Can non-OEM inkl cause printhead failure?

[NickC]

Seems strange but my MP620 which I picked-up second-hand from a friend only worked for a couple of weeks before dying with the error: U052, incorrect printhead installed. I have refiled the cartridges with Hobbicolors ink. The coincidence is that my previous printer, an MP610, also died with a faulty printhead error. The only conomality between the two is that I used the same Hobbicolors inks to refill both, is it possible that these inks are causing the failed print heads?

 

[stratman]

Not that I've heard of except for a test forum member Granddad did on inks and their potential to clog, of which Hobbicolors pigment black may have been suspect.

But, while looking up "U025" I stumbled across a class action suit against Canon for allegedly knowing and not correcting a defect in a number of printers which resulted in the "U052" error.

See more here about the lawsuit and the list of alleged affected printers. (read the linked PDF's)

 

[NickC]

Very interesting. Looks like that error is deliberately cause by Canon after a certain period of time to make you go and buy a new printer. Definitely never ever going to be a Canon again. Lets hope that Class Action succeeds.

 

[The Hat]

If you could beg borrow or steal another print head for five minutes just to print a nozzle check and remove it then your current print head would work again, with no error messages..!

 

[stratman]

Very interesting. Looks like that error is deliberately cause by Canon after a certain period of time to make you go and buy a new printer. Definitely never ever going to be a Canon again. Lets hope that Class Action succeeds.

I didn't read more than the initial portion of the PDF. Is there proof beyond some users whose printers showed the error?

 

[NickC]

If you could beg borrow or steal another print head for five minutes just to print a nozzle check and remove it then your current print head would work again, with no error messages..!

Really, that's interesting! So it is an electronic issue rather than a mechanical one then. There must be an some memory somewhere linking that printhead to the printer then. If that is true then surely there must be some way of wiping that and fixing the problem electronically.

 

[Łukasz]

I wish Canon will reject this lawsuit.

If I refuel my car with leaded fuel, then who is to blame for the destruction of the catalytic converter? And is it important that the seller claimed that the fuel is unleaded?

So why Canon/HP/Epson/Brother has to pay for damages from use of compatible ink or printer use misused (long downtime, use the printer with ink level monitor off, or printing without an ink)?

But Canon clearly warns that ink monitor off, or using compatible inks, cancels the warranty, as it may lead to dry printing. And it is very good thing, that printers can remembers long downtimes and use of compatible inks, just in case for rejecting frauds from customers.


The other side of the coin is that if the lawsuit goes, the printer manufacturers may require changes in the law beneficial to them:

• completely block the possibility of using ready made compatibles or refilling OEMs
  
• the use of compatibles ink only if Canon has issued a positive opinion of them
• introduction of a compulsory tax on all printing devices, having a cover repairs resulting from the use of inks compatibles of unknown quality

For me, the status quo is fine.
If I use counterfeiter fuel in my car, I can blame only my for damages to my car.

Ł.

 

[stratman]

And it is very good thing, that printers can remembers long downtimes and use of compatible inks, just in case for rejecting frauds from customers.

How does the printer know about the use of compatible inks?

 

[Łukasz]

How does the printer know about the use of compatible inks?

1. Electronics ways (in Canon):
- non OEM or reseted OEM chips can't trigger "ink low" condition by ink level sensor (so printer "knows", that is not a new OEM chip), but only by dot count
- chip serial number can validated on canon server, especially if one decide to agreed with "Premium Content" rules (Creative Park, Cloud printing)

2. Hardware ways (in Canon)
- ink tank position sensor reports are marked in red on service test print when non-OEM ink tanks are installed (due to different construction of light path; its applied to opaque ink tanks especially; and it is written to printer memory)
- purge unit and ink absorber condition (ready-made compatible inks and refilled OEM cartridges gives a lot of splattered ink)
- ink absorber content is best history of inks used, can answer a lot of questions
- interior of printhead can keep some residues of ink used; PGBK printhead has a special hole for that purpose, just unscrew ceramic insert

These are the ways that I know of. There may be other.

Ł.

 

[stratman]

These are the ways that I know of. There may be other.

This is new to me. None of this has previously been reported on this forum that I am aware of. Could it be a regional issue, maybe a test market?


1. Electronics ways (in Canon):
I had not heard of a lack of ink level sensor monitoring before. What models did this begin with or are occurring on? The only thing I recall reading is a recommendation to refill at Low Ink and to avoid waiting till Empty so as to avoid issues with foam in the sponge causing issues with the take up of ink into the sponge and subsequent flow of ink out of the sponge during printing.

I had heard that Epson monitored the authenticity of the chip on the cartridge via the internet but not an identical surveillance with Canon. The closest I'd heard, and I may not recall this correctly, is the starter cartridges with certain printers that are required when first installing a printer, which cannot be refilled and chips reset, and then you need to obtain new cartridges to keep using the printer.


2. Hardware ways (in Canon)
Can you provide examples of this ink tank position sensor reports?

It is interesting about ink splatter in the diaper but is there proof that Canon has used this to deny warranty service?

Residual ink in the print head? Is Canon doing spectrographic analysis of ink residue to deny warranty repair?