How to Troubleshoot Canon Printer Cartridge Errors Like 1682, 1684, and Blank Prints: A Complete Guide

Customer Question

I watched your video #1 Popular Way to Refill Canon Cartridges PG-240 CL-241 PG-245 CL-246. Around the 6:29 mark, you describe how to bypass an error by holding the stop button for 10–15 seconds. I tried this, and while the error windows disappear temporarily, the printer still won’t print anything when I attempt a test page. The same error/status messages return. I haven’t refilled the cartridges yet. I'm trying to find out whether there's still ink in them and if the printhead is damaged.

Answer

Understanding the Problem: The Printer Doesn’t Print Even After Bypassing the Error

You're trying to determine two things:

1. Whether there’s still ink in the cartridge.

2. Whether the printhead is damaged or malfunctioning.

From your description, the printer responds to button presses (like the STOP button hold), but still won't produce a printed page. That narrows the issue down to a few common causes.

1. The Printer Works, But the Output Is Blank or Faint

If your printer goes through the motions of printing but the page comes out blank, the problem often lies in ink delivery—not the ink monitor or the printer driver.

Priming the Cartridge

Most likely, your cartridge simply needs to be primed. Ink may be trapped due to air pockets or drying. We recommend using a priming clip tool, especially if this is your first time refilling or you're working with previously used cartridges.

• For PG-240, CL-241, PG-40, CL-41:

  • Priming Clip - PMClip-T-CN (https://bchtechnologies.com/priming-clip-for-canon-pg-240-cl-241-pg-40-cl-41-ink-cartridge-as-pmclip-t-cn/)

• For PG-245, CL-246, PG-210, CL-211:

  • Priming Clip - 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/)

2. Error Messages and Lights: Ink Level and Bypass Strategy

Canon’s ink monitoring system is counter-based, not sensor-based. It doesn't measure real-time ink levels but instead counts pages and estimates remaining ink.

When You See “Low Ink” Warnings:

You can continue printing. Ignore the warning until the printer completely stops and shows a full cartridge error (e.g., Error 1686 or Error 1688).

When You See “Cartridge Has Run Out” (Errors 1686/1688):

This is when you use the STOP button trick:

• DO NOT close the error window on your computer.

• With that window open, press and hold the STOP button (the triangle) on your printer for 5–7 seconds (not more than 15).

• The error message should go away.

• Your printer's cartridge lights should now blink yellow—that’s perfectly normal and indicates the ink monitor is off.

For a video tutorial, refer to this demonstration at 3:15 (https://www.youtube.com/embed/kzQVXjbrZ5Q).

3. What If You See “Cartridge is Missing or Damaged” (Errors 1682 or 1684)?

These errors indicate the cartridge chip isn't communicating correctly. It could be due to:

• Dirty or wet chip contacts

• Poor cartridge seating

• Physical damage to the chip

• Chip misalignment from modification (like sponge-less conversion)

Fix Tips:

• Take out the cartridge and gently clean the gold contacts on the chip.

• Reinsert the cartridge firmly a few times.

• If you've done modifications like sponge removal, you may have filed too much off the cartridge shell. This can cause poor chip alignment. In such a case, you may need to file the top cover (not the bottom) slightly. Here's a helpful video guide (https://www.youtube.com/embed/JB5dN-V3nNM).

Still Getting the 1682/1684 Error?

It's time to try a different cartridge, preferably a virgin OEM cartridge (never refilled or modified). Remanufactured cartridges often use aftermarket chips that are less reliable.

4. The Printer Is Unresponsive Entirely

If nothing happens when you send a print job, but there’s no error:

• Try the COPY button directly on the printer to check hardware functionality.

  • If copying works, your issue lies in the connection, not the printer itself:

    • Reset your WiFi router (if wireless).

    • Try a different USB cable or port (if wired).

    • Restart your computer and the printer.

Final Words on Repair Support

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 offer an in-person evaluation and repair service via 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 we can get your printer to drop it off. Our services are structured to repair either a whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. However, we acknowledge that our rates aren't the most economical. Thus, we highly recommend that you resort to self-help via online research. You can start by checking out YouTube or visiting our YouTube channel's homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Look for specific videos using the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar. I receive dozens of queries every day asking about videos for specific topics. Having created videos over the past nine years, it's challenging to remember every single one. Therefore, using YouTube's search function would be most efficient. Plus, YouTube might suggest relevant videos from other channels that could assist you.

Thank you again for reaching out and for supporting BCH Technologies. We hope this detailed guidance helps get your printer back in working order.