Epson E-01 034004 Error After Startup: What to Check When the Printer Briefly Works and Then Fails

Question

I watched the video about fixing the Epson E-01 034004 error and tried everything shown, but the printer still will not work. The error briefly goes away when the ink carriage is all the way to the right, and the printer screen shows the normal copy/print menu for a moment. However, after the ink carriage finishes its startup scan, the screen immediately changes back to error 034004. What else should I check?

Answer

For the Epson E-01 034004 error, your description gives an important clue. If the printer briefly reaches the normal copy/print screen while the carriage is parked all the way to the right, but then fails immediately after the startup scan, the problem may not be only on the carriage side. It may be happening when the printer transitions into the paper-feed or mechanical-position-check stage.

In many Epson printers, 034004 is related to a mechanical movement or sensor detection problem. It can be triggered by carriage movement resistance, paper-feed movement resistance, encoder reading failure, a jammed gear, a damaged lever, a foreign object, or a sensor that is not reading the printer's position correctly.

Since you already followed the basic steps in the video and the error still returns, I would focus next on the PF encoder system, which is part of the paper-feed mechanism.

The PF encoder disc is especially important. This disc tells the printer how the paper-feed shaft is rotating. If the disc is dirty, loose, misaligned, scratched, bent, or not properly seated inside the sensor, the printer may start normally but then throw 034004 as soon as it tries to verify the paper-feed movement.

Here are the main things I would check:

First, inspect the PF encoder disc. Make sure it is clean and not covered with ink mist, grease, paper dust, or dried debris. The clear encoder disc must be readable by the sensor. Even a small amount of contamination can cause the printer to lose track of the paper-feed position.

Second, make sure the PF encoder disc is securely installed on the shaft. If the disc is loose, slipping, or not rotating consistently with the shaft, the sensor will receive incorrect information. The printer may interpret that as a paper-feed failure and stop with E-01 034004.

Third, confirm that the disc is sitting correctly between the two sides of the PF encoder sensor. The disc usually passes through a small optical sensor. If it is outside the sensor gap, rubbing against one side, tilted, or not centered, the printer will not read the movement correctly.

Fourth, inspect the PF encoder sensor cable. A loose, partially inserted, damaged, or ink-contaminated cable can also cause this error. Check both ends of the cable if accessible. Make sure the cable is fully seated, not crooked, not torn, and not contaminated with ink. If ink has reached the connector, the sensor signal may become unstable.

Fifth, check for paper debris or foreign objects in the paper path. Small torn paper pieces, labels, staples, broken plastic tabs, foam, or dried ink buildup can block the paper-feed mechanism. Even if the printer does not show a typical paper jam, resistance in the PF system can still trigger 034004.

Sixth, rotate the paper-feed rollers manually with the printer unplugged, if the design allows safe access. They should move smoothly without sudden hard stops, grinding, or uneven resistance. If the rollers or shaft lock up at a certain point, there may be a jammed gear, broken gear tooth, or obstruction inside the mechanism.

Seventh, inspect the change lever and related gears. On many Epson models, the change lever controls mechanical switching between different printer operations. If this lever is stuck, broken, out of position, or not returning properly, the printer may pass the first startup stage but fail when it tries to complete the next mechanical sequence.

Eighth, check for frame deformation or misalignment. If the printer was dropped, transported, forced open, or had a jam removed aggressively, the main frame or carriage/paper-feed alignment can shift. A small deformation may be enough to cause a startup scan failure or PF movement error.

It is also worth checking the carriage path again, even though your description points strongly toward the paper-feed side. Make sure the printhead carriage moves freely from side to side with the printer unplugged. Check the carriage rail, timing belt, capping station, pump assembly, and wiper area. If the carriage can move right but fails after the scan, the printer may be detecting abnormal load or position mismatch during the startup routine.

For this specific symptom, though, I would prioritize the PF encoder area. The key clue is that the printer briefly shows the normal screen, then changes to 034004 after the "ink thingy," or printhead carriage, finishes its scan. That usually means the printer completed one part of the startup check but failed during the next mechanical verification stage.

If cleaning and reseating the PF encoder disc and cable do not help, the next likely possibilities would be a failed PF encoder sensor, a damaged PF motor system, a jammed gear train, a broken change lever, or a mainboard signal issue. The mainboard is usually not the first thing I would suspect, but it becomes a possibility if the mechanical parts and sensor system test good.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair because many of these problems require hands-on inspection. For that reason, we are not able to provide remote troubleshooting, repair suggestions, or direct support for individual printer repairs beyond general guidance. 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, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so it may take a few weeks before you can drop off your printer. Our services are structured to repair either a whole printer or specific parts, with instructions provided for how to proceed. However, we understand that our rates may not be the most economical option for every situation. For that reason, we highly recommend self-help through online research. A good starting point is YouTube, including our channel homepage, BCH Technologies on YouTube [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. Use the search icon next to the "About" section on the right-hand side of the channel menu bar to search for specific repair topics. I receive dozens of questions every day asking for videos on specific problems, and after creating videos for more than nine years, it is difficult to remember every single one. YouTube's search function is usually the fastest way to find the most relevant video, and it may also suggest helpful videos from other repair channels.

Thank you again for watching the video and for sharing the extra detail about when the 034004 error appears. That timing is very helpful because it points the troubleshooting toward the paper-feed encoder and PF mechanism rather than only the printhead carriage.