-0054-000).
>> It did not output *at all* (that is, the head and paper moved as
>> expected, but the paper remained blank). I tried different ink tanks
>> (*), including my old ones, and brand new Canon ones. Still no output.
>>
>> When the old print head was put back in the printer, the colour output
>> worked again.
>>
>> I exchanged the new print head for a second. This also did not work at
>> all.
>>
>> One person I'd spoken to at the supplier mentioned (IIRC) that they'd
>> had a faulty batch. Another suggested that Canon's quality control was
>> rubbish, and that other people had encountered similar problems. They
>> were actually very helpful about it, but I didn't want to risk another
>> faulty print head from the same batch. So I got print head #3 from a
>> different supplier.
>>
>> This one has the exact same problem as the first two, regardless of
>> which ink tanks are used. And yet, whenever the old print head is
>> replaced, I'm able to print colour (i.e. yellow, cyan and magenta) with
>> no problems.
>>
>> This is weird (and annoying). If my printer was mechanically or
>> electronically damaged, why would it continue to provide partial
>> operation with the old print head, and yet not work at all with the
>> three new ones?
>>
>> Have I really been unlucky enough to get three faulty print heads? Has
>> anyone else out there had the same experience?
>>
>> (*) Bear in mind that Canons generally have separately-replaced ink
>> tanks and print heads.
>>
>> - (E-Mail Removed)
>>
>
>
> Have you tried Canon's website and have you gone through all the
> suggested steps? https://self-service.canon-europe.com/uk/pages/
>
> I have used a number of Canon printers over the years and have never
> had a problem with print heads or printed output. And I only use dirt
> cheap replacement cartridges that I buy on eBay.
>
> If you have access to an ultrasonic cleaner, you might try using that
> on the old print head.

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> I've already spoken to Canon technical support twice, and they gave the
> (entirely expected) pat answers and suggested steps, but nothing I
> hadn't considered already. I'm afraid the site you suggested didn't
> present anything new either.
>
> I suspect the black component of the old print head is damaged beyond
> repair; it probably died because (having used it briefly before, then
> put it away), I forgot to remove a piece of sticky tape covering the
> hole at the *top* of the tank. This eventually stopped the ink flowing,
> the heads (I guess) got damaged, and it no longer worked. Perhaps using
> methylated spirits instead of isopropyl alcohol to clean the heads a
> second time was a bad idea too (worked first time round).
>
> This doesn't explain why the new heads don't work, or why the old one
> works where expected, and the new ones don't work at all.
>
> Anyhow, thanks for your suggestion. To be honest, I wouldn't resent
> having to replace the print head if I could get one that worked(!) What
> I really dislike is the prospect of having to bin an otherwise working
> printer that (up until now) I was very happy with- that, and the fact
> that the "disposable" attitude underlying the consumer printer market
> disgusts me.
>
> - (E-Mail Removed)
>

Since you seem to have tried nearly everything, I assume you also
looked closely at the new print heads and compared and contrasted
them to the one that partially works, and that you are convinced
they are the same. And you've tried aligning them - some Canons
allow manual alignment.

I have not dissembled a printer to see what lies below the print
head, but given that you are not able to make the unit work, have
you given thought to taking it apart? Even if you can't fix it
you may learn something.

As to your concluding comment, I can't agree. I have moved from
8086 based computers to 286, 486, Pentium III and now Pentium IV,
and from dot matrix through a variety of ink jets to my current
ip6000d, and an old HP Laserjet. None of the systems I upgraded
from were broken, but the newer ones offered features that I
didn't want to do without.

And you're getting more value. I recently bought a 20" LCD for
less than $400US. I can now buy 2 Pentium IV machines with 19"
LCDs for less than I paid for my 286 with an amber 9" monitor some
years back. Everything in the PC market is disposable, and I've
gotten used to it. The sad thing, to me, is that little or
nothing is recyclable.

"(E-Mail Removed)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed):

> Have I really been unlucky enough to get three faulty print heads? Has
> anyone else out there had the same experience?

The printhean on my i320 went out, I just packed it up and bought a new
Pixma iP5000.

Sgt Minor wrote:
>Since you seem to have tried nearly everything, I assume you
>also looked closely at the new print heads and compared and
>contrasted them to the one that partially works, and that you
> are convinced they are the same.

Oddly, there appear to be minor cosmetic differences in the lettering
on very close inspection; however, IIRC Canon have changed the part
number, and numbers 1 and 2 (from company A) look the same as number 3
(from company B). Given this, I don't believe them to be counterfeit.

>given that you are not able to make the unit work, have
>you given thought to taking it apart?

If there *is* a fault with the printer, it's likely to be electronic.
I'm not going to attempt to diagnose/fix that.
I took my previous printer (BJC-4300) apart, and learned that.... once
put together, these printers are not designed to be taken apart again

I did fix it, and got another 2 1/2 years life out of it, but that was
clearly a mechanical fault.

Regarding your upgrade comment; yes, I decided to get a new printer
rather than spend less money replacing the print head on my BJC-4300,
because the specification of the new model was so much better (it was
even better than I'd expected in practice).

However, my comment was regarding the
minor-part-needs-replacement-but-pricing-is-skewed-so-buy-a-new-one
mentality.

And a newer printer might not have the Linux support I need. A newer
printer might not have cheap ink so easily available (takes time for
manufacturers to do this, apparently) or at all (I've heard that Canon
have started chipping carts on their newer printers; if so, **** 'em,
they've just removed the one benefit they had over their competition).

And in this case, I'm really struggling to figure out what benefits a
newer model might give me in light of the above; because the i455 does
what I need more than well enough. It's even virtually photo-quality
with the right paper, and I'm not paying more for any better quality,
because it ends up being cheaper to get someone else to do digital
prints then.

I'm sure some marketing guy in Canon could contrive a selling point for
upgrading from an i455, but for my purposes he'd have a *very* hard
sell.

- (E-Mail Removed)

FY
Here is the distributor of Canon parts-
http://www.electroversal.com/ thought I'd just mention it

Dav