Canon PIXMA TS3322 Not Printing After Refill: Fix Blank Pages, Low Ink Warnings, and Error Codes 1682/1684/1686/1688

Question

I refilled the ink cartridges in my Canon PIXMA TS3322, and now the printer isn't working. Is this printer supposed to work with refilled cartridges, and can you help me figure out what's wrong?

Answer

Before we troubleshoot, it helps to define what "not working" means. For most customers, it usually falls into one of these categories:

1. The printer prints, but the page is blank or quality is poor

2. The printer prints, but it keeps warning "low ink" or "out of ink"

3. The printer won't accept the cartridge (missing/damaged)

4. Nothing happens when you send a print job

Below are the most common causes and fixes for each situation on the Canon TS3322 (which typically uses PG-245 (black) and CL-246 (color) cartridges, including XL versions).

1) The printer prints, but the output is blank or very low quality

If the printer is feeding paper and completing the print job, but the page is blank (or faded/streaky), the refill ink usually isn't reaching the printhead/nozzles properly yet. The most common reason is the cartridge needs priming.

Why priming matters:
Canon cartridges use a sponge/reservoir system and a nozzle plate. After refilling (or after the cartridge runs very low), air pockets can form and prevent ink from flowing. Priming pulls ink through the nozzles and restores proper flow.

Recommended fix: use a priming clip/tool

• For the TS3322 family cartridges (PG-245 / CL-246, also PG-243/CL-244 compatibility depending on region), the correct priming clip is:

Priming Clip for Canon PG-210/CL-211, PG-243/CL-244, PG-245/CL-246
Priming Clip (Small) Product Page (BCH Technologies) (https://bchtechnologies.com/priming-clip-for-canon-pg-210-cl-211-pg-243-cl-244-pg-245-cl-246-ink-cartridge-as-pmclip-s-cn/ [https://bchtechnologies.com/priming-clip-for-canon-pg-210-cl-211-pg-243-cl-244-pg-245-cl-246-ink-cartridge-as-pmclip-s-cn/])

If you purchased one of our "EZ" first-timer kits, the priming clip is typically included. If not, the priming clip product page includes the matching instructions/video.

Extra tips that help:

• Run a nozzle check, then a cleaning cycle (don't overdo cleanings-too many can overheat the head or waste ink).

• Let the cartridge sit nozzle-down on a folded damp (not dripping) paper towel for a few minutes to encourage flow, then try printing again.

2) The printer works, but it warns "ink is low" or "cartridge has run out" (and lights turn yellow)

This is extremely common with refilled Canon cartridges. Canon's ink monitor is essentially a one-way page counter. Once it believes the cartridge has reached "empty," refilling alone does not reset that counter.

You may see:

• "Ink is low" warnings (you can usually keep printing)

• A hard stop error when the counter hits maximum, often with codes like 1686 or 1688 on many Canon models

Key point: You generally cannot disable the ink monitor until the printer reaches the "empty" threshold and displays the "cartridge has run out" style message.

How to disable the ink monitor (common Canon method):

1. When the computer shows a message like "The following cartridge has run out" (often accompanied by Error 1686/1688), do not close the message window.

2. Go to the printer and press-and-hold the STOP button (triangle-in-circle icon) for about 5 seconds.

3. The message should clear, and the printer should allow printing again with ink monitoring disabled for that cartridge.

What the lights mean (typical behavior):

• Around ~85% of the counter: cartridge light may turn steady yellow (warning stage)

• At "empty": hazard/alarm and cartridge light may blink and you may see 1686/1688

• After monitor is disabled: the cartridge light often continues blinking yellow, which is normal once monitoring is off

  • If the blinking bothers you, some people simply cover the LED with a small piece of tape.

3) The printer shows "cartridge missing or damaged," "Check Ink," or error codes 1682 / 1684

If you see messages like:

• "The following ink cartridge cannot be recognized"

• "Cartridge missing or damaged"

• "Check Ink" with Error 1682 or Error 1684

...that usually indicates an electrical/contact issue between the cartridge chip and the printer's contact pins.

Most common causes

• The gold contact strip ("electronic ribbon") on the cartridge is dirty or damp

• The cartridge isn't seated fully

• The cartridge shell was modified and now sits slightly too low/high, misaligning the chip

• The cartridge chip/contacts are damaged

What to do

• Remove the cartridge and inspect the gold contacts:

  • Make sure they are clean and completely dry

  • Avoid touching them with fingers (skin oils can interfere)

• Reinstall the cartridge carefully and firmly, then remove and reinstall again (this sometimes re-seats the contact alignment)

• If you've modified the cartridge (for sponge-less conversions or shell trimming), it's possible the cartridge geometry changed:

  • If the cartridge sits differently than an OEM, the chip may not line up with the printer's contact points

  • In that situation, minor plastic adjustment may be required so the cartridge seats at the correct height and angle

If 1682/1684 remains after cleaning/reseating, the next step is to test with a known-good cartridge. For troubleshooting, virgin OEM cartridges are strongly preferred. Remanufactured/re-chipped cartridges often have higher failure rates because a third-party chip may be attached over the original.

4) Nothing happens when you print (no response or jobs get stuck)

If the printer appears powered on but won't print from your computer, separate printer function from connection issues:

Quick test: use COPY

• Put a sheet on the scanner and press COPY on the printer (standalone copy).

  • If COPY works: the printer hardware is functioning and the issue is likely Wi-Fi/USB/driver/spooler related.

  • If COPY does not work: the issue is more likely printer-side (cartridge error, internal fault, etc.).

If COPY works, common connection fixes

• If using Wi-Fi: restart the router and reconnect the printer to Wi-Fi

• If using USB: try a different USB cable and/or a different USB port

• Restart the computer (this often clears print spooler problems)

• Remove and re-add the printer in your device settings if jobs remain stuck

Addressing printer issues can be complicated because the problems are hands-on and can vary widely based on cartridge condition, chip/contact alignment, and even small differences in how a refill was performed. Because of that, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, step-by-step repair instructions, or direct support for printer repairs. We do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service through our local diagnostic facility at BCH Technologies Printer Repair Service (https://bchtechnologies.com/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 a drop-off.

Our services can be arranged to repair either the entire printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. That said, we recognize our rates may not be the most economical option, so we strongly recommend self-help through online research first. You can start by checking YouTube or visiting our channel homepage at BCH Technologies on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]). Use the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar to find specific topics. I receive dozens of questions every day asking if we have a video for a particular issue, and after creating videos for the past nine years, it's difficult to remember every single one-so YouTube's search tool is the fastest route. YouTube may also suggest helpful videos from other channels that match your situation.

Thank you again for reaching out, and thank you for supporting BCH Technologies. I hope the steps above help you narrow down whether you're dealing with a priming/ink-flow issue, an ink monitor lockout (1686/1688), or a cartridge contact recognition issue (1682/1684) so you can get your TS3322 printing again.