How to Troubleshoot a Brother MFC-640CW

The Brother MFC-640CW can print directly from most types of media cards.

A compact multifunction machine suitable for home office use, the Brother MFC-640CW can scan, print, copy, send and receive color faxes and function as a speakerphone. The printer, released in 2006, also has wireless network capability and has an answering machine able to hold 29 minutes of messages. Some problems you could encounter with this printer are paper jams, poor print quality and failure to recognize a new ink cartridge.

Instructions

Paper Jams

1. Unplug the printer and disconnect the phone line from it.

2. Pull the paper tray out of the front of the printer.

3. Reach inside the printer to locate and pull out any jammed paper.

4. Place the paper tray back into the printer.

5. Pull the jam clear cover off the back of the machine.

6. Locate and remove any jammed paper.

7. Replace the jam clear cover on the back of the printer.

Poor Print Quality

1. Press the "Ink" button on your printer's control panel.

2. Scroll with the arrow keys to select "Test Print" then press "Set."

3. Select "Print Quality" then press "Set."

4. Press "Start" to print your test sheet.

5. Examine your test sheet carefully. If the quality is adequate, press "1," but if any lines are missing, press "2."

6. Indicate which color ink is causing the problem when the printer asks for this information.

7. Press "1" to start the cleaning process when "Start Cleaning?" appears on your printer's screen.

8. Press "Start" to print another test sheet when the cleaning process is complete.

"No Cartridge" Error

1. Lift to open the scanner cover until the prop locks into place to hold it open.

2. Replace any empty ink cartridges.

3. Remove the new ink cartridge that the machine isn't recognizing and then reinstall it, pushing the ink cartridge hook securely over it when you're done.

4. Close the scanner cover.

5. Press "1" to select "Yes" when the printer asks whether you've replaced a cartridge.

6. Wait until the printer finishes its cleaning process and then check the printer's screen to see if the error message is gone.

Tips & Warnings

• If an error message persists despite resolving the error, unplug the printer for 10 seconds then plug it back in to reset it.

• Keep opened ink cartridges upright at all times to avoid getting air bubbles in the ink.

References

• Brother: How Can I Clear the "Paper Jam" or "Printer Jam" Error Message?
• Brother: How Can I Improve Poor Print Quality?
• Brother: Why Does My Machine's LCD Show "No Cartridge" Even Though I Have Already Installed all the Ink Cartridges?
• PCWorld: Brother Brother MFC-640CW Multifunction Center With Built-in Wireless Networking

Resources

• Indiana University: Protecting Data in Copiers and Multifunction Devices
• Louisiana State University GROK Knowledge Base: Top 10 Things to Look for in An All-In-One Printer