Canon PIXMA MG3600 series may print blank pages, omit black or one of the colors, leave horizontal white streaks, or produce an image that is too faint.<\/p>\n
In most cases, the cause is dried or clogged nozzles in the FINE cartridge. For correct diagnosis, first print the nozzle check pattern, and then perform cleaning in a specific sequence.<\/p>\n
This guide applies to the following models:<\/p>\n
Canon PIXMA MG3610, MG3620, MG3640, MG3640S, MG3650, MG3650S, MG3660, MG3670, and MG3680.<\/strong><\/p>\n All the devices listed above belong to Canon PIXMA MG3600 series.<\/p>\n Do not start with deep cleaning immediately<\/strong><\/p>\n First, print the nozzle check pattern. Then perform standard cleaning and check the pattern again.<\/p>\n Deep cleaning uses more ink. It should be started only after two standard cleaning cycles if the print quality has not improved.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The pattern shows whether black and color ink is being supplied through the cartridge nozzles. It allows you to determine which cartridge requires cleaning or replacement.<\/p>\n Prepare one sheet of A4 or Letter plain white paper.<\/p>\n Do not press other buttons or turn off the multifunction printer until printing is complete.<\/p>\n Quick guide to the \u201cStop\u201d button<\/strong><\/p>\n The following should be printed on the page:<\/p>\n If all lines and colors are present, the nozzles are working normally. Cleaning is not required.<\/p>\n If standard documents still print incorrectly, check:<\/p>\n The black FINE cartridge is not printing correctly. Perform standard cleaning.<\/p>\n Some nozzles in the color FINE cartridge are not supplying ink. Perform standard cleaning.<\/p>\n The corresponding channel in the color cartridge may be clogged or out of ink. First, perform the specified sequence of cleaning procedures.<\/p>\n Check both cartridges, the ink levels, and whether the protective tape was removed from a recently installed cartridge. Then perform standard cleaning.<\/p>\n The pattern may be incorrect when the ink level is low<\/strong><\/p>\n If the cartridge is almost empty, cleaning may not restore printing. If the ink level is clearly low, prepare a new FINE cartridge.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Standard cleaning clears the nozzles and uses less ink than deep cleaning.<\/p>\n The power lamp will flash during the procedure. Cleaning usually takes approximately one or two minutes.<\/p>\n Do not perform other operations, turn off the multifunction printer, or close the paper output tray until the procedure is complete.<\/p>\n Perform standard cleaning one more time and print the pattern again.<\/p>\n Do not run standard cleaning many times in succession. Proceed to deep cleaning.<\/p>\n Each cleaning cycle uses ink<\/strong><\/p>\n Do not start cleaning after every unsuccessful document. Evaluate the result using the nozzle check pattern and follow the sequence: no more than two standard cleaning cycles before deep cleaning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Deep cleaning works more intensively and uses more ink. Perform it only after two standard cleaning cycles have failed to restore the pattern.<\/p>\n Do not turn off the multifunction printer or perform other operations. The procedure usually takes approximately one or two minutes.<\/p>\n If the pattern remains incorrect after the second deep cleaning, check the cartridge installation and prepare to replace the faulty or empty cartridge.<\/p>\n All main maintenance procedures can be started from the computer. The official Canon MG3600 series MP Drivers package must be installed.<\/p>\n If the first cleaning did not help, the procedure can be performed one more time.<\/p>\n The names of individual buttons may differ slightly depending on the driver version and selected interface language.<\/p>\n The multifunction printer\u2019s operation panel and driver perform the same procedures<\/strong><\/p>\n You do not need to start one cleaning cycle from the operation panel and then immediately repeat it from the computer. Choose one control method and check the nozzle pattern after each procedure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Windows may have installed a generic driver that does not include Canon-specific functions.<\/p>\n In this situation:<\/p>\n If a cartridge is not installed securely, ink may not be supplied through the nozzles.<\/p>\n In Canon MG3600 series:<\/p>\n Both cartridges must be installed for the device to operate.<\/p>\n Check whether the protective tape was removed completely from the new cartridge. Do not reattach the removed protective tape.<\/p>\n Do not touch the nozzles or electrical contacts<\/strong><\/p>\n When installing the FINE cartridge, hold it by the plastic body. Touching the nozzles or contacts may cause printing and cartridge recognition problems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Reinstallation is required if the lever was not locked or the cartridge was installed unevenly.<\/p>\n Replacement is required if:<\/p>\n Use a new compatible FINE cartridge intended for the specific regional MG3600 series model.<\/p>\n After replacement, the multifunction printer will automatically prepare the print head. Do not turn off the device until this operation is complete.