Epson printer

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mick
  • Start date Start date
M

Mick

I have an Epson Stylus Colour 400 printer. It has been working fine
for a few years but has suddenly started printing black characters
with gaps in them appearing as white lines across the page. I have
tried changing the ink cartridge with no effect. This only applies to
black. Other colours are fine.

Everything I can find tells me that the jets are clogged and need to
be cleaned and that if the cleaning process does not fix the problem I
should clean them again. However, I have tried this many times with
no improvement.

How many times is it reasonable to try the cleaning? Any other ideas
please? TIA.
 
I've had to clean the heads about 10 to 12 times in a row. Also be sure you
turn the printer off at the power button on the printer. Dont turn it off at
a surge protector. The print heads need to be "parked" and this only happens
at the printers power switch. If you dont the print heads will get clogged.
(speaking from experience!). If that doesn't work consider buying a new
printer, they are cheap enough.
\
 
The final way is to use an old empty cartridge and fill it with cleaning
fluid and run that with the cleaning cycle. I did this with a friends Epson
400 and it cleared the blockage.. I forgotten what the recommended cleaning
fluid is but I'm sure any window cleaning fluid would do
Blair
 
Mick said:
I have an Epson Stylus Colour 400 printer. It has been working fine
for a few years but has suddenly started printing black characters
with gaps in them appearing as white lines across the page. I have
tried changing the ink cartridge with no effect. This only applies to
black. Other colours are fine.

Everything I can find tells me that the jets are clogged and need to
be cleaned and that if the cleaning process does not fix the problem I
should clean them again. However, I have tried this many times with
no improvement.

How many times is it reasonable to try the cleaning? Any other ideas
please? TIA.
Click to expand...


It is time to retire the old 400! The cost of refilling tanks of ink for
head cleaning will almost exceed the price of a newer, faster, more
advanced quality printer. Check out the C44UX printer.

If memory serves me your old 400 was a double 12+ digit picoliter
printer w/ 1440x 720. Check out a suggested $49 C44UX with 2880x720, 6
picoliter ink droplet. 3-4 times faster, 50%+ quiter, and improved
drivers for the newer photo priumfor the older 400. Check out:
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=33279426
 
Mick said:
I have an Epson Stylus Colour 400 printer. It has been working fine
for a few years but has suddenly started printing black characters
with gaps in them appearing as white lines across the page. I have
tried changing the ink cartridge with no effect. This only applies to
black. Other colours are fine.

Everything I can find tells me that the jets are clogged and need to
be cleaned and that if the cleaning process does not fix the problem I
should clean them again. However, I have tried this many times with
no improvement.

How many times is it reasonable to try the cleaning? Any other ideas
please? TIA.
Click to expand...

None. I had an Epson 400 - my first colour printer - paid about $350 for it.
Used it for years then gave it away to a colleague who used it for a few
more years. It died. It's not worth spending any time on. You can get a nerw
printer so cheaply these days - $69 or $99 and better than the 400.
 
Mick said:
I have an Epson Stylus Colour 400 printer. It has been working fine
for a few years but has suddenly started printing black characters
with gaps in them appearing as white lines across the page. I have
tried changing the ink cartridge with no effect. This only applies to
black. Other colours are fine.

Everything I can find tells me that the jets are clogged and need to
be cleaned and that if the cleaning process does not fix the problem I
should clean them again. However, I have tried this many times with
no improvement.

How many times is it reasonable to try the cleaning? Any other ideas
please? TIA.
Click to expand...

By 'cleaning' the printheads you are merely exacerbating the problem. All
the 'cleaning' cycle does is lay down more ink, on top of what's already
there, and makes the issue worse. You now have two choices: -

1) Take an empty cartridge, one of each colour, and fill with Windex.
Replace the carts you have in there with the Windex carts and alternate
running cleaning cycles/nozzle checks until the paper comes out clean. When
the paper is clean, remove the Windex carts and replace with BRAND NEW
ones - do NOT, under any circumstances, replace the ones you removed.

Print a nozzle check. If you don't see anything on the paper, run one
cleaning cycle, to get the ink flowing, and try a nozzle test again. That
should be all that's needed. You shouldn't need to run any more than two
cleaning cycles to get things going again.

2) If you don't wish to fill your own carts, there are a number of
outlets that offer cleaning carts. Just Google for 'inkjet cleaning
cartridges' - you're bound to find a myriad of companies selling them.
Simply replace your existing carts with the cleaning ones and proceed as
above.

Running a cleaning cycle can use as much as a fifth of a cartridge. It
should be used very sparingly - after all, ink is, obviously, money!
 
Thanks to everyone for all the replies on this. I had a reply from
Epson saying I should run two head cleaning cycles, power the printer
off, wait a minute, then power it on and do two cleaning cyles again.
I've done that whole process twice with a very small improvement but
it's not good. I have now ordered a cleaning cartridge to try that
next.
 
The cleaning cartridge did the trick, thank you! I'd recommend
www.e-inkjet.co.uk for quick service (and the Royal Mail for quick
delivery). Worked a treat. I even replaced the current black
cartridge and it seems to work fine (anyone know why this is not
recommended please?).
 
Hi Mick,

Chances are your Epson printer is experiencing nozzle clogging or
underhead ink buildup. The problem can occur after a while, especially
in drier climates, and it often cannot be fixed by standard head
cleaning cycles.

I would suggest you email me privately and request my Epson Cleaning
Manual. It is free for the asking, and it explains a simple and very
inexpensive set of instructions for cleaning under the head or to
explains how to make cleaning cartridges for next to nothing.

Email me at: artistic(at)telus(dot)net

Replace (at) with @
Replace (dot) with .

Art
 
Not everyone uses their printer(s) in a business or professional setting
where they can and maybe even must justify time versus costs.

Chances are there is nothing wrong with the 400 printer, although I
believe it was 720 x 720 dpi. However, the output is fine for many
applications, the printer does not require a chipped cartridge, which
keeps cost of refills or generics very low, and for many it's fast enough.

Also, keeping it out of the landfill saves more than direct dollars, it
saves the environment. Likely, this printer can be made nearly good as
new with a cleaning, and cleaning cartridges can be made for pennies.

Art
 
Just so others are aware, you can make your own for next to nothing from
old ink carts filled with ammoniated window cleaner. Or a mix of about
20% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol and the rest window cleaner.

Art
 
Back
Top