Epson 4900 premature printhead failures

My friend and I who both got suckered in on the 4900 back in 2011 are moving on to Canon, thanks to comments here by Canon users regarding clogs (or lack thereof).

With the tremendous deal right now on the PRO-100 ($199 after rebates plus a free $85 pack of paper) we're going to try dipping our toes into the Canon pool.

I still intend to write a letter to Epson, and refer to this forum/thread about all the users with problems.  It will probably go nowhere, but may get me a different model that actually works.

Just finished talking to a Epson Techs Supervisor, I mention my problems of the clogged head with the  Epson 4900, she let me spit out all of my troubles, and also the problems of all the comments that I have read here on this forum. She said with a low percentage of people with this problem, there is nothing she can do. The best thing for me to do is to fixes the problem which would cost just about the amount I had paid for the 4900 and to also purchase the extended Warranty.  So much for that.

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for this thread.  I have been having the same problems recently.  I found a youtube tutorial that might be helpful.  I am trying it now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU6PbizbKaw

James

You have mention great information, thanks for sharing it.

Thought I would update my recent experiences with my 4900, as this may help those with a similar problem.

One thing I am not sure of is whether all of us with similar symptoms (random clogged nozzles or entire color not printing) have the same problem.

I can tell you this, I have a problem with random clogged nozzles.  It seemed the longer the printer was off, the worse the problem was.  It also seems that using the nozzle cleaning procedure had little effect.  For me, it was totally random as to which nozzles and colors were affected.

I start with printing a nozzle check page.  This time, though, without doing anything, I left the printer on and printed another page a few hours later.  It showed better results.  The next day, I noticed the printer had not gone to sleep because I left the front panel in a sub menu.  So, I printed another nozzle check page.  Almost perfect.  This time, I purposefully left the panel in a sub menu to keep it awake.  The next day, perfect.  I've left the printer in a sub menu each time (keeping the printer awake), and each day, the nozzle check page is perfect.

Could it be that keeping the printhead circuitry alive and charged keeps the printheads working?

While I'm all for conserving electricity, the cost in ink used trying to make non-functional nozzles work is higher and I'm all for keeping the printer on 7/24.

Maybe others here could try keeping their's on and post results here.

In the meantime, I have a 3rd party extended warranty (AMEX) and am contemplating getting an estimate from Epson and having AMEX pay to repair it.

Are those of you who have had their printheads replaced seeing better reliability?  I don't want to go through the repair just to have the same problem again.

Glad that you had a success.  I have not yet...though I gave up after the first try.  I will try it again.  Thanks for the diligence.

James

*sigh*

Hi everyone, reporting the same problem. 4900 just at two years old, also bought during the 2011 massive rebate, light use in the last few months. Can't get the VLM and LC unclogged after numerous cleaning, sitting overnight etc. I would be really really disappointed if Epson knew about this flaw and used the rebate to push it on us.

Also called Epson tech, got the same quotes. Technician told me it's probably a print head change and he asked me soak the printhead with Simple Green. 2 rounds of soaking yielded a couple of nozzles so still trying.

The thread I started:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=77073.0

Anyways, I'm so tired of this, ready to throw in the trouble on a 4900 that was trouble from the start. Some of you might remember me as the one with the crazy random electrical/electronic problem where it won't finish printing. It's been behaving lately until the clogging happened.

Are canons or HPs even worthy of comparison?  I am comtemplating a 3880 (which might be enough for me, 4900 doesn't see a lot of use) or a change in brands, any suggestion?
Thanks!

Amy

tealeaf wrote:

*sigh*

Hi everyone, reporting the same problem. 4900 just at two years old, also bought during the 2011 massive rebate, light use in the last few months. Can't get the VLM and LC unclogged after numerous cleaning, sitting overnight etc. I would be really really disappointed if Epson knew about this flaw and used the rebate to push it on us.

Also called Epson tech, got the same quotes. Technician told me it's probably a print head change and he asked me soak the printhead with Simple Green. 2 rounds of soaking yielded a couple of nozzles so still trying.

The thread I started:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=77073.0

Anyways, I'm so tired of this, ready to throw in the trouble on a 4900 that was trouble from the start. Some of you might remember me as the one with the crazy random electrical/electronic problem where it won't finish printing. It's been behaving lately until the clogging happened.

Are canons or HPs even worthy of comparison?  I am comtemplating a 3880 (which might be enough for me, 4900 doesn't see a lot of use) or a change in brands, any suggestion?
Thanks!

Amy

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/50420411

It's the printer for those who are tired of the care, feeding, begging, coddling, expense, anger and hostility of a spoiled teenager in the home!

