Canon iP4950 Five Amber Blinks: Print Head Error, PGI-525/CLI-526 Cartridge Issues

User question

Canon iP4950 amber light blinking 5 times

Artificial Intelligence Response

Direct answer to the question

• Five amber blinks on a Canon PIXMA iP4950 indicate a print head error: the printer cannot detect the print head, it is not seated correctly, or the head has failed electrically.
• Most cases are resolved by reseating/cleaning the head contacts; persistent 5‑blink faults usually mean the head is defective and must be replaced or the printer replaced.

Detailed problem analysis

• What the 5‑blink code means
  • On the iP4950 family, five consecutive orange (amber) flashes, pause, then repeat = print head error. Typical firmware interpretations:
  • Print head not installed.
  • Print head not installed correctly (grey lock lever not fully down).
  • Print head detected but fails initialization/self‑test (open/shorted nozzle array, overheated/failed driver element, or failed ID line).
• How this differs from other Canon indications
  • A “B200” support code (if shown on the PC) is also a print head/drive fault but is not the same as counting LED flashes; treat both as head/drive issues.
  • Door/tray position and paper path faults use different flash counts; verify you truly see five amber flashes in a loop.
• Likely root causes on an iP4950
  • Oxidized/ink‑contaminated gold pads on the head or the carriage’s spring contacts (pogo pins) preventing proper head ID and thermistor signals.
  • Head end‑of‑life: internal open/short in heater resistors or head ASIC.
  • Head latch not locked: the grey lever must click fully down.
  • Less common: bent/broken carriage pins, liquid damage on the carriage PCB, or a failed main board head driver.
• Consumables note
  • iP4950 (EU/ROW) normally uses PGI‑525 PGBK and CLI‑526 C/M/Y/BK cartridges (the closely related iP4920 in North America uses PGI‑225/CLI‑226). Using the correct series matters for reliable priming and cooling of the head.

Current information and trends

• Because the iP4950 is a discontinued model, genuine new print heads are scarce and costly; the market has many refurbished or cloned heads with wide quality variance.
• Industry trend: repair of consumer inkjets beyond the print head is generally uneconomical; many users opt to replace the printer when a head fails, especially after >8–10 years of service.

Supporting explanations and details

• Technical mechanism
  • Canon thermal bubble heads integrate heater resistors, a temperature sensor, and an identification network. On power‑up, the MCU polls the ID lines and performs resistance/temperature plausibility checks. Any out‑of‑range reading (open/short or sensor fault) triggers the 5‑blink lockout to protect the driver ICs.
• Why clogs are not the main culprit here
  • Clogged nozzles degrade print quality but rarely cause a 5‑blink by themselves. The 5‑blink is an electrical/detection issue much more often than a fluidic one.

Ethical and legal aspects

• Safety and e‑waste
  • Unplug the printer before touching internals; avoid ESD damage. Consider environmental impact: if you retire the unit, recycle electronics and unused cartridges properly.
• Warranty
  • Given the model age, warranty is typically expired; avoid service‑mode tricks that can mask faults and potentially create safety issues.

Practical guidelines

• Quick triage (5–10 minutes)
  1. Confirm the pattern: exactly 5 amber blinks, pause, repeat.
  2. Power cycle: turn off, unplug 60–120 s, re‑plug and power on.
  3. Open the lid; ensure the carriage unlocks and comes to center.
  4. Press down each cartridge until it clicks; verify the grey head lock lever is fully down.
• Reseat and clean (30–40 minutes)
  1. Power off and unplug. Remove all cartridges.
  2. Lift the grey lever and lift the print head out vertically.
  3. Clean contacts:
     • On the print head: gently wipe the gold pads with a lint‑free swab lightly moistened with 90–99% isopropyl alcohol. Do not touch the nozzle plate.
     • In the carriage: inspect the spring contacts; gently wipe with a dry lint‑free swab. If ink is present, use minimal IPA and let dry completely. Do not bend pins.
  4. Inspect mechanics: check for bent pins, ink flooding, or debris under the head.
  5. Reinstall the head; lower the grey lever until it clicks. Reinstall cartridges (correct series; no empties). Close the lid and power on.
• If the error persists
  • Try known‑good cartridges (at least the large pigment black and one dye color) to ensure the head isn’t starved of ink at startup.
  • If available, test with a known‑good compatible head to isolate mainboard vs. head. If a good head clears the code, your original head is defective.
  • If a good head still gives 5 blinks, suspect the carriage/main board (uneconomical to repair on this model).
• What not to do
  • Don’t wash or soak the electrical contact area; moisture residue can keep the error active.
  • Don’t run the printer with empty cartridges; it can overheat the head instantly.
  • Avoid “service mode” resets for this fault; they do not repair an electrical head error and can risk other counters/settings.

Possible disclaimers or additional notes

• Print head part numbers vary by market and revision; confirm compatibility with the exact iP4950 series before purchasing. Be cautious of counterfeit heads advertised as “new.”
• Even after successful cleaning, an aged head can relapse; treat a recurring 5‑blink as end‑of‑life.

Suggestions for further research

• Look up the iP4950 service manual/head removal procedure to verify each step and the precise flash code table for your sub‑model.
• Community repair threads for “iP4950 five flashes” provide photos of carriage pins and typical contamination points.
• If considering replacement: compare total cost of a genuine head versus a modern printer with similar photo quality and lower running costs.

Brief summary

• Five amber blinks on the Canon iP4950 are the printer’s print head error code. Start with power cycling, then reseat the head and clean the contacts carefully; verify the grey lock lever and correct cartridges (PGI‑525/CLI‑526 for iP4950). If the 5‑blink persists, the print head is very likely defective; replacement of the head (or the printer) is the practical remedy.

Disclaimer: The responses provided by artificial intelligence (language model) may be inaccurate and misleading. Elektroda is not responsible for the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the presented information. All responses should be verified by the user.