Printer doesn't work properly

[tigwig]

I decided for the first time to get both my colour and black ink cartridges refilled as it is cheaper. After installing them the black one wouldn't work but the colour was fine. I have done the cleaning nozzle thing and still it doesn't work properly so I took it back and got it refilled. The man in the shop tested it and it worked for him but still not for me and now the colour one is playing up too. It is very faded just like it is running out. does this mean my printer is knackered? I have done all the other troubleshooting things on the solution centre. The printer is a Lexmark Z708. Any help would be good!!

[beso]

Depends on the construction of the printer head and I don't know about Lexmark. Some printers have the print head integrated with the ink tank. I had a HP that used this style and it is not a good concept.

Others have ink tanks separate from the head. If this is the case the tank can be fine as the shop demonstrated but the head nozzles are blocked.

I have had some success cleaning blocked print head nozzles with methylated spirits and applying air pressure behind them.

However it the print head may have failed. Ink jet printers are not worth fixing. I bought a colour laser printer and never looked back. They are much cheaper to run and way more reliable.