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Ink Epson Troubleshooting

1 - How do I replace my Ink Cartridge?

2 - I got a replacement error message after installing a new Cartridge, why and what can I do?

3 - How come that my last cartridge did not last as long as my previous one?

4 - I forgot to remove the sealing tape from my cartridge. Will something happen? What should I do now?

5 - What does the chip do?

6 - There are colors that cannot be printed or blank pages, what can I do?

7 - The printer does not accept the cartridge, what is going on?

8 - Cartridge prints poorly or does not print at all

9 - The printer is printing the wrong colors

10 - How can I check my ink Level

11 - Why is the print quality bad and how can I solve this problem?

12 - When I try to print, I get a message that reads PRINTER IS OFFLINE. What is happening?

13 - If the color cartridge is empty, is it necessary to replace this cartridge if I want to print in black and white even if I have already selected “black and white” prints only? And what if I want to print in color and the black cartridge is empty?

14 - The color or black ink light is blinking or remains on, what does it mean?

15 - There are some colors in my image which are not correct, why?

16 - Nothing is printing, but the power light on my machine is on, why?

17 - My printout looks blurry or smeared, why?

18 - Other printing issues…

Other information that may help you

19 - How can I install my cartridge?

20 - How do I know which cartridges I should use?

21 - Should I try to print with my old ink cartridge after it is empty?

22 - My cartridge does not fit into my printer, why does this happen?

23 - Why do I get only white page prints and how can I solve this problem?

24 - I have got an error messages, what should I do?

25 - Why is my Cartridge printing streaky or with lines?

26 - My cartridge is leaking, what should I do?

27 - The cartridge is not accepted by the machine, what should I do?

28 - My cartridge is not being registered, why? How can I solve this problem?

29 - The cartridge prints poorly, or does not print at all, why does this happen and how can I solve this problem?

30 - There are colors missing, why does this happen? How can I solve this problem?

31 - The wrong colors are being printed, how can I solve this problem?

32 - Some colors are mixed or there is cross contamination, what should I do?

Back

1 - How do I replace my Ink Cartridge? (Back to Top)

To replace ink cartridges use the Control Panel or the Status Monitor utility.

Use the Control Panel

You will know when you need to change the ink cartridge through the printer indicator lights.

When the ink button starts blinking it is time to obtain a replacement ink cartridge.

When the ink button remains lit it is time to replace the ink cartridge.

In order to replace the ink cartridge, turn on the printer. The power light should be on, (not flashing.)

Open the printer cover and press the ink button. The print head will move to the replacement position. The power light will begin to flash, and the light will either flash or remain on, indicating that the ink cartridge needs to be replaced.

Press the ink button for no more than three seconds. If you press it for more than this time, a cleaning cycle will automatically run.

Do not force or move the print head with your hands: this could damage the printer. To move the print head press the ink button.

In the case your printer has got a LCD screen, when the ink is empty:

Check the message displayed on the LCD to see which cartridge is empty, and press the start button for the cartridge that needs to be changed.

If the ink is low:

Press the Setup Mode button and the A button repeated times until 5.ink cartridge is displayed on the LCD, and then press the start button for the cartridge that is getting low.

The cartridges will move to the replacement position.

Open the printer cover. Remember not to force the print head by hand since this could damage the machine.

Shake the new ink cartridge before you take it out from its package.

When you remove the cartridge from its package, make sure you dot to break the hooks that are on its sides.

Do not tear or remove the label on the ink cartridge (if you do so the ink will leak.)

Do not touch the cartridge green chip so as not to damage it.

In the case you need to remove a cartridge from the printer temporarily, make sure you protect the cartridge ink supply area from dirt and dust. The cartridge should be stored in the same environment as the inkjet printer. When storing the ink cartridge, make sure the label that identifies the cartridge color should be upwards. The function of the valve in the ink supply port is to contain any excess ink that is released. However, we recommend not touching the supply port of the cartridge or the cartridge surrounding area.

Open the cartridge cover.

Remove the cartridge you need to replace and get rid of it.

Do not remove the empty ink cartridge until you are about to replace the new one so as to prevent ink remaining in the print head nozzles from drying out.

