Canon MG3620 Cartridge Lights Blinking After Conversion: Why the Stop Button May Not Clear the Error

Question

I converted my Canon MG3620 printer, but I have never been able to print successfully after the conversion. The color and black cartridge lights keep blinking constantly. I tried holding the Stop button for 10 to 15 seconds, and even longer, but it still does not clear the problem. What else can I try?

Answer

For a Canon MG3620, the first thing to understand is that blinking cartridge lights do not always mean the same thing. The meaning depends on whether the printer is showing a low-ink warning, a cartridge-runout error, or a cartridge-recognition error.

The Canon MG3620 uses integrated printhead-style cartridges, commonly PG-240/PG-240XL for black and CL-241/CL-241XL for color. These cartridges contain the printhead and electronic contact area on the cartridge itself. After a refill, modification, or conversion, the printer may still remember the cartridge's previous ink-count status. Canon's ink monitor is not a real ink-level sensor inside the cartridge. It is basically a page-counting system. Once the printer decides the cartridge has reached its ink limit, it will warn you or stop printing even if you physically added ink or modified the cartridge.

This is why holding the Stop button does not always work immediately. The Stop-button override only works at the correct stage of the ink-counter process. If the printer is only giving a "low ink" warning, the counter has not reached the final "empty" condition yet, so there may be nothing to override. In that case, you normally keep printing until the printer gives the final runout message.

When the ink counter reaches its maximum, the computer should show a message such as "The following cartridge has run out." On many Canon models, this corresponds to error code 1686 or 1688. When that message is displayed, do not close the error window on the computer. With that window still open, press and hold the Stop button, which is the triangle-in-circle button, for about 5 seconds. That should disable the ink monitor for that cartridge. After that, the cartridge light may continue blinking, but the printer should be allowed to print.

This is an important point: after the ink monitor is disabled, a blinking cartridge light can be normal. Many users expect the light to go away completely, but on Canon printers, the cartridge light may keep blinking even after the override succeeds. If the printer prints normally afterward, the blinking light is not necessarily a problem. It simply means the printer no longer has active ink-level monitoring for that cartridge.

However, in your case, since you mentioned that you have never been able to print successfully after the conversion, we need to consider a few other possibilities.

First, try sending a print job from the computer and watch for the exact Canon support code or error message. If the message is 1686 or 1688, that usually points to the ink-runout/ink-monitor issue. In that case, the Stop-button override should be done only while the runout message is present on the computer screen. If you hold the Stop button while there is no final runout message, the printer may ignore the command.

Second, check whether the printer is reporting that a cartridge is missing, damaged, or not recognized. On Canon printers, errors such as 1682 or 1684 usually indicate a cartridge recognition issue rather than a simple ink-level problem. That is a different situation. If you see 1682 or 1684, the printer is not making a good electronic connection with the cartridge. In that case, holding the Stop button will not solve the problem because the printer is not just complaining about ink level; it is failing to recognize the cartridge electronically.

For a cartridge-recognition problem, remove both cartridges and inspect the gold-colored electronic contact area on each cartridge. Make sure the contacts are clean, dry, and not covered with ink, fingerprints, adhesive, tape, or residue from the conversion. Also inspect the matching contact pins inside the carriage. Do not scrape them aggressively, but make sure there is no visible ink contamination or debris. Reinstall the cartridges firmly and make sure each one clicks into place correctly.

Third, make sure the cartridges are physically seated at the right height and angle. This is especially important after a cartridge modification or conversion. If the cartridge body has been altered, sanded, cut, or fitted with tubing, the cartridge may sit slightly differently from an OEM cartridge. Even a small height or alignment change can prevent the electronic contacts from lining up correctly. The printer may then report the cartridge as missing, damaged, or incompatible.

Fourth, check whether the conversion tubing or fittings are pulling on the cartridges. On a Canon MG3620, the cartridge carriage moves back and forth during printing. If external tubing is too tight, routed incorrectly, or pulling the cartridge upward or sideways, the cartridge may lose contact with the carriage pins. That can cause blinking lights, cartridge errors, or a failure to start printing. The tubing should have enough slack for the carriage to move freely from side to side without tugging on either cartridge.

Fifth, confirm whether the printer can make a copy directly from the printer control panel. This helps separate a printer-side issue from a computer or driver issue. If the printer can copy but cannot print from the computer, the problem may be related to the driver, USB/Wi-Fi connection, print queue, or computer setup. If it cannot copy either, the problem is inside the printer/cartridge system itself.

Sixth, if the printer recognizes the cartridges and allows printing but the pages come out blank or weak, then the issue may be ink flow rather than cartridge recognition. After a conversion or refill, the cartridge may need priming. Air trapped inside the cartridge, printhead, or ink line can prevent ink from reaching the nozzles. In that case, the printer may technically "print," but nothing appears on the paper. A priming clip or careful cartridge priming process may be needed to pull ink through the cartridge and remove trapped air.

For more details on the Canon cartridge behavior, you can review our related article here: Canon cartridge FAQ from BCH Technologies [https://bchtechnologies.com/blog/faq-printer-is-not-working-canon-cartridge-pg210-cl211-pg243-cl244-pg245-cl246-pg240-cl241-xl-or-nonxl/].

In short, if the error is 1686 or 1688, wait for the final cartridge-runout message on the computer, leave that message open, and then hold the Stop button for about 5 seconds. If the lights continue blinking afterward but the printer prints, that is normal. If the error is 1682 or 1684, focus on cartridge recognition: clean and dry the contacts, reseat the cartridges, check cartridge alignment, and make sure the conversion is not preventing the cartridge from sitting correctly. If there is no clear error code but the printer still refuses to print, test the copy function and check whether the issue is printer-side, cartridge-side, or computer-side.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair because many of these problems require hands-on inspection. For that reason, we are not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or repair support for individual printer repairs. However, we do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service through our local diagnostic facility: BCH Technologies Printer Repair Service [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Because demand is high, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so it may take a few weeks before we can schedule your printer for drop-off. Our services are structured to repair either the whole printer or specific parts, with instructions provided for how to proceed. We also understand that our rates may not be the most economical option, so we strongly encourage self-help through online research. A good place to start is YouTube, including our homepage at BCH Technologies on YouTube [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. Use the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar to search for specific topics. I receive dozens of questions every day asking which video covers a certain repair, and after creating videos for the past nine years, it is difficult to remember every individual video. YouTube's search function is usually the fastest way to find a relevant video, and it may also recommend helpful videos from other channels.

Thank you again for reaching out and for supporting BCH Technologies. I hope this helps you narrow down whether your Canon MG3620 is dealing with an ink-counter override issue, a cartridge-recognition problem, or an ink-flow problem after the conversion.