EPSON R200 ERROR: Parts inside your printer are near the end of their service life.

[spinbot]

I have an Epson R200 that I have been running for maybe 23 months.
Today, I get this message:

Parts inside your printer are near the end of their service life. See your printer documentation.

I've replaced all my ink cartridges that were low.
I've run the print head cleaner multiple times.
I've power cycled the printer multiple times.

I still get the same error message, but more importantly, the printer is not printing all the colours ( I believe magenta isn't coming out ) as well as the image isn't smooth ( you can see the lines from each pass of the print head ).


I'm guessing my print head is dead -- anyone else get the same error message come to the same conclusion?

If this is the case, I need to find another printer that takes the same ink as I have almost 15 un-used cartridges for it.

[JAC]

"Parts inside printer" error means you need to reset the waste ink counter and wash out the sponge pad inside your printer.

http://inksupply.info/index.php?_a=knowledgebase&_j=questiondetails&_i=111

If magenta is not coming out after repeated head cleanings, you probably have a clog.

[spinbot]

I thought that was for people using continuous Ink systems, so I just disregarded it ( as I am just using standard cartridges )

[spinbot]

I installed utility that gives more option than Epsons.

I sucked up a bunch of ink from the tray.

I help all 3 buttons down, for over 12 seconds, multiple times, however its not resetting things ( still gives me the error ).

I will continue this fight after work tomorrow.

BTW - I do have a little magenta coming out now.

[Jim123]

I don't know which utility you installed but I have had good luck with:

http://www.ssclg.com/epsone.shtml

If you haven't tried it yet give it a try.

[spinbot]

I don't know which utility you installed but I have had good luck with:

http://www.ssclg.com/epsone.shtml

If you haven't tried it yet give it a try.


I've installed it, however to be honest, I am worse off now than I was before I started troubleshooting as now my printer won't print anything and I get red lights alternating between paper and ink on the printer. I tried to re-set the printer ( as that program suggested ) by holding all three buttons down for 12 seconds.

I have the software running and selected to shut off the Epson Status Agent, however that doesn't seem to work ( yes, I have rebooted the system ).

Epson emailed me back, however simply said if I am past my 1 year warranty, which I am, I am pretty much S.O.L.

Not sure where to go from here.

Maybe restore my XP system to before I installed the software, however i think the flashing red printer lights have nothing to do with software -- its coming from the printer directly.

[Cafe_333]

Your print heads are clogged. You can attempt to try and clean the print head yourself but even if you are successful, it is only a temporary fix and only some of the nozzles would get unclogged. You can only clean it so many times as well with some luck. Otherwise it's time for a new printer. I would stay away from Epson and Brother for your next model because they are the easiest to get clogged. HP and Lexmark are virtually impossible to get clogged. Canon sits halfway in between on this regard.

[spinbot]

My printer has had a busy life, so it doesn't sit too long ( which my understanding contributes more to the clogging ).

At this time, I can't even move the carriage --- something appears to have it "locked" at that bottom.

I avoid HP completely as I cannot get generic ink for it. Epson I like as I can buy replacement ink for it at about 1/9th the cost. The amount I have saved over about 15 refills (total 90 cartridges), over Epson brand ink, is about $1938(epson price from staples at $18.89+tax) -$143 (generic ink at $2.39, no tax)=$1795

[Cafe_333]

You are right that lack of use is what contributes to clogging - but the printer having a busy life depends on one's definition of it. :) Unless you've actively been printing in color every few days, I'm guessing you mostly did black like every other typical owner. This could explain why there is trouble printing color which uses seperate print heads from the black. Anyway, the days of using generic ink cartridges from companies like Epson and Canon are being phased out for profit reasons. Hopefully you can still find another R200 then!

[spinbot]

Ya, I was printing colour 99% of the time ( pictures ).

Tweetie has kindly offered her R200, so once we complete the deal, I will be back in business. This leads to a new question. The printer she has already has the ink installed in it -- do you think it would survive shipping through Canada Post from Edmonton to Ontario without leaking or would the cartridges have to be removed and tossed out?

[JAC]

Ya, I was printing colour 99% of the time ( pictures ).

Tweetie has kindly offered her R200, so once we complete the deal, I will be back in business. This leads to a new question. The printer she has already has the ink installed in it -- do you think it would survive shipping through Canada Post from Edmonton to Ontario without leaking or would the cartridges have to be removed and tossed out?

You don't want to remove the carts; that would dry up the ink in the tubes. What you do want to do is make sure she tapes the print head to the side of the printer, locks the scanner lock, and packs it well.