Install the new cartridge into the cartridge holder. Then press down the top of the cartridge until it locks in place.

Close the cartridge cover.

When you finished replacing the cartridge, close both the cartridge and the printer covers.

Press the ink button. Then, the print head will move, and the printer will begin to charge the ink delivery system. The ink lights will start flashing. This process lasts about one minute. The print head will return to its home position when the ink charging process has finished. The power light will stop blinking and will remain on. The ink light will turn off.

The power light will continue to blink as the printer changes ink. Do not turn off the machine during this process.

Close the printer cover

2 - I got a replacement error message after installing a new Cartridge, why and what can I do? (Back to Top)

This occurs because the cartridge has not clocked in place correctly. Press the ink button and remove the cartridge. Try reinstalling the cartridge. Make sure you hear a click when you close the ink cartridge clamp. Don't try to force the cartridge into place if you don't hear a click; remove it and try installing it again.

3 - How come that my last cartridge did not last as long as my previous one? (Back to Top)

You may have changed your printer settings. Paper type, resolution and ink darkness will influence in the amount of pages you will be able to print. If the light on the printer began flashing meaning that you have to replace the cartridge, then you have used the proper amount of ink. Epson printers do not function by means of weighing cartridges, or recognizing the amount of ink in a cartridge. The ink monitoring is based on the number of times the jets have fired.

High resolution prints, frequent cleaning cycles, and switching on and off the printer, are different ways for your ink indicator to go down.

4 - I forgot to remove the sealing tape from my cartridge. Will something happen? What should I do now? (Back to Top)

If you have forgot to remove the sealing tape, unplug your printer. Gain access to your ink cartridge. Lift the top of the carriage in which the cartridge is sitting. Remove the sealing tape without removing the ink cartridge from the carriage if possible.

Close the top of the cartridge carriage and plug your printer. The machine will then perform a cleaning cycle.

After removing the tape, it is probable that you will have to perform as many as nine consecutive head cleaning cycles so as to remove excess air in the Epson cartridge.

If you use an ink cartridge without first removing its sealing tape, you will create a vacuum inside the ink cartridge. Air is supposed to be drawn up through the bottom of the ink cartridge, and if you do not remove the sealing tape, this will not happen. The air bubble inside the cartridge must be removed. For this reason consecutive head cleanings cycles have to be carried out.

5 - What does the chip do? (Back to Top)

Through this chip the amount of ink that each cartridge uses is monitored, so, if an ink cartridge is removed and reinstalled, all of its ink can still be used.

This chip determines when the ink cartridge is running out of ink. In this way, the chip protects the print head from damaging since once the chip has detected that the cartridge is low on ink, the machine automatically stops printing.

6 - There are colors that cannot be printed or blank pages, what can I do? (Back to Top)

Check to see if your printer model has got a light indicating low or no ink. If it has got a light of this kind and it is on, replace the cartridge.

If your machine is printing only blank pages, make sure that you are using the correct printer driver and you selected the correct paper size in the driver. If the machine is printing black only, it is probable that the ink option in the printer driver is set to Black instead of Color or the print software is set to print black only. It is possible that the ink nozzle of the print head is dirty or clogged. Print a nozzle check in order to examine the dot pattern. If you see gaps in the dot pattern, run a head cleaning cycle. In order to perform the cleaning cycle, gain access to the Utilities menu in the printer driver or to the printer control panel. Then, print a nozzle check one more time. If you still see gaps in the dot pattern, run another cycle (up to 6 cycles if necessary). If you have run the cleaning cycle several times and the inkjet printer still fails to print a particular color or you still get blank pages, you will have to replace the cartridge.

7 - The printer does not accept the cartridge, what is going on? (Back to Top)

The cartridge may not be placed correctly in the printer:

Take the cartridge out of the machine and make sure there are no obstructions preventing the cartridge from sitting properly in the machine. Reinstall the cartridge. Check that it is sitting straight in the machine and that it is properly secure in its slot.

There must be something wrong with the connection between the cartridge chip and the chip reader in the printer:

In order to ensure a good a connection, take the cartridge out of the machine. Then, clean the cartridge chip with isopropyl alcohol in order to ensure a good connection. Remove any debris that is on the area in the machine that reads the cartridge chip, by blowing or with canned air.

