How to Troubleshoot Power Issues and Ink Priming for CISS Units in Printers

About your problem with the CISS unit, you have disconnected a cable that might be essential to operate the ink tank. The finder you mentioned is probably the red/black wire connected to the ink tank cover detecting opening or closing. Usually, one end of this wire is plugged into the ink tank cover, and another side must be plugged into the mainboard at CN15. This wire signals the printer that the ink tank cover is in the correct position, so if this is disconnected, the printer will think the cover is open.

This wire must be reattached in the right spot on the mainboard. CN15 may be located a little bit differently depending how you look at the board, but in general, it is closer to the front edge of the mainboard. If you cannot find the specific connector, you can always refer to the printer's service manual for a wiring diagram or a similar connector that may be unique.

Once you’ve reattached that wire correctly, your printer should not bother you with ink tank cover open. If you found the wire not connected during diagnosis and reconnected it, it still doesn't work.

Because your printer is brand-new and, therefore, has never had ink in it, it makes sense that a good prime of the printhead will get the ink traveling through the system. If the ink doesn’t get pulled through the printhead (which it probably isn’t, which is why you’re seeing the issue), it won’t print.

I recommend a "park and prime" (or priming) procedure for a new printhead or clog. Here’s how to do it:

1. Park the Printhead: Turn the printer on and allow the printhead to settle naturally onto the capping station. It’s safe to do this with the power on.
2. Prime the Printhead: Once the printhead is parked, connect a syringe and tubing to the printer’s waste line. Gently draw 2 ml of air through the system to help prime the printhead. Start by drawing 1.5 ml—at this point; you should feel slight resistance. If you are only drawing air, it could indicate that the printhead is not parked correctly or that there may be a leak in the capping station seal.
3. Check for Blockages: If you feel complete resistance and can’t draw anything out, it suggests that the capping station is clogged. A clog in the capping station will prevent proper priming, and you will need to clear this before continuing.
4. Complete the Priming Process: After drawing 1.5 ml, you might hear a crinkling sound as the damper membrane opens. At this point, slowly draw up to the full 2 ml mark, then hold for 10 seconds.
5. Clean the Printhead: After priming, use the printer’s regular cleaning routine, but avoid performing a strong cleaning cycle within the next 12 hours. It’s important not to perform back-to-back cleaning cycles as it may harm the printhead or clog the system.

If the ink still isn’t flowing after this process, another underlying issue may be with the ink dampers or the printer’s ink delivery system. However, this method should resolve most issues with new printers or clogged heads.

 Note: We understand that printer issues can be frustrating, and while we cannot provide remote troubleshooting or specific repair advice, we offer an in-person evaluation and repair service at our local diagnostic facility. For more details, please visit our printer repair service page [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Due to high demand, our service operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks before we can accommodate your printer. We also offer clear instructions for completing printer repairs or specific part replacements.

 We encourage you to explore self-help options via online research, mainly through YouTube. You can start by visiting our YouTube channel [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies], where you can use the search feature to find videos related to specific topics. We’ve created dozens of videos over the past nine years, and the search function is the best way to find content that could assist with your issue. Additionally, YouTube may suggest other helpful videos from different channels.

 Thank you again for contacting us. We hope this information helps you resolve the issues with your printer!