Is it a clog or a print head malfunction?

My photo-magenta has gone on the fritz. I went to make a photo print
yesterday, when I realized it was coming out bluish. A quick "nozzle check"
confirmed my suspicion that no ink was coming out of the p-magenta. A
couple of cleanings got it running again (although the grid for p-magenta on
the nozzle check was missing a few lines). I tried another print. It
started fine, then about an inch into the print, p-magenta crapped out
again. OK, new ink cartridge. I put it in, did a nozzle check, still no
go. I then did a deep cleaning (bye-bye ink) which restored the p-magenta
grid, again with the same missing lines, but the rectangle looked good. Try
a print. Same problem. It started fine, but the p-magenta stopped about
half-way into the print. I've been chasing my tail, here. It seems more
serious than a simple clog. No? Any ideas?

Thanks.
Steve

Canon does have a help line
a.. Toll-Free 90-Day Live Tech Support**:
Provides live telephone technical support for a period of 90 days from
your first call.
Call 1-800-828-4040, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 midnight ET,
Saturday 12:00 noon - 8:00 p.m. (excluding holidays)
b.. Technical support for products no longer under warranty:
Call 1-757-413-2848 ($9.99 per call), Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 12:00
midnight ET, Saturday 12:00 noon - 8:00 p.m. (excluding holidays)

"The Dude" <.> wrote in message
news:3fa7a863$0$21791$45beb828@newscene.com...

Yes. Of course. But I often find that usenet gives me more useful advice
than the nimrod reading off the help protocols on the tech support line.

"DF" <junkontheweb@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:S_Wpb.107735$Fm2.91821@attbi_s04...