Not sure where to put this - technically it doesn't belong in either Mac Hardware or PC Hardware - so I've put it here for now. Mods: feel free to move it if you wish!

Anyway, my Canon PIXMA iP4500 inkjet printer now won't print, instead giving this error message…



Just before this started, the black ink cartridge was running low, but I thought I'd wait a little longer as it was still printing OK - normally, you can ignore the warning and keep printing until it's actually out of ink altogether.

So, I was just printing off two letters from MS Word, the first came out fine and then the second one came out but it was only printed at the top half, the bottom half was blank. So, tried printing that letter again and this is when the error message started.

I can't do any of the maintenance routines from the utility, such as head cleaning, deep cleaning, alignment etc - trying to perform any of these just pops up this same message in the print queue.

I've tried replacing the black ink cartridge, thinking it was because the ink cartridge was empty and this error message was a slight red herring - no joy.

Also tried removing all of the ink cartidges and then removing the actual print head - which is a separate, removable unit on Canon printers - I've never removed it before so I can't see how it would suddenly need reseating (which according to various forums may be the issue). Put everything back again but the message still pops up, blocking any printing.

Looking at ebay and amazon for replacement print head units and they cost more than the £60 I paid for for the printer 5 years ago - most of the printer heads are upwards of £90! Typical really, especially as I just bought a complete set of cartridges for it last month! I suppose 5 years isn't bad going, but still, it's been a good printer.

So, any suggestions before it goes in the bin? Seems a shame to throw it away, but that's the way things are made nowadays. Hey ho.

Printer drivers up to date?

After exhaustive attempts at a fix and mucho Googling, my answer to the exact same problem with the exact same brand of printer was a crowbar. I smashed that POS until I was out of breath. Then I smashed it until I was satisfied

Did you clean the print head too prior to reseating?
Could buy a second hand cheapo printer and swap.

Otherwise new printer

Can't do it - the maintenance utility is blocked due to this error message. Bit of a vicious circle really!

Don't think it's a printer driver thing - though I'll check. It's using the drivers that Apple downloaded when I first connected the printer earlier this year to this new Macbook Pro laptop. I haven't upgraded to Mavericks yet - waiting until the first few patches before taking the plunge. Definitely think it's a hardware message - seems more than a coincidence that it started just as the black ink cartridge was running low. However, I won't rule out software drivers just yet.


Possibly, though most second hand printers of this age will likely have the same problem. I imagine the print head is unique to each model as well, to make it as hard as possible to fix!


Yep, I expect that's the likely outcome - I just don't like to throw away something that should be fixable - it's been printing perfectly up to this point.

I'm liking PCErnie's suggestion - except my weapon of choice will be a bloody big hammer!

Aren't a lot of printer heads now part of the cartridge? It means no need to worry about maintenance for the heads, just replace the cartridge.

Not on the Canons - when I was buying it, that was supposedly a benefit but at the price of the replacement print heads it's very much a disadvantage! Oh well, I'll have another play with it sometime this week if I get the time - otherwise, it's…

I tried everything with it - drivers, manufacturer carts, refills... Couldn't get it out of the error cycle.

Apologies. Was on iphone and meant mechanical/chemical cleaning eg cotton buds and IPA.

Just a thought but is there any way to trigger the cleaning cycle or new printhead routine from the printer itself?

The error message seemed all pervading when I tried it, neither hardware or software wanted to know.

Sometimes purging the jobs queue and then uninstalling and reinstalling the driver might fix it. Alternatively have you tried turning it off and on again?

Ha, yes, multiple times!


I'm wondering if the nearly empty black cartidge has pulled though some remnents that's blocked the ink head. But, surely that's the point of the head cleaning utility - which won't now work due to the error message blocking it from functioning. Bit ironic that the utility is blocked from doing what it was designed to do!

When I took the print head out, it looked OK, no build up of inks that I could see. What would I clean it with manually? I see there are head cleaning packs on ebay, but no guarantees of success. Might be worth a punt though?

Try soaking it in isopropyl alcohol - as high a percentage as you can get your hands on. *I mean the print head of course, not the entire machine!
Then let it dry completely (at least 24hrs) before reassembling.
When our (now sadly dead) Epson 3800 at work started to go, we got another few months after doing this with it.

*Edited

You can get the high conc stuff from the likes of maplins. I have to dilute the stuff to 10% to use on the car.