Epson C43SX printhead going bonkers!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lyuda Smith
  • Start date Start date
L

Lyuda Smith

Hello group!

I'm new here, can someone lend some expertise?

I have an Epson C43SX (low-end, about $60 USD), in Kharkov. It's
worked perfect for 18 months until A FRIGGIN' HOUR AGO at a critical
time!! It began printing in the middle of the page, and went all the
way off the page to the right margin with a "click/whap" on each line.
That is, everything it printed was shifted to the right about 4
inches. Obviously, some alignment is outta-alignment.

Now when I turn it on, the head goes slowly to the extreme right and
goes click-click-...click. I turned it off/on, unplugged/plugged in,
moved the head manually left and right, etc.

Any suggestions how I can fix this?

Thanks,
Lyuda Smith
 
I believe there may be a way to reset the electronics but I'm not sure of
the sequence on your model.
I'll give you what I have on an Epson 740 EPROM reset, but if it doesn't
work I would be inclined to dump the printer and get a new one. Most likely
an electronics board has failed. Additionally you might go to the web and do
a search for your model.
I'm leaning towards Canon these days because of the increased clogging
problems Epson's Utrachrome inks are causing and inability to clear them.

For Epson 740
1. Turn printer off. 2. Disconnect printer from computer. 3. With printer
turned off, hold down both the Paper and the Cleaning buttons. 4. Continue
to hold the buttons and turn the printer on. 5. When the Paper light starts
to flash, release both buttons. 6. Immediately press the Cleaning button and
hold it down for at least 10 seconds (until all the lights begin to flash
and the printer will begin to reset). It did begin to reset in my case but
that wasnt followed by step 7. When the Power light is steady, the printer
should work.
 
Lyuda Smith said:
Hello group!

I'm new here, can someone lend some expertise?

I have an Epson C43SX (low-end, about $60 USD), in Kharkov. It's
worked perfect for 18 months until A FRIGGIN' HOUR AGO at a critical
time!! It began printing in the middle of the page, and went all the
way off the page to the right margin with a "click/whap" on each line.
That is, everything it printed was shifted to the right about 4
inches. Obviously, some alignment is outta-alignment.

Now when I turn it on, the head goes slowly to the extreme right and
goes click-click-...click. I turned it off/on, unplugged/plugged in,
moved the head manually left and right, etc.

Any suggestions how I can fix this?

Thanks,
Lyuda Smith
Click to expand...

Not sure whether this model has an encoder strip but if it has it is worth
cleaning it. If there is a strip it will run left to right immediately behind
the carriage (Head), the strip is usually transparent plastic with vertical
black lines on it and it actually runs through the carriage. Should be easy to
see if this printer has one, not all Epson printers do. If the strip has become
dirty the head can do very weird things. Clean it with Isopropyl alcohol or an
ammonia based cleaner and be careful not to pull on it too hard or it may
become detached from one end and in the worst case become damaged. I have seen
similar problems fixed this way even if the strip does not actually look dirty.
If this is not the cause then you probably have a main board failure that is
not wirth repairing.
Tony
 
Just to add to Tony's correct advice. If the printer don't have any strip
encoder (I'm not sure either), the carriage sense its place by a sensor
above the printhead at parking possition. Blow it with air.
Just a question to Tony, are you sure that isopropyl alcohol and/or ammonia
don't fade (discolor) the lines from the strip encoder? I would prefer tap
water instead, but may isopropyl or ammonia would be better.

--
Yianni
(e-mail address removed) (remove number nine to reply)


--
 
Fair comment, I have to say I have always used Isopropyl but most people
probably won't have it to hand and it is quite expensive. If water does the job
then that makes sense.
If there is contamination and it is ink then water will take it off fine, if it
is something less soluble then Alcohol may be needed but by all means try water
first, good call.
Tony
 
Fair comment, I have to say I have always used Isopropyl but most people
probably won't have it to hand and it is quite expensive. If water does the job
then that makes sense.
If there is contamination and it is ink then water will take it off fine, if it
is something less soluble then Alcohol may be needed but by all means try water
first, good call.
Tony
Click to expand...