Check the cartridge electronic chip is not damaged

Prevent bumping them and dropping them: the cartridge electronic strips are very sensitive and they can get easily damaged. They can get damaged even with one of your fingers. As there is no repair for this, you will have to get a new cartridge.

8 - Cartridge prints poorly or does not print at all (Back to Top)

Check the ink is flowing through the print head:

Make sure you have removed the sealing tapes on the cartridges. If you do not see the electrical contacts on the cartridge, the plastic seal has not been removed.

Sometimes cartridges need some help to work after being bounced around during shipment. In order to solve this problem, dampen a paper towel with hot water and hold it against the print head for 5 to10 seconds. Then, rob the damp paper towel on the print head a few times. Dry the print head with a dry paper towel. When rubbing the dry paper towel across the print head you should have yellow, blue, and red lines for a color cartridge, or a black line for a black one, showing up on the towel: this means the cartridge should work. Repeat this activity a few times to open up all the print head jets.

If the above has not solved the problem, take a dry piece of paper towel and rub it rapidly on the print head in order to warm it up so as to free up the jets in the print head and allow the ink to flow properly.

If you still get poor prints, the print heads in your machine may need cleaning: Run your printer print head cleaning cycle-refer to your owner's manual for assistance. If the problem is solved after doing this, then you do not need to do anything else. If the problem is not completely fixed but you see improvement in your prints, you should run the routine again until the problem is solved

It is possible that your machine has an air bubble problem

Tap the top of the ink cartridge and let it set for some time so that the air bubble works its way out via gravity.

If you do not see improvements, take the cartridge out of the machine and drip some ink into the inlet port in the printer using a needle and syringe (you can buy these elements.) Reinstall the cartridge and try printing again. Repeat this procedure as many times as necessary until the air bubbles in your machine are removed.

The cartridge may not be getting enough air to release the ink. Make sure that the pull tab area on the cartridge is not obstructed.

It is necessary that this area remains open so that air is allowed into the top of the cartridge and the ink is released through the exit port. If this area is obstructed, ink will not be released from the cartridge due to a vacuum in the cartridge.

It is possible that the cartridge is damaged

Your printer may not be printing because your cartridge is damaged. First of all, if your cartridge is damaged you will need to get a new one. At all times protect the print head-while the cartridge is out of your machine and even when you install it. It is highly recommended to use a cartridge tape strips for this purpose. They protect the print head from damaging and the silicone block on them keeps the print head moist.

Prevent bumping them and dropping them: the cartridge electronic strips are very sensitive and they can get easily damaged. They can get damaged even with one of your fingers.

Regarding the sponge inside the cartridge, when the cartridge has been sitting for a long time this sponge dries up and becomes useless.

9 - The printer is printing the wrong colors (Back to Top)

The cartridges may be placed in the wrong slots:

Check the cartridges are placed in the correct slot. If there are no instructions on where the cartridges should be placed within your machine, you will need to look in your owner's manual.

There must be some obstructions such as dried ink or debris that prevent the ink from flowing through the print head in the machine.

To solve this problem, clean the print head:

Run your printer print head cleaning routine. If the problem is not completely fixed but you see improvement in your prints, run the routine again up to four times

10 - How can I check my ink Level (Back to Top)

For Mac users:

Click on the Utility icon which is at the print dialog box.

Select the Epson Status Monitor. The Utility menu will appear and you will be able to check the levels of the remaining ink in the cartridges.

Utility Menu

For PC’s:

Click on the Properties button. Then Click in the Utilities Tab and select the Epson Status Monitor. Then, click on the Consumables Tab, and an image indicating the levels of remaining ink in the cartridges will appear.

11 - Why is the print quality bad and how can I solve this problem? (Back to Top)

Make sure your cartridges are not low on or out of ink

If your printouts present horizontal banding or they are faint or have gaps in the images, you need to clean the print heads in order to ensure the print head nozzles are not clogged. Cleaning the print head consumes ink, so perform cleaning cycle only if necessary.

In order to clean the print heads:

For Mac users:

Click File, then Print, and click on the Utility icon. Then, you will see the Utility menu.

