Model discontinued. This page is no longer updated.

MFC-5840CN

FAQs & Troubleshooting

FAQs & Troubleshooting

One or more of my colors are not printing (blank). What can I do?

  • Once you open an ink cartridge, install it in the machine and use it up within six months of installation. Use unopened ink cartridges by the expiration date written on the cartridge package.

  • Brother strongly recommends that you do not refill the ink cartridges provided with your machine. We also strongly recommend that you continue to use only Genuine Brother Brand replacement ink cartridges. Use or attempted use of potentially incompatible ink and/or cartridges in the Brother machine may cause damage to the machine and/or may result in unsatisfactory print quality. Our warranty coverage does not apply to any problem that is caused by the use of unauthorized third party ink and/or cartridges. To protect your investment and obtain premium performance from the Brother machine, we strongly recommend the use of Genuine Brother Supplies.
    > Click here for more information about Genuine Brother Supplies.


 

If one or more of the ink colors is missing from pages printed by your machine (received faxes, copies and/or documents printed from the PC), nozzles or ink jet in the print head may be clogged, or the ink cartridge in question may not be installed correctly. Verifying that the ink cartridges are installed correctly and/or cleaning the print head may resolve this problem.

 


To verify the ink cartridges are installed correctly follow the steps listed below:

  1. Open the scanner cover by lifting it from the right-hand side until it locks securely into the open position.

  2. Remove the ink cartridge that is not printing by pulling the white plastic hook (locked over the edge of the ink cartridge) toward you, then lifting the cartridge out.

  3. Reinstall the ink cartridge. Press down FIRMLY on the top of the cartridge until it is fully seated. Push the white plastic hook towards the cartridge to verify it is fully latched over the cartridge's top edge.

  4. Lift the scanner cover to release the lock and gently push the scanner cover support down to close the cover.

  5. The fax machine should begin cleaning automatically, and the LCD will alternately show "CLEANING" and "PLEASE WAIT". When the fax machine completes its cleaning cycle, the LCD will display the date and time. Print the Print Quality Check Sheet and see if all colors are present:

    1. Press the Ink, Ink/Reports, Ink Management/Reports or Ink Management key.
    2. Use the up or down navigation key to select TEST PRINT.
    3. Press Menu/Set to confirm your choice.
    4. Use the up or down navigation key to select PRINT QUALITY.
    5. Press Menu/Set to confirm your choice. Press the Color(Colour) Start key to print the Test Sheet.

If one or more of the colors is still missing from the printed page, cleaning the print head may resolve this problem. When cleaning the print head, you are given the option to clean BLACK ONLY, three colors at a time (CYAN, YELLOW, and MAGENTA), or all four colors at once. For this issue we recommend cleaning only the affected color. If more than one color is missing then select ALL. Follow the steps listed below to clean the print head:

 

Cleaning the Print Head

  1. Press the Ink, Ink/Reports, Ink Management/Reports or Ink Management key.

  2. Use the up or down navigation key to select CLEANING.

  3. Press Menu/Set to confirm your choice.

  4. Use the up or down navigation key to select the color that is not printing
    -OR-
    Select ALL if more than one color is not printing.

  5. Press Menu/Set to confirm you choice.

  6. The machine should begin cleaning automatically, and the LCD will alternately show "CLEANING" and "PLEASE WAIT". When the machine completes its cleaning cycle, the LCD will display the date and time.

  7. Test by printing the "Print Quality Check Sheet":

    1. Press the Ink, Ink/Reports, Ink Management/Reports or Ink Management key.
    2. Use the up or down navigation key to select TEST PRINT.
    3. Press Menu/Set to confirm your choice.
    4. Use the up or down navigation key to select PRINT QUALITY.
    5. Press Menu/Set to confirm your choice. Press the Color(Colour) Start key to print the Test Sheet.

If one or more of the ink colors is still missing from the printed page, repeat the print head cleaning steps listed above up to 4 more times. After each cleaning, print the Print Quality Check Sheet to see if there is any improvement.



 

If you clean the print head and the print has not improved, the machine will require service.

Please contact Brother Customer Service from "Contact Us".


 

 

If your question was not answered, have you checked other FAQs?

Have you checked the manuals?

If you need further assistance, please contact Brother customer service:

Related Models

DCP-110C, MFC-210C, MFC-215C, MFC-410CN, MFC-425CN, MFC-5440CN, MFC-5840CN, MFC-620CN, MFC-640CW

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