Replacing an Ink Cartridge

When you print, you'll also see a message on your screen telling you which cartridge is low or empty.

When a cartridge is more than six months old, you may need to replace it if printouts don't look their best. If the quality doesn't improve after cleaning and aligning the print head, you can replace the cartridge even if the red ink light is off.

Checking the Ink Supply

To check your ink supply, do the following:

Replacing an Empty or Low Ink Cartridge

Be sure you have a new ink cartridge before you begin. Once you start the ink cartridge replacement procedure, you must complete all the steps in one session.

Follow these steps to replace ink cartridges when the red ink out light is flashing
or on:

  1. Make sure the printer is turned on and not printing. The power light should be on, but not flashing.
  2. Lower the output tray and open the printer cover.
  3. Press the ink button for one second. The print head moves to the left, and the cartridge that needs to be replaced stops under the mark. The power light also begins to flash.



    4. Caution: Don't press the ink button for more than 2 seconds, or the printer will start to clean the print head.

    To avoid damaging the printer, never move the print head by hand.

  4. Press the ink button again.
    • If more than one ink cartridge is empty, the next cartridge moves under the  mark. This happens after you press the ink button for every ink cartridge that needs to be replaced.
    • If all the empty cartridges have been identified, the print head moves to the ink cartridge replacement position.



  5. Open the cartridge cover.



  6. Pinch the back tab of the empty cartridge as you lift it out of the printer. Don't take the used cartridge apart or try to refill it.



    7. 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.

  7. Before you remove the new cartridge from its package, shake it four or five times.



  8. Remove the cartridge from its package and lower it into the cartridge holder. Push down gently until the cartridge is firmly seated.



  9. Repeat steps 5 through 7 for each cartridge that you need to replace.
  10. Close the cartridge cover.



  11. Close the printer cover and press the ink button for one second. The printer moves the print head and begins charging the ink delivery system.

    12. The green power light flashes and the printer makes noise. Charging takes about one minute. When it's finished, the power light stops flashing and
    stays on.

    Note: Never turn off the printer while the power light is flashing, unless the printer hasn't moved or made noise for more than 5 minutes.

Replacing a Cartridge When Print Quality Declines

Even if the ink out light isn't flashing or on, you may need to replace an ink cartridge if it's been installed in your printer for more than six months and print quality declines.

Follow these steps to replace old ink cartridges:

  1. Print a nozzle check pattern to determine which cartridges need to be replaced:

    2. Windows: Right-click the printer icon on the Windows taskbar, and then click Nozzle Check.

    Macintosh OS X: Open your Applications folder and double-click the EPSON Printer Utility icon. Select C84 Series in the printer list and click OK. Then click Nozzle Check.

    Macintosh 8.6 to 9.x: Open your application's File menu and choose Print. Click the Utility button, then click the Nozzle Check button.

  2. Follow the instructions on the screen to print the nozzle check pattern. Then examine the pattern for gaps in the lines. You need to replace only those cartridges whose colors show gaps in the line pattern, as shown below.



  3. Make sure you have the correct replacement cartridges.

    4. Note: You must have the new ink cartridges before you continue. Once you start the ink cartridge replacement procedure, you must complete all the steps in one session.

  4. Lower the output tray and open the printer cover.
  5. Press the ink button. The print head moves to the ink cartridge replacement position, and the power light begins to flash.



    6. Note: Don't press the ink button for more than 2 seconds, or the printer will start to clean the print head.

    Caution: To avoid damaging the printer, never move the print head by hand.

  6. Open the cartridge cover.



  7. Pinch the back tab of the cartridge as you lift it out of the printer. Don't take the used cartridge apart or try to refill it.



    8. Warning: If ink gets on your hands, wash them thoroughly with soap and water. If ink gets in your eyes, flush them immediately with water.

  8. Before you remove the new cartridge from its package, shake it four or five times.



  9. Remove the cartridge from its package and lower it into the cartridge holder. Push down gently until the new cartridge is firmly seated.



  10. Repeat steps 7 through 9 for each cartridge you want to replace.
  11. Close the cartridge cover.



  12. Close the printer cover and press the ink button for one second. The printer moves the print head and begins charging the ink delivery system.

    13. The green power light flashes and the printer makes noise. Charging takes about one minute. When it's finished, the power light stops flashing and
    stays on.

    Note: Never turn off the printer while the power light is flashing, unless the printer hasn't moved or made noise for more than 5 minutes.