Should "cleaning the print nozzles" do anything with the color cartridge?

Tri color cartridge contains Cyan,Magenta & Yellow color inks, mono cartridge contain black ink, combination/mixing with these inks desired color out put will prints on paper.. If any one or more inks are missing/dried, result mis matched print outs on paper.
In your case I feel it's Magenta ink is not firing..,nozzles may clogged, try to clean the nozzles with solvents & try it...If no result ,. replace the color cartridge..

I had the same problem and was told by the store that sold it to me that some printer manufacturers do this on purpose as they make their most money on the ink they sell not the printer. I got rid of mine and purchased an ink jet black only printer as this is all I need anyway. A lot cheaper to use.

Make sure you are inserting genuine Lexmark cartridges.
Try to clean the cartridge nozzles. Refer to the steps below:

Cleaning the Print Cartridge Nozzles:

1. Open the Lexmark Solution Center. Click Start > Programs or All Programs > Lexmark 1300 Series. Select Solution Center.

2. From the Maintenance tab, click Clean to fix horizontal streaks.

3. Click Print. A nozzle page prints, forcing ink through the nozzles to clean the clogged nozzles.

4. Print the document again to verify that print quality has improved.

Using the control panel

1. Press Menu.

2. Press the down arrow button until you highlight Clean Cartridge.

3. Press Select. A nozzle page prints, forcing ink through the nozzles to clean the clogged nozzles.

4. Print the document again to verify that print quality has improved.

Try to clean the print cartridge nozzles. On your computer, open the Lexmark Solution Center by going to the Start menu > Programs / All Programs > Lexmark Z600 Series > click the Maintenance tab > under Select Maintenance tool, select Clean to fix horizontal streaks > click Print. The printer will then print a test page forcing ink through the cartridge nozzles and clean them.
If that doesn't help, remove the black cartridge and try to manually wipe the cartridge nozzles with a slightly moistened soft cloth to clean it from dirt and clogs. After wiping the nozzles, reinsert the cartridge into the printer. Print a document again to verify that the problem is fixed.
If the problem continues, try to insert a different known working black cartridge to identify if it's a faulty cartridge issue.
If you still need assistance, please contact Lexmark Technical Support Center.

Open printer properties.
Start --> Printers and Faxes --> (Right-click your printer and select properties)






Check whether you have selected 'Black & White' option for Color property in 'Printing Preferences' (in General tab) and 'Printing Defaults...' (in Advanced tab).


Set it to Color option.

Best of luck!

Here's what I found here:

http://www.lexmark.com/publications/pdfs/x5150/eng/ug.pdf

Cleaning the print cartridge nozzles
To improve print quality, you may need to clean the print cartridge nozzles.
Clean the nozzles when:
• Characters are not printing completely.
• White dashes appear in graphics or printed text.
• Print is smudged or too dark.
• Colors on print jobs are faded or they differ from the colors on the
screen.
• Vertical, straight lines are not smooth.
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You can use the operator panel or the Lexmark X5100 Series Solution
Center to clean the nozzles.
Using the operator panel
1 Load paper in the All-In-One. For help, see page 16.
2 Press Options until Cartridges appears on the display.
3 Press the right arrow until Clean appears on the display.
4 Press Select.
A nozzle page prints forcing ink through the nozzles to clean the
clogged nozzles.
5 Print your document again to verify your print quality has improved.
6 To further improve print quality, try wiping the print cartridge nozzles
and contacts (see page 44), and then print your document again.
7 If print quality has not improved, try cleaning the print cartridge
nozzles up to two more times.
Using the Lexmark X5100 Series Solution Center
1 Load plain paper in the All-In-One. For help, see page 16.
2 Click Start Programs Lexmark X5100 Series Lexmark X5100
Series Solution Center.
3 Click the Maintenance tab.
4 From the Maintenance tab, click Clean to fix horizontal streaks.
5 Click Print.
A nozzle page prints forcing ink through the nozzles to clean the
clogged nozzles.
6 Print your document again to verify your print quality has improved.
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7 To further improve print quality, try wiping the print cartridge nozzles
and contacts (see page 44), and then print your document again.
8 If print quality has not improved, try cleaning the print cartridge
nozzles up to two more times.
Wiping the print cartridge nozzles and contacts
If the print quality does not improve after cleaning the print cartridge
nozzles, dried ink may be on the nozzles or contacts. To wipe the print
cartridge nozzles and contacts:
1 Remove the print cartridges. For help, see page 38.
2 Dampen a clean, lint-free cloth with water.
3 Hold the cloth against the gold nozzle area for about three seconds.
Gently blot and wipe dry in one direction (this prevents the colors in
the color cartridge from mixing).
4 Hold a clean, damp section of cloth against the contacts for about
three seconds. Gently blot and wipe dry in one direction.
Nozzles
Contacts
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5 Let the nozzles and contacts dry completely.
6 Reinstall the print cartridges, and then print your document again.
7 If the print quality has not improved, try cleaning the print cartridge
nozzles up to two more times.
8 If print quality is still unsatisfactory, replace your print cartridges. For
help, see page 38.

Try:

• How do I check the amount of ink I have remaining?
• How do I display the remaining ink level indicator?
• What does it mean when the Black Ink or Color Ink LED is steady or flashes?

Follow each of these steps until the problem is resolved:

Print a printer self-test by holding the power button down with a pencil and opening and closing the top cover four times.
Check the nozzle self-test pattern in the self-test print out. If one or more of the solid rectangular areas are missing, an electrical contact problem may be present.
Remove and then reinsert the print cartridge(s) into the printer.
Print the document.
If the problem persists, follow the steps listed above for cleaning the print cartridges and print cartridge cradle.
Try printing again. If the problem continues, replace the print cartridges.

http://www.fixya.com/support/t5717191-hp_deskjet_6540_printer_yellow_light

empty black cartridge or faulty head

Our Dell AIO A940 stopped printing black ink. Tried so many things, and finally (a year later) got it to print by selecting:

PRINT, PROPERTIES, PAPER SETUP, SPECIALTY PAPER, PHOTO/GLOSSY

It's worth a try! Good luck!