Troubleshooting Missing Colors and Capping Station Issues on an Epson 1800 Printer
- By Kevin Day
- On Dec 11, 2024
- Comment 0
Question
I just got my Epson 1800 printer running today and did a test print on paper—all colours were present. However, when I tried printing on a shirt, the blue and black were missing, and cleaning didn’t resolve the issue. I performed a deep cleaning using the WIC program, but the capping station started sputtering grey ink into the air. Before this, I had replaced all the ink lines, the printhead, and the dampers. What could be causing this issue, and what steps should I take?Answer
Thank you for reaching out to us at BCH Technologies. I’m sorry for the delay in responding. I want to ensure I address your question with the care and attention it deserves. Printer issues can be frustrating and urgent, and we appreciate your patience. At BCH Technologies, we’re grateful for your support and engagement, primarily through our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Your feedback is crucial for helping us improve our technical expertise and resources.Your description sounds like your capping station is clogged, which is likely the root of the problem. Here’s a detailed explanation of the issue and steps you can take to resolve it:
Understanding the Problem
When your capping station begins to sputter or spit back ink, it indicates it can no longer appropriately maintain suction or clean the printhead. A functional capping station is essential for keeping the printhead clear of clogs by drawing out old ink and debris during cleaning cycles.The gray ink you observed during cleaning suggests the printhead is trying to output the correct colors—white + Black + a balanced CMY blend—but the capping station is failing to suction this ink away. As a result, the printhead remains clogged, leading to missing colours during printing.
Steps to Resolve the Issue
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Clean or Replace the Capping Station
In cases like this, a clogged or malfunctioning capping station is often the culprit. I highly recommend watching our video tutorial on troubleshooting and fixing the capping station, which you can find here (https://youtu.be/RVtQLe2wTsk). -
Perform Regular Maintenance
It's essential to keep the capping station clean and operational to prevent future clogs and maintain the health of your printer. Here is another video on our channel about performing regular maintenance (https://youtu.be/FguMBSWbu2o). -
Check the Capping Station’s Functionality
If cleaning doesn’t resolve the issue, you may need to replace the capping station entirely. A malfunctioning capping station affects cleaning and risks damaging your printhead. I often say, "If you have a bad printhead, you lose just the printhead. But you lose both the capping station and the printhead with a bad capping station." -
Ensure Proper Ink Flow
Double-check all ink lines, dampers, and connections to ensure ink flows correctly to the printhead. Although you mentioned these components were recently replaced, it’s worth verifying that everything is securely connected and free of air bubbles.
Final Thoughts
Addressing printer issues can be complicated due to the hands-on nature of the problems. While we’re unable to provide remote troubleshooting or repair support, we do offer in-person evaluation and repair services via our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Repairs are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, and they may take a few weeks.For DIY solutions, I encourage you to explore our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies) for videos tailored to troubleshooting and maintenance. You can use the search bar to find specific tutorials on your printer model and issues.
Thank you again for contacting us and for your support of BCH Technologies. I hope this helps you solve your Epson 1800 printer problem. If you have further questions or concerns, don't hesitate to get in touch!