As a senior engineer, I can assure you that while this halts all production, it is rarely a terminal hardware failure. You may see the printer’s alarm lamp flashing orange (typically four or five times in a cycle), the carriage stalling in the replacement position, or a persistent pop-up on your desktop interface. Rest assured, by following systematic diagnostic protocols, we can restore the circuit continuity and get your appliance back in operation.
| Metric | Specification |
|---|---|
| Difficulty Level | Moderate / Technical Precision Required |
| Estimated Time | 15 to 25 Minutes |
| Tools Needed | 90%+ Isopropyl Alcohol, Lint-free Microfiber Cloth, Compressed Air Canister, Nitrile Gloves |
| Estimated Cost | $0 (Cleaning) to $15 (Tank Replacement) |
Symptoms of Error 1660
In my experience with the Pixma architecture, the 1660 error manifests through several distinct physical and digital signatures. Recognizing these is key to isolating the fault from other common carriage errors:
đź“– Important: Official Documentation
Incorrect repairs can cause fire or injury. Always verify with the manufacturer’s manual.
- LED Flash Sequence: The orange Alarm lamp on the printer chassis will flash repeatedly. Specifically, look for a sequence of 4 or 5 flashes followed by a brief pause, which is the hardware’s way of broadcasting the 1660 hex code.
- Digital Status Monitor: Your computer screen will display a “Support Code 1660” window. The graphic usually highlights one specific tank, but in many cases, it may fail to identify which one, suggesting the entire array is “missing.”
- Carriage Positioning: Upon opening the scanning unit or cover, the print head carriage will slide to the center. However, the red LED indicators typically found on the ink tanks may be unlit, or one specific tank may be dark while the others remain solid or flashing.
- Operational Lockout: Unlike low-ink warnings, the 1660 error acts as a “hard stop.” The printer will refuse to engage the feed rollers or initiate the cleaning cycle until the logic board receives a “High” signal from all chip sensors.
Why is my Canon showing Error 1660?
To solve the issue, we must understand the mechanical and electrical root causes. Here is why the 1660 failure occurs from an engineering perspective:
1. Surface Oxidation and Contamination: The most frequent cause is “contact noise.” The copper pads on the ink tank chip are subject to oxidation over time. Furthermore, microscopic ink mist—a byproduct of high-speed printing—can settle on these pads. This creates an insulating layer that prevents the low-voltage pins in the carriage from reading the EEPROM data on the chip.
2. Physical Misalignment and Vibrational Shift: Canon Pixma carriages move at high velocities. Over hundreds of cycles, the plastic retaining clips on the ink tanks can experience “creep” or structural fatigue. If a tank is even 0.5mm out of alignment, the spring-loaded pins (Pogo pins) in the print head won’t make centered contact with the chip, triggering a 1660 logic break.
3. Chip Corruption or Third-Party Incompatibility: Many “compatible” or remanufactured tanks use “cloned” chips. These chips can sometimes fail due to static discharge or logic resets performed by the printer’s firmware. If the chip’s internal serial number is blacklisted or the circuitry fails, the printer treats the tank as non-existent.
4. Carriage Pin Deformation: In rare cases, the gold-plated pins inside the printer’s carriage can become bent or recessed. If a pin loses its “spring,” it cannot exert enough force to penetrate the microscopic layer of dust on the ink tank chip, resulting in a permanent open circuit.
The Complete Solution
The Complete Solution: Engineering Protocol
Follow these steps in sequence. We are moving from the least invasive to the most technical interventions.
Step 1: The Hard Power Cycle (Logic Reset)
Before opening the unit, we need to clear the printer’s temporary RAM. While the printer is ON, pull the power cord directly from the wall. Wait 60 seconds to allow the capacitors on the logic board to discharge fully. Plug it back in. This forces the printer to perform a “cold boot” and re-poll all sensors. If the error was a temporary firmware glitch, this will resolve it.
Step 2: Visual Inspection and Reseating
Open the printer cover and wait for the carriage to stop. Remove the ink tank indicated by the error (or all of them if none are indicated). Warning: Do not touch the print head nozzles or the clear plastic timing belt behind the carriage, as skin oils can cause mechanical “skip” or clogs. Re-insert each tank, pressing down firmly until you hear a distinct “click.” If the red light on the tank does not illuminate, the tank is not seated deep enough into the carriage housing.
Step 3: Chemical Cleaning of the Contact Interface
This is the most effective fix. Dampen a lint-free microfiber cloth with 90% Isopropyl Alcohol. Gently wipe the gold contact pads on the back of the ink tank. You are looking to remove any transparent oxidation or dried ink. Next, use a dry portion of the cloth to buff the contacts. Safety Warning: Ensure the alcohol has evaporated completely (about 30 seconds) before re-inserting, as liquid alcohol can cause a short circuit across the carriage pins.
Step 4: Carriage Pin Restoration
Use a flashlight to inspect the gold pins inside the carriage where the ink tank sits. If a pin looks lower than the others, it may be stuck. Use a pair of non-conductive plastic tweezers or a very light blast of compressed air to dislodge any debris. Ensure the pins move freely when lightly pressed. If a pin is physically snapped, the print head assembly may require replacement.
Step 5: The “Swap” Diagnostic
If you have a known-working or new OEM Canon tank, install it in the problematic slot. If the error 1660 disappears, the fault is confirmed to be the chip on the previous tank. If the error persists even with a brand-new tank, the issue lies in the carriage’s internal wiring or the printer’s main logic board.
How to Prevent Error 1660
To maintain peak appliance performance and avoid future 1660 interruptions, implement the following maintenance routines:
- Utilize High-Quality Reservoir Tanks: While third-party inks save money, their chips are often manufactured to lower tolerances. Using OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) tanks, or high-end remanufactured ones with “Version 2” chips, significantly reduces handshake errors.
- Stabilize the Environment: Excessive humidity can accelerate the oxidation of the copper contacts. Keep your printer in a climate-controlled environment. If the printer hasn’t been used in over a month, perform a “reseat” of all tanks before powering on to break any microscopic oxidation layers.
- Surge Protection: The logic boards in Pixma printers are sensitive to voltage spikes, which can “scramble” the chip-reading software. Always use a dedicated surge protector rather than plugging directly into a wall outlet to ensure clean power delivery to the printer’s ICs.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I bypass Error 1660 by holding the ‘Stop/Reset’ button?
A: Generally, no. While the 5-second “Stop/Reset” hold works for “Ink Low” (Error 1600) or “Ink Out” (Error 1688) warnings, Error 1660 is a hardware communication failure. The printer cannot print if it doesn’t think the tank exists, as it risks damaging the print head by firing dry nozzles.
Q: Why does 1660 happen right after I refilled my ink?
A: Refilling a tank doesn’t reset the chip. If you used a refill kit, the chip still reflects its previous state or may have been static-shocked during the refill process. You likely need a “chip resetter” tool or a new chip to clear the 1660 status.
Q: The tank light is on, but I still see Error 1660. Why?
A: This indicates a “partial handshake.” The tank is receiving power (lighting the LED), but the data line is corrupted. This is usually due to a smudge on the specific data-pin area of the chip. Repeat the Isopropyl Alcohol cleaning step specifically on the center pads of the chip.