Brother did not have the waste ink reset error as far as I know. I think this is a communications I/O error as that is what it is on other brother machines.
As you did not give a model number I will have to assume you have a model with buttons. You need to get into maintenance.
On most Brother MFC machines it is the buttons: function, *, 2, 8, 6, 4, hit the buttons within 2 seconds and in order like push function than push *, than push 2. and on within 2 seconds.
If you do this right Maintenance should show up in the display. Now press 01 which clears all memory and puts the machine back to factory default. Realize that all addresses in the fax and cover page will be gone and you will need to set it up again. Now hit 99 to leave maintenance mode and try the machine.
Without a model number it is hard to know which procedure you should use. But most Brothers use the above.
Due to the fact all new brother modells are of the same print engine (;-)) it will give you a hint on how to clean the wasteink bag. Unfurtunatly i do not have the restet code but mikes explanation might help!
Re: brother error code 46 by Mike B (8/26/06 10:40 AM) reply
The above post is a good one there is a waste ink tank in the machine. As I have not worked on this model, I was suprized.
You will need to put the link into google and translate the site into english. Once you have found and cleaned out the ink in the tank you will need to do the reset with the menu button that you had figured out before.
while the site above does not translate into english well you can at least use it to locate what you need to clean out.
Hello all – here is the code 46 solution – happy printing!
Machine Error 46 – Purged Ink Box Full MFC620CN/420CN/410CN/210C and FAX2440C
The machine counts all purge (cleaning) operations in order to prevent the internal ink absorber box from overflowing with purged ink. An “initial purge”, for example, advances the purge counter by 187 + 420 = 607. When the purge counter approaches 6400, an internal "Machine Error 46" is generated. Further purge operations are prohibited, and therefore the printer becomes unuseable.
When an internal Machine Error 46 is generated, the user will see an “Unable to Clean” external message and will be unable to use the printer. The “Unable to Clean” external message can relate to many different internal error codes however.
The user can establish the internal Machine Error Code as follows: pull the mains cable out of the machine (power off), hold down the Menu/Set key, re-insert the mains cable into the machine (power on). The internal Machine Error Code will be displayed.
If there is a Machine Error 46, it is necessary to dismantle the printer, replace the ink absorber box (or possibly break the ink absorber box open and clean its absorbent sponges under a tap), re-assemble the printer and reset the purge counter to zero.
Resetting purge counter MFC620CN/420CN/410CN/210C and FAX2440C
1) Enter machine maintenance mode (on MFC210C all four photo/copy/fax/scan lights flash in maintenance mode). Care is needed in maintenance mode, otherwise critical settings may be inadvertently corrupted.
FAX models with numerical keypads: Press the Menu/Set, *, 2, 8, 6 and 4 keys within two seconds. (if you fail to complete the correct key sequence within two seconds, press the Stop key to try again).
Other (non-FAX) models: Press the Menu/Set and Black Start keys. Next press the “up arrow” key four times to enter the maintenance mode).
2) Press the 8 then 0 keys in the initial stage of the maintenance mode to call up the machine's log information list (function code 80).
3) Press the Black Start key several times to scroll through the log information list to reach the purge counter. The purge counter is the 25th item in the list.
4) Press the 2, 7, 8, and 3 keys in this order to reset the purge count to zero.
5) Press the Stop/Exit key to return to the initial stage of the maintenance mode.
6) Press the 9 key twice to return to the standby state.
I have a brother DCP110 and i think i need to reset the purge counter (machine error 46). I have dismantled the printer and clean the waste ink pad. Can anybody tell me how to get rid of the error message and get the printer back to work? thanks
Thanks so much! I was having a breakdown when I spoke to Brother today. My printer is running again. But I have no idea how to get to the "ink absorber box open and clean its absorbent sponges under a tap."
