Question: After cleaning my WF-3620's printhead to eliminate the Error 0x97, it now prints faintly or not at all, despite using half of the ink cartridge during head cleaning. What should I do next?

Question: 

After cleaning my WF-3620's printhead to eliminate the Error 0x97, it now prints faintly or not at all, despite using half of the ink cartridge during head cleaning. What should I do next?

Answer: 

If your WF-3620 printer no longer displays the Error 0x97 after cleaning the printhead and you notice that it's either printing faintly with missing lines or producing blank sheets, yet it's clearly consuming ink during head cleaning processes, there might be additional factors at play preventing normal printing. Here are steps to further troubleshoot and potentially solve these issues:

1. Check for Clogged Nozzles: Even after cleaning, some nozzles may remain partially clogged, causing faint prints or missing lines. Consider performing several more cleaning cycles, allowing time for the printhead to rest between cycles to prevent overheating.
2. Examine Ink Levels and Cartridge Health: Ensure that the ink cartridges are not just low but also in good condition. Sometimes, cartridges, especially non-OEM or refillable ones, may not provide ink consistently due to internal issues or poor contact with the printer.
3. Inspect the Printhead Alignment: Misalignment can lead to poor print quality. Run the printhead alignment feature from your printer's maintenance menu.
4. Consider the Printhead Health: While you believe the printhead is in good condition, it's possible that it's still partially damaged or worn out. Faint prints or blanks despite ink consumption indicate that not enough ink is being deposited on the paper. If your printer uses a removable printhead, another deep clean outside the printer might help, using specialized cleaning solutions and techniques like ultrasonic cleaning.
5. Check for Firmware or Software Issues: Ensure your printer's firmware is up to date. Sometimes, firmware updates can resolve underlying issues affecting print quality.
6. Look Beyond the Printhead: If the problem persists, other hardware issues might be at play, such as problems with the printer's motherboard or the ink delivery system. These issues are more complex and may require professional diagnostics.

Given the complexity of these steps and the possibility of hardware failure, you might want to consider consulting with a professional printer repair service, especially if you're unable to find a replacement printhead on the official website. Additionally, since you've mentioned the ink cartridges are significantly depleting without printing correctly, this further suggests a deeper issue that might not be resolved through standard cleaning and troubleshooting steps.