Lexmark 3200 Printer Problems

[Mule]

Ok, here's what happened. I have a lexmark printer 2 years old and I wasn't pleased with the printing quality so I replaced my ink cartridges. They were remanufactures cartridges but seemed to look ok. But when installed, it would not print any better. The ink was pretty sharp, but there would be white spaces between segments of printing. I cleaned the cartridges, aligned... everything my manual told me to do.

Then I restart my comp. and attempt to print something a few hours later, my printer then game me an error saying "Fatal error, print head failed, printing aborted"

I get that message everytime I try to print. Is my printer Dead?

I also tried out a friends "real" ink cartridge and got the same message.

 

[mastertech01]

I have a lexmark but so far havent had that problem...I do know they do not recommend using any ink but thiers (go figure) but I have seen some of those brands leak out and completely destroy the printer. If it wont work with Lexmark cartridges it is likely beyond cost effective repair.

 

[DrFatal]

First thing first is to determine if the printer works: To do that, you'll need to remove the parallel cable and perform a self test. (Self test, is to remove both carts, then turn the printer on and after a few seconds you press and hold both the gray and the green button until the printer starts feeding the paper. If that works "meaning that if feeds and goes to the movement of printing" then it's a cartridge issue). What you need to do is to removed both carts and then try print without them, it that doesn't work. Remove the carts then unplugged (power and LPT cable) the printer for about a minute, leave the printer cable off. Open the front panel then place one cart (not both) then close it. If you get any flashing lights, that means the cartridge is short circuited if not, do the samething with the other cart.

 

[mouse]

for the self test.. is it for the Lexmark printer only or can be apply to other brand printer?

 

[notmuchofalife]

same thing happened to me a week ago. This is covered in the Support section on the lexmark site.

Take out the color cart and see if you stop getting the 1 blink then 3 blinks. If that isn't it. put the color back in and take out the black. One of the Ink Cartridges is bad.