Please help! I have a printer; Brother DCP 110C and always beep saying "Unable to clean, see troubleshooting and routine maintenance chapter in user's guide" What can be the problem? Thank you
Please help! I have a printer; Brother DCP 110C and always beep saying "Unable to clean, see troubleshooting and routine maintenance chapter in user's guide" What can be the problem? Thank you
Please help! I have a printer; Brother DCP 110C and always beep saying "Unable to clean, see troubleshooting and routine maintenance chapter in user's guide" What can be the problem? Thank you
Please help! I have a printer; Brother DCP 110C and always beep saying "Unable to clean, see troubleshooting and routine maintenance chapter in user's guide" What can be the problem? Thank you
i cleaned the waste ink basket and reset the purge counter, but the error still remains. what else could be the problem? is there any code for a master reset? please help me. i reset almost every counter from the maintenance mode. it works for 5 seconds, then it says again error. please tell me what to do.
that's terrible! I had this error months ago and it was resolved with resetting the purge counter. Can you tell me how you cleaned the waste ink basket? I would really appreciate it!
i washed and removed all the ink, and then dried the sponges.the error now is not 46 anymore but 51, and i cant find anywhere what this error means and how to solve.if anyone knows, let me know. thanks
help me pls! i that kind of error, i think but the problem is, my lcd is not working can you give me detailed step by step on how to reset the purge counter, and if you can with a picture of lcd display... pls help me
Resetting purge counter MFC620CN/420CN/410CN/210C and FAX2440C
1) Enter machine maintenance mode (on MFC210C all four photo/copy/fax/scan lights flash in maintenance mode). Care is needed in maintenance mode, otherwise critical settings may be inadvertently corrupted.
FAX models with numerical keypads: Press the Menu/Set, *, 2, 8, 6 and 4 keys within two seconds. (if you fail to complete the correct key sequence within two seconds, press the Stop key to try again).
Other (non-FAX) models: Press the Menu/Set and Black Start keys. Next press the “up arrow” key four times to enter the maintenance mode).
2) Press the 8 then 0 keys in the initial stage of the maintenance mode to call up the machine's log information list (function code 80).
3) Press the Black Start key several times to scroll through the log information list to reach the purge counter. The purge counter is the 25th item in the list.
4) Press the 2, 7, 8, and 3 keys in this order to reset the purge count to zero.
5) Press the Stop/Exit key to return to the initial stage of the maintenance mode.
6) Press the 9 key twice to return to the standby state.
hey friend! thanks, but how will i press the 8 and 0 in my dcp 115c, it dont have any numeric keypad in its control panel... i dont know which button will i press to get the 8, 0 and the reset code 2 7 8 3. can you show me a picture step by step...pls relpy asap i need it badly...
Brother should be forced to pay every person back that ever bought or waisted thier money on one of these POS printers. I have printed 0 color pages becuase of the ink usage and have had to replace all three color inks 3 times now. I have never ever had this problem with any other printer I have ever had. I would rather have a good old dot matrix or daisy wheel printer instead of this POS MFC 420CN. All I use it for is to print shipping labels not constantly but color ink. What a piece of crap.
i experience unable to clean problem for my DCP 110C too but i did open the printer and took the ink absorber to clean. However this time another message came out which is "unable to init". Can someone help me to solve my problem and how do i reset the purge count for DCP 110C?
Yip brother printers r a pain. Mine is giving this "unable to clean" msg as well. I wonder why the printer doesn't work when one of the 4 catridges sink down.
Yip brother printers r a pain. Mine is giving this "unable to clean" msg as well. I wonder why the printer doesn't work when one of the 4 catridges sink down.
I don't know how to thanks for this valuable information about fixing the error codes in brother printers. I was having very hard time to fix the brother 210C printer for about a three weeks. I was searching the web and finally I found this web site and fixed the error right away. I don't know the persons name or any information about the person who post this.THANKS SOO MUCH and GOD BLESS YOU. DEEPAL
i have one printer brother hl8050n with error code c50 . it is with fuser kit fuser kit is ok , coud you provide me how to reset fuser kit on this printer
Mr.Heysen I don't knnow how to reset your brother printer hl8050n. But I'll keep on looking about this and if I get an answer I'll post here. Thanks, Have a good day.
Thank you so much for this info. My printer purge counter is now reset. But i still need to dismantle the printer to clean the absorbent sponge. I'll do it very soon
gudday ppol, i read ur post about resetting brother printers and i have the same problem. But my printer model is dcp 120c, and it doesn't have any numerical buttons to push. Can anyone help me pls.
gudday ppol, i read ur post about resetting brother printers and i have the same problem. But my printer model is dcp 120c, and it doesn't have any numerical buttons to push. Can anyone help me pls.
