Epson 1390 Ultra Not Printing After New Printhead, New Capping Station, New Ink Lines, and Blinking Ink/Paper Lights

Question

I have an Epson 1390 Ultra printer that is still not printing even after replacing almost everything. I have installed a brand-new capping station, replaced the printhead, changed all the ink lines, changed the ink, and cleaned everything. The only parts I have not changed yet are the main board and possibly the F1 fuse. I noticed that the ink light and paper light blink or come on sometimes, but not always. Should I replace the board, have someone replace the fuse, or is there something else I should check first?

Answer

From your description, I would not rush to replace the main board yet. A main board problem or blown fuse is possible, especially if the printer has had a previous printhead failure, liquid damage, cable short, or incorrect printhead installation. However, the blinking light pattern should be checked first because it may be pointing to a different issue entirely.

If the paper light and ink light are flashing alternately, one of the most common causes is that the waste ink pad counter has reached 100%. On many Epson models, including printers in the 1390 family, the printer may stop printing when the internal waste ink counter reaches its limit. This does not necessarily mean the physical pad is the only problem; it means the printer's firmware believes the waste ink system has reached its service limit.

A quick test is to press the paper button once. In some cases, this may allow the printer to continue printing a few more pages temporarily. If it does, that strongly suggests the waste ink counter may be involved. The proper fix is to use the Epson Adjustment Program to reset the waste ink pad counter back to zero. However, before resetting the counter, you should also make sure the waste ink system is actually safe to use. If the waste ink pads or external waste tank are full, resetting the counter without addressing the waste ink path can eventually cause leaking or overflow.

The Epson Adjustment Program is also useful because it can help identify the actual error code stored inside the printer. This is important because blinking lights alone do not always tell the whole story. The printer may have a carriage error, APG sensor error, paper feed error, encoder issue, waste ink counter error, or electrical fault. Before paying someone to replace the F1 fuse or replacing the main board, I would try to pull the real error code.

To check the error, open the Epson Adjustment Program and select the USB port that shows your printer's name from the dropdown list. Then choose "Particular Adjustment," scroll down, and select "Printer Information Check." Click "Check," and the most recent error should appear at the top as error number one. That first error is usually the most helpful because it tells you what the printer most recently detected.

Once you have that error code, search Google for "BCH Epson Error." That should lead you to our page about Epson's "Triple Secret Error Codes," where we explain many of the Epson service errors in more practical terms. For example, if the software shows an APG sensor-related error, then replacing the printhead, capping station, or ink lines would not solve the problem because the printer is complaining about a mechanical position or sensor-related issue instead of ink delivery.

You can also watch our quick video walkthrough here: Epson Adjustment Program Error Check Video [https://youtube.com/shorts/FPZzpyYuZLE].

Since you already replaced the printhead, the F1 fuse is worth checking, but I would check it rather than automatically replace it. The F1 fuse is usually related to the printhead drive circuit. If the fuse is blown, the printer may power on and move normally but fail to fire the nozzles, resulting in a completely blank print or no ink output. A blown F1 fuse can happen if the previous printhead shorted, if ink or cleaning fluid got onto the printhead cable or board, or if the printhead cable was installed crooked, damaged, or contaminated.

However, if the ink light and paper light are blinking in a service-error pattern, the printer may be stopping because of an error condition before it even gets to normal printing. In that case, replacing the fuse may not fix the blinking-light error. That is why the error code from the Adjustment Program is so important.

Here are the main areas I would check before deciding whether to replace the board:

First, confirm the light pattern. If the ink and paper lights flash alternately, check the waste ink counter. If they blink together or in a different pattern, the printer may be reporting a fatal error, carriage error, paper feed issue, sensor issue, or another mechanical/electrical fault.

Second, use the Epson Adjustment Program to read the stored error code. This is the best next step because it can point you toward the actual failing system instead of guessing.

Third, inspect the printhead cables carefully. A new printhead will not help if the ribbon cable is damaged, inserted unevenly, reversed, contaminated with ink, or not fully seated. Also inspect the connectors on both the printhead side and the main board side. Even a small amount of ink, corrosion, or bent contact can cause a no-print condition or damage the fuse/board.

Fourth, test the F1 fuse with a multimeter. Do not judge it by appearance. A fuse can look fine and still be open. If F1 has continuity, the fuse is probably not the issue. If F1 is open, then the fuse may need to be replaced, but the cause of the blown fuse must also be found. Otherwise, a replacement fuse can blow again immediately.

Fifth, consider whether the printhead is actually receiving ink. Since you changed the capping station, ink lines, and ink, make sure the capping station is sealing properly against the printhead. If the cap is not sealing, the pump cannot pull ink through the head correctly. You can have a brand-new capping station and still have a sealing problem if it is misaligned, the cap is sitting too low, the pump tube is not connected correctly, or the waste line is blocked.

Sixth, check the pump and waste line. During a cleaning cycle, ink should be pulled from the cap and sent through the waste tube. If the pump is not moving ink, the printer may not prime correctly. If the waste line is clogged, disconnected, pinched, or routed incorrectly, the cap may not drain.

Seventh, inspect the encoder strip and carriage movement. If the printer is detecting a carriage or position error, it may not print correctly even if the ink system is new. The encoder strip should be clean, properly seated, and not scratched. The carriage should move smoothly without hitting the capping station, ink tubes, damper system, or any conversion hardware.

Eighth, check for APG or sensor-related errors. The APG system controls platen gap/head height positioning. If the Adjustment Program shows an APG sensor error, the issue may be mechanical or sensor-related instead of the board or fuse.

Ninth, be careful with repeated printhead replacement. A new printhead can be damaged quickly if the board or cable has a short. Likewise, a good board can be damaged by a shorted printhead or wet cable. Before installing more expensive parts, make sure the cables, fuse, and connectors are clean and electrically safe.

In your case, because you have already replaced the head, capping station, ink lines, and ink, I would not recommend replacing the main board blindly. The next best step is to identify whether the blinking ink and paper lights are a waste ink counter issue or a stored fatal/service error. Use the Epson Adjustment Program to check the printer information and retrieve the latest error code. If the error points to the waste pad counter, reset the waste ink counter and make sure the waste ink system is properly handled. If the error points to a mechanical sensor, carriage, APG, or paper-feed issue, focus there first. If the printer has no relevant mechanical error but still produces completely blank pages, then checking the F1 fuse and printhead drive circuit becomes more important.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated process because many of these problems require hands-on inspection. For that reason, we are not able to provide remote troubleshooting, detailed repair guidance, or one-on-one repair support for printer repairs. We do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service through our local diagnostic facility: BCH Technologies Printer Repair Service [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Because demand is high, service is handled on a first-come, first-served basis, so it may take a few weeks before we can schedule your printer for drop-off. Our repair options are structured so we can work on either the whole printer or specific parts, with instructions provided for how to proceed. That said, we understand our rates may not be the most economical option for every situation. For that reason, we strongly encourage self-help through online research. A good place to start is YouTube, including our channel homepage: BCH Technologies on YouTube [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. Once you are on the channel page, use the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar to search for your specific issue. I receive dozens of questions every day asking whether we have a video on a certain topic, and after creating videos for the past nine years, it is difficult to remember every single one. YouTube's search function is usually the fastest way to locate the most relevant video, and it may also suggest helpful videos from other creators.

Thanks again for reaching out and for supporting our work. I know it is frustrating to replace so many parts and still have the printer refuse to print, but the next step should be to read the actual stored error code before investing in another expensive part like the main board. That error code will give you a much better direction and may save you from replacing parts that are not causing the problem.