Canon PG-275 Refill Ink Troubleshooting: Printer Says the Cartridge Is Faulty After Refilling

Question:

I refilled a Canon 275 (PG-275) cartridge with refill ink, but now my printer won't accept it and says the cartridge is faulty. The printer hasn't been used for about two years. I also didn't prime anything. Do I need to prime it, and what can I do to get the printer to recognize the cartridge again?

Answer: 

1) What "cartridge is faulty" usually means on Canon PG-275

When a Canon printer reports a "faulty" cartridge (or "cartridge not recognized," "incorrect cartridge," or similar wording), it usually falls into one of these categories:

A) The printer can't communicate with the cartridge (electrical/contact issue)

This is the most common and the easiest to check.

What to do:

1. Power the printer off and unplug it for 1-2 minutes.

2. Remove the cartridge.

3. Inspect the cartridge's copper/gold contact area (the electronic ribbon/contact pad).

   • If there's ink residue, smudges, or any sticky contamination, gently clean it.

4. Check the printer's matching spring contacts/brass pins inside the carriage area.

   • They must be clean, dry, and not bent.

5. Clean using a dry lint-free cloth first. If needed, lightly dampen with isopropyl alcohol (90%+), then let it fully dry.

6. Re-seat the cartridge firmly and close the cover.

Important: After refilling, it's very easy to accidentally get ink on the contact pad. Even a thin film can break communication and trigger a "faulty" message.

B) The cartridge's internal printhead/nozzle circuit failed (common after refills + long storage)

The PG-275 is a printhead-on-cartridge design. That means the nozzles and heating elements are built into the cartridge itself. Over time-especially if the cartridge sat empty or partially dry-the nozzle plate can clog and the heater elements can overheat.

Your "two years unused" detail is significant. If the cartridge was stored installed or half-dry, the nozzles can dry out and become resistant to flow. Then, when you refill, the printer attempts to fire nozzles that may not be properly inked or may have damaged heater elements.

C) Canon's failure detection permanently disables the cartridge

Canon cartridges like the PG-275 have internal checks that can declare parts of the nozzle array "failed" if readings are out of range. In simplified terms (matching the idea in your draft answer):

• The printer compares electrical behavior of the cartridge's internal circuit (including a reference measurement and the nozzle heater array behavior).

• If the cartridge reports too many abnormal readings (often because heaters are damaged, shorted, open, or overheating due to poor ink delivery), the printer can mark it as unusable.

• Once that threshold is passed, the printer may permanently refuse the cartridge-no matter how much cleaning or priming you do.

If you've cleaned contacts thoroughly and the message persists immediately upon installation, this is a strong possibility.

2) Do you need to "prime" after refilling?

Priming can help print quality issues, but it usually does NOT fix a "faulty/unrecognized" cartridge. Those messages are typically electrical/communication or internal failure detection-not just air in the ink path.

That said, priming can still be useful if the printer recognizes the cartridge but prints blank or streaky. If your cartridge is recognized but prints poorly, priming might help. If the printer refuses it as "faulty," priming is unlikely to change that result.

If you want to try a safe priming step anyway (low risk):

• Let the cartridge sit nozzle-side down on a damp paper towel (warm water or a little isopropyl alcohol on the towel) for 30-60 seconds.

• You should see a small ink mark on the towel if ink is flowing.

• Do not over-soak or flood the contact area-keep the electronics dry.

Again: this is for flow/nozzle recovery, not for recognition errors.

3) What you should try first (in order)

Here's the quickest path that prevents wasted time:

1. Clean the cartridge contacts and printer pins (as described above).

2. Re-seat the cartridge multiple times (remove/install a few cycles). Sometimes the carriage contacts "wipe" into alignment.

3. Power reset the printer (unplug for 1-2 minutes).

4. If it still says faulty, the most likely conclusion is:
   the cartridge has electronically failed or been permanently flagged and must be replaced.

Unfortunately, for cartridges like the PG-275, once that internal failure status triggers, there's typically no reliable "reset" that restores it.

4) Best practice for buying cartridges specifically for refilling

If you need additional empties for refilling, your approach is solid:

• Search your cartridge model on eBay and include the keyword "empty virgin."

  • "Virgin" generally means the cartridge has not been refilled and still has the original OEM electronics.

• Avoid remanufactured cartridges when your goal is refilling reliability.

  • Many remans use third-party chips or altered electronics that can be more sensitive to moisture or contact issues.

  • Since they're typically made from recycled shells, they may also have worn/nozzle-damaged components.

Also, if a cartridge sat unused for years, even if it "looks okay," the printhead can be internally compromised. For best success rates, refill a cartridge that was recently in use and still electrically healthy.

5) A quick note about the printer being idle for 2 years

After long storage, printers can develop:

• oxidized contacts in the carriage,

• dried ink or debris where the cartridge parks,

• stiff wipers/capping station issues (which affect cleaning and recovery).

So even if you install a new cartridge, you may still need to run a basic maintenance cycle (nozzle check / cleaning) once it's recognized.

Addressing printer issues can be tricky because these problems are hands-on by nature, and outcomes depend on physical inspection and testing. For that reason, 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, so it may take a few weeks before we can accept your printer for drop-off. Our services are structured to repair either a full printer or specific components, with clear instructions on how to proceed. We also recognize our rates aren't the most economical, so we strongly encourage self-help through online research first. You can start with YouTube or visit our channel homepage here: BCH Technologies on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). To find topic-specific videos, use the search icon next to "About" on the right side of the menu bar. I receive dozens of requests every day asking if we have a video for a certain issue, and after nine years of creating content, it's difficult to remember every single one-YouTube search is the fastest method, and it may also suggest helpful videos from other channels.

Thanks again for reaching out and for your patience. I hope the contact-cleaning steps help-if not, replacing the PG-275 with a true OEM "virgin" cartridge is usually the most reliable path forward after a "faulty" cartridge message.o