PB

Darryl E Mylrea wrote:

Thought I would update my recent experiences with my 4900, as this may help those with a similar problem.

One thing I am not sure of is whether all of us with similar symptoms (random clogged nozzles or entire color not printing) have the same problem.

I can tell you this, I have a problem with random clogged nozzles.  It seemed the longer the printer was off, the worse the problem was.  It also seems that using the nozzle cleaning procedure had little effect.  For me, it was totally random as to which nozzles and colors were affected.

I start with printing a nozzle check page.  This time, though, without doing anything, I left the printer on and printed another page a few hours later.  It showed better results.  The next day, I noticed the printer had not gone to sleep because I left the front panel in a sub menu.  So, I printed another nozzle check page.  Almost perfect.  This time, I purposefully left the panel in a sub menu to keep it awake.  The next day, perfect.  I've left the printer in a sub menu each time (keeping the printer awake), and each day, the nozzle check page is perfect.

Could it be that keeping the printhead circuitry alive and charged keeps the printheads working?

While I'm all for conserving electricity, the cost in ink used trying to make non-functional nozzles work is higher and I'm all for keeping the printer on 7/24.

Maybe others here could try keeping their's on and post results here.

In the meantime, I have a 3rd party extended warranty (AMEX) and am contemplating getting an estimate from Epson and having AMEX pay to repair it.

Are those of you who have had their printheads replaced seeing better reliability?  I don't want to go through the repair just to have the same problem again.

I just wanted to reiterate that for those with random clogged nozzles (as per the nozzle check page) that just leaving the printer ON fixes it.  My friend with a 4900 had the same problems I did--major random nozzles and he could just not clear them no matter how much he cleaned them.  I told him to leave the printer on and in a sub-menu so it wouldn't sleep, and the next morning, he emailed me to say IT WORKED!  Clearly an electronic issue here.  My own 4900 turned off about a week ago and yesterday I turned it on and did a nozzle check page.  3 or 4 colors had major missing nozzles.  I left it on last night (in a sub-menu) and this morning, PERFECT.

I understand other have other problems.  So far, with as little as I print, I just have the nozzle issue.  So, no new printhead needed.  Just keep the printer turned on!

04/22/2013
Hey Guys,

Same problem here on lk,llk and after cleaning head and replacing dampers now yellow. Everything was done correctly and upon cleaning all of my channels were flowing clear so its definitely the heads. I am starting a suit against them this week. If anyone wants to start a small class action contact me. I promise you they will replace our printheads before paying for a corporate attorney. I know this because I paid $25 and did some copying and pasting, sued Sprint and won in 3 weeks. It is cheaper for them to fix our issues than to pay a corp attorney and get their name drug through a court nightmare and lose sales. I am filing later this week early next week. I have a 9900 that was $6000 with only 520 pages printed. it counts all of the little test prints etc... I have wasted $840 in ink trying to clear issue and a lot of time. This is a problem they are aware of and I am tired of them putting good honest people off and telling to go screw ourselves because they wont stand behind their product and admit their flaws. The last person I spoke with said "ignore what you read online those people don't know what they are talking about." They were supposed to send me a lk and llk as a courtesy and have a tech check it out for free because the probem did not start until I got a  defective cartridge and they screwed up and did not send my warranty replacement for almost 3 weeks. So my printer sat wit open lines until then. After I installed my new cartridge channels started dropping out one after another. Now the LVM is only printing 25%. My email is cchaney101@gmail.com. The printers are now $2500 to $4990 and $1700 for a printhead is uncalled for and literally robbery. They are taking advantage of people as it is on the cost of ink. Time to fight back and enforce our rights against these corporate giants that screw the hardworking little people because we let them. I keep hearing the same story. "They said im pretty much screwed and need to spend a fortune. I have yet to hear of someone that file a motion against them. Well I am and if anyone wants to be included hit me up. Take care and I truly wish you guys the best and hope you get your issues resolved. -Chris/ Hagerstown, Maryland

Darryl E Mylrea wrote:

(blah...blah...blah...)

In the meantime, I have a 3rd party extended warranty (AMEX) and am contemplating getting an estimate from Epson and having AMEX pay to repair it.

Are those of you who have had their printheads replaced seeing better reliability?  I don't want to go through the repair just to have the same problem again.

OK, so I went through Epson and got an estimate for repair (over $1700).  I submitted a claim with AMEX, and today was notified that the cost of the printer has been refunded back to my card.    I'm a happy camper and LOVE AMEX benefits!