Click on the “Nozzle Check” icon in order to check if any nozzles are clogged. Follow the instructions until your machine finishes testing the nozzles. If there are faint areas on your printouts, run a cleaning cycle using the Head Cleaning utility. If the printouts are alright, click “Finish”.

In order to use this utility, click on the Head Cleaning icon and follow the instructions on how to clean the print head. You will have to wait a few minutes until the cleaning process finishes. Noises from the printer are normal. The power light will blink while the machine is cleaning.

Run a ”Nozzle Check” by clicking “Confirmation” to check if the cleaning has been effective or not. Afterwards, click Next.

Click Finish if the “Nozzle check” patterns prints correctly. If it doesn’t, perform another cleaning cycle.

Another way to start the cleaning cycle is by pressing and holding down the cleaning button on the control panel for 3 seconds.

For PC’s:

Click File and then Print. Click on the Properties button and then on the Utility tab. You will see a listing of utilities.

Click on the “Nozzle Check” icon in order to check if any nozzles are clogged. Follow the instructions until your machine finishes testing the nozzles. If there are faint areas on your printouts, run a cleaning cycle using the Head Cleaning utility. If the printouts are alright, click “Finish”.

In order to use this utility, click on the Head Cleaning icon and follow the instructions on how to clean the print head. You will have to wait a few minutes until the cleaning process finishes. Noises from the printer are normal. The power light will blink while the machine is cleaning.

Run a ”Nozzle Check” by clicking “Confirmation” to check if the cleaning has been effective or not. Afterwards, click Next.

Click Finish if the “Nozzle check” patterns prints correctly. If it doesn’t, perform another cleaning cycle.

Another way to start the cleaning cycle is by pressing and holding down the cleaning button on the control panel for 3 seconds.

If your printouts present vertical banding or they are grainy or blurry and smeared, use the “Print Head Alignment” utility in the printer software:

For Mac users:

Click File and then Print, and click on the Utility icon, and you the Utility menu will appear.

Make sure the print head nozzles are not clogged by using the “Nozzle Check” and/or the “Head Cleaning utility”. Click on the “Print Head Alignment” icon, and follow the instructions given in order to print a test page.

From the printed choices on the test page, chose the most accurate alignment pattern and the number of the most aligned pattern from the list that follows. Then, click finish.

For PC’s:

Click File and then Print. Click Properties and on the Utility tab and a listing of utilities will appear.

Make sure the print head nozzles are not clogged by using the “Nozzle Check” and/or the “Head Cleaning utility”. Click on the “Print Head Alignment” icon, and follow the instructions given in order to print a test page.

From the printed choices on the test page, chose the most accurate alignment pattern and the number of the most aligned pattern from the list that follows. Then, click finish.

12 - When I try to print, I get a message that reads PRINTER IS OFFLINE. What is happening? (Back to Top)

This means that your printer is running out of ink. You will need to replace the cartridge in order to print and to clear the error message.

If one of the cartridges is empty (the outer lights on the printer will indicate you which one is empty), the printer will set "offline" and you won’t be able to print. If the color ink light is blinking, the printer will still print in black for a little while, but we recommend replacing the cartridge as soon as possible. The same happens if your color cartridge is not empty but the black one is: you will not be able to print in color.

14 - The color or black ink light is blinking or remains on, what does it mean? (Back to Top)

If the light is blinking, the ink is getting low and the cartridge will have to be replaced soon. If the light remains on, this means that the cartridge is empty and you will need to replace it so as to continue printing. Make sure you take off only the yellow sealing tape from the top of the cartridge you install into the machine.

15 - There are some colors in my image which are not correct, why? (Back to Top)

The colors on your printouts cannot exactly match the ones on your monitor since the monitor and the printer use different types of technologies to represent colors.

If you think that is not the problem, make sure that the ink setting in the printer driver is set to color and not to black and that the Media Type setting and the paper you have loaded matches. Let the printer driver choose other settings for the best quality automatically. Remove the paper and reload it to make sure it is correctly loaded (printable side facing up). Another option is to adjust several color settings in your printer driver and your application software to correct color problems in the image.

