 |
 |
|
||
 |
||||
Problems and Solutions
Most problems you may encounter while operating your printer have simple solutions.
You can check the operation of your printer using the self test. See Printing a Self Test. If the self test works properly the problem probably lies in the computer, the application software, or the interface cable. If the self test does not work, contact your dealer or a qualified service person for assistance.
Power supply
Power is not being supplied
|
The lights come on briefly and then go off. The lights stay off even when the power is turned on again.
|
|
|
Cause
|
What to do
|
|
The voltage ratings of the printer and electrical outlet may not match.
|
Check that the printer’s voltage rating matches the voltage of your electrical outlet. If the voltages do not match, unplug the printer and contact your dealer immediately. Do not reconnect the power cord to an electrical outlet.
|
|
The printer does not work and the control panel lights are off even when you turn on the printer.
|
|
|
Cause
|
What to do
|
|
The power cord is not properly plugged into the electrical outlet or your printer.
|
Turn off the printer, and make sure the power cord is firmly plugged into the electrical outlet and the printer, if necessary. Then turn on the printer.
|
|
The electrical outlet does not work.
|
Use a different outlet.
|
Printing
Printing or printout quality problems
|
The printer is on but it doesn’t print.
|
|
|
Cause
|
What to do
|
|
The interface cable is broken or twisted.
|
Check that the interface cable is not broken or twisted. If you have another interface cable, replace the cable and check whether the printer works correctly.
|
|
The printer is not connected directly to your computer.
|
When you use a printer changer, printer buffer, or a extension cable, the printer does not print correctly due to the combination of these devices. Make sure that the printer works correctly when it is connected to your computer without these devices.
|
|
The printer driver is not installed correctly.
|
Check that the printer driver is installed properly. If necessary, reinstall the printer driver.
|
|
Paper is jammed or the ribbon or guard mechanism is stuck.
|
Turn the printer off, open the printer cover and remove the jammed paper or things that are stuck. To eject the jammed paper, see Clearing a Paper Jam.
|
|
The USB setting is incorrect.
|
Confirm the USB setting is correct. See Correcting USB Problems for details.
In addition, confirm that the Target Printer Mode is set to EPSON Printer and the software setting is set to ESC/P2.
|
|
The printer is hung-up (stopping in abnormal situations).
|
Turn the printer off and wait for a while. Then, turn the printer on again, and start printing.
|
|
The cable used in the WNI 4915 mode is not the one shipped with the printer.
|
Ensure that the correct dedicated cable is always used.
|
|
The printer does not print when the computer sends data.
|
|
|
Cause
|
What to do
|
|
The printer is paused.
|
Press the Offline button to turn off the Power light.
|
|
The interface cable is not plugged in securely.
|
Check that both ends of the cable between the printer and the computer are plugged in securely. If the cable is connected correctly, run a self-test as described in Printing a Self Test.
|
|
Your interface cable does not meet the printer and/or computer specifications.
|
Use an interface cable that meets the requirements of both the printer and computer. See Electronic and your computer documentation.
|
|
Your software is not properly set up for your printer.
|
Select your printer from the Windows desktop or in your application. If necessary, install or reinstall the printer driver software. For the information on installing the software, see Start Here.
|
|
The printer port may not be set correctly.
|
1. For Windows 7:
Click Start, and click Devices and Printers. For Windows Vista: Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Printers. For Windows 2000 or Windows NT 4.0: Click Start, click Settings, and then click Printers. For Windows XP Professional: Click Start and then click Printers and Faxes. For Windows XP Home Edition: Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Printers and Faxes. For Windows Me or 98: Click Start, click Settings, and then click Printers. 2. Right-click the icon for the printer you wish to change the settings for, and then click Properties (Windows Vista, XP, 2000, Me, 98, and Windows NT 4.0) or Printer properties (Windows 7).
3. Then, click the Ports (Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2000, and Windows NT 4.0) or Details (Windows Me or 98) tab and select the appropriate port.
|
|
The printer makes noise, but nothing prints or printing stops abruptly.
|
|
|
Cause
|
What to do
|
|
The ribbon has too much slack, the ribbon has come loose, or the ribbon cartridge is not installed properly.
|
Remove any slack in the ribbon by turning the ribbon-tightening knob, or reinstall the ribbon cartridge as described in the section under Replacing the ribbon cartridge.
|
|
The printout is pale.
|
|
|
Cause
|
What to do
|
|
The ribbon is worn out.
|
Replace the ribbon cartridge as described in Replacing the ribbon cartridge.
|
|
The printout is faint.
|
|
|
Cause
|
What to do
|
|
The ribbon is worn out.
|
Replace the ribbon cartridge as described in Replacing the ribbon cartridge.
|
|
Part of the printout is missing, or dots are missing in random positions.
|
|
|
Cause
|
What to do
|
|
The ribbon has too much slack, the ribbon has come loose, or the ribbon cartridge is not installed properly.
|
Remove any slack in the ribbon by turning the ribbon-tightening knob, or reinstall the ribbon cartridge as described in Replacing the ribbon cartridge.
|
|
The ribbon is worn out.
|
Replace the ribbon cartridge as described in Replacing the ribbon cartridge.
|
|
Lines of dots are missing in the printout.
|
|
|
Cause
|
What to do
|
|
The print head is damaged.
|
Print the current settings in the default setting mode and check the pin condition. See Changing default settings to see how to print them.