Nothing seems to work. I'll take it to a repair shop tomorrow, Monday.
If I get a low-cost repair estimate, then good. If not, I'll just
trash it.

Thank you all for the help!

Lyuda
 
Yianniwrote:
[quote="Yianni"
Just a question to Tony, are you sure that isopropyl alcohol and/or ammonia
don't fade (discolor) the lines from the strip encoder?
Click to expand...

Can't say for ammonia but you do need be careful with isopropyl,
isopropanol.


I once used them on the striped reflector disc under the take-up
spools on a video that senses rotation for the tape counter and stops
the video incase of no take-up to stop the tape spewing out.

It rubbed all the black stripes off in one go, there was one under
the other spool carrier that wasn't being used, luckily it wasn't
used and all I had to do was to exchanged the two over, thanks for
the IR sensors.

Also it affects those silver painted items like TV and video cases
leaving the bear plastic underneath. Funny thing it does not affect
ALL items mentioned, suspect it's something to do with the paint or
finish. I do use it on black plastic without any problem to get all
the greasy finger marks off instead of soap and water.

Davy
 
Yianniwrote: [quote="Yianni"
Just a question to Tony, are you sure that isopropyl alcohol and/or ammonia
don't fade (discolor) the lines from the strip encoder?
Click to expand...

Can't say for ammonia but you do need be careful with isopropyl,
isopropanol.


I once used them on the striped reflector disc under the take-up
spools on a video that senses rotation for the tape counter and stops
the video incase of no take-up to stop the tape spewing out.

It rubbed all the black stripes off in one go, there was one under
the other spool carrier that wasn't being used, luckily it wasn't
used and all I had to do was to exchanged the two over, thanks for
the IR sensors.

Also it affects those silver painted items like TV and video cases
leaving the bear plastic underneath. Funny thing it does not affect
ALL items mentioned, suspect it's something to do with the paint or
finish. I do use it on black plastic without any problem to get all
the greasy finger marks off instead of soap and water.

Davy
Click to expand...

Davy
Yes you do have to be careful, the encoder strips on printers are invariably
made using a permanent imprinting process, not sure what that is but I have
never had trouble cleaning them. Other stuff you have to be careful with and I
should have mentioned that.
Tony
 
Try cleaning the head carriage guide bar with some rubbing (isopropyl)
alcohol. This is the thick chrome plated bar that the head carriage
rides on back and forth. AFter doing so, place a few drops of 3in1 or
sewing machine oil on the bar, especially near the bushings (the place
where the head carriage surrounds the bar) and se if that resolves anything.

Art
 
Try cleaning the head carriage guide bar with some rubbing (isopropyl)
alcohol. This is the thick chrome plated bar that the head carriage
rides on back and forth. AFter doing so, place a few drops of 3in1 or
sewing machine oil on the bar, especially near the bushings (the place
where the head carriage surrounds the bar) and se if that resolves anything.

Art

Lyuda Smith wrote:
Click to expand...

I "caved" and had it repaired, it took only a couple hours. I can't
see exactly what the repairman did. But the ribbon wire that connects
the printer to the printhead has been replaced. It appears where this
ribbon wire connects to the printer is new, too.

Works great!

Thank you all for the time and suggestions
 
Lyuda Smithwrote
quote="Lyuda Smith
But the ribbon wire that connect
the printer to the printhead has been replaced. It appears wher thi
ribbon wire connects to the printer is new, too.
Click to expand...

If the printer ribbon connection cable looks new, a good chance it ha
a new print head fitted, in the C60 series the ribbon cables part o
the print head assemble

Dav
 
Glad its working now. Hopefully it didn't cost too much for the repair.
I would be surprised that the ribbon cable or the connector failed. It
is very rare that occurs, but you never know...

Art
 
Lyuda Smith said:
I "caved" and had it repaired, it took only a couple hours. I can't
see exactly what the repairman did. But the ribbon wire that connects
the printer to the printhead has been replaced. It appears where this
ribbon wire connects to the printer is new, too.