Anyone knows how to locate the ink absorber box? I don't see it anywhere.. Do you have to unscrew or anything? I've reset the purge counter, but the problem isn't solved. my printer is dcp110c. thanks!
the proper reset code sequence to reset DCP printers without numeric keypad should be as follows:
1. press buttons Set, Menu, Mono Start one by one, followed by up arrow key four times. this should all be done as short a time as possible, around 3 seconds.
2. enter maintenance mode 80 by pressing the up/down arrow key and set key to select numbers 8 and 0
3. press up arrow key several times to get to the Purge item
4. enter 2, 7, 8 and 3 using arrow/set keys to reset the counter
5. press Stop/Exit key to go to root of maintenance mode
I hope I wasn't late giving you this fix... I have fixed mine with the same unit of yours...
Here's how...
1. Pres 'menu', 'mono start' then 'menu' one by one... 2. Press the arrow up or down to go to 'maintenance 80'. 3. Press 'mono start' several times to go to 'Purge'. Finding the PURGE will show some numeric value which is I assume the number of times the printer had cleaned. 4. Press 'arrow up' key and scroll for number "2" then press "set". Do the same for numbers 7, 8 and 3. After you have entered this combination, the purge numeric value will be reseted to 00000.
That's it...
Mail me if you want more detailed fix...
xyrus_killersmile@yahoo.com or at the outlook I am using I have stated above...
Por favor, alguem me ajude a resolver esse erro que aparece nas minhas maquinas. Comprei 5 brother dcp 130-c e 4 estão apresentando o erro 46.Preciso delas para trabalhar, aguardo a bondade de quem puder ajudar-me. Obrigada.
Hi, Can you help plzzz I follwed the instructions in above posts and I cleaned the tank sponges dried them put them back and plugged hoses etc back in... Then purged it back to 0000 rebooted it and is showing as purged 0000 but still getting machine error46?????? Is there something i missed i have a Brother MFC 215C with numeric pad thanks golfcrazy@ntlworld.com
As usual, the advice from fixyourownprinter.com saved the day! I was able to "fix" the Unable to Clean error on my MFC620CN by following the various posts in this thread, first to find the actual error code (46 indeed!) and then to reset the purge counter. Magic numbers they are!!
What's left to do is actually clean the waste ink tank. I suppose that unless we change a lot of cartridges (or do head cleaning) in the next few days, this can wait a little. It does appear to be a rather major operation, but the German website from Enderlin-direkt (once again: http://www.hstt.net/refill-faq/inside.html#Brother_mfc215c ) will be a help.
Now a promise: if I get this to work, I just might take the trouble (a) to ask Enderlin for permission, and then (b) to translate the page into English and publish it on our web site.
My MFC620 failed a few days ago too, "unable to clean".
I stripped the machine down, cleaned the waste ink tank and zeroed the purge counter but still no luck.
Fortunately I had a new unopened DCF120 in my loft which I won in a raffle so I have taken the printhead and waste tank from that and fitted them into the 620, reset the eeprom info and everything is now working great.
The replacement printhead looks like it's a newer design so hopefully it'll last better than the previous one, but if not then at least it's been a cheap fix.
Was your error code actually the notorious 46? Both before and after?
Because, for me, all I needed to do was reset the purge counter - I didn't even clean the waste ink tank (yet). (Due to a "go through all the paperwork in the house and sort it" operation by Her, there is not a horizontal surface in the house free of newspaper cutouts, old letters, or similar, on which to take apart a printer!)
i cleaned the pad (pain in the butt), and did the "purge" reset.
Did not fix it.
SO...i got ballsy... I went thru almost all the settings in the maintenance menu (80) and hit 2783 on them to clear them out. I did not do ones that i thought might hurt it. But in reality, if i did 2783 to one and it didnt like it, when i went back it would default it to factory so i dont think you can mess it up.
But now it works, so i think everyone else who did the purge and it didnt fix it, do what i did...
hello.. I have a brother mfc 640 cw printer. I bought it in Germany, so the lcd display is german too. Is there any solution to change the lcd language to english or hungarian. Thanks
Many Thanks. I have a brother DCP115C, which WAS displaying "Unable to clean", Error 46. I followed your directions ( i am not sure wether I used the UP key or the mono start key, at around the 23/25 stroke "PURGE" came up, I followed the rest of your directions and now a fully operational printer.
thanks a mill, your solution worked! and saved me from binning the printer and buying a new one.
