Canon MX850: U052 error (wrong print head installed)

6PTsocket

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This is the original print head so it is clearly not the wrong head. I found a Canon bulletin that suggests removing the ink cartridges and print head and unplugging the machine for 5-10 minutes and then putting it back together if you get this error. I flushed the print head with water, as I have a number of times before, for clogs and cleaned the contacts on head and printer while I had it apart. No good. Others have had mixed results replacing the print head, (QY6-0075, which replaces QY6-0069). I do notice a lot of black ink collecting on the bottom of the print head even when I have a clean print. Could I have a purge pad problem in addition to the U052 error or is it related? This problem occurred on turn on. It working when I shut it off. I like the printer and would like to fix it. Any suggestions for a good all-in-one with fax if I can't?
 

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Sadly the error code means that the print head has failed electronically. I don't think this error is related to a purge pad problem.

Only a new print head might help bring the printer back to good working order. The proper replacement print head is the QY6-0075 which is still available from CRC Tasktron UK, but the company doesn't ship outside UK. I don't know your location.

But when a Canon print head fails it might damage the logic board and a damaged logic board can damage a new print head. I think this is the reason for the mixed results you have heard about.

So replacing a defective Canon print head is a gamble and sadly I cannot tell the odds for success. You decide if the printer is worth the gamble.
 

6PTsocket

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Thanks Peter. Your advice is about what I got from the Canon tech rep., though your explanation of the relation between the print head sensor and logic board electronics made things a lot clearer. I am in the U.S. and the best price for a head was directly from Canon. The want $59 for the print head, including taxes, and shipping. The rep. recommended the PIXMA MX922 as a replacement but most reviewers disagreed. It seems to suffer from poor wireless communication, small ink tanks, flakey, difficult software, and problems with thicker media. I'm not sure, but it was intended to run on Windows 8 and seems to not be fully backward compatible with 7 and XL, that I am running. What would you recommend? I have been reading the all-in-one reviews and many suffer from mediocre print or photo quality or lack double side printing or something the MX850 could do. I need FAX. Of course, reliability is high on my list. Any recommendation would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again.
 

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When checking the Canon US site it looks to me that the MX922 is fully compatible with both Windows 7 and XP.

I think the 59$ incl tax and shipping is a bargain price. In Europe print head prices are often the double or more. The MX850 use the refill friendly transparent PGI-5/CLI-8 cartridges. These old printers were also a higher build quality than the newer Canon printers. The MX922 uses the new PGI-250/CLI-251 cartridges that are opaque and for which no resetter exists. These cartridges are not refill friendly. Refillable aftermarket cartridges with intelligent ARC chips are available though if you want to refill.

The price of the new print head looks to me to be the same as one set of OEM cartridges, so if it were my printer I would gamble and buy a new print head at the reasonable US price. But remember that it is still a gamble.
 

6PTsocket

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Thanks again Peter. I'll take a shot with a new print head. In the event that that it does not fix it I will need a new printer. You found additional shortcomings in the MX922 that I didn't know about. Is that still my first choice, even if I were to spend more? The MX922 is under $100 and frankly I don't see how I could expect much at that price. Do I have any better choices?
 

6PTsocket

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Hi Peter,
I apologize if I have exhausted my welcome on this topic. I really would value your opinion on the best replacement for my MX850. I found numerous reviewer complaints on the MX922 and you found a few more issues, in your last post. The fact that it nominally similar in features does not mean it is any good, especially for under $100. What would you recommend for decent print and photo quality and reliability? I am prepared to go into the $200-$300 range if necessary. As the old saying goes: Cheap is expensive. Thanks again for any suggestions.
 

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Sadly I don't know what replacement printer to recommend. I own some older Canon printers, the newest is an MP540 that uses the windowed PGI-x20/CLI-x21 cartridges that are relatively easy to refill. Two cartridge generations have been introduced since the MP540 was made, and I have not owned or used any of these newer printers.

Maybe others will have some suggestions?
 

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Sadly you’re limited in what’s available right now, in fact some of the newer models are not worth having, and you could always try Craig’s List for a good second hand Canon.. ;)
 

6PTsocket

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After looking at the motley assortment of available printers and the bad reviews, I took a shot and ordered a new print head direct from Canon for $59, delivered. It was even cheaper than eBay or those direct imports from China from Ali Express. Now and then you win one. It just came, I threw it in and it works great.
Thank you PeterBJ and The Hat for your help. From what I have read the print head is not so much a part that breaks but is an expendable that has a lifespan. Somebody said about 8 sets of ink tanks. I don't know how accurate that is but I am up and running. Thanks again.
 

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After looking at the motley assortment of available printers and the bad reviews, I took a shot and ordered a new print head direct from Canon for $59, delivered. It was even cheaper than eBay or those direct imports from China from Ali Express. Now and then you win one. It just came, I threw it in and it works great.
Thank you PeterBJ and The Hat for your help. From what I have read the print head is not so much a part that breaks but is an expendable that has a lifespan. Somebody said about 8 sets of ink tanks. I don't know how accurate that is but I am up and running. Thanks again.
Congratulations on your printer back up and running.

It is no surprise that Canon offers the best prince on a new OEM print head. While they may give a price break to their authorized dealers/dervice centers, the rest of us will pay a markup from anyone else.

This is the first I've heard, or recall hearing, that a print head life span is ~ 8 sets of cartridges. Canon has commented on printer life span via page count IIRC.
 
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