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PIXMA MX360 Support
FAQs & troubleshooting

No Printing Results/Printing Is Blurred/Colors Are Wrong/White Streaks

Content Id: 8201013000


Issue

No Printing Results
Printing Is Blurred

Colors Are Wrong

White Streaks

Cause and solution

Check 1: Did you confirm the paper and print quality settings?

Cause and solution

Check 2: Is the FINE Cartridge installed properly?

If the Ink Cartridge Locking Cover is not closed securely, ink may not be ejected correctly.

Open the Scanning Unit (Cover), open the Ink Cartridge Locking Cover, then close the Ink Cartridge Locking Cover.

When you close the Ink Cartridge Locking Cover, push the Ink Cartridge Locking Cover until it clicks into place.

Cause and solution

Check 3: Print the Nozzle Check Pattern and perform any necessary maintenance operations such as Print Head Cleaning

Print the Nozzle Check Pattern to determine whether the ink ejects properly from the print head nozzles.

Refer to [ Printing the Nozzle Check Pattern ] [ Cleaning the Print Head ] [ Cleaning the Print Head Deeply ]

If the Nozzle Check Pattern is not printed correctly:

After performing the Print Head Cleaning, print the Nozzle Check Pattern and examine the pattern.

If the problem is not resolved after performing the Print Head Cleaning twice:

Perform the Print Head Deep Cleaning.

If the problem is not resolved after performing the Print Head Deep Cleaning, turn off the machine and perform another Print Head Deep Cleaning after 24 hours. When you turn the machine off, do not unplug it from the power supply.

If the problem is not resolved after performing the Print Head Deep Cleaning twice:

Ink may have run out. Replace the FINE Cartridge.

Cause and solution

Check 4: When a FINE Cartridge runs out of ink, replace it with a new one

When remaining ink cautions or errors occur, the message will appear to inform you of the error.

Refer to [ An Error Message Is Displayed on the LCD ].

Replacing Procedure

When you need to replace FINE Cartridges, follow the procedure below.

Caution

Handling FINE Cartridges

Do not touch the electrical contacts (A) or print head nozzles (B) on the FINE Cartridge. The machine may not print properly if you touch it.

If you remove a FINE Cartridge, replace it immediately. Do not leave the machine with FINE Cartridges removed.
Use new FINE Cartridges for replacement. Installing used FINE Cartridges may cause the nozzles to clog. Furthermore, with such cartridges, the machine will not be able to inform you when to replace the cartridges properly.
Once a FINE Cartridge has been installed, do not remove it from the machine and leave it out in the open. This will cause the FINE Cartridge to dry out, and the machine may not operate properly when it is reinstalled. To maintain optimal printing quality, use a FINE Cartridge within six months of first use.

Caution

If a FINE Cartridge runs out of ink, you can print with either Color or Black FINE Cartridge, in whichever ink remains, only for a while. However the print quality may be reduced compared to when printing with both cartridges. We recommend to use new FINE Cartridges in order to obtain optimum qualities. Even when printing with one ink only, print with leaving the empty FINE Cartridge installed. If either of the Color FINE Cartridge or Black FINE Cartridge is not installed, an error occurs and the machine cannot print.
Color ink may be consumed even when printing a black-and-white document or when black-and-white printing is specified. Both color ink and black ink are also consumed in the standard cleaning and deep cleaning of the Print Head, which may be necessary to maintain the machine's performance. When ink runs out, replace the FINE Cartridge immediately with a new one.

1. Make sure that the power is turned on, and open the Paper Output Tray gently.

2. Lift the Scanning Unit (Cover), then hold it open with the Scanning Unit Support (C).

The FINE Cartridge Holder moves to the replacement position.

Caution

Do not hold the FINE Cartridge Holder to stop or move it forcibly. Do not touch the FINE Cartridge Holder until it stops completely.

