Pixma Pro 9000 Mark II - Alternating Green/Amber Flashing Ten Times

[MooreDesignLabs]

Hello all,
I've sourced what looks like an immaculate second hand Canon Pixma Pro 9000 Mark II printer that was missing the printhead. It still has the original orange tape in some areas. Including on the right side of the carriage where the printhead is installed. I'm not sure if that was a standard location for the factory orange tape but it didn't look tampered with.

I purchased a refurbished printhead on eBay hoping all it needed was that. When I plugged the printer in and turned it on without the printhead installed, it did it's normal startup functions and carriage sliding. I unplugged the printer when the carriage was halfway and installed the printhead. When I plugged the printer back in and powered it on, no startup sounds or movement happened at all and the green and amber lights alternatively flashed ten times before repeating. I've tried reseating the printhead four times with the same issue happening. If I take the printhead out, the printer starts making sounds and moving the carriage perfectly again.

Also to note, I installed the drivers for the printer and connected it to my computer. The error on the computer when I install the printhead is B200. If I remove the printhead, the error goes away and the printer status goes back to online. Even without a printhead or ink.

I found the Canon Pixma Pro 9000 user manual here which says:
10 times
Carriage board error [9100 / 9200 / 9201] - Carriage unit (QM2-2967)
- Logic board ass'y (QM2-3180)*1

This is actually how I found this forum. I'm wondering if anyone here has any advice on how to proceed diagnosing this printer? My friend has the same exact printer. I was thinking of installing the printhead from her printer to see if the refurbished one I bought is the culprit. Other than that, I'm at a loss for ideas. Any input is appreciated.

 

[The Hat]

I purchased a refurbished printhead on eBay hoping all it needed was that.

For starters, you don’t have enough experience on printers to be advising anyone on this forum on how to fix their own printer, and this is evident by what you have just written here..

Now you need to take your immaculate Pro 9000 and place it in the nearest dumpster bin where it belongs, because that’s all its fit for..

There are no print heads available for this obsolete printer and buying used print heads from EBay is just a Feckin joke, and it shows just how much experience you have to think this would solve your current print head situation..

We pride ourselves here so if you can’t give good advice then don’t give any…

 

[MooreDesignLabs]

I'm sorry if I offended you in any way. From your posts that I've read, you are clearly a wealth of printer knowledge. I feel like you're coming off very aggressive towards me when all I'm trying to do is get my printer printing again and be a part of this community.

Now you need to take your immaculate Pro 9000 and place it in the nearest dumpster bin where it belongs, because that’s all its fit for..

Additionally this comes off as rude and completely not helpful. Worst case scenario I could sell it as for parts/repair noting the scenario described above. Why are you coming at me so harshly? This is a hell of a way to welcome a newcomer.

 

[The Hat]

if you can’t give good advice then don’t give any

I’m not being aggressive or sugar coating anything for you, I’m telling you the way it is, not the way you wanted, the advice I gave is straight and true, your printer is kaput and there’s no other way of saying that politely, and you should know that already, being in the business..

Additionally this comes off as rude and completely not helpful.

The Pro 9000 is of days gone by and the parts will be of no value to anyone and again you should know that too, it’s not rude to tell the truth and the sooner you realise that you’ll know I’m being more than helpful towards you..

P.S. Say what you see… Not what you want to see..

 

[MooreDesignLabs]

I'm not going to lie. Your reply was a much nicer approach and I appreciate that very much. I suppose I'm foolishly optimistic and hopeful. I've owned this model of printer since they were released. There's some sentimental value attached also. Thank you for clarifying.

 

[Artur5]

To put it bluntly :

- Option A : you printer is OK but the printhead from Ebay is kaput. A working printhead "might" solve the problem.
- Option B : your printer is kaput. Even if that printhead was OK ( very unlikely, but possible), there's no solution.
- Option C : your printer was OK before inserting the printhead from eBay, which was defective and damaged the logic board of your Pro-9000MkII. (this isn't very usual, but it happens sometimes). No solution either.
-Option D : both your Pro-9000MkII and the eBay printhead were already dead before the 'marriage'. No comments.

Option A (printer OK ) means that you should find a working printhead somewhere. A very, very small percentage of the refurbished units for sale on AliExpress/Ebay are in good working condition. Problem is that you can't be sure beforehand whether the logic board of the Pro-9000Mkii is damaged or not. If it's damaged, you would try in vain dozens of eBay printheads.

Sorry, but @The Hat is right. No use for this Pro-9000Mkii.
I owned two Pro-9000MkI and I had to get rid of them when the printheads failed. Great machines but Canon left them 'orphaned' when they decided to discontinue this model of printhead.

P.S.
I see that you own also a Pro-100. Then your loss with the Pro9000Mkii is not that bad. The Pro-100 is a better machine overall.
Luckily, the new Pro-200 uses the same printhead of the Pro-100 so no problems finding during the next years new printheads from reputable dealers.

 

[Redbrickman]

@MooreDesignLabs "This is actually how I found this forum. I'm wondering if anyone here has any advice on how to proceed diagnosing this printer? My friend has the same exact printer. I was thinking of installing the printhead from her printer to see if the refurbished one I bought is the culprit. Other than that, I'm at a loss for ideas. Any input is appreciated."

I would not take a chance on that because there is a chance that your faulty printer could damage her printhead and then your friends printer is bound for the recycling yard too.

 

[PeterBJ]

When a Canon printhead fails electronically it can but does not always damage the logic board. A logic board damaged by a defective printhead can damage a new printhead. This makes swapping printheads for testing very risky!

In many Canon service manuals it is recommended that both the printhead and the logic board are replaced at the same time.

 

[MooreDesignLabs]

Thank you everyone for very kind and thorough replies! I'm really happy that I stumbled on this website. I've already learned so much. I am in the process of returning the printhead I purchased now. I love working with printers of all kinds. When I saw the Pro 9000 at Savers with a $4.99 sticker on it I couldn't resist.

I have owned two Pro-100's recently. I was so happy to be the proud owner of them. I was printing everything I could think of. Those printers are BEASTS! Unfortunately I was involved in a bad accident and sadly had to sell them to make ends meet. I tried my hardest not to sell the second one. That's another reason why I was so excited to see this Pro 9000 again so soon. I know I will find another one at a good price soon. These types of printers always gravitate towards me.

Again thank you everyone for your help and detailed posts. I look forward to talking with you guys again soon.

 

[MooreDesignLabs]

Update:
I found a genuine barely used Pro 9000 printhead for $50. As funny as this is, apparently a long break from diagnosing it was what I needed. The shell of the printer was in fact brand new and never used. The previous owner pulled the printhead from it without using it once. The printer was still in the brand new setup phase. I needed to open and secure all paper trays (front and rear, plus the top for good measure), install ink cartridges, and perform it's first printhead alignment. I'm happy to say I was able to revive this $4.99 printer and get it working great again! Thought I'd share what worked for me. It may not be the latest and greatest printer out there now. But it still is an incredible printer that I have a lot of nostalgia with.