Epson Printer Black Cartridge Light Flashing —How to Diagnose and Fix It

Question:

I recently got the F6525 - 9x6 CSIC Contact Module for my Epson printer (1430, 1390, etc.). After replacing several components—including the mainboard and the cables—the printer works as it should, except the black ink light is permanently lit. I had swapped out the CSIC module to fix all my ink lights that were on, so that was resolved, except for black. I also tried changing the cartridge and checked the pins of the CSIC holder. Could the module itself be bad from factory or should I get another one to try?

Answer:

Why Is the Light for the Black Cartridge Still Illuminated?

You’ve also swapped in a new mainboard, cables, new CSIC module, and cartridge so that we can discount several possibilities. But there are a few other options that could be causing the printer to behave this way:

Defective or Noncompatible Cartridge

If you're using refilled cartridges or third-party chips, they may be circumventing the reset mechanism.

I suggest trying with completely different/new-brand cartridges (ideally OEM Epson cartridges) and seeing if the same issue persists.

If the light goes off when you insert a new cartridge, you have a problem with the old chip or reset function.

FFC(Flat Flexible Cable)

You said you replaced cables, but did you replace the FFC cable?

It just takes a damn touch, slightly tearing the cable or some slight bent in its organic connection for having the chips being unable to communicate.

If that doesn't work, consider replacing the FFC cable with a new one.

The CSIC module is not seated, and the pins entering it are not making proper contact.

Those CSIC holder pins that you already checked, but check again closely.

Check that no pins are bent or misaligned. Even if you replace the module, a bad connection can cause the printer to have poor correspondence.

Gently scrub the contact pins with a soft eraser or alcohol swab to remove dirt or oxidation.

Potential Bad CSIC Module

Since the F6525 module is tested at the factory before being shipped, it is unlikely to be at fault.

But, while infrequent, shipping damage can happen.

If you have another working printer of the same model as yours, reinstall the module there to see if the problem is replicated.

What Should You Do Next?

Try using an entirely new set of ink cartridges.

If you did, replace the FFC cable.

Re-checking and cleaning the CSIC module pins.

Test the CSIC module on a different machine if applicable.

If the problem isn't unresolved, try swapping the CSIC module again.

 If the printer still does not work after all the above steps, a deeper firmware-related or board-level issue might prevent it from adequately detecting the black ink.

Final Thoughts

Because diagnosing printer issues is a hands-on process, printer troubleshooting can be complicated. We cannot offer remote repairs now, but an in-house diagnostic and repair service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service) is available. Demand is high for our services, which are performed in the order they are received, so it may take several weeks to find an available appointment.

However, if you want to fix it yourself, I encourage you to visit our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies) and use the search function to find complete repair guides.

Thank you again for your outreach! I am glad you remained calm, and I hope this information assists you in finding the reason for the problem. I hope this helps! If you have any other questions, let me know!