As a safety officer, I must warn you that ignoring this message can lead to permanent damage to your workstation and the printer’s internal circuitry. You may notice the printer’s amber alarm lamp flashing eight times in a repeating sequence, or hear prolonged mechanical churning as the pump attempts to clear the print head. Despite the frustration, this is a manageable maintenance requirement that, if handled with the correct protective equipment, will restore your device to full operational status.
Symptoms of Ink Absorber Saturation
Before a total system lockout occurs, several physical and operational red flags will manifest. It is vital to identify these early to mitigate the risk of chemical leakage.
🛠️ Safety Precaution: High Voltage
For your safety and to avoid voiding the warranty, please check the official docs.
- The Status Indicator Sequence: The most prominent symptom is the “Alarm” light flashing amber exactly eight (8) times, followed by a brief pause and a single green flash. This is the hardware’s primary signal for Error 1700.
- Digital Warning Dialogues: Your computer interface will display a pop-up window stating, “The ink absorber is almost full. Press the printer’s RESUME/CANCEL button to continue printing.” Note that this is a temporary bypass and not a fix.
- Physical Ink Accumulation: Upon inspecting the base of the printer or the area beneath the print head resting position, you may observe thick, sludge-like ink deposits. In severe cases, ink may begin to weep from the bottom seams of the plastic housing.
- Audible Strain: The purge unit (the pump mechanism) may produce a more rhythmic or heavy “sloshing” sound during the startup sequence as it attempts to move high-viscosity waste ink into pads that are already saturated.
How to Fix Canon Error 1700 (Step-by-Step)
WARNING: Ink contains chemicals that can stain skin and surfaces permanently. Always wear nitrile gloves and eye protection. Ensure the device is fully disconnected from all power sources before opening the chassis to avoid lethal electrical discharge.
- Isolation and Power-Down:
Power off the printer and disconnect the AC power cord. Wait at least 60 seconds for the internal capacitors to discharge.
Safety Check: If you suspect an internal leak has reached the power supply unit, use a multimeter to check for continuity across the ground pins before touching internal metal components. - Disassembling the External Housing:
Locate the Phillips head screws on the rear and side panels of the printer. Carefully unscrew them and place them in a magnetic tray. You will need to gently pry the plastic clips of the side casing using a flat-head tool.
Warning: Forcing the plastic panels can snap the retention clips, compromising the structural integrity of the device. - Accessing the Waste Ink Reservoir:
Once the side panels are removed, you will see the waste ink pads located at the base of the printer, usually beneath the path of the print head. Use needle-nose pliers or tweezers to lift the saturated felt pads out of their plastic tray.
Caution: Do not use your bare hands. The concentrated ink is a significant irritant and difficult to remove from the skin. - Cleaning or Replacing the Pads:
If you have replacement pads, install them in the exact orientation as the originals. If you are cleaning them, soak the pads in warm, soapy water until the water runs clear. You must allow them to dry completely (usually 24-48 hours) before reinstallation. Moisture inside the printer can cause a catastrophic short circuit. - Reassembly:
Slide the dry or new pads back into the reservoir. Reattach the side panels and secure the Phillips head screws. Ensure no wires are pinched between the plastic panels, as this is a fire hazard. - Software Logic Reset (Service Mode):
The physical fix is only half the battle; the internal counter must be reset.
1. With the power off, hold the ‘Stop/Reset’ button.
2. While holding it, press and hold the ‘Power’ button.
3. Release ‘Stop/Reset’ but keep holding ‘Power’.
4. Press ‘Stop/Reset’ 5 times, then release both buttons.
5. Once the green light is steady, press ‘Stop/Reset’ 3 times to reach the waste ink counter reset menu, then press ‘Power’ to confirm.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty Level | Moderate (Requires physical disassembly and software reset) |
| Estimated Time | 45 – 60 Minutes |
| Tools Required | Nitrile safety gloves, Phillips head screwdriver (#1), Tweezers or Needle-nose pliers, Absorbent lint-free cloths. |
| Estimated Cost | $0 (Manual cleaning) to $25 (Replacement pad kit) |
Detailed Diagnosis: Root Causes
Understanding the mechanical failure points of the Canon Pixma series is essential for a safe repair. The Error 1700 is not a random glitch but a calculated response to the following variables:
1. Cumulative Purge Cycles: Every time a “Deep Cleaning” or “Head Cleaning” cycle is initiated, the printer uses a vacuum pump to pull ink through the nozzles to clear clogs. This ink has nowhere to go but into the felt absorbers at the base. Over months of use, these pads reach their physical limit. Failing to maintain the print head properly often leads to excessive cleaning cycles, accelerating this failure.
2. Counter-Based Logic: Canon engineers programmed a digital “logic counter” into the EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). This counter estimates the volume of ink expelled based on the number of cleaning pulses. Even if the pads still have some physical capacity, the software will trigger Error 1700 once the numerical threshold is met to mitigate the risk of a spill that could cause a short circuit on the logic board.
3. High-Volume Borderless Printing: When printing borderless photos, the printer actually sprays ink slightly beyond the edges of the paper to ensure full coverage. This “overspray” is captured by the absorbers. Heavy photo printing consumes the absorber’s lifespan significantly faster than standard document printing.
4. Ink Viscosity and Sludge: Using low-quality third-party inks can lead to faster sediment buildup. When ink dries or thickens within the pads, it reduces their ability to wick liquid further into the reservoir, causing premature “near-full” alerts due to surface saturation near the pump outlet.
How to Prevent Error 1700
To maintain compliance with safety standards and extend the operational life of your printer, follow these preventive protocols:
Implement a Power Management Strategy: Avoid turning the printer off and on frequently. Every time a Pixma printer starts up, it performs a “mini-cleaning cycle” that dumps a small amount of ink into the absorbers. If you print daily, leave the printer in “Sleep Mode” rather than shutting it down completely to reduce the frequency of these cycles.
Maintain Print Head Health: Use the printer at least once a week to prevent ink from drying in the nozzles. Dried ink necessitates “Deep Cleaning” cycles, which are the primary contributor to Error 1700. A simple nozzle check page once a week is a low-waste way to keep the lines clear.
Use High-Quality Consumables: While third-party inks are cheaper, they often have inconsistent pigments that can lead to more frequent clogs. Using genuine Canon ink or high-quality certified alternatives ensures the waste ink remains fluid enough to be absorbed evenly across the entire felt pad, preventing localized saturation points that trigger early warnings.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I continue to use the printer if I just ignore the warning?
Strictly speaking, no. While the “almost full” warning allows you to press ‘Resume’ temporarily, the printer will eventually reach a “Full” state (Error 5B00), which causes a total firmware lockout. Continuing to operate a printer with saturated pads risks ink leaking onto your desk or, more dangerously, into the internal high-voltage power components, which could cause a fire or electrical failure.
2. Is it safe to wash the ink absorbers instead of buying new ones?
Yes, but with strict caveats. The pads must be 100% dry before being put back into the machine. Any residual moisture can evaporate inside the printer and condense on the logic board, leading to corrosion or short circuits. Additionally, the pads may lose some of their “wicking” volume after being washed, meaning the next Error 1700 will likely occur sooner than the first one did.
3. Why does Canon make it so difficult to reset the counter?
This is a safety-first design choice. If the counter were easy to reset without physical intervention, users would simply reset the software while the pads were overflowing with ink. This would lead to hazardous leaks. The Service Mode sequence is intended for authorized technicians who have verified that the physical waste ink has been managed, ensuring the device remains safe for the end-user.