Epson ET-2760 Sublimation Printer Won't Print, Then Shows E-01 / 031006 "Code of Death": What It Means, F301 Fuse Repair, and Why Ink Still Won't Reach the Page

Question

I bought a used Epson ET-2760 that was already converted for sublimation, but from day one it wouldn't print-no ink on the nozzle check at all, even after multiple head cleanings and rest periods. The seller had me check things like shipping line locks, tank caps, and air in the dampers, but nothing changed.

I tried cleaning the printhead myself. I removed the printhead, flushed it with distilled water, and then used low-pressure compressed air to dry it. After reinstalling, I briefly saw faint ink on a nozzle check, but after running a head cleaning, prints went back to completely blank. Then the printer demanded a nozzle check before printing and soon after displayed E-01 (top right) and 031006 (bottom), which I've seen referred to as the "Epson code of death."

I researched and found that F301 on the GC22 mainboard might blow if something shorts. I confirmed F301 was blown, replaced it, and replaced the printhead. The printer now turns on without the error, but it still won't print anything-no ink on nozzle checks, even after several cleanings. What could be wrong, and is there anything else I can do to get it printing?

Answer

First, I want to acknowledge something important: you did a lot of things right from a technician's mindset-documenting steps, checking for air, using a meter to confirm a fuse, and repairing at board level. The frustrating part is that on EcoTank conversions, "no printing" can be caused by multiple completely different systems that look identical from the outside.

Below is the most useful way to think about your situation based on the exact symptoms and the two key error codes you mentioned: E-01 and 031006.

1) What E-01 / 031006 actually means (and why it appeared during cleaning)

On Epson EcoTank models like the ET-2760, E-01 is a generic "printer error" category that often appears when the printer detects a serious condition during initialization or a maintenance action. The paired lower code 031006 is widely associated with a severe fault condition that can be triggered by an electrical problem involving the printhead circuit-commonly a short, overcurrent event, or a failure that causes the mainboard protection to trip.

That's why people nickname 031006 the "code of death." It doesn't mean "paper jam" in the normal sense; it more often indicates the printer has detected something unsafe electrically and is preventing operation to avoid further damage.

In your timeline, the code showed up right after you removed the printhead, flushed it, and used compressed air, then attempted cleaning/nozzle checks. That pattern strongly suggests the printer detected an electrical abnormality in the head drive/feedback system after reassembly (or moisture/contamination/short conditions).

2) Why replacing F301 can "fix the error" but not fix printing

You did a very important repair: replacing the blown F301 fuse on the GC22 mainboard. That's consistent with what we often see: a short or overcurrent event blows F301, and replacing it can restore power to the printhead circuit enough for the printer to boot again.

However, this is the trap:

F301 blowing is often a symptom, not the root cause.

When F301 blows, it's often because something else is wrong, such as:

• A shorted printhead (even a brand-new head can be defective, or damaged during handling)

• A damaged FFC/printhead ribbon cable

• A mainboard driver component short (sometimes F301 is not the only casualty)

• Moisture contamination causing a conductive path

• Connector damage (bent pins, carbonization, residue)

So yes-replacing F301 can remove the error and allow the printer to power on, but the underlying issue can still prevent printing.

3) The bigger mystery: why you had no ink output from day one

This is actually the most important clue in your entire story:

From day one, before you ever removed the head, it would not print-not even a dribble.

That suggests the original problem may not have been an electrical "code of death" issue at all. It may have been a delivery/priming/airflow problem or a head starvation problem that existed before you ever touched the printhead.

In EcoTank/sublimation conversions, "blank nozzle check" from day one usually comes from one (or more) of these categories:

A) The printhead is not being supplied ink (delivery failure)

Even if tanks are full, the head can be dry if:

• Air is trapped in the ink path (more than just microbubbles)

• The conversion has a line lock, venting issue, or incorrect cap sealing

• The tank vents/caps are not set correctly for printing

• The lines were not properly primed before shipping, or the system lost prime

B) The capping station / pump system is not pulling ink (maintenance system failure)

The printer relies on the pump/cap assembly to draw ink through the head during cleanings. If the pump can't pull vacuum, you can do 100 cleanings and still get blank pages.