It is possible that the ink nozzle of the print head is dirty or clogged. Print a nozzle check in order to examine the dot pattern. If you see gaps in the dot pattern, run a head cleaning cycle. In order to perform the cleaning cycle, gain access to the Utilities menu in the printer driver or to the printer control panel. Then, print a nozzle check one more time. If you still see gaps in the dot pattern, run another cycle (up to 6 cycles if necessary). If you have run the cleaning cycle several times and the inkjet printer still fails to print a particular color or you still get blank pages, you will have to replace the cartridge.

16 - Nothing is printing, but the power light on my machine is on, why? (Back to Top)

Turn the printer and computer off. Make sure all cables are securely connected. Turn on the printer and try to print again. If the problem has nothing to do with the cables, turn off both your printer and computer. Unplug the interface cable and then, run a self-test. If this works, check the application software for correct installation. Check if your computer memory is capable of handling the data in the print file. To reduce the resolution of your image, use fewer colors. If you still have problems and you are using Windows, check the “Spool Manager” to see whether it is on hold or if there are delayed print jobs. In the case you are using a Macintosh, make sure that your Spool Folder is empty. If the machine prints blank pages, it is possible that the ink nozzle of the print head is dirty or clogged. Print a nozzle check in order to examine the dot pattern. If you see gaps in the dot pattern, run a head cleaning cycle. In order to perform the cleaning cycle, gain access to the Utilities menu in the printer driver or to the printer control panel. Then, print a nozzle check one more time. If you still see gaps in the dot pattern, run another cycle (up to 6 cycles if necessary). If you have run the cleaning cycle several times and the inkjet printer still fails to print a particular color or you still get blank pages, you will have to replace the cartridge.

17 - My printout looks blurry or smeared, why? (Back to Top)

Make sure that, for regular paper, the thickness is set to 0 and for thicker media, such as envelopes, above 0. Check the paper is not damp. The printable side of the paper should be facing up. If you are using media which require a support sheet, load one sheet at a time. Check the Media Type setting in the printer driver to see it matches the paper or media loaded.

18 - Other printing issues… (Back to Top)

I get blurry printouts

The print head may be clogged. Gain access to the Utilities menu in the printer driver or from the printer control panel and clean the print head using the head cleaning utility.
The paper is not appropriate and it may be absorbing too much ink. Try using a less absorbent paper (coated paper, for example).

I get blotchy printouts

The print head of the printer may be clogged. Gain access to the Utilities menu in the printer driver or from the printer control panel and clean the print head using the head cleaning utility.
The paper surface may be irregular and absorbs ink in an unevenly way. Change your current paper for paper (without folds or curvature). If the problem persists, use paper with lower absorption (coated paper, for example).

19 - How can I install my cartridge? (Back to Top)

When either the black or color ink out light flashes, this means that the indicated cartridge is low on ink. You can install the cartridge when this light is flashing or when it is on.

In order to change the cartridge:

A.   You have to make sure that the printer is on and the front paper tray is pulled down, and only then you can

      open the printer cover.

B.   Press the cleaning button (see Figure) holding it for a few seconds until the print head moves and the power

      light begins to flash. Do not move the print head with your hands to avoid damaging the printer.

C.   Pull the cartridge clamp until it clasps and the cartridge will rise up from its holder. Do not remove half-used

      cartridges unless you want to replace it. Once you have taken a cartridge out, you cannot put it back into the

      printer even if it is not empty.

D.   Get the cartridge out of the printer and get rid of it

E.   Before you place the new cartridge, remember to remove the yellow part of the sealing tape. Do not remove

      the blue part or the clear seal that is underneath the cartridge.

F.   Place the new ink cartridge into the holder. Make sure the label faces up and towards the back of the printer.

G.   Press down the cartridge clamp until it locks in place.

H.   Press the cleaning button and close the printer cover. The print head will move and the printer will begin

      charging the ink delivery system. The power button will flash and make

      sounds. When the charging process, which generally takes a couple of minutes, is over, the power light will

      stay on.

20 - How do I know which cartridges I should use? (Back to Top)

Look on the cartridge for your inkjet model number. You can find out which cartridge you need in our inkjet section.

