Fixing striped printing from inkjet printer

Question

My Canon IP3000 printer recently started having problems with the black ink. Anything printed in black comes out striped, alternating between dark and light. An example is below.

I've tried the following:

• Running the printer utility's head cleaning and "deep cleaning" a few times
• Running the utility's head alignment
• Replacing the ink cartridge with a new one
• Removing the print head and cleaning the bottom with denatured alcohol

Anything else I can try before throwing this thing away? I'm considering buying a replacement print head, but is this likely to be solved by replacing the head?

Solution

I had a very similar problem with my own iP3000, except it was the blue color, not black. I ended up buying a new print head for €55 through Amazon. It solved the issue... For a while!

Given the age of the iP3000, I would actually recommend buying a new printer instead. It's what I would do now myself, if I weren't so frugal.

Comments

[Dave M]

Genuine canaon cartridges or 3rd party?

[JW.]

They're Canons.

[JW.]

Already tried that.

[Fake Name]

This printer has printheads that are separate from the ink cartidges. If you REALLY want to fix the printer, you can buy a new printhead, but they generally run ~$75-$100. Alternatively, you can pull out the print heads and soak them in simething (Distiled watter, Isopropyl alcohol, etc...)

[JW.]

Tried the soaking in alcohol too ... no luck.

[Murray Furtado]

Just to put a little update on my answer: the new print head really didn't last long either. I should have bought a new printer right away.