If your printer somehow tracks what ink cart is installed, it may error or stop as it expects OEM type ink carts from Kodak. Also, if you re-use the old cart, here you need to swap with yet another one, new or refill in order to break ink cart tracking or similar. Many newer printers provided they have the so-called "smart IC" buried in the replacement allows this action to take place. Thus, when you break the pattern it helps to resolve that. Also, re-use of ink carts again and again, if not refilled right, may cause enlarged ink holes which weren't intended for continuous use or sloppy refills either by bad quality ink or the damage is already done to the ink cart or carriage ink supply method.
Since, you mentioned the cost, yeah sometimes its better to move on if you had it for awhile. repeated failures just makes it so, especially if you do use new Kodak inks and the failure repeats itself. If a good cleaning doesn't clear this up or if your model# has some firmware resetting the printer condition status, get move on. Also, aftermarket inks can cause similar problems to any brand printer if you tend to buy the cheapest, they just do.
tada -----Willy 