21 - Should I try to print with my old ink cartridge after it is empty? (Back to Top)

It is recommended not to. When printer is set to print, it heats a small amount of ink, which is then jetted onto the paper. The resistors, which heat the ink, are cooled by the ink. So, if there is not ink, the resistors overheat and, when this occurs, they burn out shortening the life of the print head. Change the cartridge when the ink warning light glows for this not to happen.

22 - My cartridge does not fit into my printer, why does this happen? (Back to Top)

There should be a temporary plastic seal attached to the cartridge. This seal helps to protect the cartridge from leaking during transit. When you are about to install a new cartridge, make sure this seal has been removed. If this was not the problem, check you have got the correct cartridge model for your printer.

23 - Why do I get only white page prints and how can I solve this problem? (Back to Top)

One of the possible causes of this problem is that the tape has not been removed from the print head. Another possibility is that there is air trapped inside the cartridge. Make sure the tape covering the print head has been removed. If there is air in the cartridge, wrap it in an absorbent towel and shake it lightly.

24 - I have got an error messages, what should I do? (Back to Top)

This might happen because the electrical contacts on the cartridge or the part of the printer where the electrical contacts meet are dirty. Clean the contacts with a towel dipped in alcohol or household degreaser in a circular motion in order not to damage the edges of the cartridge contact ribbon.

I have got an error message that reads: "CARTRIDGE ERROR" or "CARTRIDGE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, what should I do?

This error messages pop out when there is ink residue on the cartridge contact points. Poor electrical contacts are also a possible cause of printer errors. Clean the cartridge and the printer contacts with a towel dipped in alcohol or a household degreaser in a circular motion.

When you install the cartridge into the printer, place the cartridge into the holder and make sure it is seating properly by wiggling it. Then lock it into place.

Sometimes, this error messages appear because a resistor inside the cartridge have burn out. In this case, the cartridge cannot be fixed and it must be replaced.

I have got an error message that reads: "CARTRIDGE EMPTY", what should I do?

In the case that you get no messages but there is a blinking light on your printer, which indicates that it is out of ink, and you have already installed a new cartridge, make sure the cartridge contact points are clean and free from any residue or grime.

If an error message reading “Cartridge Empty” has popped out, the printer control software may have not been reset or told that a new cartridge was installed.

The function of this printer software is to measure the cartridge ink fullness level. There is not a device inside the cartridge or the printer that measures the ink level. Instead, there is a determined amount of pages that a cartridge can print. This software is the one in charge of “controlling” the amount of pages that have been printed since the last cartridge was installed, and estimating when the cartridge will be empty. When you change the cartridge, make sure you have reset the printer driver; otherwise, the software will be still using the old cartridge data. This is why, even when you have installed a new cartridge, an error message saying low ink or empty will appear.

25 - Why is my Cartridge printing streaky or with lines? (Back to Top)

It is possible that the printer contacts are worn or dirty. Another possibility is that the print head is partially clogged.

Remove the print head assembly or cartridge with print head from the printer. Hold it with a paper towel lightly damped with warm distilled water in one hand. With your other hand, blot the print head by pressing it into the towel a couple of times. This way, you will remove any dried ink on the print head surface. There should be a uniform, solid ink pattern on towel.

If this does not solve the problem, place the cartridge into a shallow saucer of hot distilled water for around 5 to10 minutes so as to help loosen the dried ink on the ink jets. Then, try blotting it again. If there is a uniform, solid ink pattern on towel, dry off the cartridge and put it back in the printer.

The ink may appear lighter because of the water. In order to clear it out, a few blots and a test page will help.

26 - My cartridge is leaking, what should I do? (Back to Top)

It is possible that the internal pressure is unbalanced. Rest the cartridge on a paper towel with the print head downwards, and allow excess ink to balance.

While shipment the cartridge may remain upside-down for a long time, or it may experience higher than normal altitude pressure. These are also likely causes to leaking problems. If your cartridge is leaking, it up with water and paper towels. Even if it looks as if the cartridge has lost a great amount of ink, it most likely still full and should print fine.

27 - The cartridge is not accepted by the machine, what should I do? (Back to Top)

Remove the cartridge from the printer and then run the head cleaning cycle. Make sure that the plastic sealing tape has

been entirely removed, and that the electronic strip or chip is clean by wiping it off with a towel damped with isopropyl

alcohol. Power on the printer and re-install the cartridge and then, power off the printer for 60 seconds.

