Epson printer problem
 

I tried to print a letter today and it appears the Black cartridge on my C86 isn't working. I tried the nozzle clean without success and have now sent off dor a cleaning cartridge.

Any help gratefully received to fix this problem......If I cant what printer would you recommend.....I've had about 4 Epsons which seem to have got progressively worse so a change is on the cards!

Funnily enough I have a clogged up C86 here too after having a C84 that did the same thing. Seems to be typical on Epsons when they don't get used frequently.

I know the HPs are less prone to this as they use a different technology and HP claim the ink usage is lower too.

I've always preferred the output from Epson though but I think HP and Canon have closed right up now.


AllanB

Canon IP series :thumb:

I've got to say I'm pretty hacked off with Epson at the moment. They are brilliant when they work but I'm now wondering whether a cleaning cartridge will do the trick.

I shall be looking at CANON I think for my next printer :D

Download and install the excellent and free SSC Epson printer service utility tools:

http://www.ssclg.com/epsone.shtml

Then use this to sort all your problems , it does everything including resetting and clearing of "service required by Epson engineer" messages and the like. Really useful piece of software for Epson users.

Cheers Captain,

I did about 5 nozzle cleans which finally got it up and running again althought it wasted loads of ink in the process. I didn't have the benefit of the download then :(

I used the SSC utility the other weekend to clear an error code that was stopping the printer doing anything. :thumb:

John.

I use a Canon ip3000 now after having epsons for years. So much better, and the compatible cartridges are just as cheap. Wish I had seen the light long before now.

Epson Service
 

I am an Epson service centre and my first question is:

Are you using genuine Epson inks?

So far this month I have had 26 Epsons in.
24 of them had blocked heads and what a surprise the owners all use Copy cartridges.
The easiest way to clean them out is to use our Genuine Epson inks and after about 4 power flushes( our service software )the heads start to clear and work again.
I know there will always be the argument about how much Epson inks costs against copies but Epson have subserdised the price of the printers to reflect this.
Epson inks also have a lubricant and a cleaning solvent in them, copy inks dont.

If the machines under warranty pop it down to us, I will run it through our system.


John s:

If you printer stopped doing anything it was probably to do with the waste ink pad reaching satuation.
Basically there is a white pad under all epson printers and when cleaning heads etc it pumps the waste ink into this pad.
Epsons after so many pumps will put the printer in service mode.
We would check the condition of you pad and depending on the fullness of it depends on whether we can reset the counter.
Usually this can be reset once with no problem but check the pad before you do it again.

regards,

DAve.

people only buy epson BECAUSE they can get cheap copy carts IMO

Stickymicky,

If thats the case then when the heads dry up don't complain.

It would be like buying a scooby, running it on cheap oil and wondering why it doesnt perform or the engine blows up.
Trouble is they wouldn't cover that under warranty where as Epson will allows us to try head cleans under warranty for free and if required replace the printer.

So how come the canons don't clog with 80p cartridges ?

And how are epson allowed to sell cartridges at £9 each x 6 = £54 - £60 for a printer that costs £49.99 online ?

So we should bin the printer and buy a new one with the new carts instead :confused:

All the epson printers i've had, have have clogged on genuine carts. Well except the current r300, but that hasn't had genuine cart's siince the originals ran out.
Previous design's possibly more susceptible to dust ingestion than the r300?
And from what I recall 4 power flushes using genuine cartridges didn't leave alot left.
Also resetting the chip on the original r300 carts, resulted in the ink monitor showing about 1/3 left when they finally started to run out, so probably worked out still about 40% full when the empty/replace cartridge message appeared.

Lightning 101:

Epson printers are sold for less than manufactering costs, hopefully making their money back on inks.
Multipack inks are becoming available bringing the costs down.
Epson inks dont fade as quick as copy inks, but then most pirates dont worry about this.
How many of you get your Epsons serviced? it is mechanical ( you do a car )
Also you looked at Lexmark, how much their printers are compared to inks.

Krazy:

yes there is ink left in the cartridges but this is to help prevent air entering the heads.
Open up a jettec cartidge or a colourjet and see how much ink is left when their empty.

Anyway I not going to get into a whats better whats worse thread.
I have sold Epsons for over 10 years, genuine inks, copy inks and now I am also an Epson Express Centre.
I see what happens to the printers and I know that 90% of ones that come back to us after we put genuine inks back in & power flushed they work again.

You get what you pay for!