Why Your Canon Printer’s Black Ink Stops Printing After Using a Spongeless Cartridge Kit — and How to Fix It

Question:
I installed one of your spongeless cartridge conversion kits (AS-RFC-CB2CC2) for my Canon MX320 printer. The setup seemed okay at first, but I've been running into an issue where the black ink suddenly stops printing. The printer goes through the motion of printing, but the paper comes out blank. Interestingly, when I run a nozzle check, I do see some black indicators to the left of the color bars, but the main black grid is missing. To fix it temporarily, I clean the cartridge, reinsert it, and do a printhead alignment—which works for a while, but the issue keeps coming back the next day. Any advice?

Answer:
Thank you so much for contacting us, and I sincerely apologize for the delay in responding. We completely understand that printer issues—especially those involving printing black text—can be urgent and frustrating. At BCH Technologies, we want to treat every issue with the care and depth it deserves. We also appreciate your engagement with our product and your support of our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Your feedback is incredibly valuable and helps us continue to refine our technical solutions for the printing community.

Based on your description, it sounds like your Canon MX320 is experiencing a sporadic ink flow issue with the black cartridge after installing the spongeless modification kit (AS-RFC-CB2CC2). This issue isn’t uncommon when converting from sponge-style cartridges to spongeless systems, and you’ve done a great job narrowing down the symptoms.

Let’s break down what’s happening and how you can address it.

What’s Causing the Problem?

Even though the nozzle check shows some black indicators (like the small lines next to color bars), the missing black grid pattern indicates that the printhead isn’t receiving enough ink during normal print cycles. This generally means:

• Ink is not flowing steadily to the printhead.

• Air may be trapped in the ink chamber or outlet.

• The vent hole might be blocked, restricting proper ink flow.

Cleaning the cartridge temporarily resolves the problem because it essentially re-primes the printhead, restoring ink contact. But as you’ve noted, this fix is short-lived.

Permanent Fixes You Can Try

Here are some steps to try for a more reliable, long-term solution:

1. Pull Ink Through the Cartridge

Remove the black cartridge and use a syringe to gently draw ink from the nozzle (the bottom port). If ink comes out steadily and without bubbles, the ink path is likely okay. However, if you see air gaps or resistance, you’ve likely got air trapped inside that’s breaking the ink flow.

2. Check the Vent Hole

The vent hole on the top of the cartridge must be open and unobstructed. If it's blocked, a vacuum forms inside, preventing ink from flowing properly. If you sealed the vent during filling or modification, make sure it’s reopened. Some cartridges also include a small air filter; ensure it’s not clogged.

3. Apply Gentle Air Pressure

Try injecting about 1 ml of air into the small air hole (next to the refill plug). If everything is set up correctly, this will gently push ink through the nozzle at the bottom. You should see black ink appear, confirming the internal chambers are primed. Just be sure to relieve the pressure afterward so you don’t damage the internals or force ink into the wrong sections.

4. Inspect the Cartridge Shell

In some cases, the issue could be due to a faulty cartridge shell or seal that intermittently loses contact with the printhead. If the above methods don’t fully resolve the issue, let us know at support@bchtechnologies.com and we’ll help determine if a replacement cartridge might be necessary.

Diagnosing printer problems can be a hands-on process, which makes remote troubleshooting a challenge. For this reason, we’re unable to offer personalized support for printer repairs outside our facility. However, we do provide in-person diagnostics and repair services at our local repair center (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Please note that we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and due to high demand, wait times for drop-off may extend a few weeks.

We’re equipped to service either full printers or specific components, with instructions tailored to your needs. However, we recognize that our pricing may not fit every budget. That’s why we encourage customers to explore self-help options, such as our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). You can use the search icon next to the “About” tab to find videos for your specific printer model or ink system. With hundreds of videos created over nearly a decade, this is the most efficient way to find targeted guidance—and YouTube may also surface helpful videos from other experts.

Thank you again for using our Canon cartridge conversion kit. We’re grateful for your support and hope these tips help you get consistent, high-quality prints again. If you run into any other snags, don’t hesitate to reach out.