Canon PG-210, CL-211, PG-240, CL-241, PG-245, and CL-246 Refill Problems: Why Magenta and Yellow May Stop Printing

Question

How many times can Canon PG-210, CL-211, PG-240, CL-241, PG-245, and CL-246 cartridges be refilled? Also, after refilling or cleaning the cartridge, why does the test page show only one Magenta band and one Yellow band, while printing produces mostly blue and black? When cleaning the printhead, all colors appear to come out, so what should be done?

Answer

For Canon cartridges such as PG-210, CL-211, PG-240, CL-241, PG-245, and CL-246, the number of times they can be refilled depends on the condition of the cartridge, the printhead, the sponge inside the cartridge, and the electronic contacts. These cartridges are not just ink tanks. They are integrated printhead cartridges, which means the nozzles and firing electronics are built into the cartridge itself. Because of that, the cartridge will eventually fail even if it still contains ink.

In general, many people can refill these cartridges several times, often around 3 to 8 refills, but there is no guaranteed number. Some cartridges may last longer if they are refilled before they run completely dry and if the nozzles are kept healthy. Others may fail after only one or two refills if the printhead has been overheated, clogged, dried out, or electrically damaged. The biggest risk is printing when the cartridge is empty or nearly empty. When there is not enough ink cooling the nozzles, the tiny heating elements inside the printhead can burn out. Once that happens, cleaning or adding more ink will not bring those nozzles back.

In your case, the key symptom is that the test page shows only one Magenta band and one Yellow band, while normal printing gives mostly blue and black. Since you can see all colors coming out during cleaning, it means there may still be ink physically present in the cartridge. However, that does not always mean the cartridge can print correctly. Cleaning can pull or push ink through the nozzle area, but actual printing depends on the nozzles firing electronically and consistently. A cartridge can pass ink during cleaning but still fail to print because the nozzles are clogged, air-locked, partially dried, or burned out.

No specific printer error code was mentioned in your question, so this sounds more like a print-quality or cartridge-performance issue rather than a displayed Canon error code. If your printer later shows an error such as a cartridge recognition error, incompatible cartridge message, or low-ink warning, that would need to be handled separately. Refilled Canon cartridges often continue to show low or empty ink levels because the printer's ink monitor does not truly reset the ink inside the cartridge. On many Canon models, after refilling, you may need to press and hold the Stop/Resume button for several seconds when prompted so the printer disables ink-level monitoring for that cartridge. That does not fix a clog or damaged printhead, but it may allow printing to continue after a refill warning.

For the missing Magenta and Yellow, I would first check the bottom of the cartridge with a clean, damp paper towel. Gently blot the nozzle plate, without rubbing hard. On a healthy tri-color cartridge, you should see three clear color marks: Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow. If Cyan appears strongly but Magenta and Yellow are weak, uneven, or missing, then those color channels are clogged, air-blocked, or not properly saturated. If all three colors appear on the paper towel but the printer still prints only blue and black, the problem may be electrical firing failure in the cartridge or poor contact between the cartridge and printer.

Next, check the cartridge vents. These cartridges need air to enter as ink leaves. If the top vent is blocked by a refill sticker, tape, dried ink, or label adhesive, ink may not flow properly during printing. Cleaning may still pull some ink out, but during normal printing the ink flow can starve. Make sure the vent path is open, but do not enlarge holes unnecessarily unless you know the cartridge design and refill method.

Air trapped inside the sponge is another common problem after refilling. If Magenta and Yellow were refilled but the ink did not properly reach the sponge near the printhead, the cartridge may print a little color during a test but then fade quickly. In that case, the cartridge may need to rest with the nozzle facing down for a while so the ink can migrate toward the printhead. A refill clip with gentle suction can also help prime the cartridge by pulling ink through the nozzles. Be careful not to use excessive suction, because that can over-pull ink, mix colors, or damage the cartridge.

If the cartridge has dried ink in the nozzles, you can try soaking only the printhead/nozzle area in warm distilled water or a proper printhead cleaning solution. Do not submerge the entire cartridge or soak the electronic contact area. After soaking, blot the nozzle plate gently and allow the cartridge to dry around the contacts before reinstalling it. Then run one nozzle check. Avoid repeated deep cleanings one after another because they waste ink and can overheat or stress the cartridge. If one or two cleaning cycles do not improve the Magenta and Yellow bands, more cleaning may not help.

Also inspect the copper contacts on the cartridge and the matching contacts inside the printer. If there is ink, residue, or oxidation on the contacts, the printer may not fire some nozzles correctly. Clean the contacts gently with a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol, then let them dry completely before reinstalling the cartridge. Do not scrape the contacts aggressively.

If the test page still shows only one Magenta band and one Yellow band after checking ink flow, vents, priming, soaking, and contacts, the most likely cause is a failing tri-color cartridge. With integrated Canon cartridges like CL-211, CL-241, and CL-246, the printhead is part of the cartridge. That means replacing the color cartridge often fixes the issue if the printer itself is otherwise working. If a new genuine or known-good cartridge prints all colors correctly, then the old refilled cartridge has reached the end of its usable life.

For future refills, try not to wait until the cartridge is completely empty. Refill when the print begins to fade slightly, not after the cartridge has printed dry. Use the correct ink type and avoid overfilling, because too much ink can flood the cartridge and cause color contamination or leaking. After refilling, let the cartridge sit long enough for the sponge to stabilize, then run a nozzle check before doing regular printing.

Addressing printer issues can be complicated because many of these problems require hands-on inspection. For that reason, we are not able to provide remote troubleshooting, step-by-step remote repair support, or guaranteed repair suggestions for every printer case. 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, service is handled on a first-come, first-served basis, so it may take a few weeks before your printer can be dropped off. Our repair options are structured for either a complete printer repair or specific part repair, with instructions provided for how to proceed. However, we also understand that our rates may not be the most economical option for everyone. For that reason, we strongly recommend self-help research whenever possible. You can begin with YouTube or visit our YouTube homepage at BCH Technologies on YouTube [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. Use the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the channel menu bar to search for specific topics. I receive dozens of questions every day asking for videos on particular issues, and after making videos for more than nine years, it is difficult to remember every single one. YouTube's search function is usually the fastest way to find the most relevant video, and it may also suggest useful videos from other creators.

Thank you again for contacting us and for supporting BCH Technologies. I hope this helps you understand why the cartridge may show ink during cleaning but still fail to print Magenta and Yellow correctly.