Epson light Error indicators

You can identify many common printer problems using the lights on your printer's control panel. If your printer stops working and the lights are on or flashing, use the following table of panel light patterns to diagnose the problem, then follow the recommended corrective measures.

Lights	Problem and Solution
	Paper out
	No media is loaded in the printer.	If printing on sheets of paper: Load paper into the sheet feeder, then press the paper button. If printing on roll paper: Remove any roll paper from the printer, then reload it into the roll paper feeder.
	Paper gap
	Loaded paper is too thick or the adjust lever is not in the appropriate position.	Set the adjust lever to the appropriate position for the thickness of the paper, then press the paper button.
	Paper jam
	Paper is jammed in the printer.	If printing on sheets of paper: Turn off the printer, set the adjust lever to the position, then remove the paper. Next, return the adjust lever to the position. If printing on roll paper: Turn off the printer, set the adjust lever to the position, then use a pair of scissors to cut off the roll paper that has already been printed on. Next, use the roll paper knobs to remove the paper. Return the adjust lever to the position, then reload the paper into the roll paper feeder.
	Cutter error
	The automatic roll paper cutter could not cut the roll paper correctly.	Remove the roll paper, then reload it into the roll paper feeder.
	Adjust lever position error
	The adjust lever is set to the position.	Set the adjust lever to the appropriate position for the loaded paper.
	Ink low
	The ink cartridge is nearly empty.	Obtain a replacement photo black (T0341), cyan (T0342), magenta (T0343), yellow (T0344), light cyan (T0345), light magenta (T0346), light black (T0347), or matte black (T0348) ink cartridge. To determine which cartridge is nearly empty, check the flashing ink light that corresponds to the ink cartridge, or check the ink level using EPSON Status Monitor 3 (Windows) or EPSON StatusMonitor (Macintosh).
	Ink color error
	During printing, the ink cartridge furthest to the left was replaced with an ink cartridge of a different color.	Remove the ink cartridge and install an ink cartridge that matches the color of the one originally installed. After doing so, the printer will automatically resume printing.
	Ink out
	The ink cartridge is empty or not installed.	Replace the black (T0341), cyan (T0342), magenta (T0343), yellow (T0344), light cyan (T0345), light magenta (T0346), light black (T0347), or matte black (T0348) ink cartridge with a new one. If the ink end error occurs after the print head moves to its home position, the ink cartridge may not be installed properly. Reinstall the ink cartridge until it clicks into place. SeeReplacing an Empty Ink Cartridge for details.
	Wrong cartridge
	The currently installed ink cartridge is not compatible with the printer.	Replace the incompatible cartridge using the appropriate black (T0341), cyan (T0342), magenta (T0343), yellow (T0344), light cyan (T0345), light magenta (T0346), light black (T0347), or matte black (T0348) ink cartridge. See Replacing an Empty Ink Cartridge for details.
	Incorrectly installed ink cartridge
	The ink cartridge is not installed correctly.	If the print head is at the home position, press the ink button to move the print head to the ink cartridge replacement position. Remove and reinsert the ink cartridge. Then continue with ink cartridge installation. If the print head is at the ink cartridge replacement position, remove and reinsert the ink cartridge. Then continue with ink cartridge installation.
	Cutter position error
	The automatic roll paper cutter did not return to the appropriate position.	Turn off the printer, then turn the printer back on. If the error does not clear, contact your dealer.
	Carriage error
	The print head carriage is obstructed by jammed paper or other foreign material and cannot return to the home position.	Turn off the printer. Open the printer cover and remove any paper or other obstructions from the paper path by hand. Then, turn the printer back on. If the error does not clear, contact your dealer.
	Unknown printer error
	An unknown printer error has occurred.	Turn off the printer and contact your dealer.

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EPSON Status Monitor

The EPSON Status Monitor utility provides status messages and a graphic display showing the current status of the printer.
If a problem occurs while printing, an error message appears in the Progress Meter window.
When the ink is out, click the How To button in the EPSON Status Monitor or Progress Meter window and EPSON Status Monitor will lead you step-by-step through the cartridge replacement procedure.

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Running a printer operation check

If you are unable to determine the source of the problem, performing a printer operation check can help you determine whether the problem comes from the printer or the computer.
To print a printer operation check page, follow these steps.

Make sure both the printer and computer are turned off.

Disconnect the cable from the printer's interface connector.

If you use the parallel interface, unlock the wire clips on both sides of the interface connector and remove the ground connector, if necessary. Then, disconnect the cable from the printer's interface connector.

Make sure that A4 or Letter size paper is loaded in the sheet feeder.

Hold down the

paper button and press the

power button to turn on the printer. Then, release only the

power button. When the printer starts the operation check, release the

paper button.

The printer prints an operation check page which includes the version of your printer's ROM, the ink counter code, and a nozzle check pattern.
Compare the quality of the printed check page with the sample shown below. If there are no print quality problems, the printer itself is fine and the problem probably lies with the printer software settings, the application settings, the interface cable (be sure to use a shielded cable), or the computer itself.

If the check page does not print satisfactorily, there is a problem with the printer. For example, if bands appear in the check pattern as shown below, this could mean a clogged ink nozzle or a misaligned print head.