How to Troubleshoot Epson Stylus Printers

1. Epson Stylus printers provide a user friendly control panel that owners can use to determine the source of most problems. By keeping an eye on this control panel and these indicator lights, users will be able to quickly see the source of the malfunction and address it. For instance, the printer has a set of indicator lights, including “paper out” and “ink out.” The appearance of these lights will make it easy to troubleshoot the problem. When the ink in the installed cartridge begins to run low, the “ink out” indicator light will begin to flash so printer owners have a chance to purchase a replacement cartridge before the ink runs out. When the “ink out” light runs steadily, the printer will not work until a new cartridge has been installed. The printer also has a “paper out” indicator light to alert users that the printer is out of paper.
2. Watch the 'data' indicator light if a print job has been submitted but there is no output. The “data” light will be blinking if there are jobs in the printer’s memory. If the light is blinking but there is still no action from the printer, click on “Start,” choose “Printers and Faxes” from the menu and double-click on the Epson Stylus printer. If there is a job there, right-click on it and choose “Cancel,” then continue to troubleshoot the printer. Pressing the “Reset” button will clear the printer's internal memory and reset the settings back to the factory default. After the printer has been reset, try your job again.
3. Watch for repeated paper jams and use the information you gather to get to the root of the problem. Paper jams are among the most common printer problems, and printer owners should know how to resolve them. When paper jams occur, open the printer cover and then the paper feed cover. Open the access panel on the rear of the printer and carefully remove the paper. Be careful not to tear the paper as it is being removed. If the paper does tear, use a pair of tweezers to remove all the little pieces that remain in the printer. When using tweezers--or any other tool--be sure to avoid touching the drum or any other printer parts so you don't scratch or otherwise damage the printer's delicate electronic components. After you are sure all the paper has been removed, load the paper back into the tray, making sure not to overfill the tray, and try your print job again.The best defense against paper jams is prevention. Make sure you always use high quality paper, and be sure to fan the paper thoroughly before loading it into the paper tray. This will remove any accumulated paper dust and debris and keep the printer clean.