Lexmark 1185

[Redleg]

Ok, first off, I got it at Wally World because I needed a cheap replacement for my dead HP. Have had this almost 1 year, and now the black ink doesn't want to do a complete print job. What I mean is, it has a lot of smears, and incomplete printing, where the black is supposed to be. Color prints fine, just the black is out of whack. Sent an email to Lexmark, someone named Santosh sent a reply, tried everything he/she said to do, to no avail. Still does the same. Is it time to toss this and get another all in one, since it would cost way more to send in and get fixed? I wouldn't mind getting another Lexmark, but afraid of having the same problems down the line with another. Seriously thinking of going back to HP for printing, but keep thinking of the cost of their cartridges!!!

Redleg

Edit: Thanks Dread for the sig.

[Hitman]

My only suggestion is to clean it thoroughly, using canned air to get all the major dust bunnies out. I use rubbing alcohol to clean the contacts on the ink cartridge. I assume you have already cleaned it, but in case you haven't you can give it a shot.

As far as printers go, I consider all printers in the $100 and less range, to be disposable. I wouldn't expect a printer in this range to last much longer then a year or two with constant use. If your only using it to print documents and not photographs this a cheap printer is just fine.

I use a Minolta Page Pro 1250w Laser Jet printer that I have had for several years, and my wife uses a HP Photosmart P1000 that she has had for even longer. Cartridges for both of these printers are around $50.

I suggest buying a good quality printer, but like you mentioned the higher quality the printer the more expensive the cartridges are. So I guess you have to decide if you want to buy a new printer every couple of years or pay more for cartridges.

Like the Sig BTW!

[Panda Man]

Yea, I would go back to HP. I have a printer that does this rather than just fade out when the ink is dry, that's the first thing that came to mind, so just to make sure, you DID try changing the cartridge, correct? Then do as Hitman said. I can't think of anything else that would cause this to only happen to the black ink and not the color.

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

I second cleaning the contacts. That usually fixes the problem on my crappy Dell printer.

[Redleg]

Thanks guys,

Yeah, first thing i did was the 'cleaning program' under it's maintenance thingy. Nothing, so I got a couple swabs out and cleaned the contacts on the carrier, and then like Lexmark suggested, even cleaned where they sit in the "hold" position. Even went so far as getting 2 new cartridges. It's not at the nozzles, well, it might be, but it's going to take more cleaning than what i can do. Guess it's time to see if there's any money left on the ol credit card for a new printer. Maybe worst buy will have something I like.

Props go to Dread for the sig. Said he was bored one day. That's from 1/5 FA Ft. Riley. My last "Line Unit", (the oldest Artillery Unit in the country, Hamilton's Own) before going back to the schoolhouse in Vilseck to retire.

[Redleg]

Davy Jones'd the Lexmark and bought a HP Photosmart C5180. EOM