How to Troubleshoot a Canon i80 Printer

Fixing your I80 yourself can save you money

Bubble jet printers like the Canon I80 are widely used in both homes and offices. With the right care and maintenance these relatively inexpensive personal printers can provide years of trouble-free service, but it is important for printer owners to know how to solve any problems that might arise. Getting professional service on a personal printer is often prohibitively expensive, so knowing how to solve common problems is the best way to keep your printer functioning for the long term.

Things You'll Need

• Printer
• Computer
• Paper
• Cotton swabs
• Warm water
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Clean cloth
• Small vacuum

Instructions

1. Remove all of the paper from the paper tray and look inside the printer. Remove any torn pieces of paper that could be causing jams in the paper path.

2. Replace the paper in the tray, but do not fill the tray the whole way. Overfilled trays are a common cause of paper jams in the I80, since the printer will often try to grab two or three pieces of paper at a time when the tray is too full.

3. Open the top cover and carefully remove the ink cartridges. Tilt the cartridge forward and carefully lift it free of the printer. Turn the cartridge over and look for any ink residue or dried ink.

4. Dip a cotton swab in a glass of warm water and carefully clean the bottom of each cartridge. Continue swabbing until there is no remaining ink residue on the cotton swab. Use isopropyl alcohol in place of water if the cartridge is heavily soiled or if the ink has dried on the contacts.

5. Vacuum the inside of the printer to remove any ink residue and paper dust. Over time paper dust and other debris accumulate inside the printer, and this can cause problems with print quality and ink adhesion. Use a small vacuum cleaner designed for computer and printer use to suck up any accumulated residue, then wipe the interior thoroughly with a clean cloth.

References

• Canon Support: I80 Printer