Epson L1800 DTF Printer Red Paper Light Flashing, No Color Printing, and Capping Station Spraying Ink
- By Ellen Joy
- On Apr 22, 2026
- Comment 0
Question:
I have an Epson L1800 DTF printer with several issues happening at the same time. First, the red light is flashing on the paper jam button. Second, the printer is not printing color. I already changed the dampers and the printhead, but I did not replace the ink hoses. Third, the capping station is squirting ink upward.
Answer:
Based on the symptoms you described, it sounds like your printer may have more than one problem happening at once. I will go through each issue separately, because on the Epson L1800, one failure can sometimes trigger other symptoms.
For the red flashing light on the paper jam button, that light does not always mean there is a literal paper jam. On the L1800 platform, it often indicates that the printer has detected a mechanical or sensor-related fault and is stopping operation for protection. The best way to identify the actual cause is to use the Epson Adjustment Program.
Here is how to check the stored error:
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Open the Adjustment Program.
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Select the correct USB port showing your printer name.
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Choose Particular Adjustment.
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Scroll down and select Printer Information Check.
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Click Check.
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The latest stored fault will appear as Error Number 1.
That error code is important because it tells you what the printer believes is failing. For example, some L1800-family printers may log issues related to the APG sensor, carriage movement, paper path detection, or pump/capping-related faults. In some cases, a paper light flashing condition is actually caused by carriage obstruction, encoder strip contamination, APG sensor trouble, or an abnormal home-position reading rather than a true jam. If the printer is making abnormal movement noises, screeching, or hesitating during startup, that further supports the possibility of a carriage path or sensor-related issue.
You can search "BCH Epson Error" online to find our page discussing Epson's hidden service errors and how to interpret them. The Adjustment Program is service software normally used by Epson technicians, but many DTF sellers also distribute it. If you do not already have it, you may need to look for a copy through your seller or from online service communities.
For a quick walkthrough of how to retrieve the error, see this short video: Adjustment Program walkthrough [https://youtube.com/shorts/FPZzpyYuZLEI].
Now, regarding the printer not printing color, replacing the dampers and printhead was already a major step, but since you did not replace the hoses, the ink delivery path may still be compromised. On a converted DTF printer, color loss can come from several places:
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air leaks in the ink line
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clogged or hardened hoses
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poor damper priming
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ink starvation from the capping/pump system
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clogged manifold or ink path contamination
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dried pigment buildup, especially if white ink or DTF ink maintenance has not been perfectly consistent
Even if the printhead is new, it still cannot print color if ink is not reaching it correctly. Old hoses can contain dried ink residue, partial clogs, or trapped air pockets. If the printer sat for a while, or if ink circulation has been inconsistent, the hoses may be restricting flow even though the dampers are new. Also, if the capping station is not sealing and pulling ink properly, the head may never prime correctly, which can make it seem like the head or dampers are bad when the real issue is in the maintenance station.
A few things to inspect:
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Make sure each damper is fully seated and actually filled with ink rather than mostly air.
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Check whether the ink lines show gaps, bubbles, or sections of old dried residue.
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Confirm that the ink tank vents are open and that ink can flow freely.
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Inspect the cap top seal against the bottom of the printhead. If the seal is poor, the printer cannot build suction during cleaning cycles.
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Check whether the waste line and pump path are blocked.
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If only certain colors are missing, compare those channels for flow differences or trapped air.
As for the capping station squirting ink upward, that is usually a strong sign that the maintenance system is not handling vacuum and drainage correctly. Under normal operation, the capping station should draw ink downward through the waste path during cleaning, not spray it upward. When ink shoots up, some common causes are:
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a clogged waste line
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a blocked cap top or internal capping channel
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a failing pump
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bad sealing between cap and printhead
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misrouted tubing
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internal capping station damage or worn gears/components
In practical terms, the system may be trying to pull ink, but pressure is not being released through the waste path correctly. That can cause back pressure, splashing, or bubbling at the cap. If the capping station is clogged or partially clogged, it may also fail to prime the printhead, which ties directly into your missing-color problem. In other words, the no-color issue and the ink-squirting issue may be connected.
Here are the capping station resources that may help:
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Removing and installing the capping station [https://youtu.be/_cZEkmgIZYc]
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Unclogging the capping station [https://youtu.be/WbY_6O1-w2c]
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Repairing the capping station [https://youtu.be/5UC2IMu9V90]
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Rewiring capping station tubes [https://youtu.be/J9im3s8UJfo]
You also mentioned general abnormal behavior, so these screeching-sound videos may also be useful if the printer is making noise during carriage travel or startup:
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Screeching sound repair video 1 [https://youtu.be/MjArYM-QnfU]
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Screeching sound repair video 2 [https://youtu.be/TNOG_1TtN6g]
If the standard videos do not solve the capping station problem, we also have a more detailed guide that goes deeper into disassembly and reassembly of the unit: Detailed capping station guide [https://bchtechnologies.com/products/video-capping-station-assemble-disassemble-guide-for-l1800-1390-artisan-1430-and-1400].
My recommendation is to approach this in this order:
First, retrieve the actual stored error code using the Adjustment Program, because that will clarify why the red paper light is flashing. Second, inspect and restore the capping station and waste path, because the ink squirting upward strongly suggests a maintenance-station problem. Third, once the capping system is working correctly, re-check the ink delivery path, especially the hoses, because unresolved flow restrictions there can still keep the printer from printing color even after replacing the head and dampers.
Printer problems like this can be complicated because they are very hands-on and mechanical in nature. For that reason, we are not able to provide remote troubleshooting, repair suggestions, or technical support beyond general educational guidance. We do offer in-person inspection and repair through our local diagnostic center: printer repair service [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Because demand is high, repairs are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks before we are able to receive your printer. We can service either a full printer or individual assemblies, and the service page explains how to proceed. That said, we understand our repair rates may not be the cheapest option, so we strongly encourage self-guided research as well. A good starting point 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 questions every day asking whether I have made a video on a certain topic, and after so many years of publishing, the fastest method is usually to search directly on YouTube. It may also recommend useful videos from other creators that can help.
Thank you again for reaching out to us and for your continued support. We sincerely appreciate your trust in BCH Technologies, and we hope this gives you a clearer direction for diagnosing your Epson L1800 DTF printer.