How to reset Canon PIXMA MX300, MX308, MX310, MX318 error code 5B00 5B01 error waste ink absorber is full

Canon PIXMA MX300, MX308, MX310, MX318 needs to be reset when:

- An error message appears: error code 5B00 (the main ink absorber becomes full)

- An error message appears: error code 5B01 (the platen ink absorber becomes full)

When an error 5B00 or 5B01 occurs, the Alarm LED will light/blink orange 7 times, then the ON/OFF LED will light/blink green 1 time.

Solution for error code 5B00 / 5B01 / waste ink absorber is full, carried out in 2 stages:

1.   Replace or clean the Main or Platen waste ink absorbers.

2.   Reset the Main or Platen ink absorber to zero.

1.  Replace or clean the Main or Platen waste ink absorbers

The ink absorber on the Canon PIXMA MX300, MX308, MX310, MX318 has two parts, namely the Main ink absorber and the Platen ink absorber. If your printer has an error with an error code: 5B00, it means that the Main ink absorber is full, but if it shows an error code: 5B01, it means that the Platen ink absorber is full.

Because the Main ink absorber is under the printer engine, to replace it you have to disassemble the printer. Make sure you have purchased a new ink absorber before disassembling the printer. The new ink absorber for Canon PIXMA MX300, MX308, MX310, MX318 can be purchased in the market with Part numbers:

-   Main ink absorber, Part No. QY5-0207-000

-   Platen ink absorber, Part No. QC2-4230-000

Notes

- If you have trouble getting a new ink absorber, the old ink absorber can be reused but must be washed or cleaned. Make sure the ink absorber is completely dry before reinstalling it.
- Be careful when disassembling the printer. If an error occurs during the disassembly or assembly of the printer, it is likely that other damage will occur that did not occur before. If you have trouble doing it yourself, we recommend contacting a Canon Service Center or the nearest printer repair professional.

If you are having trouble disassembling the printer, an alternative solution is to modify the printer's waste ink container. Here's how to modify the waste ink reservoir on the Canon PIXMA MX300.

- Remove the operation panel unit.

- Remove the scanner unit.

- Remove the side cover of the printer.

- See picture 3 below. You will find two hoses from the Cab-Blade Unit leading to the ink absorber. Remove the two hoses, then attach an additional hose about 30 centimeters or more in length.

- Make a hole in the side cover of the printer, so that the additional hose can come out of the printer.

- See picture below, insert the end of the additional hose into a transparent plastic bottle placed outside the printer.

2.  Reset the Main or Platen ink absorber to zero

Reset is done in two stages:
2.a.   Printer is in Service Mode

2.b.   Reset the Main or Platen ink absorber to zero.

2.a.   Printer is in Service Mode

In order for the Canon PIXMA MX300, MX308, MX310, MX318 to be reset, the printer must be in a Service Mode state. If the printer is already in Service Mode, the next step is to reset the printer. Follow the steps below on how to get the Canon PIXMA MX300, MX308, MX310, MX318 into Service Mode.

Service mode operation procedures

1.    The printer is turned off with the Power and USB cables still plugged in.

2.    Press and hold the Stop/Reset button (do not release.)

3.    Press and hold the ON/OFF button (don't release both buttons) and now the Power LED is green.

4.    Release the Stop/Reset button (the ON/OFF button is still being held.)

5.    While holding down the ON/OFF button, press the Stop/Reset button 2 times, then release both the ON/OFF and Stop/Reset buttons simultaneously.

If steps 2, 3, 4, 5 are done correctly, the ON/OFF LED will light green (not flashing) and "Service Mode Idle" will appear on the printer's LCD. If the ON/OFF LED continues to flash, and the printer's LCD does not appear "Service Mode Idle" it means that the printer failed to enter Service Mode. Turn off the printer by pressing the ON/OFF button, then repeat the above procedure correctly.

Note

-  If the printer's LCD screen does not appear "Service Mode Idle" and only a blank screen appears, but the ON/OFF LED is green (not flashing) it means the printer is in Service Mode.

For additional information, here is how to enter Service Mode in the illustration image.

2.b.   Reset the Main or Platen ink absorber to zero

After the printer enters Service Mode, follow the instructions in the table below.

