Checking the print quality and cleaning the print head

If faded or streaked text appear on your printouts, some of the print head nozzles may be clogged. You can check this by printing the test page and looking at the nozzle check pattern.

To maintain good print quality, the machine will automatically clean the print head when needed. You can start the cleaning process manually if there is a print quality problem.

Clean the print head if you get a vertical line in the text or graphics, or blank text on your printed pages. Cleaning the print head consumes ink. Cleaning too often uses ink unnecessarily.

1. Press Menu.
   
   
2. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose Maintenance. Press OK.
   
   
3. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose Cleaning Wizard. Press OK.
   The machine will start printing the test page.
   
   
4. Check the print quality of the test page. If blurred text or lines appear in the printed test page, clean the print head.
   
   
   • If you print documents that contain mostly graphics, check the black bar (1).
     
     
   • If you print documents that contain mostly text, check the characters and numbers (2).
   
   
   
   
   
5. The LCD asks you if the print quality is OK.
   Do one of the following:
   
   
   • If the printout looks clear and visible, press 1 to choose Yes to finish the cleaning. The machine will return to Ready mode.
     
     
   • If the printout has a quality problem, press 2 to choose No. The machine will start cleaning and print the test page again. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until the print quality is improved.
     
     

     If you clean three times and the print has not improved, the LCD will ask you to start Advanced Cleaning. To start Advanced Cleaning, press 1 to choose Yes then go to step 4 in Advanced Cleaning. To finish the cleaning, press 2 to choose No.

Advanced Cleaning

Cleans the print head more thoroughly than Cleaning Wizard. Choose this option if Cleaning Wizard does not clean the print head adequately, when the print appears thin, or when there are smudges.

1. Press Menu.
   
   
2. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose Maintenance.
   
   
3. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose Advanced Cleaning. Press OK.
   The machine begins printing the test page.
   
   
4. Check the print quality of the test page. If blurred text or lines appear in the printed test page, clean the print head.
   
   
   • If you print documents that contain mostly graphics, check the black bar (1).
     
     
   • If you print documents that contain mostly text, check the characters and numbers (2).
   
   
   
   
   
5. The LCD asks you if the print quality is OK.
   Do one of the following:
   
   
   • If the printout looks clear and visible, press 1 to choose Yes to finish the cleaning. The machine will return to Ready mode.
     
     
   • If the printout has a quality problem, press 2 to choose No. The machine will start cleaning and print the test page again. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until the print quality is improved.

If you have cleaned three times and the print has not improved, the LCD will tell you to call for a service. Press OK and please contact Brother Customer Service from the "Contact Us" section.