UPDATE: "Problem with Canon Pixma ip4000 printer"

What a difference good customer service makes. And you have given that message to all that read this newsgroup. First rate. Anybody got any good service stories from other manufacturers? Tony

MEASEKITE AND

AND CANON INK

Great news!

Yes, I have to admit -- it was your suggestion to give Canon tech support a call. Thanks.

Shnaggletooth

WELL, I AM GLAD TO HEAR SOMEBODY IS TAKING MY ADVICE. IT JUST MUST KILL A FEW OF THE KNOW IT ALL POSTERS IN THIS NG. :-P

Maybe some manufactors lurk this group :) Anyway another way arround is to call support first with a fake request. Just to test if they are for real. And then do the sales. (Funny thing, sales almost always is the most rapid to respond to communication :-)

You've discovered my favorite "trick" - if the customer service or tech support number is continuously busy, call the sales number. That one always picks up quickly. Ask them to connect you with customer service. Most of the time it has worked for me.

Not at all, most people who are able have you killfiled. However this know it all thinks it's just fine. You must have lots of experence with technical support to be aware they tend to extend their warranty, where as I only spoke to them twice. I gladly bow to your experence in this matter. Out of 450 messages/month one was helpful, you do get a gold star.

Oh please...don't make me laugh! Even a blind squirrel occasionally finds an acorn. Frank

Cool beans... though technicaly we never ruled out your enviroment or user as the cause of the issue. Well user is not likely unless you were printing on cats or some such, more likely is power surge... something that is always suspect. Given your oddball issue it would be wise to check your surge protector.. if it blinks it means it's not working and should be replaced. Many are not spendy, which is good as they are ment to be kamikaze devices.

Not saying it was the root cause, but it is a good printer, and worth a few bucks to keep it protected in the unlikely event your MOV failed.

Better the other way around, bad service -> no business :)

I'm kind of wondering about the cause myself. In the year I've had the ip4000, I probably printed a total of 70 pages, mostly just b/w text, and haven't used it in about three or four months. It's hooked up to an Electricord six-prong surge protector, which it shares with my computer, my computer speaker system (rarely turned on), a digital alarm clock and...er, a large, old, and energy-sucking air conditioner.

If a power surge is the culprit, then that air conditioner might be the problem; sometimes the lights in my apartment dim momentarily when the A/C periodically adjusts itself. (Though, the power to my printer was never turned on when I wasn't using it, so maybe it wasn't a power surge thing, after all.)

Shnaggletooth

I really *would not* plug an air conditioner into a surge protector, for several reasons. The air conditioner may exceed the power rating of the surge protector. The motor may generate various startup and shutdown spikes of just the kind you are trying to protect your computer equipment from. Lastly, an air conditioner is unlikely to gain any benefit from a surge protector. Your printer and computer equipment would likely be much happier on a separate circuit.

Regards, Bob Headrick

Agreed... I have had issues with a kirby vacuum on the same circuit, I can only imagine an air conditioner, don't own one. Even if it means investing in an extendtion cord, it would be wise to get these guys off the same circuit. Be sure it's grounded and is rated for at least the mount of watts your equipment is rated for. Be aware that some times jokers liked to cross wire electrical outlets, and a simple tester costing sub $5.00 can save you some heart ache.

Don't know if this is was your issue, but being paranoid will only cost you about $12.00 in your average hardware store.

Air conditioners, especially the older type, have large "inrush" currents, this is a very short lived current that occurs when the compressor starts that may well be several times the normal operating current. So the advice given by Bob Headrick and Zakezuke is sound. Tony

Wow you have a Kirby vacume and no AC? Those vacumes cost a small fortune. You must not live in Florida like me :-).. Living here without ac is very hot during the summer.

- Mike

Those vacumes can be had used for much less... it's no big deal. But I am in Washington. I don't know anyone with AC. There are only a few days in the summer where it would be nice, but one could just install an attic fan and be pretty much happy.

Sheesh, If responding, at least correct the spelling of vacuum. (The only word in the English language with a double u in it.)

David

Unplug your air-con from the surge protector! It's exactly the sort of machine that your surge guard is trying to protect your electronic stuff from! The back-EMF from the compressor will wear out MOV surge guards very quickly, & will then start inflicting damage on the delicate equipment. Jeez, no wonder your printer failed!

In general; anything with a mains-powered motor or a thermostat should be run from a totally different outlet from anything electronic - even better, a separate loop (ie; an outlet on a different fuse), if one is available.

PS: I'm glad to hear that you had a good outcome from your call to Canon.