Reading mode: Light Dark

Epson Photo 870 printer problems

Go to last post
J

Juli Valley

Forum Pro
Messages
54,437
Reaction score
30
Location
US
My Epson Photo 870 has started acting up. I downloaded the latest drivers, tried clearing the nozzles, but still it prints with missing colors. The monitor says the black and color cartridges are 1/2 full. Today, I decided to try a new color cartridge in case the ink monitor was faulty. No luck, same lack of colors with new cartridge. I haven't tried a new black cartridge, but it prints text fine. Any suggestions? I have contacted Epson by e-mail, but I'm not likely to hear before Tuesday. This printer makes wonderful prints when it is working which was always until yesterday. My HP prints fine, but the ink is not supposed to be as permanent. --Juli
 
You may have clogged heads. You need to run the cleaning routine 3 or 4 times. If that does not do it you may need to send the printer to Epson service :-(

Do you only use Epson inks?

John
Juli Valley said:
My Epson Photo 870 has started acting up. I downloaded the latest
drivers, tried clearing the nozzles, but still it prints with
missing colors. The monitor says the black and color cartridges
are 1/2 full. Today, I decided to try a new color cartridge in
case the ink monitor was faulty. No luck, same lack of colors with
new cartridge. I haven't tried a new black cartridge, but it
prints text fine. Any suggestions? I have contacted Epson by
e-mail, but I'm not likely to hear before Tuesday. This printer
makes wonderful prints when it is working which was always until
yesterday. My HP prints fine, but the ink is not supposed to be as
permanent.
--
Juli
Click to expand...
 
John Davis said:
You may have clogged heads. You need to run the cleaning routine 3
or 4 times. If that does not do it you may need to send the printer
to Epson service :-(

Do you only use Epson inks?

John
Click to expand...
Yes, I use only the Epson inks. I cleaned it once, but I'll take your advice and run the unclogging procedure several more times.
 
Juli,

Here is what my test pattern looks like:



When you say that the "one on the far right" doesn't print, do you mean the whole of the second (lighter) red section? If so, that sounds like more than a clogged nozzle. It sounds as if the ink isn't getting through to the nozzles. Take the cartridge out and see if you can see any debris in the hole corresponding to that section of the cartridge. If not, it may need to go in for repairs.

Fritz
Juli Valley said:
Victor_1950 said:
Juli Valley said:
My Epson Photo 870 has started acting up. I downloaded the latest
drivers, tried clearing the nozzles...
Click to expand...
When you do print the cleaning test pattern - do all the colors
print? If some are missing, then the heads may be clogged really
bad :(
Click to expand...
The one on the far right doesn't print. Any suggestions about how
to unclog it?
Click to expand...
 
Fritz said:
Juli,

Here is what my test pattern looks like:



When you say that the "one on the far right" doesn't print, do you
mean the whole of the second (lighter) red section? If so, that
sounds like more than a clogged nozzle. It sounds as if the ink
isn't getting through to the nozzles. Take the cartridge out and
see if you can see any debris in the hole corresponding to that
section of the cartridge. If not, it may need to go in for repairs.

Fritz
Click to expand...
I removed and reset the cartridge. I check the USB connection. I cleaned it repeatedly without luck. Now it's not printing several of the colors it was before. I'll check the hole for debris. I didn't see anything. I hope I can get it serviced locally. If it costs too much I might be better off getting a new printer.
 
Juli Valley said:
John Davis said:
You may have clogged heads. You need to run the cleaning routine 3
or 4 times. If that does not do it you may need to send the printer
to Epson service :-(

Do you only use Epson inks?

John
Click to expand...
Yes, I use only the Epson inks. I cleaned it once, but I'll take
your advice and run the unclogging procedure several more times.
Click to expand...
I tried repeatedly to clean the clogs, but it just got worse. Instead of having one color not printing, I'm down to two or three of the six nozzles on the test. And the guage still shows 1/3 or more full on color & black.

Do I get a new printer, a refurbished one like this one for $89 with warranty from Epson, or see about having this repaired? I have a feeling the repair fees might be as much as the refurbished one.
 