<\/p>\n A correct pattern confirms that ink is being supplied through the nozzles. In this case, do not perform deep cleaning.<\/p>\n Check the following:<\/p>\n If the Windows test page prints correctly, the cause is in the program or the specific document.<\/p>\n If printing from the computer is normal but copies are faint, streaked, or blank, check the original and the platen glass.<\/p>\n If both printing from the computer and copying have the same white streaks, check the nozzles and cartridges.<\/p>\n If the paper has only one printable side, place that side facing down.<\/p>\n Printing on the reverse side of photo paper or other special media may cause:<\/p>\n Also select the correct media type in the driver.<\/p>\n Replace the corresponding FINE cartridge if:<\/p>\n Request diagnostics if the problem remains after installing a new compatible cartridge.<\/p>\n Do not repeat deep cleaning indefinitely<\/strong><\/p>\n If two standard cleaning cycles, deep cleaning, a 24-hour wait, and a second deep cleaning have not restored the pattern, further procedures will only use ink. The next correct step is to replace the corresponding FINE cartridge.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The ink may have run out, the nozzles may have dried out, the cartridge may be installed incorrectly, or the protective tape may not have been removed from a new cartridge. First, print the nozzle check pattern.<\/p>\n Load an A4 or Letter sheet, hold down the Stop<\/strong> button, and release it after the Alarm lamp flashes once.<\/p>\n Hold down the Stop<\/strong> button and release it after the Alarm lamp flashes twice.<\/p>\n Hold down the Stop<\/strong> button and release it after the Alarm lamp flashes three times.<\/p>\n Perform one cleaning cycle and check the pattern. If the problem remains, perform standard cleaning a second time. After two unsuccessful cleaning cycles, proceed to deep cleaning.<\/p>\n This is not recommended. Deep cleaning uses more ink and is intended for cases in which two standard cleaning cycles did not produce a result.<\/p>\n Turn off the multifunction printer, wait 24 hours, and perform deep cleaning one more time. Then print the pattern again.<\/p>\n During cleaning, ink is pumped through the nozzles. Deep cleaning uses more ink than standard cleaning.<\/p>\n Color ink may be used during maintenance and to keep the printing system operating correctly, even when the main document is printed in black.<\/p>\n Check the black section of the nozzle pattern. If it is missing, perform cleaning and check the black FINE cartridge installed on the right.<\/p>\n One channel in the color FINE cartridge may be clogged or empty. Perform the specified sequence of cleaning procedures and replace the color cartridge if there is no result.<\/p>\n Check whether the protective tape was removed completely, whether the cartridge is installed correctly, and whether its locking lever is secured.<\/p>\n No. Touching the nozzles may damage the cartridge or reduce print quality. Use the built-in cleaning functions.<\/p>\n If the nozzle check pattern has gaps, the cause is not related to the driver. Reinstallation will not clean the nozzles. The driver should be checked if the pattern is correct but documents from Windows print incorrectly.<\/p>\n Check the placement of the original and the cleanliness of the platen glass. The original must be placed with the side to be copied facing down.<\/p>\n If Canon PIXMA MG3600 series prints blank sheets, does not print black, or leaves white streaks, first print the nozzle check pattern. To do this, hold down the Stop<\/strong> button until the Alarm lamp flashes once.<\/p>\n If lines are missing, perform standard cleaning: hold down the Stop<\/strong> button until the lamp flashes twice. Check the pattern and, if necessary, repeat standard cleaning a second time.<\/p>\n If two standard cleaning cycles did not help, perform deep cleaning after three flashes. If there is no result, turn off the multifunction printer, wait 24 hours, and perform deep cleaning one more time.<\/p>\n If the pattern remains incorrect, check the installation of the FINE cartridges. The color cartridge must be on the left and the black cartridge on the right. If there is still no result, replace the cartridge that does not print.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Canon PIXMA MG3600 series may print blank pages, omit black or one of the colors, leave horizontal white streaks, or produce an image that is too faint. In most cases, the cause is dried or clogged nozzles in the FINE…<\/p>\nHow the problem may appear<\/h2>\n
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Correct sequence for restoring print quality<\/h2>\n
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\n Stage<\/strong><\/td>\n What to do<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 1<\/td>\n Print the nozzle check pattern.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 2<\/td>\n Perform standard cleaning and print the pattern again.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 3<\/td>\n If the improvement is insufficient, perform a second standard cleaning and repeat the check.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 4<\/td>\n If two standard cleaning cycles did not help, perform deep cleaning.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 5<\/td>\n If there is no result, turn off the multifunction printer and repeat deep cleaning after 24 hours.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 6<\/td>\n If the pattern remains incorrect, check the installation and condition of the FINE cartridges.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 7<\/td>\n If there is still no result, replace the corresponding cartridge.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Method 1. Print the nozzle check pattern from the multifunction printer\u2019s operation panel<\/h2>\n
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How to evaluate the nozzle check pattern<\/h2>\n
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The pattern is printed correctly<\/h3>\n
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Lines are missing from the black pattern<\/h3>\n
There are white lines in the color bars<\/h3>\n
One color is completely missing<\/h3>\n
The pattern is completely blank<\/h3>\n
Method 2. Perform standard cleaning from the multifunction printer\u2019s operation panel<\/h2>\n
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Always check the result after cleaning<\/h3>\n
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If the quality improved but defects remain<\/h3>\n
If two standard cleaning cycles did not help<\/h3>\n
Method 3. Perform deep cleaning from the multifunction printer\u2019s operation panel<\/h2>\n
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Check the result of deep cleaning<\/h3>\n
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If there is no improvement<\/h3>\n
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Method 4. Perform the check and cleaning through the Windows driver<\/h2>\n
Open the driver window<\/h3>\n
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control printers<\/pre>\n
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Print the nozzle check pattern<\/h3>\n
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Start standard cleaning<\/h3>\n
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Start deep cleaning<\/h3>\n
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If the \u201cMaintenance\u201d tab is missing<\/h3>\n
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Method 5. Check the installation of the FINE cartridges<\/h2>\n
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If the cartridge was installed recently<\/h3>\n
Reinstall the cartridge<\/h3>\n
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Method 6. Replace the cartridge that does not print<\/h2>\n
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How to determine which cartridge needs replacement<\/h2>\n
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\n Pattern result<\/strong><\/td>\n What to check<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n The black pattern is missing<\/td>\n The black FINE cartridge.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n The color bars are completely missing<\/td>\n The color FINE cartridge.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n One color is missing<\/td>\n The color FINE cartridge.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Both the black and color sections are missing<\/td>\n The installation of both cartridges, the protective tape, and the ink levels.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n The pattern is correct, but the document is blank<\/td>\n The selected printer, application, driver, and job settings.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n If the nozzle pattern is correct but documents print blank<\/h2>\n
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Print a Windows test page<\/h3>\n
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control printers<\/pre>\n
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If streaks appear only on copies<\/h2>\n
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Load special paper correctly<\/h2>\n
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What you should not do<\/h2>\n
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When a new cartridge or diagnostics are required<\/h2>\n
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Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
Why does Canon MG3600 print completely blank sheets?<\/h3>\n
How do I print the nozzle check pattern without a computer?<\/h3>\n
How do I start standard cleaning?<\/h3>\n
How do I start deep cleaning?<\/h3>\n
How many times can standard cleaning be performed?<\/h3>\n
Can I perform deep cleaning immediately?<\/h3>\n
What should I do if deep cleaning did not help?<\/h3>\n
Why is there noticeably less ink after cleaning?<\/h3>\n
Why is color ink used during black-and-white printing?<\/h3>\n
Why does only black not print?<\/h3>\n
Why is one of the colors missing?<\/h3>\n
Why does a blank sheet come out after installing a new cartridge?<\/h3>\n
Can I clean the nozzles manually with a tissue?<\/h3>\n
Do I need to reinstall the driver?<\/h3>\n
Why is the copy faint while printing from the computer is normal?<\/h3>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n