28 - My cartridge is not being registered, why? How can I solve this problem? (Back to Top)

This occurs because your printer or computer is not recognizing the cartridge. Make sure that tape from the print head is removed. With a paper towel, wipe the cartridge print head and printer circuitry to ensure there is no debris. Then, power off the printer. Unplug power cord and other cables and, after 30 seconds plug cords and cables back in.

29 - The cartridge prints poorly, or does not print at all, why does this happen and how can I solve this problem? (Back to Top)

Make sure you have removed the sealing tapes on the cartridges. If you do not see the electrical contacts on the cartridge, the plastic seal has not been removed.

Sometimes cartridges need some help to work after being bounced around during shipment. In order to solve this problem, dampen a paper towel with hot water and hold it against the print head for 5 to10 seconds. Then, rob the damp paper towel on the print head a few times. Dry the print head with a dry paper towel. When rubbing the dry paper towel across the print head you should have yellow, blue, and red lines for a color cartridge, or a black line for a black one, showing up on the towel: this means the cartridge should work. Repeat this activity a few times to open up all the print head jets.

If the above has not solved the problem, take a dry piece of paper towel and rub it rapidly on the print head in order to warm it up so as to free up the jets in the print head and allow the ink to flow properly.

If you still get poor prints, the print heads in your machine may need cleaning: Run your printer print head cleaning cycle-refer to your owner's manual for assistance. If the problem is solved after doing this, then you do not need to do anything else. If the problem is not completely fixed but you see improvement in your prints, you should run the routine again until the problem is solved.

If the cleaning cycle does not help the situation, clean the print head in your machine manually: remove the cartridge from the printer. Inject cleaning solution (there is a solution for printers) into the inlet port in the printer for the color that is not printing properly. Place the cartridge back into the machine at once. The cleaning solution should sit in the inlet port for at least 20 minutes so that it breaks down the clog. Sometimes it takes more than 20 minutes, or even numerous iterations of this process to remove the debris from the print head. If necessary, let the cleaner sit in the inlet port overnight.

Some cartridges have a vent at the top through which air passes to disperse the ink for printing. Make sure these air vents are not blocked by anything. If the ink is not dispersed properly the ink will print for a short time and then stop, you will get poor prints, or you will get white pages.

30 - There are colors missing, why does this happen? How can I solve this problem? (Back to Top)

If there are colors missing it is probable that there is an air bubble trapped inside the cartridge between the print head and the ink, preventing proper ink flow. When this occurs we say that the print head has been deprimed. Try running the cleaning cycle with your printer utilities program. If this does not work, shake the cartridge with a paper towel over the end in order to burst the air bubble. Repeat the cleaning cycle 2 or 3 times if necessary. If you have done this many times already and have not succeeded, dampen a paper towel with hot distilled water.

Then, place it on the print head and hold it with your fingers. Shake the cartridge 2 or 3 times quickly and firmly downwards in order to drive the ink toward the print head. Blot the cartridge by holding the paper towel with one hand and press the print head into it with the other. All colors should appear in uniform size. If they do not show up, shake it again 3 or 4 times.

Another way to prime the print head is to blow a little air through the vent hole which is on the top of the cartridge in order to expel a small amount of ink-this will force the ink to go down to the bottom of the cartridge. Afterwards, blot the cartridge again.

When storing cartridges, make sure the print head side faces down, this way they will keep primed. Even though the shelf life is longer, do not store cartridges for periods longer than 6 months.

31 - The wrong colors are being printed, how can I solve this problem? (Back to Top)

Run your print head cleaning cycle on your machine. Print some test so as to check if the colors are correcting themselves. If the output is improving, repeat the cycle until the problem is solved.

If your printer takes individual cartridges for each color, check if each cartridge is in the proper slot. If your printer does not specify the proper position for each cartridge, check your owner's manual.

32 - Some colors are mixed or there is cross contamination, what should I do? (Back to Top)

In order to fix this problem, set the cartridge with its print head downwards onto folded moistened paper towel for around 5 minutes, and then re-install it into your printer.

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