How to Disable Ink Tracking and Fix Blank Prints on Canon TS3440 After Cartridge Refill

Question:
I refilled the cartridges in my Canon TS3440 and followed all the steps, but the paper still comes out blank. How can I disable the ink tracking chip or turn off the ink monitor to make the printer recognize the refilled cartridge properly?

Answer:

1. Understanding Canon's Ink Tracking System

Canon printers like the TS3440 use smart cartridges equipped with electronic chips that monitor ink levels. When you refill a cartridge, the chip doesn't automatically reset - it still reports that the cartridge is empty, even though you've refilled it. This is why your printer may refuse to print properly or produce blank pages.

To continue printing, you need to disable the ink monitor. This tells the printer to ignore the chip's ink level data. However, doing this also means the printer will no longer show ink levels on the screen - you'll have to visually monitor the ink from then on.

2. How to Disable Ink Monitoring

To turn off Canon's ink tracking feature on the TS3440 series (and most Canon PIXMA printers):

1. Reinstall the refilled cartridges in your printer.

2. When the printer displays the "ink level cannot be detected" message or shows a flashing orange light, press and hold the Stop/Reset button (the red triangle inside a circle) for about 5-10 seconds.

3. The printer should stop flashing and accept the cartridge.

Once this is done, the printer will bypass the ink monitor and allow you to print. You'll see a warning that ink level detection is disabled - this is normal and expected.

3. Why the Paper Comes Out Blank

If your Canon TS3440 still prints blank pages after disabling the ink monitor, the issue usually lies with ink flow, not with the chip. Here are the most common causes:

• Air trapped inside the cartridge:
  After refilling, air bubbles can block the ink from reaching the printhead. To fix this, gently tap the cartridge printhead-down on a paper towel until you see ink spots. Then reinstall it.

• Clogged printhead:
  If the printer sat unused for some time, dried ink can block the nozzles. Run a "Cleaning" or "Deep Cleaning" cycle from the printer's maintenance menu. If that doesn't help, you can manually clean the printhead using a lint-free cloth and cleaning solution.

• Refilled cartridge not making contact:
  Sometimes the cartridge isn't fully seated or the chip contacts are dirty. Remove the cartridge, wipe the gold contacts gently with a soft, dry cloth, and reinstall it.

4. Ink Chip Resetting (Optional)

If you prefer the printer to continue showing ink levels, you can use a Canon-compatible chip resetter. These devices reset the cartridge's chip to "full," allowing the printer to read the refilled cartridge as new. However, not all Canon chips are resettable - Canon has moved to one-time-use chips on many newer cartridges, including the PG-545/CL-546 used by the TS3440.

If your printer uses these cartridge models, disabling the ink monitor (as described above) is the only practical solution.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. So, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We do, however, offer in-person evaluation and repair services through our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so it might take a few weeks before your printer can be dropped off for repair. Our services cover both full-printer and specific part repairs, with clear instructions on how to proceed. Still, we understand our rates may not be the most economical, so we encourage users to seek self-help through online research. You can start by visiting our BCH Technologies YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search icon next to "About" to find videos related to your exact printer model and ink cartridge.

Thank you again for reaching out and for supporting BCH Technologies. We truly appreciate your patience and commitment to learning more about your printer.