iP4000 cyan bars, clogging or electronic (head) problem?

[Gerhard]

Hi all,

I have a strange problem with my Canon iP4000: half of the cyan bars in the
nozzle test print are too light!
Normally there is a dark cyan bar, a light cyan bar, a dark magenta bar, a
light magenta bar, one yellow bar and a grey bar.
Since a few weeks both cyan bars got a dark and a light part, were the light
part of the bar that was previously dark, has exactly the same intensity and
saturation as the dark part of the bar that was previously light.
Color printouts have light and dark horizontal stripes of 2.5mm in height.
Extensive cleaning (standard and deep cycles, printhead in water or alcohol)
did not change anything and I didn't have problems with head clogging
before.
So my suspicion is that there is a problem in the control of the print head
nozzles instead of clogging.
Has anyone experienced similar problems?
Is there a way to find out (before buying) if a new print head would solve
the problem?

Best regards,

Gerhard

 

[Dan G]

This is usually a sign of a dying head. The good news is that you can buy a
new head for about $50.

 

[measekite]

Are you currently using and have you always used Canon Factory Ink. If
so just call Canon Tech Support and ask them. However, if most of your
carts are running low you can get an IP4300 for under $80.00 on sale
with a new print head and a full set of carts. The ink is an improved
formulation and the whole thing is under warranty for a year.

 

[measekite]

This is usually a sign of a dying head. The good news is that you can buy a
new head for about $50.

That news is not so great. Last week Frys was selling a new Canon
IP4300 on sale after rebate for $69.00 so for a little more you get a
new print head, a new complete set of carts, improved ink formulation,
and a warranty. Now that is good news.

 

[mboesen]

I don't think this is a printer head problem. I now a bit about that - see http://tinyurl.com/9zyu55d

I have recently experienced the problem and still have it. e.g. banding if I print through Preview or Picasa or Canon Easy-PhotoPrint EX. Test print shows half the dark cyan bar light and half dark.

I think that it is a driver problem because:

1. if I print with Canon Easy-PhotoPrint V3.7.0 everything works fine. NOTE: Canon Easy-PhotoPrint is NOT the same as in the Canon Easy-PhotoPrint EX package.

2. if I print with Canon Easy-PhotoPrint EX or Preview or Picasa (and probably with other OSX apps) I get banding on all my prints.

Uninstalling the printer, uninstalling EX and V3.7.0 an then reinstalling V3.7.0 does NOT solve the problem.

So my workaround is to print everything using V3.7.0

My printer is an iP4200. My op system is OSX 10.6.8 (Sno Leo - I will not use Lion because it's lack of Save as... sucks!).

mboesen