Table 1.  Menu Selection Table

Press Stop/Reset Time(s)	LED indication	Function
0 times	Green (Power)	Power off
1 times	Orange (Alarm)	Service test print
2 times	Green (Power)	EEPROM information print
3 times	Orange (Alarm)	EEPROM initialization
4 times	Green (Power)	Enter the ink absorber counter resetting mode
5 times	Orange (Alarm)	Enter the destination settings mode
6 times	Green (Power)	Print head deep cleaning
7 times	Orange (Alarm)	Return to the menu selection
8 times	Green (Power)	Return to the menu selection
9 times	Orange (Alarm)	Return to the menu selection
10 times	Green (Power)	Return to the menu selection
11 times	Orange (Alarm)	Return to the menu selection
12 times	Green (Power)	Enter the button and LCD test mode
13 times	Orange (Alarm)	Enter the ink absorber counter setting mode
14 times	Green (Power)	Return to the menu selection
15 times	Orange (Alarm)	Return to the menu selection
16 times or more	Green (Power)	Return to the menu selection

Note:

-  After pressing Stop/Reset (times) press the ON/OFF button for OK.

-  If the Stop/Reset button is pressed 16 or more times, the Alarm LED (orange) or Power LED (green) lights steadily without any changes.

6.    Load 3 sheet of A4 or Letter paper.

7.    Press the Stop/Reset button 2 times (see Table 1) to print the EEPROM information before resetting then press the ON/OFF button for OK.

See the picture above, the value of the Main ink absorber is D=100.4 while the Platen ink absorber is Ps=000.2. From this EEPROM information it can be concluded that the error code 5B00 is caused by the value of D=100.4. Next we will reset the D value or Main ink absorber to zero.

8.    Press the Stop/Reset button 4 times (see Table 1) to enter the Ink absorber counter resetting mode then press the ON/OFF button to OK. After entering the ink absorber counter resetting mode, press the Stop/Reset button according to Table 2 below.

Table 2. Ink absorber counter resetting

Press Stop/Reset Time(s)	Ink absorber
0 times	Main ink absorber (0%)
1 time	Platen ink absorber (0%)
2 times	Both the main and platen ink absorbers (0%)
3 times or more	Press the ON/OFF button to return to the ink amount resetting mode.

Note:

-  After pressing Stop/Reset (times) press the ON/OFF button for OK.

-  Because to reset the Main ink absorber to 0% you don't need to press the Stop/Reset button, so to reset the Main ink absorber (0%), just press ON/OFF button.

9.    Press the ON/OFF button 1 time to reset the Main ink absorber to 0%, then wait a while because the printer will print D=000.0  Ps=000.2 in the upper left corner of the paper.

10.   After the Main ink absorber is reset to 0%, then press the Stop/Reset button 2 times (see Table 1) to print the EEPROM information after the printer is reset, then press the ON/OFF button to OK. Compare D values ​​before and after reset.

11.   If there is no problem, then turn off the printer by pressing the ON/OFF button (see Table 1).

12.  Wait a few moments then turn ON the printer. Done.

Questions and answers

Q: If the new ink absorber is not available online, can the old ink absorber be reused?

A: The old ink absorber can be reused but you have to clean it by washing and then drying it. Make sure the ink absorber is completely dry before installing.

Q: Is the modification of the waste ink reservoir safe to use?

A: Modification of the waste ink reservoir is made with the consideration that users do not need to disassemble the printer machine, and the problem of full ink absorption is solved by draining the waste ink into a transparent plastic bottle placed outside the printer. If the waste ink in the bottle is full, you can throw it away without having to disassemble the printer.

Q: If the ink absorber is not replaced with a new one, or the ink absorber is not washed/cleaned, or the waste ink reservoir is not modified, and the printer is simply reset. If only reset, can the printer be reused?

A: After resetting the printer can be reused even if the ink absorber is not replaced/cleaned. When the printer is only reset, while the ink absorber is not replaced/cleaned, in the near future the waste ink will overflow from the bottom of the printer because the ink absorber is full and cannot accommodate the waste ink anymore. This will create new unwanted problems. Resetting the waste ink counter to zero becomes effective if the ink absorber is replaced or cleaned or modifications are made to the waste ink reservoir.

Q: Where can I get information regarding errors on Canon PIXMA MX300, MX308, MX310, MX318?

A: A complete discussion regarding printer error codes, please read Service Call Error and Operator Call Error on Canon PIXMA MX300, MX308, MX310, MX318

If you have trouble doing it yourself, we recommend contacting a Canon Service Center or contacting the nearest printer repair professional.