Cleaning the Carriage Flex Cables and the Cartridge Electrical Connection Areas

The electrical contact areas on both the flex cables (part of the carriage assembly) and the cartridges require cleaning to ensure proper operation of the cartridges to extend the life of the cartridge and to achieve the highest quality output.

Cleaning these areas are very important due to the ease of which this area can become dirty. The oils and dirt that accumulate on your fingers and hands can contaminate these areas. Also excessive ink from the bottom of the cartridge can find its way to the electrical contact areas.

If the electrical contact areas on both the flex cables and the cartridges are not kept clean, image quality can deteriorate. This is due to the firing signals from the carriage assembly being blocked from getting to the cartridges resulting in jets not firing when they should. This condition can be seen as a misfiring of the cartridge.

The electrical contact areas on the yellow cartridge and the yellow flex cable can be deceiving because it is very difficult to see if there is yellow ink spilled on them.

Always clean each of these areas weekly or whenever you change cartridges so that excessive buildup does not develop.

To clean the carriage flex cables and cartridges

  1. Turn the printer off.

  2. Lift the cover of the printer.

  3. Move the carriage assembly out of the service station towards the center of the printer for access.

  4. Remove the cartridge from the carriage assembly. It is not necessary to disconnect the cartridge from the ink delivery lines.

    It is recommended that you do not remove the cartridge from the ink delivery line as this may interfere with the prime already established in the cartridge. Just hold the cartridge in your hand as you perform this procedures. Be careful not to hold the cartridge too high as this can deprime the jetplate. The jetplate is located at the bottom of the cartridge. It is best to keep the cartridge as straight as possible to keep the jetplate the lowest part of the cartridge body.

  5. With a lint-free cloth or cotton swab moistened with Isopropyl Alcohol, gently clean the all visible areas of the flex cable.

  6. Turn the cartridge aroud to gain access to the electrical contact area. Do not allow the cartridge to be raised any higher than 30 degrees.

  7. With a lint-free cloth moistened with Isopropyl Alcohol, gently clean the all electrical contact areas on the back of the cartridge.

  8. Reinsert the cartridge after ensuring that the flex cable and cartridge are completely dry. Do not touch the electrical contact areas with your fingers.

  9. Repeat steps 4 - 8 for each carriage flex cable and cartridge.

  10. Push the carriage assembly back into the service station.

  11. Close the cover.

  12. Turn the printer on.