Printer won't print in black. Colour works. I have replaced black cartridge with no results. Have used mostly black before, so it's strange that black won't work while colour does. Is it a built-in fault? At my wits end.
"#1 mistake made when replacing cartridges. Shake them up well before installing them.
I've ran into the same issue with several of my customers. 95% of the time they are using off-brand inkjet cartridges that are cheaply sold -- and even when they do work, the circuitry typically fails within a few months.
On trick for ink cartridges is to heat up a cup of water in the microwave -- not boiling, but about as hot as you can stand to sip a cup of tea or coffee.
Next, twist the end of a paper towel and stick it into the water then DAB, do not rub, DAB the cartridge where the ink flows out -- without wetting the little circuit board. Do this a couple of times. You should start seeing the ink flow onto the paper towel. Once you do, use a dry part of the paper towel and blot it dry, do not scrub.
I've worked with 7 feet+ inkjets in graphics design shops in the past, each morning I used this technique to prime heads esp during weather changes.
Once you do this consult your manual for replacing ink cartridges -- re-install the (in this case black) cartridge and turn a test print (bonus: set your printer to b&w only so not to burn up your color ink -- drop a small photo into a word processing document.)
If the above doesn't work then the little electronic board/head is defective -- grab a new cartridge."
Same issue here. It worked until my black cartridge got low. I did what I always do, changed the black ink cartridge and it didn't print from that point on. I thought it was the cartridge problem but I tried 3 (used an off brand), then went to the store to get a Kodak black cartridge and it still doesn't print in black. I loved this printer until this happened. Don't make me lose my faith in Kodak!
"the printer carrier for the black cartridge is burned out, thus it's not communicating with the black cartridge to make it squirt black ink. it can happen either way-color too.
printer carrier must be replaced.
Update (10/12/2015)
my response to you all, screw inkjet printers because they're too much of a dang headache!!!!!
buy a laser printer, and you will be extremely happy you did! they're very competitively priced these days with inkjet printers, do not have even a fraction of the problems inkjets do because they use what's called a toner cartridge which last many months-i change my toner cartridges about once a year give or take.
yes, literally they're more expensive than inkjet cartridges, but compared to how long they last, you're actually spending less money than if you totaled up the number of times you had to buy inkjet cartridges just to equal the length of time laser toner cartridges last in comparison to inkjet cartridges.
plus, laser printers don't spend a minute or 2 making all that dang irritating noise preparing to print while you're wondering, ""ok already, print, %#*!^@!""
i also buy my toner cartridges on ebay for around $100-$120 for all 4 colors!
i have this very good laser printer, the Samsung Xpress model #SL-C460FW i bought practially new on ebay for $130! excellent laser printer, plus it's my second laser printer in since 2003-my other one lasted that long!"
I have an ESP 9,and my printer stopped printing black ink. I did a copy function and still no ink so I knew it was the printer and not the driver. I changed both colour and black to no avail and tried cleaning the print head with a damp cloth, also to no avail. Figuring I had nothing to lose I ran the hot tap in the kitchen and allowed the hot water to flow into the print head rinsing out each of the colours and the two blacks. You could literally see the ink residue flowing through into the sink. After a couple of minutes I gave the print head a shake, gentle wipe with paper towel and re-assembled the print head and cartridges. Colour is a bit squiffy but black is now perfect. I have that many documents to print today and tomorrow that I would have had to buy another printer. Interesting to note, our printer is located next to the fireplace and we have had the fire on more than normal. When I get the chance I will relocate the printer to a cooler more ventilated place.
"If you copy something on the scan that has black and it prints it fine its a software issue. If it don't then the print head may have dried up. I recommend replacing the print head. You can wet down a paper towel with rubbing alcohol and dab the print head and see if you can get the ink flowing again it worked on mine. I also found if you leave it turned on so that it can run a cleaning cycle once in awile this can be avoided. Hope this helps. Copied from this website...
yes mine wont print black not either, changed cartridge will scan and print ok but not print from pc i know the print head and cartridges are ok must be issue with software or setting
