Canon Pixma Printer F18 Error Code Fix

by

What This Error Means

F18 on a Canon Pixma = carriage / print-head positioning error.

The printer tries to move the print head, the sensors don’t like what they see (jam, drag, or bad position reading), so the machine slams on the brakes and throws F18 instead of chewing itself up.

Official Fix

Here’s the by-the-book routine Canon expects you to follow:

  • Power reset first.
    Turn the printer off. Unplug it from the wall for at least 60 seconds. Plug it back in, turn it on, and try a test print.
  • Open the lid and look for obvious jams.
    Open the main/top cover. Let the carriage stop moving. Check the whole paper path and carriage area for:
    • Jam-packed paper or half-fed sheets
    • Peeling labels or sticker scraps
    • Paper clips, bits of plastic, anything that doesn’t belong
    Gently pull debris out in the direction the paper normally feeds. Don’t yank against the mechanism.
  • Check ink cartridges are properly seated.
    With the cover still open, press down on each cartridge to be sure it’s locked in. If your model uses a removable print head, make sure the head latch is closed fully. Reseat if anything looks crooked.
  • Check covers and doors.
    Make sure every cover, rear access door, and paper tray is fully closed and latched. Some models will throw movement errors if a sensor flag isn’t in the right place.
  • Clear the area around the printer.
    Verify nothing is touching or pressing on the sides or top where the carriage moves inside – no cables, shelves, or walls rubbing the casing.
  • Try again.
    Close the cover, power-cycle one more time, and run a simple test page (nozzle check or status print).
  • If F18 still returns often:
    The official line is: stop DIY, contact Canon support or an authorized service center for a hardware inspection.

The Technician’s Trick

Here’s how a bench tech actually goes after a stubborn F18 when the official steps don’t cut it.

  • Unlock the carriage the sneaky way.
    Leave the top cover open. Turn the printer on. As soon as the carriage starts sliding out from its parked position, pull the power cord. Now the carriage is free to move by hand. Slide it left and right slowly and feel for any hard spots, scraping, or impacts.
  • Hunt the hidden scraps.
    Move the carriage all the way to one side and look behind where it normally parks. That back corner is where tiny paper shreds and label edges hide and mess with movement.
    • Use a flashlight and a pair of tweezers.
    • Pull out every scrap you can see, front and back of the carriage path.
  • Clean the encoder strip (the brain of positioning).
    Behind the carriage there’s a thin clear plastic strip with fine markings running the width of the printer. If it’s smeared with ink or grease, the carriage gets confused and throws errors.
    • Printer still unplugged.
    • Use a soft lint-free cloth or coffee filter lightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol.
    • Gently pinch the strip and wipe side-to-side along its length.
    • Don’t yank on it, don’t twist it, and don’t pop it out of the slots.
  • Check and slick the guide rail (only if it’s dry or sticky).
    The metal rod the carriage rides on should feel smooth.
    • If it’s bone dry or you hear squealing, put a tiny drop of light machine oil on a cotton swab.
    • Wipe a very thin film across the rod – no drips.
    • Slide the carriage side to side a few times to spread the oil.
    • Keep oil off the belt, rollers, and encoder strip.
  • Reboot after the surgery.
    Plug the printer back in, power it on, and let it do its startup dance. From the menu (if your model has one), run any “Reset”, “Restore Defaults”, or “Maintenance / Nozzle Check” function, then try another test print.
  • When it’s not a cleaning problem anymore.
    If you still get F18 and you’ve cleared the path, cleaned the strip, and the carriage feels smooth, you’re likely looking at:
    • Weak carriage motor
    • Bad position sensor / encoder reader
    • Failing main logic board
    Those are shop-level repairs. Not worth doing at home unless you’re already used to tearing printers down.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Error just started, printer is under ~4–5 years old, and it clears after a good clean and reset. No grinding, no burning smell, prints still look sharp.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: F18 comes and goes, but it’s a mid- or high-end Pixma (photo printer, office AIO). A professional cleaning or carriage repair might be worth it if you rely on its quality and features.
  • ❌ Replace: Cheap Pixma, out of warranty, constant F18, loud grinding or banging, or a repair quote that’s over half the cost of a new printer with fresh ink – cut your losses and upgrade.

Parts You Might Need

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.