Canon Group
Close Close
Menu Menu Close Close Search
PIXMA MP230 Printer
PIXMA MP230 Support
FAQs & troubleshooting

No Printing Results/Printing Is Blurred/Colors Are Wrong/White Streaks

Content Id: 8201550500


Issue

No Printing Results
Printing Is Blurred

Colors Are Wrong

White Streaks

Cause and solution

Check 1: Print the Nozzle Check Pattern and perform any necessary maintenance operations such as Print Head Cleaning

Print the Nozzle Check Pattern to determine whether the ink ejects properly from the print head nozzles.

If the Nozzle Check Pattern is not printed correctly:

After performing the Print Head Cleaning, print the Nozzle Check Pattern and examine the pattern.

If the problem is not resolved after performing the Print Head Cleaning twice:

Perform the Print Head Deep Cleaning.

If the problem is not resolved after performing the Print Head Deep Cleaning, turn off the machine and perform another Print Head Deep Cleaning after 24 hours.

If the problem is not resolved after performing the Print Head Deep Cleaning twice:

Ink may have run out. Replace the FINE cartridge.

Cause and solution

Check 2: Did you confirm the paper and print quality settings?

Cause and solution

Check 3: When a FINE cartridge runs out of ink, replace it with a new one.

When you need to replace a FINE cartridge, follow the procedure below.

Caution

Handling FINE Cartridges

Do not touch the electrical contacts (A) or print head nozzle (B) on a FINE cartridge. The machine may not print properly if you touch them.

If you remove a FINE cartridge, replace it immediately. Do not leave the machine with the FINE cartridge removed.
Use a new FINE cartridge for replacement. Installing a used FINE cartridge may cause the nozzles to clog. Furthermore, with such a FINE cartridge, the machine will not be able to inform you when to replace the FINE cartridge properly.
Once a FINE cartridge has been installed, do not remove it from the machine and leave it out in the open. This will cause the FINE cartridge to dry out, and the machine may not operate properly when it is reinstalled. To maintain optimal printing quality, use a FINE cartridge within six months of first use.

Caution

If a FINE cartridge runs out of ink, you can print with either color or black FINE cartridge, in whichever ink remains, only for a while. However the print quality may be reduced compared to when printing with both cartridges. We recommend to use a new FINE cartridge in order to obtain optimum qualities. Even when printing with one ink only, print with leaving the empty FINE cartridge installed. If either of the color FINE cartridge or black FINE cartridge is not installed, an error occurs and the machine cannot print.
Color ink may be consumed even when printing a black-and-white document or when black-and-white printing is specified.

Both color ink and black ink are also consumed in the standard cleaning and deep cleaning of the print head, which may be necessary to maintain the performance of the machine. When ink runs out, replace the FINE cartridge immediately with a new one.

1. Make sure that the power is turned on.

2. Open the paper support.

3. Lift the scanning unit / cover, then hold it open with the scanning unit support (C).

The FINE cartridge holder moves to the replacement position.

Caution

Do not hold the FINE cartridge holder to stop or move it forcibly. Do not touch the FINE cartridge holder until it stops completely.

Caution

The inside of the machine may be stained with ink. Be careful not to stain your hands or clothing when replacing the FINE cartridge. You can easily wipe off the ink from the inside of the machine with tissue paper or the like.

For details on the cleaning, refer to Safety and Important Information.

Do not place any object on the document cover. It will fall into the rear tray when the document cover is opened and cause the machine to malfunction.
When opening the scanning unit / cover, lift it with the document cover closed.
Do not touch the metallic parts or other parts inside the machine.
If the scanning unit / cover is left open for more than 10 minutes, the FINE cartridge holder moves to the far right and the Alarm lamp lights. In this case, close the scanning unit / cover, then open it again.

4. Remove the empty FINE Cartridge.

(1) Pinch the tabs and open the ink cartridge locking cover.

(2) Remove the FINE cartridge.

Caution

Handle the FINE cartridge carefully to avoid staining of clothing or the surrounding area.
Discard the empty FINE cartridge according to the local laws and regulations regarding disposal of consumables.

