BC20 trouble

[mo]

Please help! I've got a Canon 4100. As it had developed trouble
printing using the BC 21e ( still printing but very faint, blurry and
horizontal lines missing) I decided to buy a BC 20 to see if any
better. Unfortunately my brand new original cartridge goes through the
motions but doesn't actually print anything at all! I've tried soaking
print heads in hot water and cleaning contacts with warm water and
cottonbuds but to no avail. Any ideas...please!?!

 

[mo]

Also tried blowing which proved there was ink flowing and not dried up
but still not fuctioning!!!

 

[Tony]

Also tried blowing which proved there was ink flowing and not dried up
but still not fuctioning!!!

The two printheads have different symptoms, if your old printhead (BC21e) still
prints but poorly and your new printhead bc20 does not print at all then you
probably have a warranty claim on your new printhead.
Tony

 

[Michael Grey]

Mo,
From what I remember the old Canon ink formulation would form a skin without
use for a time period.
You have to rap the head (on a cloth or similar) a few ties to break the
skin and then run a cleaning cycle.Worked for me.

 

[whatcartridge.com]

Hi Mo, these BC-20 cartridges very often have dead electrics - are
there any flashing lights on your printer, or when installed does the
BC-20 stay in the middle and not move over to the right? If ink is
flowing OK and do don't have the above symptoms, you will have to
return the cartridge to the place you bought it and have it replaced.
Was the BC-20 a refill or Canon genuine?

James Sodor
www.whatcartridge.com

 

[mo]

Thank you to all who've replied - and so promptly - what a great group
I've happened upon! Apart from no physical print on my paper (!) the
printer seems to otherwise function in the usual manner, on inspecting
cartridges ink appears to be flowing okay - think I'll have to take the
advice of seeking a refund for the new original Canon BC20. Then what?
Do I bother trying another one or give up and buy a new printer???

From reading many reviews looks like most Canons have print head

issues. Don't know if HP or Epson any more reliable. What do you say?

 

[Tony]

Thank you to all who've replied - and so promptly - what a great group
I've happened upon! Apart from no physical print on my paper (!) the
printer seems to otherwise function in the usual manner, on inspecting
cartridges ink appears to be flowing okay - think I'll have to take the
advice of seeking a refund for the new original Canon BC20. Then what?
Do I bother trying another one or give up and buy a new printer???
issues. Don't know if HP or Epson any more reliable. What do you say?

Both of the cartridges you have used have the printhead built into them unlike
some other Canon printers. So you don't have to worry about printhead failures
in the same way that you would with a different model.
Should the worst happen and your replacement cartridge also does not work then
I believe your printer has an electronic failure which would be too costly to
repair.
In that case you should consider a replacement printer from HP, Canon or Epson.
I do not recommend any other inkjet manufacturer.
Most but not all HP inkjet printers come with printheads built into the
cartridges in a similar fashion to your printer. Epson printers have permanent
printheads and in my experience are reliable provided you print with them at
least once a week (using all colours and black) to avoid printhead clogging, if
you have a low print load you should consider HP because you get a new
printhead each time you replace the cartridge so clogs are easily remedied,
these printers should also however be used at least once a week to minimise the
chances of you having to replace the cartridge as a result of a clog. Canon
inkjet printers in my opinion are currently the best bang for the quid, you get
lots of functionality for a reasonable price, the caveat about printing once
per week applies to them also; their new printers have separate printheads and
ink tanks which allows you to replace individual inks as they run low (the same
is true for many Epsons). Since you are in the UK you would be able to get a
Canon printer that prints on CD/DVD printable discs if you wish, Epson also
have a couple of models that do that. Overall, your decision would depend on
the amount of printing you do.
Hopefully you will not be faced with that decision.
Tony