Epson WF-7110 Prints Horizontal Bands: How to Diagnose Paper Feed, Printhead, and Mainboard Problems

Question

I watched the video about extreme Epson printhead unclogging and fixing the 0x97 and 0xEA errors. My Epson WorkForce WF-7110 prints only horizontal bands, and even the nozzle-check pattern appears in separate bands. What could cause this problem? How can I determine whether the printhead has an electrical short or the printer's mainboard is damaged?

Answer

When a WF-7110 produces horizontal bands even during a nozzle check, the first step is to determine whether the missing areas are caused by ink delivery, printhead firing, or paper movement. Based on the symptoms described, a paper-feed problem is a strong possibility, especially when the bands are evenly spaced and appear consistently across every color.

Check Whether the Pattern Points to a Paper-Feed Problem

A nozzle-check pattern is printed while the paper advances in small, controlled increments. If the paper-feed mechanism moves the sheet too far, not far enough, or inconsistently between print passes, blank horizontal gaps may appear even when the printhead is firing correctly.

A paper-feed problem is more likely when:

• The blank bands extend across all colors at exactly the same height.

• The spacing between bands is regular and repetitive.

• Each visible section of the nozzle pattern looks reasonably complete.

• The printer produces compressed, stretched, overlapping, or widely separated horizontal lines.

• The same pattern appears on ordinary documents and nozzle checks.

The WF-7110 uses a paper-feed motor, gears, rollers, and a PF encoder system to measure paper movement. Possible causes include contaminated feed rollers, worn gears, a slipping roller shaft, a dirty or damaged PF encoder disc, a weak PF motor, or an obstruction within the paper path.

Inspect the paper path carefully for scraps of paper, labels, dried ink, or foreign objects. Also check whether the rollers rotate smoothly and whether the paper advances evenly. A dirty PF encoder disc or sensor can cause the printer to miscalculate how far the sheet has moved.

Do not clean an encoder disc with aggressive solvents. The printed markings can be damaged easily. If cleaning is necessary, use a lint-free material and a suitable mild cleaner, applying very little pressure.

Distinguish Paper-Feed Banding From Clogged Nozzles

A clogged printhead usually creates missing lines or broken segments inside one or more color grids. The missing portions may affect only cyan, magenta, yellow, or black rather than every color at precisely the same horizontal location.

For example:

• Missing random segments in one color usually indicate clogged nozzles or poor ink flow.

• A completely absent color may indicate an empty ink channel, air in the cartridge, a blocked damper, a failed cartridge vent, or an electrical problem.

• Identical horizontal gaps through every color may indicate incorrect paper advancement.

• Sharp, regularly spaced white bands may indicate a feed or encoder problem rather than a simple clog.

If the printer has sat unused, the printhead may still be partially clogged. However, repeated cleaning will not correct a mechanical paper-feed error. Excessive cleaning can also consume large quantities of ink, saturate the waste-ink pads, and place additional stress on the printhead.

Check the Cartridges and Ink Supply

Before suspecting the electronics, confirm that the cartridges are supplying ink correctly. The WF-7110 can experience banding when a cartridge is empty, improperly vented, poorly seated, or unable to maintain ink flow.

Check that:

• Every cartridge contains ink.

• The cartridge vents are open and unobstructed.

• The cartridges are seated fully.

• No air blockage is preventing ink from reaching the printhead.

• There is no visible ink leakage around the cartridge bay or printhead cables.

If refillable cartridges or a continuous ink system are being used, verify that the ink reservoir height is appropriate. A reservoir positioned too low may starve the printhead, while one positioned too high may create excessive pressure and leakage.

How to Evaluate a Possible Short-Circuited Printhead

It is difficult to confirm a shorted Epson printhead without electrical testing and a known-good board or printhead for comparison. A severely clogged printhead and an electrically damaged printhead can sometimes produce similar symptoms, but there are important differences.

A shorted or electrically damaged printhead is more likely when:

• The printer immediately displays error 0x97 during startup or when printing begins.

• The machine powers off unexpectedly when the head attempts to fire.

• One color channel remains completely absent despite confirmed ink flow.

• The printer previously had ink or cleaning fluid spilled onto the printhead cable contacts.

• The flexible flat cables show corrosion, burns, or damaged conductive traces.

• The mainboard fuse blows again after being replaced.

• A replacement mainboard fails shortly after being connected to the same printhead.

Testing printhead resistance is not always conclusive because Epson printheads contain many microscopic firing elements and internal circuits. Measuring random contacts with a multimeter can also damage the printhead or board if the correct pinout and testing procedure are not known.

