Canon PG-275 (Black) Refill Troubleshooting: Flashing Ink Alarm, Won't Print, and What to Do Next

Question

I refilled a Canon 275 black ink cartridge by injecting ink, then installed it in my printer. Now the printer shows an alarm at the top near the ink warning lights (it looks like a flashing light), and I can't print. I didn't prime the cartridge-could that be the problem? Also, the cartridge has been sitting outside unused for almost two years. Could that be causing this?

Answer

Based on what you described-a flashing ink/alarm indicator after installing a refilled PG-275 black cartridge and the printer refusing to print-there are a few very common causes. The two biggest factors in your situation are: (1) the cartridge was not primed, and (2) it sat unused for a very long time (two years), likely drying/clogging internally.

1) What the flashing ink/alarm light usually means with a refilled Canon PG-275

On many Canon printers that use the PG-275 (black) / CL-276 (color) family, a flashing ink/alarm icon typically indicates one (or more) of the following conditions:

• The printer cannot detect the cartridge properly (chip/contact/recognition issue).

• The printer believes the cartridge is empty or "ink has run out" (chip memory doesn't reset just because you added ink).

• The cartridge is installed, but ink is not delivering to the printhead/nozzle system, which can trigger errors or a "won't print" state to protect the printer.

• Less commonly: the cartridge is physically compromised (air leak, damaged sponge, dried ink clogs), especially after long storage.

You mentioned the cartridge was "outside" and unused for almost two years. Even if it looks fine on the outside, internally that often means the sponge, outlet port, and nozzle path can dry out, which makes ink flow unreliable after refilling.

2) Yes-skipping priming can absolutely cause this

Priming is important because injecting ink fills the internal sponge, but it doesn't always remove trapped air near the outlet/nozzle area. If there's air in the ink path, the cartridge may behave like it's empty even when it's full.

What happens when a cartridge isn't primed:

• The sponge may be wet, but the outlet can still be dry.

• The printer can't pull ink consistently, leading to no print / blank pages.

• The printer may flag an ink/alarm warning because it "sees" a cartridge but ink delivery is failing.

A simple priming method (safe approach):

1. Remove the cartridge from the printer.

2. Blot the print/nozzle area gently on a folded paper towel.

   • You should see a solid, even black ink mark forming within a few seconds.

   • If you see little to nothing, or it's very faint, ink is not reaching the outlet.

3. If you have a priming clip or a refill/prime tool, use it to gently pull a small amount of ink through the outlet until you see a consistent flow.

4. Wipe the electrical contacts clean and dry (more on this below), reinstall, and run a normal cleaning cycle.

Important caution: Don't overdo strong suction-too much vacuum can pull ink too aggressively and make a mess or damage internal foam structure. Gentle and controlled is best.

3) The "two years outside" storage is a major red flag

A cartridge sitting unused that long-especially "outside" where temperature/humidity fluctuate-often develops:

• Dried ink clogs near the outlet/nozzle plate

• Hardened sponge that doesn't re-wet evenly

• Air leaks (seal issues) that prevent proper suction

• Contaminants/dust that can affect contacts or ink flow

Even if you refill it, the cartridge can remain "functionally dead" because the ink path is blocked or the sponge can't regulate flow anymore.

What you can try if you suspect the outlet is dried/clogged:

• Place the nozzle area on a warm, damp paper towel for a few minutes (not soaking-just damp).

• After that, blot again on a dry paper towel to see if you can get a consistent black imprint.

• If it never produces a strong imprint, the cartridge is likely too dried out internally.

4) Cartridge recognition issues: clean contacts and reseat properly

Sometimes the "flashing ink/alarm" is purely a recognition problem.

Try this:

1. Turn the printer off, unplug it for 60 seconds.

2. Remove the cartridge.

3. Clean the gold electrical contacts on the cartridge gently with a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol (70%+), then let it dry fully.

4. Also check the contacts inside the printer carriage (do not scratch them).

5. Reinstall the cartridge firmly until it clicks/seats correctly.

6. Power on and see if the warning changes.

If the printer still flashes the ink/alarm indicator and refuses to print, it's more likely either chip-level ink monitoring or ink delivery failure.

5) Ink monitoring after refill: the printer may still think it's empty

With many Canon cartridges, refilling ink does not reset what the printer "remembers" about ink level. That can lead to a warning state such as:

• "Ink has run out"

• "Cannot detect ink level"

• "The following ink has run out"
  ...and the indicator may flash.

Often, Canon printers allow printing again only after you override ink monitoring for that cartridge.

Common override behavior (varies by model):

• When you get an ink warning prompt on-screen, you may need to press and hold the Stop/Cancel button (often a triangle inside a circle) for about 5-10 seconds to disable ink level detection for that cartridge and continue printing.

Because Canon has many printer models that use PG-275, the exact message wording and button sequence can vary, but this override is extremely common after refilling.

6) If the cartridge won't print even after override: it's likely flow/prime or a dead cartridge

If you successfully override the warning but still get:

• blank pages

• very faded black

• missing lines

• intermittent printing

...then the cartridge is almost certainly not delivering ink correctly. In your case, that points back to:

• no priming / air trapped, and/or

• internal drying damage from long storage

At that point, your options are:

• Prime properly and test again (paper towel imprint test is the quickest indicator).

• If it still won't lay down a strong black imprint, the cartridge is probably not recoverable and may need replacement.

7) Using the correct refill ink matters

If you used Canon-compatible refill ink like our product, that's good-using the wrong ink type can create flow problems or clogging. For reference, here is the refill ink you linked: Dye Refill Ink for Canon Printers (ID30 KCMY, 30ml x 4) (https://bch-youtube-fan-store.myshopify.com/products/dye-30-ml-x-4-refill-ink-for-canon-printers-id30-kcmy-ac).
Even with the right ink, though, an old cartridge that's been inactive for years can still fail due to dried internals.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair because these problems are very hands-on and depend on the exact condition of the cartridge, printer model behavior, and what the ink path looks like internally. Because of that, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service through our local diagnostic facility: Printer Repair Service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Due to high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks before we can schedule your drop-off. Our services are structured to repair either a whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. We also understand our rates aren't the most economical, so we strongly recommend self-help through online research. A great place to start is YouTube-especially our channel homepage: BCH Technologies on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search icon next to "About" on the right side of the menu bar to find videos by topic. I receive many questions each day asking if we have a video for a specific issue, and since we've created videos for over nine years, it's hard to remember every single one-YouTube's search is the fastest way to locate the best match, and it may also suggest helpful videos from other creators.

Thanks again for reaching out and for supporting BCH Technologies. I truly appreciate your patience, and I hope the steps above help you get the PG-275 working again (or quickly confirm if the cartridge is simply too far gone from long-term storage).