5. Prepare a new FINE cartridge.

(1) Take a new FINE cartridge out of its package and remove the protective tape (D) gently.

Caution

If you shake a FINE cartridge, ink may spill out and stain your hands and the surrounding area. Handle a FINE cartridge carefully.
Be careful not to stain your hands and the surrounding area with ink on the removed protective tape.
Do not reattach the protective tape once you have removed it. Discard it according to the local laws and regulations regarding disposal of consumables.
Do not touch the electrical contacts or print head nozzle on a FINE cartridge. The machine may not print properly if you touch them.

6. Install the FINE Cartridge.

(1) Put the new FINE cartridge on the FINE cartridge holder.

The color FINE cartridge should be installed into the left slot and the black FINE cartridge should be installed into the right slot.

(2) Close the ink cartridge locking cover to lock the FINE cartridge into place.

Push down the ink cartridge locking cover until it clicks.

(3) Confirm that the ink cartridge locking cover is closed correctly.

Caution

If the ink cartridge locking cover is not closed correctly, push down the ink cartridge locking cover until it clicks.

(E) Closed correctly

(F) Not closed correctly (the cover is tilted)

Caution

The machine cannot print unless both the color FINE cartridge and black FINE cartridge are installed. Be sure to install both cartridges.

7. Lift the scanning unit / cover slightly to set the scanning unit support back to its original position, and gently close the scanning unit / cover.

Caution

When setting the scanning unit support back to its original position, be sure to hold the scanning unit / cover firmly, and be careful not to get your fingers caught.

Caution

If the Alarm lamp lights or flashes orange after the scanning unit / cover is closed, take appropriate action.

-⋗ [ Alarm Lamp Flashes Orange ]

When you start printing after replacing the FINE cartridge, the machine starts cleaning the print head automatically. Do not perform any other operations until the machine completes the cleaning of the print head.
If the print head is out of alignment, as indicated by misaligned printed ruled lines or similar symptoms, adjust the print head position.
The machine may make noise during operation.

Replacing FINE Cartridges

Cause and solution

Check 4: When using paper with one printable surface, make sure that the paper is loaded with the printable side facing up/down.

Load paper with the printable side facing down.

Refer to the instruction manual supplied with the paper for detailed information on the printable side.

Cause and solution

Check 5: Is the FINE cartridge installed properly?

If the ink cartridge locking cover is not closed securely, ink may not be ejected correctly.

Open the scanning unit / cover, open the ink cartridge locking cover, then close the ink cartridge locking cover.

When you close the ink cartridge locking cover, push the ink cartridge locking cover until it clicks into place.

When you need to replace a FINE cartridge, follow the procedure below.

Caution

Handling FINE Cartridges

Do not touch the electrical contacts (A) or print head nozzle (B) on a FINE cartridge. The machine may not print properly if you touch them.

If you remove a FINE cartridge, replace it immediately. Do not leave the machine with the FINE cartridge removed.
Use a new FINE cartridge for replacement. Installing a used FINE cartridge may cause the nozzles to clog. Furthermore, with such a FINE cartridge, the machine will not be able to inform you when to replace the FINE cartridge properly.
Once a FINE cartridge has been installed, do not remove it from the machine and leave it out in the open. This will cause the FINE cartridge to dry out, and the machine may not operate properly when it is reinstalled. To maintain optimal printing quality, use a FINE cartridge within six months of first use.

Caution

If a FINE cartridge runs out of ink, you can print with either color or black FINE cartridge, in whichever ink remains, only for a while. However the print quality may be reduced compared to when printing with both cartridges. We recommend to use a new FINE cartridge in order to obtain optimum qualities. Even when printing with one ink only, print with leaving the empty FINE cartridge installed. If either of the color FINE cartridge or black FINE cartridge is not installed, an error occurs and the machine cannot print.
Color ink may be consumed even when printing a black-and-white document or when black-and-white printing is specified.