BTW even though my machine has fax (MFC-215C), it was the instructions for non-fax machines per your note that worked.
I find it extraordinary that this shutdown of the printer is actually designed in by Brother. Once the purge counter exceeds 6,400 the machine WILL shut down, so sooner or later every Brother user will meet this problem, and there's no advice to users as to what that problem is, how serious it is and how it can be solved.
This doesn't even work as built-in obsolescence. Without advice as from your website, poeple would spend a frustrating couple of weekends trying to get the machine to work before dumping it in frsutration never to go near a Brother again. Not a good business plan!
Anyway, that's the rant out of the way. thanks again Trickydicky
I can only agree with Anonymous's sentiments: although I was able to clear the error thanks to this web page, and also subsequently cleaned the overflow tank (don't do this unless you have either a pair of latex gloves or a free social diary for at least a week: printer ink is worse under the fingernails than even engine grease!), I would never touch a Brother product again.
A company who has the audacity and callousness to do something like this to its users deserves to be punished, at least by a boycott of their products. After all, these are consumer market printers, usually bought at a store like Office Depot in the US or PC World over here, and any attempt to have a "professional" at the store look at it would be both expensive and in all probability useless. By the time the counter reaches 64000, the model won't be on sale anymore, and the "engineer" who knew it will be working somewhere else.
How much would it have cost Brother to add the maintenance manual with the needed codes as a PDF to the documentation CD?
Once again, thanks to FizYourOwnPrinter.com for saving our bacon!
M.
(NB, that Apple Laser Writer Pro 600 - vintage 1992 - that I refurbished with your "harmonica fold kit" about 6 years ago is still going strong!)
thank you or that detailed fix. If you would be so kind if you know the fix for error 4F on this model too? I tried the one you listed here and it did what you said it would, but still have error 4F.
Regards, Tod
brother error code 46 by puffdaddy (7/21/09 7:41 PM) reply
trickydicky you are a legend!! Your solution fixed my problem. Once the purge count was reset, it worked. Last time this happened I bought another printer since I had lot of ink cartriges I ended up buying the same printer again. I went shopping last night for another printer fortunately the shops were closed otherwise, I would have bought yet another printer. Why doesn't bother site give this solution... Obviously, another way of making money. Thanks Mate.
Re: brother error code 46 by gel (edited 8/14/09 3:49 AM) reply
Fortunately my 620CN has extended warranty, so got Brother to swop. Waste Ink Tank much bigger than I thought and fits along back of machine, taking up getting on for full width; I've posted an image of what it looks like here, as may be of interest.
I have a MFC-215C, the error code is 'unable to init'. I have tried resetting all the counters in maintenance mode but to no avail, the printer will print from PC fine, no problem, but I cannot scan or copy, there is nothing jamming the printer either I have checked all that as well. Any ideas guys, Many thanks
Who ever this person(Anonymous (12/27/07 6:51 PM) ), thank you very much, I have managed to purge my brother printer. works as it used to.
Very important, once this procedure is complete, turn off printer for at least 10 seconds. then restart, otherwise you might have the same problem as me, still had the error code.
Just to bump this since it worked incredibly well (Note: I didn't actually clean anything, I just reset the purge count).:
Resetting purge counter MFC620CN/420CN/410CN/210C and FAX2440C
1) Enter machine maintenance mode (on MFC210C all four photo/copy/fax/scan lights flash in maintenance mode). Care is needed in maintenance mode, otherwise critical settings may be inadvertently corrupted.
FAX models with numerical keypads: Press the Menu/Set, *, 2, 8, 6 and 4 keys within two seconds. (if you fail to complete the correct key sequence within two seconds, press the Stop key to try again).
Other (non-FAX) models: Press the Menu/Set and Black Start keys. Next press the “up arrow” key four times to enter the maintenance mode).
2) Press the 8 then 0 keys in the initial stage of the maintenance mode to call up the machine's log information list (function code 80).
3) Press the Black Start key several times to scroll through the log information list to reach the purge counter. The purge counter is the 25th item in the list.
4) Press the 2, 7, 8, and 3 keys in this order to reset the purge count to zero.
5) Press the Stop/Exit key to return to the initial stage of the maintenance mode.
6) Press the 9 key twice to return to the standby state.
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