Replacing an Expended Ink Cartridge

You can replace an ink cartridge using the printer buttons or using your computer. Refer to the appropriate section below for instructions.

Do not open the ink cartridge package until you are ready to install it in the printer. The cartridge is vacuum packed to maintain its reliability.

Using the printer buttons

The illustrations show replacement of the cyan ink cartridge, but the instructions are the same for all the cartridges.

Press the

stop/maintenance button. The print head moves to the ink cartridge replacement position and the

power light begins to flash. The expended ink cartridge appears in the replacement position. If two or more ink cartridges are expended, the cartridge at the far left moves to the replacement position.

Do not move the print head by hand, as this may damage the printer. Always press the

stop/maintenance button to move it.

Be careful not to touch the white flat cable inside the printer.

Do not hold the

stop/maintenance button for more than three seconds, or the printer may start cleaning the print head.

Be careful not to break the hooks on the side of the ink cartridge when you remove it from the package.

Do not touch the green IC chip on the side of the cartridge. This can damage the ink cartridge.

Always install an ink cartridge immediately after removing the old cartridge. If the cartridge is not installed promptly, the print head may dry out and be unable to print.

You must remove the yellow tape from the cartridge before installing it; otherwise, print quality may decline or you may not be able to print.

If you have installed an ink cartridge without removing the yellow tape, take the cartridge out of the printer, remove the yellow tape, and then reinstall it.

Do not remove the transparent seal from the bottom of the cartridge; otherwise, the cartridge may become unusable.

Do not remove or tear the label on the cartridge; otherwise, ink will leak.

Squeeze the tab at the back of the ink cartridge that you want to replace. Lift the cartridge straight up and out of the printer. Dispose of it properly.

Place the ink cartridge into the cartridge holder with the bottom down. Then push down the ink cartridge until it clicks into place.

If any of the other cartridges are expended, the print head moves and the expended ink cartridge appears in the replacement position. Repeat steps 4 to 9 to replace other expended ink cartridges.

This occurs each time you press the

stop/maintenance button until all expended ink cartridges have been replaced.

When all expended ink cartridges are replaced and the

stop/maintenance button is pressed, the print head returns to its home position, and the printer begins charging the ink delivery system. Ink charging takes about one and a half minutes to complete. When ink charging is finished, the

power light stops flashing and remains on, and the

error light goes out.

The

power light continues to flash while the printer is charging ink. Never turn off the printer while this light is flashing. Doing so can result in incomplete charging of ink.

If the

error light is on after the print head moves to its home position, the ink cartridge may not be installed properly. Press the

stop/maintenance button again, and then press the ink cartridge down until it clicks into place.

Using your computer

You can monitor the ink cartridge status from your computer and view on-screen instructions for replacing an expended ink cartridge.

When you need to replace an ink cartridge, click How to in the status monitor window. Follow the on-screen instructions to replace the cartridge.

For more information on using your computer to replace ink cartridges, see the section below.

See Using EPSON Status Monitor 3 (Windows)

See Using EPSON Status Monitor (Mac OS X)

If there is a communication problem between the printer and your computer, on-screen instructions for replacing the ink cartridge do not appear. In that case, you can continue replacing the ink cartridge by using the buttons on the printer.