Caution

The inside of the machine may be stained with ink. Be careful not to stain your hands or clothing when replacing FINE Cartridges. You can easily wipe off the ink from the inside of the machine with tissue paper or the like. For details on the cleaning, refer to the printed manual: Getting Started.
Do not place any object on the Document Cover. It will fall into the Rear Tray when the Document Cover is opened and cause the machine to malfunction.
If the Document Cover is open, you cannot open the Scanning Unit (Cover). Be sure to lift the Scanning Unit (Cover) with the Document Cover closed.
When opening or closing the Scanning Unit (Cover), do not touch the buttons and LCD on the Operation Panel. Doing so may result in an unexpected operation.
Do not touch the metallic parts or other parts inside the machine.
If the Scanning Unit (Cover) is left open for more than 10 minutes, the FINE Cartridge Holder moves to the right. In this case, close and reopen the Scanning Unit (Cover).

3. Remove the empty FINE Cartridge.

(1) Pinch the tabs and open the Ink Cartridge Locking Cover.

(2) Remove the FINE Cartridge.

Caution

Handle FINE Cartridges carefully to avoid staining of clothing or the surrounding area.
Discard empty FINE Cartridges according to the local laws and regulations regarding disposal of consumables.

4. Prepare the new FINE Cartridge.

(1) Take a new FINE Cartridge out of its package and remove the orange protective tape (D) gently.

Caution

If you shake a FINE Cartridge, ink may spill out and stain your hands and the surrounding area. Handle a FINE Cartridge carefully.
Be careful not to stain your hands and the surrounding area with ink on the removed protective tape.
Do not reattach the protective tape once you have removed it. Discard it according to the local laws and regulations regarding disposal of consumables.
Do not touch the electrical contacts or print head nozzles on a FINE Cartridge. The machine may not print properly if you touch it.

5. Install the FINE Cartridge.

(1) Put a new FINE Cartridge in the FINE Cartridge Holder.

The Color FINE Cartridge should be installed into the left slot and the Black FINE Cartridge should be installed into the right slot.

(2) Close the Ink Cartridge Locking Cover to lock the FINE Cartridge into place.

Push down the Ink Cartridge Locking Cover until it clicks.

(3) Confirm that the Ink Cartridge Locking Cover is closed correctly.

Caution

If the Ink Cartridge Locking Cover is not closed correctly, push down the Ink Cartridge Locking Cover until it clicks.

(E) Closed correctly

(F) Not closed correctly (the cover is tilted)

Caution

The machine cannot print unless both the Color and Black FINE Cartridges are installed. Be sure to install both the FINE Cartridges.

6. Lift the Scanning Unit (Cover) slightly to set the Scanning Unit Support back to its original position, and gently close the Scanning Unit (Cover).

Caution

When setting the Scanning Unit Support back to its original position, be sure to hold the Scanning Unit (Cover) firmly, and be careful not to get your fingers caught.

Caution

When opening or closing the Scanning Unit (Cover), do not touch the buttons and LCD on the Operation Panel. Doing so may result in an unexpected operation.

Caution

If the error message appears after the Scanning Unit (Cover) is closed, refer to [ An Error Message Is Displayed on the LCD ].
When you start printing after replacing the FINE Cartridge, the machine starts cleaning the Print Head automatically. Do not perform any other operations until the machine completes the cleaning of the Print Head. While cleaning is in progress, the POWER lamp is flashing green.
If printed ruled lines are misaligned or the print head position is misaligned, adjust the print head position.

See [ Aligning the Print Head ].

Replacing a FINE Cartridge

Cause and solution

Check 5: When using paper with one printable surface, make sure that the paper is loaded with the printable side facing up

Printing on the wrong side of such paper may cause unclear prints or prints with reduced quality.

Refer to the instruction manual supplied with the paper for detailed information on the printable side.

Cause and solution

When copying, see also the sections below:

Cause and solution

Check 6: Is the Platen Glass or the glass of ADF dirty?

Clean the Platen Glass or the glass of ADF.

Caution

If the glass of ADF is dirty, black streaks appear on the paper as shown below.

Caution

Be sure to turn off the power and unplug the power cord before cleaning the machine.

