When checking your remanufactured cartridge to improve print quality keep in mind
that it is essentially no different than an OEM cartridge.

And start with the simple stuff. It’s important to cover the basics first even if you feel insistent that “it just doesn’t work”.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Did the cartridge fit in the printer?
  If your answer is “No”, did you remove the sealing clip (FIGURE 1)?
  If your answer is “Yes”, what kind of printer do you have?
• Did the printer try to print or did it reject the cartridge altogether?
  Rejected means it did not even feed paper. At this point double check if you have the correct cartridge.
  

1. If your cartridge DID try to print, take the cartridge out and wipe the circuitry of the cartridge and the printer carriage with a towel dampened with water (FIGURES 2 & 3).
2. Then make sure it is reinstalled properly.

1. Are the color hues of your print “off” (contaminated)?
   Push the print head onto a paper towel that has been dampened and folded several times thick (FIGURE 5). Do this several times and you will see all three colors on the towel improve.
2. Now perform the cartridge cleaning procedure explained in the printer manual. If you do not have your owner’s manual, you might find the information on the manufacturers web site.
3. No change? Take the cartridge out, then wipe the circuitry of the cartridge with a towel dampened with isopropyl alcohol (FIGURE 4) and make sure it is reinstalled properly.

1. Does your cartridge goes back and forth across the paper but either does not print at all or the print quality is unacceptable?
2. If it is a tri-color or an HP 51626A, 51629A, C6614 or a C6628, make sure you have removed the blue tape (FIGURE 6).
3. Any of the following can help, the more steps attempted the better. Run hot tap water on the print head (FIGURE 7).
4. Push the print head onto a paper towel that has been dampened and folded several times thick.

1. If it is a cartridge with accessible air vent holes (FIGURE 8), blow into them (HP C1823, C6578, C6625, 51641, Lexmark black or Canon BC02, BX3, BC05, BC20).
2. Wipe the circuitry of the cartridge and the printer carriage with a damp towel (FIGURES 2 & 3) and make sure it is reinstalled properly.