Never perform resistance or continuity measurements while the printer is connected to power. Disconnect the power cable and allow the printer to discharge before touching internal electronics.

How to Check for Mainboard Damage

A damaged mainboard may prevent the printhead from receiving proper firing signals, even when the printhead itself is mechanically clear. Mainboard damage can occur after a printhead short, liquid contamination, an incorrectly installed printhead cable, or work performed while the printer is powered.

Inspect the mainboard for:

• Blown surface-mounted fuses.

• Burned components or darkened circuit-board areas.

• Corrosion or dried ink residue.

• Damaged printhead cable connectors.

• Bent connector pins.

• Loose or improperly inserted flexible flat cables.

• Cracks, tears, or burned contacts on the printhead cables.

A blown fuse is often a symptom rather than the original cause. Replacing a fuse without identifying the shorted component can result in the new fuse blowing immediately. In some cases, a defective printhead can damage a replacement mainboard as soon as the printer is powered on.

The safest diagnostic method is substitution with known-good components, but this carries risk. Connecting a suspected shorted printhead to a good board can destroy the good board. Likewise, connecting a good printhead to a damaged board can damage the replacement head. For that reason, component-swapping should be performed only after inspecting the cables, connectors, fuses, and power circuitry.

Understanding Error 0x97

The 0x97 error generally indicates a serious internal hardware or electrical problem. Depending on the circumstances, it may involve the printhead, printhead cables, mainboard, carriage system, or related circuitry.

If the printer currently operates and completes a nozzle check without showing 0x97, the horizontal banding alone does not prove that the printhead or mainboard is shorted. A paper-feed, ink-flow, alignment, or nozzle problem would be more likely.

If 0x97 appears immediately after installing, cleaning, or reconnecting the printhead, turn off the printer and inspect the printhead cables. A cable inserted crookedly, upside down, or with contaminated contacts may create a short circuit.

Understanding Error 0xEA

The 0xEA error is more commonly associated with restricted carriage movement or an initialization problem. Possible causes include:

• Packing material left inside the printer.

• Paper or debris blocking the carriage.

• An incorrectly routed ink tube.

• A contaminated or damaged carriage encoder strip.

• A jammed capping station or cleaning assembly.

• A carriage belt, gear, or motor problem.

• A cable or tube preventing the carriage from moving freely.

The 0xEA error does not automatically mean that the printhead or mainboard is burned out. The carriage should be inspected for free movement while the printer is powered off and unplugged. Do not force the carriage if it is locked in the capping station.

Recommended Diagnostic Order

Start with the lowest-risk checks:

First, print another nozzle check on plain paper and study whether the missing horizontal areas line up across every color. If all colors have blank spaces at identical heights, focus on the paper-feed mechanism and PF encoder system.

Next, confirm that the paper is loaded correctly and that the guides are not pressing too tightly against it. Clean and inspect the paper-feed rollers and look for inconsistent paper movement.

Then, check the cartridges, vents, and ink flow. If only individual colors contain broken sections, investigate nozzle clogging or ink starvation.

After that, inspect the carriage encoder strip, paper-feed encoder components, printhead cables, and mainboard connectors. Look for contamination, damage, or improper cable installation.

Only after completing these checks should you consider a shorted printhead or failed mainboard. Avoid repeatedly powering the machine if it displays 0x97, smells burned, blows a fuse, or shows evidence of liquid contamination.

Addressing printer issues can be complicated because many diagnoses require direct inspection and hands-on testing. For this reason, we are unable to provide individualized remote troubleshooting, repair recommendations, or ongoing technical support for printer repairs. We do offer in-person evaluation and repair through our local printer diagnostic and repair facility [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service].

Because demand is high, repairs are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take several weeks before an available drop-off appointment can be arranged. Our services are structured to repair either a complete printer or certain removable components, with instructions provided for the applicable service. We also recognize that professional repair may not be the most economical option for every printer.

For that reason, we strongly encourage self-help through online research. You can begin with YouTube or visit the homepage of our BCH Technologies YouTube channel [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. To locate a specific topic, use the search icon near the "About" tab on the right side of the channel menu. We receive dozens of questions each day asking whether we have videos on particular repairs. Since we have published videos for more than nine years, it is difficult to remember every video individually. Using YouTube's channel-search function is usually the fastest way to find relevant material, and YouTube may also recommend useful videos from other creators.

Thank you again for reaching out, watching our content, and supporting BCH Technologies. We appreciate the opportunity to explain the possible causes of the horizontal banding and hope this information helps you narrow the problem down safely.