Canon error E08 (ink absorber almost full)
E08 on the LED display is the warning that the ink absorber is nearly full, equivalent to support code 1700 on printers with screens. The absorber collects waste ink from cleaning cycles, and when the count reaches 100 percent the printer will stop with E08 becoming a fatal error (often shown as the power and alarm lamps flashing together, or support code 5B00 in the app). At the warning stage you can continue by pressing OK.
What causes it
- Years of cleaning cycles
- Frequent deep cleaning
- Running the printer from a switched socket so it cleans at every power-on
- Borderless printing
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.
Press OK or Resume to continue
At the warning stage the printer resumes after you press the button. The warning returns at each power-on.
Reduce waste ink
Leave the printer plugged in and on standby. Avoid deep cleaning unless a nozzle check shows gaps. Print with margins rather than borderless.
Prepare for the full stop
When the counter reaches 100 percent the printer locks. Decide whether to replace the pads and reset the counter, have Canon service it, or replace the printer.
Replace or wash the absorber pads
Unplug the printer, remove the base cover or rear access as described for your model, take out the felt pads, wash and dry them fully or fit new ones, and reassemble.
Reset the absorber counter
Enter service mode (printer off, hold Stop, hold Power, release Stop, press Stop five times, release Power), connect by USB and use the Canon service tool to clear the main ink counter. Turn the printer off and on.
Stopping it happening again
When it is not worth fixing yourself
If you would rather not work through this alone, a printer specialist can take a look with you on a screen-share and tell you honestly whether the machine is worth saving.
Printers that show this code
Frequently asked questions
How much longer can I print after E08 appears?
Typically a few hundred pages of normal use, depending on how many cleaning cycles run. Treat it as a warning to plan ahead.
Is E08 the same as 5B00?
E08 is the near-full warning. 5B00 is the full condition that stops the printer. The same absorber is involved.
Does resetting the counter without replacing pads cause problems?
Eventually waste ink overflows the pads and leaks from the base of the printer. Wash or replace the pads before resetting.
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