Both color ink and black ink are also consumed in the standard cleaning and deep cleaning of the print head, which may be necessary to maintain the performance of the machine. When ink runs out, replace the FINE cartridge immediately with a new one.

1. Make sure that the power is turned on.

2. Open the paper support.

3. Lift the scanning unit / cover, then hold it open with the scanning unit support (C).

The FINE cartridge holder moves to the replacement position.

Caution

Do not hold the FINE cartridge holder to stop or move it forcibly. Do not touch the FINE cartridge holder until it stops completely.

Caution

The inside of the machine may be stained with ink. Be careful not to stain your hands or clothing when replacing the FINE cartridge. You can easily wipe off the ink from the inside of the machine with tissue paper or the like.

For details on the cleaning, refer to Safety and Important Information.

Do not place any object on the document cover. It will fall into the rear tray when the document cover is opened and cause the machine to malfunction.
When opening the scanning unit / cover, lift it with the document cover closed.
Do not touch the metallic parts or other parts inside the machine.
If the scanning unit / cover is left open for more than 10 minutes, the FINE cartridge holder moves to the far right and the Alarm lamp lights. In this case, close the scanning unit / cover, then open it again.

4. Remove the empty FINE Cartridge.

(1) Pinch the tabs and open the ink cartridge locking cover.

(2) Remove the FINE cartridge.

Caution

Handle the FINE cartridge carefully to avoid staining of clothing or the surrounding area.
Discard the empty FINE cartridge according to the local laws and regulations regarding disposal of consumables.

5. Prepare a new FINE cartridge.

(1) Take a new FINE cartridge out of its package and remove the protective tape (D) gently.

Caution

If you shake a FINE cartridge, ink may spill out and stain your hands and the surrounding area. Handle a FINE cartridge carefully.
Be careful not to stain your hands and the surrounding area with ink on the removed protective tape.
Do not reattach the protective tape once you have removed it. Discard it according to the local laws and regulations regarding disposal of consumables.
Do not touch the electrical contacts or print head nozzle on a FINE cartridge. The machine may not print properly if you touch them.

6. Install the FINE Cartridge.

(1) Put the new FINE cartridge on the FINE cartridge holder.

The color FINE cartridge should be installed into the left slot and the black FINE cartridge should be installed into the right slot.

(2) Close the ink cartridge locking cover to lock the FINE cartridge into place.

Push down the ink cartridge locking cover until it clicks.

(3) Confirm that the ink cartridge locking cover is closed correctly.

Caution

If the ink cartridge locking cover is not closed correctly, push down the ink cartridge locking cover until it clicks.

(E) Closed correctly

(F) Not closed correctly (the cover is tilted)

Caution

The machine cannot print unless both the color FINE cartridge and black FINE cartridge are installed. Be sure to install both cartridges.

7. Lift the scanning unit / cover slightly to set the scanning unit support back to its original position, and gently close the scanning unit / cover.

Caution

When setting the scanning unit support back to its original position, be sure to hold the scanning unit / cover firmly, and be careful not to get your fingers caught.

Caution

If the Alarm lamp lights or flashes orange after the scanning unit / cover is closed, take appropriate action.

-⋗ [ Alarm Lamp Flashes Orange ]

When you start printing after replacing the FINE cartridge, the machine starts cleaning the print head automatically. Do not perform any other operations until the machine completes the cleaning of the print head.
If the print head is out of alignment, as indicated by misaligned printed ruled lines or similar symptoms, adjust the print head position.
The machine may make noise during operation.

Replacing FINE Cartridges

Cause and solution

When copying, see also the sections below:

Cause and solution

Check 6: Is the Platen Glass dirty?

Clean the Platen Glass.

Cause and solution

Check 7: Make sure that the original is properly loaded on the Platen Glass

Cause and solution

Check 8: Is the original loaded with the side to be copied facing down on the Platen Glass?

Cause and solution

Check 9: Did you copy a printout done by this machine?

If you use a printout done by this machine as the original, print quality may be reduced depending on the condition of the original.

Print from the machine directly, or reprint from the computer.

"Was this helpful?"