Step 1) Put the cartridge on some paper towels in an area where you can tolerate a spill.

Step 2) Use a 1/16th inch (2 mm) drill to drill three holes in the top of the cartridge, each one in line with the vent holes so that you get a hole into each of the three color chambers. Drill just through the plastic top.

Step 3) The colors should be as shown in the diagram (left) but it is a good idea to insert a needle or a straightened out paper clip into the holes to determine the color of the ink in each of the three color chambers -- magenta, cyan, or yellow.

Step 4) Tape over the two holes you aren't currently filling to avoid accidental contamination with the wrong color of ink.

Step 5) Draw about 3 ml of ink into the syringe. Insert the needle fully through the hole.

Step 6) S-L-O-W-L-Y inject the ink into the sponge. Insert and withdraw the needle at different angles to expose the entire sponge to the ink. If you inject the ink too fast it will foam inside the cartridge and the tiny air bubbles will cause problems in your printouts.

Step 7) Tape over the holes in the top with scotch tape or black electrical tape and set on a paper towel for an hour as a drip precaution. Expect a few drips.  

To Clean the Printhead

Use alcohol and cotton swabs to gently clean the print head. After putting the cartridge back into the printer use the printers cleaning cycle a couple of times before trying to print. If you still have problems try the following.

This is the best way to deal with a clogged print head. Take the cartridge out of the printer and take some toilet paper, or paper towel, and wad it up over the print head of your ink cartridge (that's the thing on the bottom of the cartridge where the ink comes out). While standing, hold the cartridge in your hand, with the print head toward the floor and swing it hard, sort of like a softball pitcher winding up for the pitch. On the down swing really put some force into it. The force of gravity on the ink will force it through the clogged jet and clean it out. Swing two or three good swings and look at your tissue paper. When you see all three colors coming out about the same you have gotten it unclogged. Put it back in the printer and you're ready to go. If it still won’t work try the steps outlined below.

The only other thing that can cause this is a burnt-out resistor in the print head. This can happen if you try to keep printing with a dry cartridge. The ink is the cooling agent for the resistors and when it is gone they overheat pretty quickly. If this is the case there is nothing to do but buy a new cartridge.