Why no ink is coming out of the ink cartridge I just got refilled

Signs that there is a problem with the ink cartridge that just got refilled

• Text document printed starts to fade
• "Banding" a document does print at first with white lines through text but then gets better down the page
• No ink coming out of cartridge
• Cartridge is empty

There is a partial blockage to the printhead nozzles that deliver the ink onto the paper.

An air bubble/air lock in the cartridge chamber between the internal sponge and the printhead

The electrical circuit to the cartridge is damaged enough

The cartridge is indeed empty

List of DIY remedies to get the ink flowing out of the cartridge assuming there is ink

• Regular and then deep print head cleaning cycles
• Let the printhead sit in hot water (just deep enough to cover the nozzles) and let thoroughly dry
• Used a humidifier to steam the clogged printhead

Some other suggested methods we have found

• You need Ammonia based glass cleaner, a small dish, tissue (soft toilet paper will do)
  1) Fold a few sheets of tissue, let it sit on a dish, and spray ammonia-based glass cleaner on the paper until its thoroughly wet.
  2) Let the printhead sit on the wet tissue.
  3) Let a few drops of the glass cleaner on the metallic pickup discs.
  4) VERY GENTLY, push the printhead on the tissue and then pull a little faster. Repeat a few times. Ink should appear on the tissue.
  5) Throw away the wet tissue and repeat steps 1-4. The second time you should notice ink or cleaning fluid appearing on the pickup discs as you push the printhead.
  With a dry sheet of tissue, clean up the printhead contacts and the areas around the pickup discs.
  Don't brush the nozzles or the pickup discs. Don't let the printhead dry; insert it in the head carriage, insert your cartridges and run a cleaning cycle.

(Disclosure: we only offer these as: use at your own discretion)