The power cannot be turned off while the machine is sending or receiving a fax, or when the received fax or unsent fax are stored in the machine's memory. Make sure if the machine completed sending or receiving all the faxes before disconnecting the power cord.
The machine cannot send or receive faxes when the power is turned off.
If you unplug the power cord, all the documents stored in the machine's memory will be deleted. Print the necessary documents or save them to the USB flash drive before unplugging the power cord.

With a clean, soft, lint-free cloth, wipe the Platen Glass (A), the inner side of the Document Cover (white sheet) (B), the glass of the ADF (C), and the inner side of the ADF (white area) (D) gently. Be sure not to leave any residue, especially on the Platen Glass.

Caution

The inner side of the Document Cover (white sheet) (B) is easily damaged, so wipe it gently.
If any foreign substances such as glue, ink or correction fluid are adhered to the glass of the ADF (C) as shown in the figure above, some black streaks will appear on the scanned image. In this case, wipe the dirt off gently.
Cleaning the Platen Glass and Document Cover

Cause and solution

Check 7: Check that the original is loaded correctly on the Platen Glass or in the ADF

Loading Plain Paper / Photo Paper

Caution

If you cut plain paper into small size such as 4" x 6" / 10 x 15 cm, 4" x 8" / 101.6 x 203.2 mm, 5" x 7" / 13 x 18 cm, or 2.16" x 3.58" / 55.0 x 91.0 mm (Card size) to perform trial print, it can cause paper jams.

Caution

We recommend Canon genuine photo paper for printing photos.

For details on the Canon genuine paper, see [ Media Types You Can Use ].

You can use general copy paper.

For the page size and paper weight you can use for this machine, see [ Media Types You Can Use ].

1. Prepare paper.

Align the edges of paper. If paper is curled, flatten it.

Caution

Align the edges of paper neatly before loading. Loading paper without aligning the edges may cause paper jams.
If paper is curled, hold the curled corners and gently bend them in the opposite direction until the paper becomes completely flat.

For details on how to flatten curled paper, refer to [ Paper Is Smudged/Printed Surface Is Scratched ].

2. Load paper.

(1) Open the Paper Support, and open the support as an extension.

(2) Open the Paper Output Tray gently.

(3) Slide the Paper Guides (A) to open them, and load the paper in the center of the Rear Tray WITH THE PRINT SIDE FACING YOU.

(4) Slide the Paper Guides (A) to align them with both sides of the paper stack.

Do not slide the Paper Guides too hard. The paper may not be fed properly.

Caution

Always load paper in the portrait orientation (B). Loading paper in the landscape orientation (C) can cause paper jams.

Caution

Do not load sheets of paper higher than the Load Limit Mark (D).

Caution

The machine may make an operating noise when feeding paper.

After loading paper

When using the machine to copy without a computer, select the size and type of the loaded paper for Page size and Media type of the setting options.

See [ Setting Items ].

When printing with a computer, select the size and type of the loaded paper in Printer Paper Size and Media Type in the printer driver.

See [ Printing from Your Computer ].

Loading Originals in the ADF

You can load documents to copy, fax, or scan in the ADF.

Caution

To scan a document at optimum quality, load it on the Platen Glass.

1. Make sure that any original has been removed from the Platen Glass.

2. Load a document in the ADF.

(1) Open the Document Tray.

(2) Insert the document in the Document Tray until you hear a beep sound.

Load the document WITH THE SIDE TO SCAN FACING UP in the Document Tray.

Caution

When you set the alarm to be silent in Device user settings of Device settings, the alarm will not beep even if the document is inserted in the Document Tray.

(3) Adjust the Document Guides to match the width of the document.

Do not slide the Document Guides too hard. The document may not be fed properly.

Loading Paper

Cause and solution

Check 8: Is the original document is loaded with the proper side facing up?

When loading the original on the Platen Glass, the side to be copied should be face down. When loading the original in the ADF, the side to be copied should be face up.

Cause and solution

Check 9: Did you copy a printout done by this machine?

Print from the digital camera directly, or reprint from the computer.

If you copy a printout done by this machine, print quality may be reduced.

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