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Problem Solver

Print Quality Problems

Horizontal banding
Vertical misalignment or banding
Color gaps
Incorrect or missing colors
Blurry or smeared printout
Print quality does not improve after head cleaning

If you are having print quality problems, first perform a . Then, compare your test printing with the illustrations below. Click the caption under the illustration that best resembles your printout.

Horizontal banding

Vertical misalignment or banding

Horizontal banding

Vertical misalignment or banding

Color gaps

Incorrect or missing colors

Blurry or smeared printout

Horizontal banding

Try one or more of these solutions:


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Vertical misalignment or banding

Try one or more of these solutions:


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Color gaps

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Incorrect or missing colors

Try one or more of these solutions:


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Blurry or smeared printout

Try one or more of these solutions:

Warning:
Be careful not to touch the gears inside the printer.

Caution:
Be careful not to wipe the print head guide rail.


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Print quality does not improve after head cleaning

If the quality of your printouts remains poor even after repeatedly cleaning and aligning the print head, one or both of the ink cartridges may be old or damaged and should be replaced.

To replace an ink cartridge before the Status Monitor notifies you that the cartridge is empty, use the printer's control panel as described below.

Make sure that printer is on. The  power light should be on, but not flashing.

Open the printer cover.

Hold down maintenance button for 6 seconds. The print head moves to the black ink cartridge replacement position.

Caution:
  • Do not move the print head by hand, as this may damage the printer. Always press the  maintenance button to move it.
  • When replacing ink cartridges, be careful not to touch the cartridge sensor shown below.

If you want to replace the black ink cartridge, open the ink cartridge clamp, then lift the cartridge out of the printer and dispose of it properly.

If you want to replace the color ink cartridge only, press the maintenance button again without opening the black ink cartridge clamp. The print head moves to the color ink cartridge replacement position. Open the ink cartridge clamp and lift the cartridge out of the printer.

Warning:
If ink gets on your hands, wash them thoroughly with soap and water. If ink gets into your eyes, flush them immediately with water. If discomfort or vision problems remain after a thorough flushing, see a doctor immediately. Do not take the used cartridge apart or try to refill it.

Remove the new ink cartridge from its protective bag. Next, remove only the yellow tape seal from the cartridge.

Place the ink cartridge into the ink cartridge holder. Do not apply excessive force to the cartridge.

Close the ink cartridge clamp until it locks into place. If you are replacing both cartridges, press the maintenance button to switch to the color ink cartridge replacement position, and replace the cartridge as explained above.

When you are finished replacing cartridges, close the printer cover.

Press the maintenance button. The printer moves the print head and begins charging the ink delivery system. This process takes about thirty seconds to complete.

When the ink charging process is finished, the printer returns the print head to its home position, the power light stops flashing and remains on, and the error light goes off.


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Version 1.00E, Copyright © 2002, SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION