Canon PG-245 and CL-246 Refill: Caution and Color Lights Blinking
- By Ellen @BCHTechnologies
- On Oct 06, 2026
- Comment 0
Question:
After refilling the Canon PG-245 and CL-246 cartridges, my printer's caution and color lights are blinking. Does this mean the printhead is clogged?
Answer:
Thank you for contacting BCH Technologies. We're sorry we couldn't answer sooner. Printer problems can be urgent, and we want to give each question careful thought so we can provide a detailed answer. Thank you for supporting BCH Technologies and the BCH Technologies YouTube channel.
Blinking caution and color lights after refilling do not, by themselves, confirm a clogged printhead. The printer may not recognize a cartridge or may still report it as empty. The exact meaning depends on the PIXMA model and the flash pattern or displayed error, which were not provided.
First, remove and reseat the PG-245 and CL-246 cartridges, making sure each is in the correct position and latched securely. If the contacts are visibly dirty, follow the printer's manual for safe cleaning and let them dry before reinstalling. Check the printer screen or software for an error message and count the light flashes. Share the exact PIXMA model, flash count, and any error code to identify the correct next step.
Avoid repeated printhead cleaning cycles or replacing the printhead based only on blinking lights. The warning may relate to cartridge recognition or ink-level reporting, and unnecessary cleaning consumes ink without resolving a cartridge detection problem. If the printer still will not recognize a correctly installed cartridge, the cartridge chip or electrical contacts may need further diagnosis.
Search the BCH Technologies YouTube channel [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies] for “PG-245 CL-246 refill” and your PIXMA model for related videos. The video referenced here is DIY Refillable Canon Ink Cartridges: Sponge Mod for PG-245 CL-246 PG-243 CL-244 XL [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfeZ7GssnuI].
If cartridge recognition problems persist or the printer needs electrical diagnosis, BCH Technologies printer repair service [https://bchtechnologies.com/collections/printer-repair-service] can assess the issue.
Because the PIXMA model and blink count are unknown, this is general guidance rather than a confirmed diagnosis. Please provide those details before attempting model-specific resets or repairs.