How to Reset Ink Levels After Refilling Canon PG-240, CL-241, PG-245, CL-246 Cartridges

Question:
I recently refilled my Canon OEM cartridges (PG-240, CL-241, PG-245, CL-246 series), but I’m having trouble resetting the ink levels to show 100%. Is there a way to do this?

Answer:

When it comes to Canon cartridges like PG-240, CL-241, PG-245, and CL-246, it’s important to understand that the ink monitor in these printers is a one-way counter. Once the printer’s page count reaches the maximum limit, it will display an error message that the cartridge is out of ink, even if you’ve refilled it. Unfortunately, you cannot reset the ink level back to 100%, but you can turn off the ink monitor when the time comes.

When the Ink Monitor Reaches Maximum

Once the counter is full, you’ll see a message on your computer that says:

“The following cartridge has run out.”

Leave this error message open. On the printer, press and hold the STOP (triangle) button for about 5 seconds. This will disable the ink monitor and allow you to keep printing indefinitely. The cartridge light will then blink yellow, which is normal after the monitor is turned off.

You can watch a demonstration of this process starting at the 3:15 mark in this video tutorial (https://www.youtube.com/embed/kzQVXjbrZ5Q).

Low Ink Warnings

If you get a warning that the ink is low but the maximum hasn’t been reached yet, you simply need to keep using the printer until you get the “cartridge has run out” error. The monitor can only be turned off after the maximum is reached.

For reference:

• At about 85% of the maximum, the light will be steady yellow—ignore this and continue printing.

• At maximum, both the cartridge light and the hazard light will blink, and you’ll see an Error 1686 or 1688 message. Follow the STOP button procedure above.

If the blinking yellow light bothers you, you can cover it with a small piece of tape.

If Your Printer Prints Blank Pages After Refill

Sometimes the printer will work but produce blank or poor-quality prints. In that case, the cartridge may need priming. If you purchased our "EZ" First-Timer Kit, a priming clip is included. If not, you can get the correct priming clip for your cartridge model here:

• Priming Clip for PG-240/CL-241 (XL or non-XL) (https://bchtechnologies.com/priming-clip-for-canon-pg-240-cl-241-pg-40-cl-41-ink-cartridge-as-pmclip-t-cn/)

• Priming Clip for PG-245/CL-246 and related models (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 Get “Check Ink 1682/1684” or Cartridge Missing/Damaged Errors

This means the printer cannot detect the cartridge’s electronic chip. Causes include:

1. Dirty or wet electronic contacts—clean and dry them.

2. Cartridge not seated correctly—remove and reinsert a few times.

3. Physical or electronic damage to the cartridge—try a new OEM cartridge, as re-chipped cartridges have higher failure rates.

If you’ve modified your cartridge (e.g., sponge-less conversion), the chip alignment may be off. In that case, carefully file the cartridge casing as shown in this video tutorial (https://www.youtube.com/embed/JB5dN-V3nNM).

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. For this reason, we can’t offer remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or repair support. We do provide in-person diagnostic and repair services at our local repair facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service) on a first-come, first-served basis, and wait times may be several weeks. We can repair entire printers or specific parts and will provide clear instructions for the process. However, as our rates may not be the lowest, we also encourage customers to explore self-help solutions by searching YouTube for repair tutorials. You can start with our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies) by using the search icon next to the “About” tab for relevant videos.

Thank you again for your question and for supporting our work. Your engagement helps us keep providing free and accessible repair knowledge to the printer community.