Canon Canon PIXMA TS3520 Wireless All-in-One Inkjet Printer MECH-HEAD-CLOG Error Fix: Print Head Nozzle Clog — Missing Colors or Streaks

Error code MECH-HEAD-CLOG on the Canon Canon PIXMA TS3520 Wireless All-in-One Inkjet Printer means: Print Head Nozzle Clog — Missing Colors or Streaks. One or more print head nozzles are clogged, causing missing colors, white streaks, or banded output. This is the single most common Canon PIXMA problem and is caused by ink drying in the microscopic nozzles when the printer sits unused for more than 1-2 weeks. From the printer's Setup/Maintenance menu, run a Nozzle Check Pattern first to see which colors are affected. Then run a Print Head Cleaning cycle. After cleaning, print another nozzle check — it may take 2-3 cleaning cycles to clear stubborn clogs. If standard cleaning doesn't work, run a Deep Cleaning (uses more ink but applies stronger suction). On MegaTank models, flush the ink system from the maintenance menu. For severe clogs on models with removable print heads, remove the head and soak the nozzle plate in warm distilled water for 1-2 hours. To prevent future clogs, print at least one page per week.

The most successful fix is "Soak Removable Print Head to Remove Stubborn Clogs" (hard difficulty, ~60 minutes). Estimated DIY cost: $5-$15. HomeMD has 2 community-ranked fixes for this error.

This error is rated medium severity. It should be addressed soon, but your appliance may still function in a limited capacity.

Yes — the top-ranked community fix ("Soak Removable Print Head to Remove Stubborn Clogs") is rated hard difficulty and takes about 60 minutes. Tools needed: Phillips screwdriver, Lint-free cloth, Small shallow dish.

DIY cost: $5-$15. Professional repair typically costs $120-$180. Many homeowners save money by trying the top-ranked community fix first.

The Canon Canon PIXMA TS3520 Wireless All-in-One Inkjet Printer has 8 other known error codes, including: 1000 (Support Code 1000 — No Paper / Paper Not Fed), 1003 (Support Code 1003 — Paper Size Mismatch), 1300 (Support Code 1300 — Paper Jam (Rear Tray Area)), 1304 (Support Code 1304 — Paper Jam (Front / Cassette Area)), 1313 (Support Code 1313 — Paper Jam During Duplex Printing), and 3 more.

Error code MECH-HEAD-CLOG also appears on 4 other Canon models: Canon PIXMA G6020 MegaTank Wireless All-in-One Inkjet Printer, Canon PIXMA G7020 MegaTank Wireless All-in-One Inkjet Printer with ADF and Fax, PIXMA TR8620a 15 ppm Wireless All-in-One Inkjet Printer with Duplex, Fax, and 5-Color Ink System, PIXMA TS6420a 12 ppm Wireless Compact All-in-One Inkjet Printer with Auto Power On/Off. The fix may vary by model, so check each model's specific page for tailored repair steps.