Epson Scanner Error 100016: What to Check When the Black Lever Is Already Down

Question:
I watched your video about fixing Epson scanner error 100016, and I understand that the black scanner lock lever should be pushed down. However, my printer still shows the same error even though the black lever is already down. What else could be causing this?

Answer:

For Epson scanner error 100016, the black lever being down is only one possible cause. This error usually appears when the printer tries to initialize or move the scanner lamp assembly but cannot properly complete that scanner startup process. In simple terms, the printer is expecting movement, position feedback, or scanner data, but it is not receiving what it expects.

If the scanner lock lever is already in the unlocked position, then the next things to check are the scanner FFC cable, the scanner motor housing, the physical movement of the scanner carriage, and whether the scanner lamp turns on.

The first thing I would check is the FFC cable, which is the flat flexible cable connecting the scanner unit to the printer's main board or scanner board. If this cable is loose, crooked, partially inserted, oxidized, damaged, folded too sharply, or inserted on the wrong side, the printer may not receive scanner data. Even if the scanner hardware is physically fine, a bad cable connection can still trigger error 100016 because the printer cannot communicate properly with the scanner system.

When checking the FFC cable, make sure the cable is fully seated in the connector. The blue stiffener, exposed contacts, and locking tab all need to be positioned correctly. Sometimes the cable looks inserted, but it is actually slightly misaligned. If the contacts are not making full contact, the printer may still show the scanner error. Also inspect the cable for tears, pinched areas, missing conductive traces, or burn marks. A damaged FFC cable can cause scanner communication failure.

The second area to inspect is the scanner motor housing. The scanner motor is responsible for moving the scanner lamp carriage back and forth under the glass. If the motor housing is not installed correctly, shifted out of place, blocked, disconnected, or mechanically jammed, the scanner carriage may not move when the printer powers on. That can also lead to error 100016.

You should also check whether the scanner lamp carriage can physically move. With the printer powered off and unplugged, inspect the scanner area carefully. The scanner carriage should not be stuck, jammed, or locked in place. If it cannot move because of dried grease, a dislodged part, broken rail, foreign object, or misaligned housing, the printer may interpret that as a scanner failure.

Another important clue is whether the scanner lamp lights up when the printer powers on. When the printer starts, the scanner lamp usually attempts to initialize. If the lamp never turns on, that may point toward a power, cable, scanner board, lamp, or communication problem. If the lamp turns on but does not move, then the issue may be more related to the scanner motor, drive belt, rail, or physical carriage movement. If the lamp moves briefly and then stops, the printer may be failing to detect the scanner's home position.

The scanner's home position is also important. The printer needs to know where the scanner carriage starts from. If the carriage cannot reach the home position, if the sensor is blocked, or if the scanner strip/positioning system is dirty or misaligned, the printer may fail initialization and show error 100016.

So, even though the black lock lever is already down, I would continue troubleshooting in this order:

1. Reseat the scanner FFC cable and make sure it is fully inserted and locked.

2. Inspect the FFC cable for damage, tears, bends, or dirty contacts.

3. Confirm the scanner motor housing is installed correctly.

4. Check whether the scanner carriage can move freely and is not physically blocked.

5. Turn the printer on and observe whether the scanner lamp lights up.

6. Listen for scanner motor movement or grinding sounds during startup.

7. Check for a jammed scanner carriage, broken belt, loose motor connector, or misaligned scanner assembly.

Error 100016 is not always caused by the black lever. The lever is just one common reason because it physically locks the scanner carriage. If the lever is already down, then the printer may still be unable to receive scanner data or complete scanner movement because of the FFC cable, motor housing, lamp, scanner carriage, or a related sensor/connection issue.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. Because of that, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. 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]. Due to high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so it may take a few weeks before we can arrange for your printer to be dropped off. Our services are structured to repair either a whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. However, we understand that our rates may not be the most economical option. For that reason, we highly recommend self-help through online research. You can start with YouTube or visit our YouTube channel homepage, BCH Technologies on YouTube [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. Use the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar to search for specific topics. I receive dozens of questions every day asking where to find videos on certain repairs, and after creating videos for the past nine years, it is difficult to remember every single one. YouTube's search function is usually the most efficient way to locate the right video, and it may also suggest helpful videos from other channels.

Thanks again for reaching out and for watching our video. I hope these extra checkpoints help you narrow down the cause of the 100016 scanner error beyond the black lock lever.