Juli Valley said:
My Epson Photo 870 has started acting up. I downloaded the latest
drivers, tried clearing the nozzles, but still it prints with
missing colors. The monitor says the black and color cartridges
are 1/2 full. Today, I decided to try a new color cartridge in
case the ink monitor was faulty. No luck, same lack of colors with
new cartridge. I haven't tried a new black cartridge, but it
prints text fine. Any suggestions? I have contacted Epson by
e-mail, but I'm not likely to hear before Tuesday. This printer
makes wonderful prints when it is working which was always until
yesterday. My HP prints fine, but the ink is not supposed to be as
permanent.
--
Juli
Click to expand...
Epson tech support via email said replace the cartridges, and all should be well. Actually, it worked. Both guages for black and color cartridges showed they had plenty of ink. It printed black print fine before, so I tried the color cartridge and it didn't help. Both did the trick. Weird.
 
John Davis said:
You may have clogged heads. You need to run the cleaning routine 3
or 4 times. If that does not do it you may need to send the printer
to Epson service :-(

Do you only use Epson inks?

John
Click to expand...
I've seen where some people have run the cleaning cycles 9 times (as recommended to Epson tech service) before a clog would clear.
 
Juli Valley said:
Juli Valley said:
John Davis said:
You may have clogged heads. You need to run the cleaning routine 3
or 4 times. If that does not do it you may need to send the printer
to Epson service :-(

Do you only use Epson inks?

John
Click to expand...
Yes, I use only the Epson inks. I cleaned it once, but I'll take
your advice and run the unclogging procedure several more times.
Click to expand...
I tried repeatedly to clean the clogs, but it just got worse.
Instead of having one color not printing, I'm down to two or three
of the six nozzles on the test. And the guage still shows 1/3 or
more full on color & black.
Do I get a new printer, a refurbished one like this one for $89
with warranty from Epson, or see about having this repaired? I
have a feeling the repair fees might be as much as the refurbished
one.
Click to expand...
If your printer is out of warranty and must be returned for repairs I doubt whether Epson would touch it for less than the cost of a refurbed model.

Just curious but did you allow the printer to sit idle for more than a week or more between uses? I heard about serious nozzle cloging in the past but generally only when a printer was left idle for a week or more. Also were you using inks near or after their expiration dates? Eson states that ink cartridges are to be used within six moinths after installation in the printer.
 
Robert Burkert said:
Juli Valley said:
Juli Valley said:
John Davis said:
You may have clogged heads. You need to run the cleaning routine 3
or 4 times. If that does not do it you may need to send the printer
to Epson service :-(

Do you only use Epson inks?

John
Click to expand...
Yes, I use only the Epson inks. I cleaned it once, but I'll take
your advice and run the unclogging procedure several more times.
Click to expand...
I tried repeatedly to clean the clogs, but it just got worse.
Instead of having one color not printing, I'm down to two or three
of the six nozzles on the test. And the guage still shows 1/3 or
more full on color & black.
Do I get a new printer, a refurbished one like this one for $89
with warranty from Epson, or see about having this repaired? I
have a feeling the repair fees might be as much as the refurbished
one.
Click to expand...
If your printer is out of warranty and must be returned for repairs
I doubt whether Epson would touch it for less than the cost of a
refurbed model.

Just curious but did you allow the printer to sit idle for more
than a week or more between uses? I heard about serious nozzle
cloging in the past but generally only when a printer was left idle
for a week or more. Also were you using inks near or after their
expiration dates? Eson states that ink cartridges are to be used
within six moinths after installation in the printer.
Click to expand...
No, I had been printing a day or two before. I only print photos on this one. I use an HP for other stuff. It prints nicely but is not supposed to be as good on longevity. I don't think they had been in the computer longer than 6 months.
 
Terry Thorn said:
John Davis said:
You may have clogged heads. You need to run the cleaning routine 3
or 4 times. If that does not do it you may need to send the printer
to Epson service :-(

Do you only use Epson inks?

John
Click to expand...
I've seen where some people have run the cleaning cycles 9 times
(as recommended to Epson tech service) before a clog would clear.
Click to expand...
This tech letter said to try up to 6 times. Anyway, what it needed regardless of what the monitor said was new cartridges. Strange that it printed black text fine and needed a black cartridge. I had tried the color cartridge replacement and it didn't help.
 
