How to Clean Printer Cables and Ribbon Cable Contacts on Epson WF-7610 and Similar Models

Question:

I’ve been working on my Epson WF-7610, specifically around the mainboard area. How do you properly clean the ends of the printer ribbon cables (those flat, flexible connectors) before reconnecting them?

Answer:

How to Clean Ribbon Cable Contacts on Epson WF-7610 and Other Printers

When dealing with internal printer components—like the flat flexible cables (FFCs) that connect the printhead, scanner, or control panel to the mainboard—cleaning the contact points is essential to avoid poor connections, signal loss, or burn marks from intermittent current.

Here’s how I recommend cleaning them:

1. Use Your Finger for Light Cleaning

Often, just rubbing the contact area gently with your fingertip can be enough to dislodge dust or light oxidation. Skin oils have mild cleaning properties and won’t harm the contact pads unless they are already corroded.

Tip: Run your finger lightly across the gold contacts. If they feel rough or gritty, move on to a deeper clean.

2. Use Isopropyl Alcohol for Thorough Cleaning

If there's visible dirt, ink residue, or light corrosion, use isopropyl alcohol (ideally 90% or higher) and a lint-free cloth or cotton swab:

• Dampen the swab with alcohol—don’t soak it.

• Gently rub the contact end of the cable (gold or silver strips) until clean.

• Allow it to dry completely before reinserting the cable.

Alcohol is non-conductive and safe for electronics. It evaporates quickly and doesn’t leave residue behind, making it ideal for this kind of work.

3. Check for Burn Marks

If you see black scorch marks on the cable tip or on the mainboard socket where the cable inserts, that’s a sign of electrical arcing or overheating. Unfortunately, these burn marks are not just cosmetic—they usually indicate that the cable is damaged internally and should be replaced.

Burned ends can cause intermittent or failed communication between the board and components like the printhead, leading to errors or hardware failure.

4. Avoid Abrasives or Excessive Pressure

Do not use sandpaper, metal polish, or scrapers to clean the contacts. These can wear down the conductive layers and permanently damage the cable.

When to Replace the Cable Instead of Cleaning

If cleaning doesn’t restore solid connectivity—or if you continue to see errors like printhead communication errors, scanner failures, or startup beeps, the cable might be too far gone. In that case:

• Replace the FFC with an identical type. Make sure to match the pin count, width, and orientation.

• Inspect the socket (ZIF connector) on the mainboard for signs of damage or burnt traces as well.

Please note: Handling internal cable connections is a delicate, hands-on process. As such, we're unable to offer remote guidance or real-time repair help for these types of issues. However, we do offer in-person diagnostics and part-specific printer repairs through our local repair facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Because of high demand, repairs are done on a first-come, first-served basis and may take several weeks. We work with both full-unit and component-level repairs, with clearly outlined service instructions. That said, we understand that our pricing may not be ideal for every budget, so we encourage DIY repairs when possible. For help, explore the many guides available on our YouTube channel homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search icon next to the “About” section to find specific videos relevant to your printer model. With hundreds of tutorials posted over the years, YouTube’s search tool will help you locate the most relevant ones quickly—even from other helpful creators.

Thanks again for your thoughtful question and for being part of the BCH Technologies community. We’re glad to support you through your repair journey!