Epson WF-3720 Common Line Problem and Error E-10/E-11: Causes and Fixes for Ink Pad and Maintenance Box Issues

Customer Question

I'm getting error codes E-10 and E-11 on my Epson WF-3720, saying the ink pad is at the end of its service life. I’m also experiencing the common line problem—can you make a video about it?

Answer

Understanding Epson WF-3720 Error Codes E-10 and E-11

When your Epson WF-3720 displays Error E-10 or E-11, it’s warning that the “ink pad is at the end of its service life.” These messages are triggered when the printer estimates that its waste ink counter has reached its limit—typically after numerous cleanings or power cycles.

There are two main scenarios for WF-3720 owners:

1. Printer With a Maintenance Box
   Some WF-3720 units use a removable maintenance box, which is a replaceable part that absorbs excess ink. These boxes come with a smart chip that tracks usage. If your printer falls into this category, you’ll need to:

   • Replace the maintenance box with a new one.

   • Or reset the chip using a chip resetter tool.

   If your model isn’t listed in software reset tools like WIC Reset, this most likely means it uses the chip-based maintenance box, which must be physically reset or replaced. You can visit inkchip.net/wic (https://inkchip.net/wic) to check if your model is supported.

2. Printer Without a Maintenance Box
   If your model uses internal ink pads, then you’ll need to use the WIC Reset Utility to reset the waste ink counter. After the reset, we also recommend you:

   • Open the printer and inspect/clean the pads, or

   • Reroute the waste ink tube to an external container to prevent overflow.

About the “Common Line Problem”

When you mention the “common line problem,” it often refers to horizontal or vertical lines appearing repeatedly on prints. This could be related to:

• Clogged nozzles, often visible in nozzle check patterns.

• Alignment issues, especially after disassembly or installing new parts.

• Firmware-related errors, if the printer is trying to work around internal warnings like E-10/E-11.

• Encoder strip contamination, which affects how the printhead tracks its position.

If this is happening alongside E-10/E-11, resolving the ink pad issue first may help. A full reset and cleanup might restore normal printing functions. However, if the issue persists, further mechanical inspection of the printhead or rollers may be necessary.

While we can’t produce a video immediately on every topic due to high demand, your suggestion has been noted. We truly value ideas from our viewers like you, and we’ll look into covering this issue in a future video.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. That’s why we’re not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. However, we do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Given the high demand, our repair queue operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks before we can receive your printer. Our repair process includes both full unit diagnostics and targeted part replacements with clear guidance. We understand our rates might not be the lowest, so we highly encourage DIY approaches. You can explore related tutorials through YouTube—beginning with our YouTube channel homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search function (magnifying glass icon near the “About” tab) to find videos by keyword. With nearly a decade’s worth of content, this method is often faster than waiting for a reply.

Thank you once again for your comment and support. We hope this detailed explanation points you in the right direction, and we’re always here to help you navigate the technical challenges of your printer.