Cricut cutting help (cutting vinyl)

[Kizziew]

[so my cricut expression is having trouble cutting vinyl. I've had problems with it off and on for the last 8 months or so.
#1- it doesn't always cut solid lines, sometimes (a lot) it cuts to where it looks like it's perforated instead of solid. (like this---- instead of ____)
#2 - It often (again, way more than I feel like it should) picks up the vinyl while it's cutting and carries it along with it (like it sticks to the blade?) while it's cutting the rest, therefore ruining my cut.

I've tried changing the blade, the speed and pressure, I've adjusted the blade depth, I used different vinyl, a new (and old!) cutting mat, turned it off then on again, done a hard reset, turned off the design program and started fresh...I'm running out of ideas and patience!
Any miracle fixes?!

EDITED TO ADD PICTURES - this is my cricut cutting vinyl earlier today

[Jax]

This may or may not help...

Clean the bottom of the blade carrier with Goo Gone or rubbing alcohol..sometimes it becomes sticky or dirty..found this out with doing a lot of vinyl cutting. Also sometimes it happens when you cut vinyl, paper and it's a smaller piece and leave the sticky of the mat exposed, it can drag across it an pick up glue.

I used to clean my blades with alcohol and sometimes the vinyl too.

Try a different blade setting for the curling. Sometimes it is either moving too fast or too slow...It took me a while messing with mine to get it right. Many times there is just no way to prevent it because the design is to intricate for the Cricut to cut..it happens.

Hope some of this helps.

EDIT:
Just saw the brayer comment below...that is a tool everyone should use...I didn't know about it until my wife let me borrow hers to get the vinyl onto the mat. Well needless to say "my" brayer (formerly hers) is the greatest tool in the world...

[wynnepam]

Also I would try putting a piece of scotch tape at each corner of the viny to help it stick to the mat a little more. I usually use the middle settings for the pressure and the speed and the blade depth (I use a 3).

[DogCarbon]

My only suggestion is to use a brayer to make the vinyl stick to it's backing good before you cut.

(or an old credit card)

[apday]

My mats are old and dirty right now, so I spray a little adhesive on the corners of the vinyl to hold it in place.

[gj1]

The entire blade housing assembly may be slightly bent.