Epson SureColor F2000 / F2100 "ST-2000" Black Ink Not Printing: Causes, Checks, and When It's the Printhead

Customer Question 

I haven't heard back yet about my ST-2000 issue where black ink won't print, even after I followed the troubleshooting steps you previously provided. The black channel still won't print at all. Could this be a bad printhead? I've been completely unsuccessful getting black to print.

Answer

Could it be a bad printhead?

Yes-a failed or damaged printhead is one possibility, but it's not the first conclusion I'd jump to. On Epson garment/DTG-style platforms like the SureColor series, "black not printing" can be caused by several layers of the ink delivery system before the printhead is truly at fault.

A good way to think about it is: the printhead is the last link in the chain. If anything upstream fails-air leaks, clogs, ink starvation, dampers, caps, pump, or a blocked line-the printhead can't fire black even if the head itself is still electrically fine.

Below are the most common causes (from most common to more "serious"), and what each one tends to look like.

1) The black channel is clogged or air-locked (most common)

If black is not printing at all-especially after downtime-there may be:

• A heavy clog at the nozzle plate, or

• Air trapped in the black ink path (common after maintenance or if ink was run low)

Signs:

• Nozzle check shows black missing completely or nearly completely.

• Cleaning cycles don't change the result.

What usually helps (conceptually):

• Proper priming/ink charging steps (depending on model setup)

• Ensuring ink supply and lines are fully inked with no bubbles

• Making sure the capping station is sealing well (see next section)

2) Capping station not sealing, or the pump can't pull ink through black

On these machines, cleaning relies on the cap top + pump to pull ink through the printhead. If the cap top seal is weak or the pump is failing, cleanings become ineffective-especially for one channel.

Signs:

• You can run cleaning after cleaning and the black won't recover.

• You may see ink residue or poor suction behavior at the cap.

• Sometimes other channels improve but black never does.

Common root causes:

• Worn cap top rubber lip

• Cap top sitting too low/high or misaligned

• Pump weak, clogged, or failing

• Waste lines pinched or blocked

3) Black damper is failing or the ink line has restriction

A damper regulates ink flow and helps trap air. If the black damper is failing, clogged, or not primed, the head can starve.

Signs:

• Black disappears suddenly or becomes unstable.

• You may see bubbles in lines (if visible) or inconsistent recovery.

• Other colors print normally.

Typical fix (hands-on):

• Inspect/replace the black damper

• Verify ink line integrity (no pinches/kinks)

• Re-prime the line correctly

4) The black ink supply itself is the issue (ink, cartridge/bag, chip recognition, or contamination)

If the printer is not properly recognizing the ink supply, or the black supply path has contamination, it can prevent normal flow.

Signs:

• Ink level/recognition warnings or inconsistent readings.

• Black prints extremely faint or not at all despite "normal" display.

• Sudden failure after changing ink, swapping supply, or doing maintenance.

5) Printhead electrical failure (possible, but usually the last conclusion)

A truly "bad printhead" for one channel can happen-especially if:

• The channel has been overheated,

• There was a short, electrical damage, or

• The head has internal delamination or permanent nozzle loss.

Signs that point more strongly toward printhead failure:

• Black is completely dead and stays dead despite confirmed good ink flow and confirmed good suction at the cap.

• The printer has a history of head strikes or severe clogging events.

• You've verified the ink path is fully primed (no air), the cap seals, and the pump pulls ink, but the nozzle check never changes.

Important note: If black is totally absent on nozzle checks, it can look identical whether it's an upstream flow problem or an electrical head problem. That's why the supporting checks matter-otherwise you risk replacing a head when the real issue was cap/pump/damper.

What I recommend focusing on next (high-value checkpoints)

Since you already attempted prior steps and black still won't print, the next high-value focus is usually confirming these three things:

1. Nozzle check evidence

• Does black show anything at all? Even a few lines matter diagnostically.

• If it's 100% blank, we treat it as either "severe blockage/airlock" or "no firing."

1. Suction and sealing

• If the cap top isn't sealing or the pump isn't pulling, cleanings are basically "fake cleaning" (they run, but they don't move ink).

1. Damper/line integrity

• A single-channel failure is very often damper-related on systems like this.

If those three are confirmed good and black still won't fire, then the probability of printhead failure rises substantially.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair because the problems are hands-on and often depend on physical inspection, measurements, and controlled tests. Because of that, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, step-by-step repair suggestions, or direct support for printer repairs. We do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service through our local diagnostic facility: Printer Repair Service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Due to the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks before we're able to schedule a drop-off. Our services are structured to repair either a whole printer or specific components, with clear instructions on how to proceed. We also acknowledge our rates aren't the most economical, so we strongly recommend self-help through online research. You can begin by checking YouTube or visiting our channel homepage: BCH Technologies on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Look up specific topics using the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar. I receive dozens of questions every day asking which video covers a specific repair topic, and after nine years of creating videos, it's difficult to remember every single one-so YouTube search is the fastest approach. YouTube may also recommend other helpful videos from other channels that match your issue.

Thank you again for your patience and for reaching out to us. I truly hope the information above helps you narrow down whether the issue is ink delivery (cap/pump/damper/airlock) versus a true printhead failure, so your next step is the most effective one.