Brother 'Unable to Print 0A': main board and head communication error

What causes it

• A power interruption or surge while the machine was running
• Ink contamination on the carriage contacts or the head cable connector
• A cartridge chip that cannot be read, stalling the start-up sequence
• Firmware damaged by an interrupted update
• Main board failure

How to fix it, in order

Work down the list and stop when the printer recovers. The steps are ordered from most likely and least invasive to last resort.

1. Do a full power reset on a wall socket

   Hold the power button until the display clears, unplug the machine at the wall and leave it disconnected for ten minutes. Plug it directly into a wall socket rather than an extension lead or a surge strip with several other devices on it. Marginal supply voltage produces intermittent start-up faults that mimic hardware failure.

2. Disconnect everything except power

   Unplug the USB cable and the telephone line if the model has a fax. Boot the machine completely standalone and see whether the code still appears. A faulty phone line or a USB port supplying odd voltage occasionally interferes with the start-up sequence on Brother multifunction machines.

3. Remove and inspect the ink cartridges

   Open the ink cartridge cover, press each release lever and take the cartridges out. Wipe the contacts on each cartridge and the corresponding contacts inside the machine with a dry lint-free cloth. Blot any pooled ink with kitchen towel. Refit each cartridge until the lever clicks shut.

4. Check the carriage moves freely

   With the machine unplugged, raise the scanner cover and slide the carriage along the rail by hand. It should glide with no grinding. If it is stuck at the parking station, put a few millilitres of warm distilled water on the capping pad and leave it fifteen minutes before trying again.

5. Try a firmware update over USB

   If the machine boots far enough to be recognised, connect it to a Windows or Mac computer by USB and run the Brother Firmware Update Tool or the full driver and software package, which includes an update check. This is the only route back for a machine whose firmware was damaged mid-update.

6. Note the timing of the error

   Power on and count. An error within the first second or two, with no carriage movement and no pump noise, points firmly at the board. An error that appears after the machine has moved suggests something mechanical is still in play and worth pursuing.

7. Test a second power outlet

   Try the machine on a socket on a different circuit, ideally in another room. If it boots normally there, the original supply was the problem and nothing inside the machine needs fixing, which is a much better outcome than assuming board failure.

Frequently asked questions