Common causes:

• Cap top not sealing against the head

• Waste ink tube kinked or disconnected

• Pump gears slipping or pump clogged

• Wiper/cap assembly installed incorrectly during conversion

C) The head is electrically firing, but there's no ink in the nozzles (dry head)

A head can "work" electrically but still print nothing if it's not wet/primed. This can happen on brand-new conversions if the seller didn't properly prime, or if the printer sat too long and dried.

4) Why flushing with distilled water + compressed air can make things worse

I want to be very careful how I phrase this, because you're clearly capable and methodical. But in general:

• Distilled water is not the best flushing agent for pigment-like loads or sublimation residues, and it lacks surfactants that help dissolve and carry residue.

• Compressed air through nozzles is risky because it can:

  • Force debris deeper into the nozzle plate

  • Delaminate internal nozzle membranes

  • Drive moisture into areas it shouldn't be (including electrical contact zones)

  • Create uneven internal pressure that the head isn't designed to withstand

It's very possible that your head-cleaning attempt gave you a temporary improvement (that faint ink you saw) because it briefly re-wet pathways, but the underlying delivery/pump issue remained. Then the compressed air/moisture/handling incident likely contributed to the later electrical fault that blew F301.

5) Why it still prints nothing even after a new head + new F301

At this stage, if the printer powers on normally (no E-01 / 031006) but still prints blank nozzle checks, the most likely causes are:

1) Ink is still not reaching the head (system not primed)

Even with a new head, if the ink path isn't primed or the cap/pump isn't pulling, you will still get blank pages.

2) Cap top / pump is not functioning

If the cap doesn't seal or the pump can't create suction, cleanings won't draw ink. You'll see exactly what you see: "cleaning cycles completed" but no ink output.

3) Air leaks in the ink path (venting/caps/lines)

EcoTank systems depend heavily on correct venting. If tanks are sealed incorrectly (or converted venting is wrong), ink won't flow consistently.

4) Electrical head firing may still be compromised

Even without the "code of death," it's possible the head isn't being driven correctly due to:

• Damaged head cable/FFC

• Partial mainboard damage beyond the fuse

• Incorrect seating of cables during head replacement

6) What the error codes tell us about "paper jam" vs electrical fault

You were told 031006 was a paper jam. A true paper jam generally has consistent mechanical symptoms and typically points to a feed path obstruction, sensor flag, or roller issue.

Your case doesn't read like a classic jam scenario because:

• It appeared during a cleaning/nozzle-check workflow

• It coincided with head removal and reinstallation

• You later confirmed a blown F301 fuse, which is not a "paper jam" part-it's a protection fuse in a circuit that can blow due to an electrical event

So while paper sensors can produce errors, the combination of E-01 + 031006 + blown F301 is much more consistent with an electrical incident in the printhead circuit than a simple jam.

7) Practical reality check: what's "most likely wrong" in one sentence

Based on your story, it's very likely there were two problems:

1. A pre-existing ink delivery / priming / pump-cap issue that caused "no ink from day one," and

2. A later electrical fault introduced or triggered during head removal/cleaning that caused E-01 / 031006 and blew F301.

You fixed part #2 enough for the printer to boot, but part #1 is still there-so it still prints blank pages.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. So, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We offer an in-person evaluation and repair service via our local diagnostic facility: Printer Repair Service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so it might take a few weeks before we can get your printer to drop it off. Our services are structured to repair either a whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. However, we acknowledge that our rates aren't the most economical. Thus, we highly recommend that you resort to self-help via online research. You can start by checking out YouTube or visiting our YouTube channel's homepage at BCH Technologies on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Look for specific videos using the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar. I receive dozens of queries every day asking about videos for specific topics. Having created videos over the past nine years, it's challenging to remember every single one. Therefore, using YouTube's search function would be most efficient. Plus, YouTube might suggest relevant videos from other channels that could assist you.

Thank you again for your detailed write-up and for supporting our content. I truly appreciate the thoughtful way you approached the repair, and I'm sorry your sublimation journey started off so rough. Whether you decide to keep experimenting, convert a fresh printer yourself, or donate the unit, I'm grateful you took the time to share the whole sequence-it helps us and the community more than you know.