Epson ET-8550 DTF Conversion: White Ink Not Printing and Error 031006 After Replacing the F1 Fuse

Question:
I converted an Epson EcoTank ET-8550 for DTF printing, and it worked well at first. I was able to print around 10 to 15 sheets before the white ink stopped printing. I tried cleaning the printhead with the shoe-shine method, and that helped temporarily, but the problem came back. Eventually, that cleaning method stopped helping at all. After researching possible solutions, I removed and cleaned the printhead, and then followed your video to replace the F1 fuse using a fuse purchased from BCH Technologies. Even after replacing the fuse, the printer is still showing error code 031006. What could be causing this, and what should I check to get the printer working again?

Answer:

Based on what you described, the most likely issue is that the F1 fuse either blew again, or the underlying fault that caused the original fuse to fail is still present. In many ET-8550 DTF cases, when the printer shows error code 031006 even after replacing the F1 fuse, the next most likely cause is a bad printhead or a short somewhere in the printhead circuit.

The key point is this: replacing the F1 fuse only restores the protection circuit if the original electrical fault has been removed. If the printhead is internally shorted, or if there is a damaged cable, liquid contamination, or a board-level short, the new F1 fuse can burn out again immediately or very quickly. That would leave the printer still showing 031006.

In your case, the sequence of events is very telling. You first had a white ink dropout problem, and the shoe-shine cleaning method only worked temporarily. That often points to more than simple clogging. With DTF conversions, white ink is the most demanding ink channel. It settles faster, circulates poorly compared with standard ink systems, and can create back pressure, clogging, or overheating conditions. If the white channel became severely restricted, the printhead may have been stressed electrically or thermally. Sometimes what looks like a clog turns into a damaged printhead, especially after repeated cleaning attempts or if fluid reached the electronics side.

So yes, your proposed diagnosis is on the right track: check the F1 fuse again, because if the root problem was never fixed, the replacement fuse may already be open. If it is blown again, that strongly suggests the printer still has a short condition, and the printhead is one of the first things to suspect.

Here is how I would interpret the situation:

First possibility: the F1 fuse has blown again.
If the printer still reports 031006, one of the first checks is continuity on the replacement F1 fuse. If the fuse is open again, then something downstream is pulling too much current. In many cases, that ends up being the printhead.

Second possibility: the printhead is defective.
A failing or shorted printhead is a common reason for repeated F1 fuse failure. Since the white ink stopped printing first, and cleaning only helped briefly, the printhead may have already been deteriorating before the fuse replacement. Once the head electrically fails, replacing the fuse alone will not solve the issue. In fact, installing a new fuse with a bad head can simply burn the fuse again.

Third possibility: contamination or damage around the printhead cables.
If ink, cleaning solution, or moisture got onto the printhead contacts or flat cables, that can also create a short or unstable connection. This is especially important if the head was removed and cleaned. Even a small amount of residue on the flex cables or connector area can cause serious issues. The printhead cables should be inspected for bent contacts, burns, tears, residue, or corrosion.

Fourth possibility: mainboard damage.
If the fuse was replaced correctly and remains good, but the printer still shows 031006, there is a chance that the fault has extended beyond the fuse and printhead into the mainboard or drive circuitry. That is less ideal, but it does happen, particularly if the short was severe.

As for the original symptom of white not printing, that often begins as a clog, ink starvation issue, damper issue, air in the line, or poor white ink maintenance. But once the machine progresses to 031006, the problem is no longer just about ink flow. At that stage, you are dealing with an electrical fault code, not just a nozzle issue. That is why standard cleaning methods, even if they helped before, may no longer make any difference now.

My strongest recommendation is this:
Start by rechecking the F1 fuse with a meter, not just visually. If it is blown again, the printhead is highly suspect and should be considered the probable cause unless proven otherwise. Also inspect the printhead flex cables and connectors very carefully. If the fuse is still good, then the issue may be on the board side or in the head drive circuit, but the printhead can still be involved.

So in plain terms, the most likely answer to "what could it be?" is:
The root problem probably was not the fuse itself. The fuse was likely a symptom. The more likely underlying failure is a bad printhead, and if that short was not removed, the new F1 fuse may have burned again, which would keep the printer in error 031006.

Printer repair can be tricky because these problems are very hands-on and often require direct testing of components in person. For that reason, we are not able to provide remote troubleshooting, repair suggestions, or technical support for printer repairs beyond general guidance. We do offer an in-person inspection and repair option through our local diagnostic facility, printer repair service [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Because demand is high, we handle repairs on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks before we are able to accept a printer drop-off. We can repair either a complete printer or specific parts, and the service page explains how to proceed. That said, we also understand that professional repair is not always the most budget-friendly option. For that reason, we strongly encourage self-help through online research. A good place to start is YouTube, especially our channel homepage, BCH Technologies YouTube Channel [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. You can use the search icon next to "About" on the right side of the menu bar to look for videos on your exact issue. I get many messages every day asking whether we have covered a certain problem in a video, and after making videos for so many years, it is hard to remember every topic off the top of my head. Using YouTube search is usually the fastest method, and it may also surface useful videos from other creators.

Thank you again for reaching out to us and for your support. We sincerely appreciate your trust, your patience, and your continued engagement with BCH Technologies.