Viper Report post Posted May 17, 2006 Can anyone tell me why my printer is printing blue lines across everything? I have a Lexmark Z55 (I know they are rubbish) I need my printer for home edding so it's important I sort this out. Thanks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
littlenemo Report post Posted May 17, 2006 As far as I know it's usually because there is some dried ink stuck in the blue ink nozzle, holding it open. Try cleaning the print heads (if that's an option with the Lexmark). Good luck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheNeil Report post Posted May 17, 2006 Ok, loads of questions: Has this just started? Has the printer been used regularly or is this the first time for a while? Have you changed the print cartridge(s) recently? Have you cleaned the print heads recently? Does it print blue lines on everything or just one document/through one app? My initial hunch is that the print heads are dirty/clogged and this has happened to me on several occasions with several different printers. Depending on the printer you could try opening the printer options/preferences and see if there's a 'Maintenance' or 'Cleaning' option/page, OR clean the heads using the printer itself (sorry, I don't know Lexmark printers at all so I don't know which way they need to be cleaned) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viper Report post Posted May 17, 2006 Ok, loads of questions: Has this just started? Has the printer been used regularly or is this the first time for a while? Have you changed the print cartridge(s) recently? Have you cleaned the print heads recently? Does it print blue lines on everything or just one document/through one app? My initial hunch is that the print heads are dirty/clogged and this has happened to me on several occasions with several different printers. Depending on the printer you could try opening the printer options/preferences and see if there's a 'Maintenance' or 'Cleaning' option/page, OR clean the heads using the printer itself (sorry, I don't know Lexmark printers at all so I don't know which way they need to be cleaned) This has just started. Recently refilled the cartridge but it was working ok afterwards. Cleaned the print heads after the refill Prints very even regular lines on absolutely everything, 3mm apart. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheNeil Report post Posted May 17, 2006 Ok so it's definitely the printer (as opposed to your PC) Did you use a new cartridge or refill an old one? If you refilled, how many times have you refilled it? I'm not a fan of refills as the only time I did it, my Epson never printed properly again. Anyway, back to the Lexmark... If you're feeling brave you could try removing the cartridge and manually cleaning the the print head using a damp cotton bud (be aware, this can get messy and the ink sticks to everything). A few swipes back and forth across the nozzles should be enough If that doesn't work then it might be time for a new cartridge Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viper Report post Posted May 17, 2006 I refilled an old cartridge but it is only the first time and it was fine before. Did I menton that we have a new computer? Could it be that? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheNeil Report post Posted May 17, 2006 (edited) Shouldn't be the computer. As long as you installed the drivers that came with the printer then it will be fine (if it was that side of things it's unlikely you'd get anything printed anyway) When you say that is was 'fine before' - do you mean it was fine before you refilled it, that you refilled it and it's been fine up until now, or that it was fine before you got the new computer? I'm 99% certain it's the cartridge that's the problem but, having done a quick look online, you're looking at about ?27 for a new colour one so I'd definitely try to clean the print heads as I described earlier on - got to be worth a go Edited May 17, 2006 by TheNeil Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phasmid Report post Posted May 17, 2006 I reckon you have a bit of 'something' blocking the jet, try taking out the cartridge, give it a good hard puff and reinsert it. If that fails (and your feeling very brave) take it out of the printer go outside open the plugged hole where you refilled it and blow down there...use a cycle pump, NOT your mouth. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viper Report post Posted May 17, 2006 After I refilled the cartridge it work ok for a couple of weeks. As for the price of a new cartridge, you can see why I refilled it. I'll give the cleaning a go. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phasmid Report post Posted May 17, 2006 ...and do it gently! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viper Report post Posted May 17, 2006 Yay, it worked . Thanks guys your all brilliant. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viper Report post Posted May 17, 2006 A message from Ben. He chose all the smilies himself and typed the message. He wants me to say Mummy helped me spell the words. Thank you for fixing my printer <'> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baddad Report post Posted May 17, 2006 This has just started. Recently refilled the cartridge but it was working ok afterwards. Cleaned the print heads after the refill Prints very even regular lines on absolutely everything, 3mm apart. Hi Viper - sounds like you need to clean the print heads again (and again, maybe...) I THINK what's happening is that the ink isn't being 'delivered' quickly enough to the print head, so only the blue ink is getting through on every fourth or fifth 'sweep' (on an epson, utility they call it 'banding'... The other alternative, if your refilling old cartridges with replacement ink, could be an air bubble, or too large a hole in the blue reservoir so that it 'bleeds' every fourth or fifth sweep and covers the other colours over... If it's the latter, the cartridge is probably knacked for refilling now... Refilling is actually a huge pain - The price of 'compatable' cartridges (rather than the manf own) have dropped hugely for most brands, to the point that it's ALMOST as cheap (but much, much easier) to use them rather than topping up... Lexmark may be different, because they have always marketed their products with low profit margins on the printers, and big margins on the inks, so it may well be that they monitor the compatables market more aggressively(?) Hope that helps BD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viper Report post Posted May 17, 2006 Ok, it was fine a minite ago but now we have the lines again. BD, on the lexmark you take the whole top off to refill, no need for holes, you just pop it back on when done. I have found a site that I use for my cartridges, it's off shore somewhere, can't remember off hand where, but the sell tax free. It's called rubber frog. http://www.rubberfrog.com/default.php?osCs...df87c75acf3f26a Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
microsoft_admin Report post Posted May 21, 2006 you need to print of a head allighnment test sheet i think you will find the print heads are out they need realligning start settings printers right click on your printer click on propperties then go to tools (may be called utilities) then click head allighnment and follow the on screen instructions Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