Works great!

Thank you all for the time and suggestions
Click to expand...

With luck it will give you many years of good service. A most unusual failure
but it seems the shop knew what they were doing.
Tony
 
If the printer ribbon connection cable looks new, a good chance it had
a new print head fitted, in the C60 series the ribbon cables part of
the print head assembley

Davy
Click to expand...

This must be what was done. I used the utility to check printing/ink
flow quality, and check the alignment. Both were perfect, like new! I
don't know how to determine if the print head has been replaced. I
just see the result is like new.

Another question: I'm flying home to the U.S. for several months. I
don't want to givr my printer away, if I don't need to. If I take it
with me, will I be able to find ink in the U.S.? I've looked several
places, and don't see it. All google searches result in European ink
providers when I search for ink for a C43.

The Epson numbers are:
T038 Black Ink Cartridge C13T03814A
T039 Colour Ink Cartridge C13T03904A

Thanks,
Bob & Lyuda
 
The closest printers I see are the C42UX and C44UX

They both use the following cartridges:

T036120 T038
T037020 T039

They may well be the same cartridges with different numbers, as Epson
often does that.

However, your printer is likely running on a different electrical power,
so it may not work on US power unless it uses a switching power supply.

Also, low end Epson printers are so cheap in the US that it might be
cheaper to just buy a second one when you arrive, and then you wouldn't
need to transport it both ways. A C66 lists for $70 US with ink. I
don't think Epson is still selling the C4X printers in the US anymore.


Art
 
The closest printers I see are the C42UX and C44UX

They both use the following cartridges:

T036120 T038
T037020 T039

They may well be the same cartridges with different numbers, as Epson
often does that.

However, your printer is likely running on a different electrical power,
so it may not work on US power unless it uses a switching power supply.

Also, low end Epson printers are so cheap in the US that it might be
cheaper to just buy a second one when you arrive, and then you wouldn't
need to transport it both ways. A C66 lists for $70 US with ink. I
don't think Epson is still selling the C4X printers in the US anymore.


Art
Click to expand...

Art,

Thank you for the ink information. After more searching, I was able to
find compatible third party cartridges. The power input on the back of
the printer says 100V~240V 50~60hz. So it will work in the U.S..
Likely it will work world wide with only a blade adjustment for the
wall end of the power cord. This is so with all of my computer
equipment.

There is really little printing I must do here in Ukraine from my
home/apartment. I can have Lyuda print needed pages, if any, at her
office. To leave even an inexpensive $60-$70 printer here, and buy
another for my home in the U.S., is the same as throwing three $20
bills in the trash.

Bob & Lyuda
 
Just to confirm the printer will work on any supply between 100 - 240
50 or 60Hz, one good thing about the design is that it will work i
most countries that has a supply available, be it in Europe, UK, US
or Canada without having to 'sometimes' select the line voltage
usually on a slide switch near the power input socket

Dav
 
Just to confirm the printer will work on any supply between 100 - 240V
50 or 60Hz, one good thing about the design is that it will work in
most countries that has a supply available, be it in Europe, UK, USA
or Canada without having to 'sometimes' select the line voltage,
usually on a slide switch near the power input socket'
Click to expand...

I'm starting to notice that more and more electronic equipment is
comming with auto switching power supplies, as in no slide switch. It
makes sense really... esp since much of the production is in East Asia
and even the major countries don't share the same voltage or frequency.
Not always as 110V supplies are cheaper to make and North America is a
large enough market and a huge land area,
 
zakezukewrote
[quote="zakezuke
I'm starting to notice that more and more electronic equipment i
comming with auto switching power supplies, as in no slide switch. I
makes sense really...
Click to expand...

Stems from the golld old day's of using mains transformers to 'ste
down' or 'step up' the mains supply volatge. With switch-mode powe
supplies it's less of a problem than with using the primary windin
on a power transformer

Dav
 
Back
Top