THIS IS AN INK CARTRIDGE WITH THE PRINT HEAD INTEGRATED.

The #23 Black cartridge is pigment-based ink, the tri-color #24 is dye-based.

 

Not Recognizing

 

Verify you have the correct cartridge for your specific model printer.

 

The ink levels may NOT read correctly.  These cartridges may read low or empty.  With Lexmark printers this should not stop the printer from being able to print.  You may get a message stating the cartridge is empty or a previously used cartridge has been installed but pressing OK or the Resume button on the printer will get past this.  Even though the levels may read low or empty the cartridge will still print the full page yield.

 

Check the contact points on the side of the cartridge for dirt or debris.  Sometimes if dried ink, finger print oil, or some of the tape residue stays on the contacts it can cause the cartridge not to recognize.  A lint-free cloth or coffee filter can be used to gently clean the contacts.

 

Try removing the cartridge, powering the printer down, unplugging the power cord, and letting the printer sit for 30 seconds.  Then plug the printer back in, turn the printer on, and re-install the cartridge.

 

To remove and install this cartridge into a Lexmark Z1420 printer do the following;

–          Make sure the printer is powered on.

–          Lift the top access cover.  The print cartridge carriage moves and stops at the loading position.

–          Push down on the cartridge carriage lever to raise the cartridge lid.

 

–          Remove the cartridge you are replacing.  In this example it is the tri-color.  Black (or the Photo cartridge on some printers can be put in place of the black) is located on the left and the tri-color is located on the right.

 

–          Insert the cartridge into the correct slot.  If you are replacing the black or you are installing a photo cartridge in a printer that can use one, install into the left slot.  If you are replacing the tri-color, install into the right slot.

 

–          Snap the lids closed.

 

–          Close the access cover.

 

Print Quality Issues

 

There’s a piece of protective tape covering the print head which must be removed prior to installation.

 

The print head is located on the bottom of the cartridge.  Do NOT touch the print head with your fingers.

 

Take a warm damp paper towel or coffee filter and blot the cartridge with the print heads facing down onto the paper towel to remove the dried ink on the print head. Then, taking a DRY paper towel or coffee filter, hold the cartridge down against the paper towel for 2-3 minutes. A dry paper towel will wick the ink out. Do not wipe the print head as this may cause damage.

 

 

 

 

Click on the YouTube video below to watch a video on performing the paper towel method

 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqCWn-S9cgo[/youtube]

.

A print head cleaning should be performed any time print quality issues are occurring.  To run a print head cleaning you will need to access this through the computer.

–          Open the Solution Center by clicking Start > Programs > Lexmark 1400 Series > Solution Center.

–          From the Maintenance Tab, click Clean to fix horizontal streaks.

–          Click Print.  A page prints, forcing ink through the print cartridge nozzles to clean them.

–          Try printing again to see if the issue was resolved.

 

Not Fitting

 

Verify you have the correct cartridge for your specific printer model.

 

There is a protective clip on the outside of the cartridge which must be removed.  If the cartridge looks too big, the protective clip probably has not been removed.  The clip will just snap off the cartridge.

 

Make sure you are installing the Black cartridge (or photo cartridge, if your printer can use it) into the LEFT slot and the tri-color cartridge into the RIGHT slot.