If only one pin is broken, other pins can compensate for it. See Common Settings (PLQ-20/PLQ-20M) or Common Settings (PLQ-20D/PLQ-20DM) for details.
If more than two pins are broken, stop printing and contact your dealer to have the print head replaced.
|
|
Caution:
Never replace the print head yourself; you may damage the printer. Also, other parts of the printer must be checked when the print head is replaced. |
|
|
All the text is printed on the same line.
|
|
|
Cause
|
What to do
|
|
No line feed command is sent at the end of each line of text.
|
Set the Auto line feed setting to On in the default setting mode so that the printer automatically adds a line feed code to each carriage return. See Changing default settings.
|
|
The printout has extra blank lines between lines of text.
|
|
|
Cause
|
What to do
|
|
Two line feed commands are being sent at the end of each line of text, because the printer’s auto line feed setting is on.
|
Set the Auto line feed setting to Off in the default setting mode. See Changing default settings.
|
|
The line space setting in your application software is incorrect.
|
Adjust the line space setting in your application software.
|
|
The printer prints strange symbols, incorrect fonts, or other inappropriate characters.
|
|
|
Cause
|
What to do
|
|
Your printer and computer are not communicating correctly.
|
Make sure that you use the correct interface cable and that the communications protocol is correct. See Electronic and your computer documentation.
|
|
The wrong character table is selected in your software.
|
Select the correct character table using your software or the default setting mode. The character table setting in your software overrides settings made in the default setting mode.
|
|
The printer you want to use is not selected in your software.
|
Choose the correct printer from the Windows desktop or in your application before printing.
|
|
Your application software is not configured correctly for your printer.
|
Make sure that your application software is configured correctly for your printer. See your application documentation. If necessary, install or reinstall the printer driver software. For the information on installing the software, see Start Here.
|
|
Software settings override settings you make using the default setting mode or the control panel buttons.
|
Use your application software to select the font.
|
|
Vertical printed lines are not aligned.
|
|
|
Cause
|
What to do
|
|
Bidirectional printing, which is the printer’s standard printing mode, is out of alignment.
|
Use the printer’s bidirectional adjustment mode to correct this problem. See Aligning Vertical Lines in Your Printout
|
Printing position problems
|
Your printing appears too high or low on the page.
|
|
|
Cause
|
What to do
|
|
The paper size setting in your application software or printer driver does not match the size of the paper you are using.
|
Check the paper size setting in your application or printer driver.
|
|
The top margin or top-of-form position setting is incorrect.
|
Check and adjust the margin or top-of-form position settings in your application software. For information about recommended printable area, see Paper.
You can also adjust the top-of-form position using the Micro Adjust function. However, settings made in Windows applications override settings made in the Micro Adjust mode. See Adjusting the Top-of-Form Position for more information.
|
|
The printer driver settings you want to use are not selected in your software.
|
Choose the correct printer driver setting from the Windows desktop or in your application before printing.
|
Paper handling
Paper loading or feeding problems
|
The printer does not load single-sheet paper or does not feed it properly.
|
|
|
Cause
|
What to do
|
|
Single-sheet paper is not loaded properly.
|
See Loading Single Sheets for instructions on loading single-sheet paper.
|
|
Paper is creased, old, too thin, or too thick.
|
See Paper for information about the printable paper and use new, clean sheets of paper.
|
|
The printer does not fully eject a single sheet.
|
|
|
Cause
|
What to do
|
|
Paper is too long.
|
When the printer is in the PR2 mode, see Clearing a Paper Jam for instructions on ejecting paper. When you are in the WNI4915, ESC/P (PLQ-20/PLQ-20M) or ESC/P2 (PLQ-20D/PLQ-20DM) and IBM PPDS modes, press the F1/Eject button. Make sure the page length of your paper is within the range specified for single-sheet paper in Paper. Also check and adjust the paper size setting in your application or printer driver.
|
|
The printer does not load passbook or does not feed it properly.
|
|
|
Cause
|
What to do
|
|
Passbook is not loaded properly.
|
See Loading Passbooks for instructions on loading passbooks.
|
Network problems
|
The printer does not print when using a network.
|
|
|
Cause
|
What to do
|
|
The network setting is wrong.
|
Check whether or not print jobs from other computers are being printed through the network.
When the print job is executed, the printer or your computer may have a problem. Check the connection between the printer and your computer, settings on the printer driver, and settings of your computer.
When the print job is not executed, network settings may be incorrect. Ask your network administrator for help.
|
|
A communication error occurs
|
|
|
Cause
|
What to do
|
|
Are multiple users are logged into a single computer at the same time?
|
On a Windows 7/Vista (32 bit/64 bit)/XP (64 bit) system with multiple users, a communication error may occur when switching to a new user and starting a new print job while the previous user is still printing.
Make sure that the print job for the first user is complete and that user is logged off before switching to a new user and starting a new print job.
|
|
You are unable to monitor the shared printer using EPSON Status Monitor 3
|
|
|
Cause
|
What to do
|
|
Are you using a Windows XP (64-bit)/Vista (32-bit/64-bit) print server with a client set up for an operating system (Windows 98/Me/NT4.0/2000) which is older than Windows XP (32-bit)?
|
When using an operating environment with this combination, the error window for EPSON Status Monitor 3 may not pop up on the client when an error occurs.
Please keep EPSON Status Monitor 3 running when using the printer.
|