INK AND MAINTENANCE LIGHTS FLASHING

[AJLA]

My D88 won't print and the ink and maintenance lights are flashing. I have seen threads (on another forum previously) about how to overcome this. T CIS is full of ink but maybe I need to find the maintenance pads?
Typical, I have a good order due for tomorrow

[JSR]

Try the SSC utility - [url="http://www.ssclg.com/epsone.shtml]http://www.ssclg.com/epsone.shtml[/url]

The lights flash to indicate a certain amount of ink in the waste pads. Resetting the count without replacing the pads can lead to the waste ink overflowing out of the printer. Overflowing ink could, at best, ruin your carpet but, at worst, could short out the printer.

The counter is usually conservative so you'll probably be alright for a little bit but I wouldn't push it too far. You may or may not be able to replace the pads yourself.

Use at your own risk (and don't put the printer on your best furniture or over your expensive carpet!).

[AJLA]

Thanks JSR, we replace the maintenance tanks in our wide format ouselves and also reset them by pressing a series of buttons in a particular sequence.

I have downloaded the SSC utility with the intention of re setting it until such a time we can find the pads and clean or replace (which looks more difficult as its much smaller.) The SSC utility tells me to remove the chip. Presumably the ones on the adapted cartridges. If so I can't even get them out of the printer as normall they won't budge.

[AJLA]

The SSC utility is also asking if I want to reset the inks but it's showing the original ink numbers. If I can get the cartridges out that will be ok just to select each ink colour to be reset, I think.

[JSR]

I haven't used it on the D88 and it doesn't support my B40W yet but I seem to recall on the old 1290S that it was just a case of click "reset counter".

It shouldn't have anything to do with chips on the inks because it's the maintenance waste tank you're resetting. But, as I say, I know nothing about the D88.

[AJLA]

Unfortunately we have clicked the reset button with no joy, sorry my post was a bit misleading and i'm getting all muddled.

I was referring to the chips on the inks because the inks are also saying no ink. Have reset this also, checked there is no air in the cartridges etc but that light still flashes.

Re the maintenance light flashing I was wondering where the chip was on the maintenance tank or if i could remove it. Have been searching in google for a few hours now but no joy.

[JSR]

I was referring to the chips on the inks because the inks are also saying no ink. Have reset this also, checked there is no air in the cartridges etc but that light still flashes.

I had to figure this out with my new B40W this week. I'm using refillables. The cartridges don't auto-reset when running low, the printer driver just throws up an error of "unrecognised ink cartridge". However, taken the cartridge out and putting it back in then seems to reset the chip because the driver then believes I've just put in a new cartridge and recognises it just fine.

I've no idea if that helps your D88. I'm sure someone around here must have a D88 and can offer some advice.

Re the maintenance light flashing I was wondering where the chip was on the maintenance tank or if i could remove it. Have been searching in google for a few hours now but no joy.

I'm not aware of any chip on a maintenance tank. I thought it was just a counter value stored somewhere that the SSC could reset. Again, with luck, someone with a D88 will reply to this thread and help you out.

[bms]

Once you've installed the SSC then open the program and click on the X in the right hand corner. You'll now see a new icon on the tray in the bottom right of your computer.

Right hand click on this icon and a menu will pop up and one of these is to reset the Protection Counter. You'll be asked if you've replaced the waste ink pad (just say yes) and it will tell you the waste pad counter has been reset. This works most of the time, but not always. You may need to switch off/ on the printer and/or reboot the printer.

As for the B40W - the reset software is available, but closely guarded by the Epson service centres. We've just had a B40W reset and they don't worry about the type of ink used, they just charge £15 to reset the waste pad and within 1/2 hour it all back and working.

[JSR]

As for the B40W - the reset software is available, but closely guarded by the Epson service centres. We've just had a B40W reset and they don't worry about the type of ink used, they just charge £15 to reset the waste pad and within 1/2 hour it all back and working.

Is that £15 just to perform the reset? What would they charge if they replaced the waste pads, too, I wonder. The last time I phoned Epson about an issue (it was concerning an Aculaser), they said it'd cost £140+VAT. Given that a brand new printer only cost £189 at the time, I had no alternative but to chuck the old one and buy a new one.

Presumably they "closely guard" the secret of resets in order to encourage this environment of disposable printers.

We're constantly being bombarded with messages about saving the planet, being environmentally aware, and not filling up landfills - yet companies put stumbling blocks in the way that encourage just tossing the printer and buying a new one. You couldn't make this stuff up if it was a comedy.

[bms]

Is that £15 just to perform the reset? What would they charge if they replaced the waste pads, too, I wonder.

Yes just to reset, but I've known a reset on older printers to be done several times so there's no need to replace the waste pads all the time.