Diagnosing Printer Problems

First, check the printer's lights (see below) or run a printer check (see Running a Printer Check).

Lights
Explanation
Green  power light flashes
The printer is receiving a print job, charging ink, cleaning the print head, or ink is being replaced.
Red  paper light on
Your paper ran out. Load more and press the  paper button.
Red  paper light flashes
Paper is jammed in the printer. Press the  paper button to eject the jammed paper. If the light is still flashing, open the cover and remove all paper, including any jammed or torn pieces. Then reload paper and press the  paper button to continue printing.
Red  ink light flashes
One of the cartridges is low on ink. Check the message that appears on your screen to determine which cartridge is low or follow the instructions in Checking the Ink Supply. Make sure you have a replacement cartridge.
Red  ink light on
One of the cartridges is out of ink or not installed. Make sure you have a replacement cartridge, then follow the steps in Replacing an Ink Cartridge to install it.
If you have just installed a new cartridge, it may be incompatible with the printer or incorrectly installed. Reinstall it or replace it with the correct cartridge, as described on Replacing an Ink Cartridge.
Green power light and red  ink light are on
One or both of the ink cartridges is not installed correctly. Reinstall cartridges as described in Replacing an Ink Cartridge.
Green power light is off; red  paper and  ink lights flashing alternately
Paper may be blocking movement of the print head. Turn off the printer, open the cover, and remove any jammed paper or other foreign objects. Turn the printer back on again. If the lights are still flashing, contact your dealer or EPSON as described in Where To Get Help.
Green power light is off; red  paper and  ink lights flashing
The printer may have an internal error. Turn off the printer, wait a few seconds, and turn it on again. If the lights are still flashing, contact your dealer or EPSON as described in Where To Get Help.
Green  power light is off
The printer is not receiving power. Make sure the printer is on. Turn off the printer, plug in the power cord securely, and turn the printer on again. Make sure the outlet is working and is not controlled by a switch or timer. If in doubt, try another outlet.

Running a Printer Check

You can run a printer check to determine whether a problem comes from the printer or some other source.

  1. Turn off your printer and computer.
  2. Disconnect the printer's interface cable.
  3. Load letter-size paper in the printer.
  4. Hold down the  paper button, then press and release the  power button. Continue holding down the  paper button until the  power light starts to flash, then release it.



    5. A test page prints showing the printer's ROM version number, an ink counter code, and a nozzle check pattern. (If the pattern has gaps, you need to clean the print head as described in Cleaning the Print Head.)

    • If the test page prints, the problem probably lies in your software settings, interface cable, or computer, or your software may not be installed correctly.
    • If the test page doesn't print, you may have a problem with your printer.

      • Try the suggestions in Setup and Software Installation Problems. If nothing works, contact your dealer or EPSON as described in Where To Get Help.

  5. Turn off the printer, reconnect the interface cable, then turn on your printer and computer.