Juli Valley said:
Juli Valley said:
My Epson Photo 870 has started acting up. I downloaded the latest
drivers, tried clearing the nozzles, but still it prints with
missing colors. The monitor says the black and color cartridges
are 1/2 full. Today, I decided to try a new color cartridge in
case the ink monitor was faulty. No luck, same lack of colors with
new cartridge. I haven't tried a new black cartridge, but it
prints text fine. Any suggestions? I have contacted Epson by
e-mail, but I'm not likely to hear before Tuesday. This printer
makes wonderful prints when it is working which was always until
yesterday. My HP prints fine, but the ink is not supposed to be as
permanent.
--
Juli
Click to expand...
Epson tech support via email said replace the cartridges, and all
should be well. Actually, it worked. Both guages for black and
color cartridges showed they had plenty of ink. It printed black
print fine before, so I tried the color cartridge and it didn't
help. Both did the trick. Weird.
Click to expand...
 
Juli Valley said:
Juli Valley said:
My Epson Photo 870 has started acting up. I downloaded the latest
drivers, tried clearing the nozzles, but still it prints with
missing colors. The monitor says the black and color cartridges
are 1/2 full. Today, I decided to try a new color cartridge in
case the ink monitor was faulty. No luck, same lack of colors with
new cartridge. I haven't tried a new black cartridge, but it
prints text fine. Any suggestions? I have contacted Epson by
e-mail, but I'm not likely to hear before Tuesday. This printer
makes wonderful prints when it is working which was always until
yesterday. My HP prints fine, but the ink is not supposed to be as
permanent.
--
Juli
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Juli:

I just bought an 870 refurb and love it, but I am obviously concerned by your problem. What did you say, on your previous post, fixed the problem (if that's what you said) - replacing BOTH the black and color carts?

Thanks, Jerry
Juli Valley said:
Epson tech support via email said replace the cartridges, and all
should be well. Actually, it worked. Both guages for black and
color cartridges showed they had plenty of ink. It printed black
print fine before, so I tried the color cartridge and it didn't
help. Both did the trick. Weird.
Click to expand...
 
JerryLP said:
Juli Valley said:
Juli Valley said:
My Epson Photo 870 has started acting up. I downloaded the latest
drivers, tried clearing the nozzles, but still it prints with
missing colors. The monitor says the black and color cartridges
are 1/2 full. Today, I decided to try a new color cartridge in
case the ink monitor was faulty. No luck, same lack of colors with
new cartridge. I haven't tried a new black cartridge, but it
prints text fine. Any suggestions? I have contacted Epson by
e-mail, but I'm not likely to hear before Tuesday. This printer
makes wonderful prints when it is working which was always until
yesterday. My HP prints fine, but the ink is not supposed to be as
permanent.
--
Juli
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Juli:

I just bought an 870 refurb and love it, but I am obviously
concerned by your problem. What did you say, on your previous
post, fixed the problem (if that's what you said) - replacing BOTH
the black and color carts?

Thanks, Jerry
JerryLP said:
Epson tech support via email said replace the cartridges, and all
should be well. Actually, it worked. Both guages for black and
color cartridges showed they had plenty of ink. It printed black
print fine before, so I tried the color cartridge and it didn't
help. Both did the trick. Weird.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
I tried replacing the color cartridge first. That didn't help. I never tried just replacing the black. That might have worked. I ended up replacing both and it's working great as before.
 
Juli Valley said:
I tried replacing the color cartridge first. That didn't help. I
never tried just replacing the black. That might have worked. I
ended up replacing both and it's working great as before.
Click to expand...
Juli:

That IS weird, but I'll keep it in mind in case it ever happens to me - thanks again!

Jerry
 
JerryLP said:
JerryLP said:
I tried replacing the color cartridge first. That didn't help. I
never tried just replacing the black. That might have worked. I
ended up replacing both and it's working great as before.
Click to expand...
Juli:

That IS weird, but I'll keep it in mind in case it ever happens to
me - thanks again!

Jerry
Click to expand...
I think I had a similar problem with my HP a long time ago. I guess I didn't remember that it doesn't always need the more obvious choice for a cartridge change.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top