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What To Do Before Changing The Ink Cartridge On Epson Printers
Epson printers are great when they're working properly but they do have a few little catches that you may run into if you're having problems. Unfortunately, Epson's customer service isn't always that helpful, often just referring you back to their website. Before changing the ink cartridge on Epson printers, there are a couple of things to try.
One of the things that can sometimes cause problems is that Epson uses a chip on their cartridges that "knows" when the cartridge runs out of ink. Aside from making it difficult to refill empty cartridges, these chips can also cause your printer to stop working if they ever get out of sync.
It does happen on occasion - the cartridge still has ink in it but because the chip "thinks" it's empty, the printer won't print. Most people don't realize this is the case and just wind up throwing the ink away and buying a new one.
Since they're selling a new cartridge as a result, I doubt Epson is too concerned!
There is no way to re-sync the chip with the actual ink in the cartridge through the Epson software. There is other Epson reset software available that can do this, however. Actually, it doesn't really sync the two it just resets the chip. Doing this means your ink level won't show properly in the printer settings and you will run out before it warns you, but it lets you use the last of the ink in the cartridge.
The software to do this is free and is available from http://www.ssclg.com/epsone.shtml. ** Note - we have nothing to do with this software and are not responsible for any problems you might have through its use. Read the instructions and make sure you fully understand it before using it. Also, there are some websites that sell this same software - it is supposed to be free so don't get taken in by anyone trying to sell it.
If you're having problems printing and suspect your ink cartridge may be empty, the other thing you should try before replacing it is running a head cleaning.
This is done through the maintenance section in Epson's printer software. The exact process varies from one model to another, but if you open up your Epson printer settings look for a "maintenance" or "tools" option, then head cleaning.
This will print a test page and flush out the nozzles in the printhead in the process. Sometimes these nozzles can get clogged which can have a similar result to running out of ink. This is especially true if your printer doesn't get used for several days or weeks at a time.
If the head cleaning doesn't work and you've tried resetting the chip (or decided you don't want to try) then it is likely time to replace the ink cartridge after all.
