How to Fix a Clogged Capping Station on Your Inkjet Printer: A Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Customer Question:
I’ve just installed a new printhead, but I suspect the capping station is clogged. How do I go about getting your repair services?

Answer:

Diagnosing a Clogged Capping Station

When your printer’s capping station is clogged, the newly installed printhead may not receive proper suction or maintenance cleaning, which can result in poor ink flow, print gaps, or even screeching mechanical sounds.

Rather than wait for service—especially while your new printhead sits idle—we highly encourage a do-it-yourself approach. It’s both faster and more cost-effective. Below are several helpful resources and detailed repair videos that walk you through different stages of capping station maintenance and replacement:

Recommended DIY Video Guides

• Screeching Sound Diagnosis:
  If your printer makes a loud screeching noise, start with these two videos:

  • Screeching Sound Troubleshooting – Part 1 (https://youtu.be/MjArYM-QnfU)

  • Screeching Sound Troubleshooting – Part 2 (https://youtu.be/TNOG_1TtN6g)

• Capping Station Removal and Installation:
  Removing and Installing the Capping Station (https://youtu.be/_cZEkmgIZYc)
  This guide walks you through the safe removal of the capping station for inspection or replacement. Note: This video doesn’t cover uncasing the printer. If that feels too technical, professional service may be a better route.

• Cleaning a Clogged Capping Station:
  How to Unclog Your Capping Station (https://youtu.be/WbY_6O1-w2c)
  This video shows techniques for cleaning clogs that may be preventing proper sealing or suction.

• Routine Capping Station Maintenance:
  Best Practices for Capping Station Care (https://youtu.be/5yjq3ZN0qv8)
  Learn how to prevent future clogs with regular upkeep.

• Repairing a Faulty Capping Station:
  How to Troubleshoot and Repair Capping Station Failures (https://youtu.be/5UC2IMu9V90)

• Rewiring Clogged or Disconnected Tubes:
  How to Rewire Capping Station Tubes (https://youtu.be/J9im3s8UJfo)

In-Depth Technical Breakdown (Premium Resource)

If none of the above fixes resolve your issue, or you want a full teardown of the capping station, we have a comprehensive premium video on our website. This advanced guide walks you through the full disassembly and reassembly of the capping station, down to the gears:

• Capping Station Assembly/Disassembly Guide for L1800, 1390, Artisan 1430 & 1400
  (https://bchtechnologies.com/products/video-capping-station-assemble-disassemble-guide-for-l1800-1390-artisan-1430-and-1400)

When DIY Isn’t Enough: Our Repair Service Option

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. Therefore, we're unable to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We offer an in-person evaluation and repair service via our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, it may take a few weeks before we can arrange for your printer to drop it off. Our services are structured to repair either the whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. However, we acknowledge that our rates aren't the most economical. Thus, we recommend that you resort to self-help via online research. You can start by checking out YouTube or visiting our YouTube channel's homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Look for specific videos using the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar. I receive dozens of queries every day asking about videos for specific topics. Having created videos over the past nine years, it's challenging to remember every single one. Therefore, using YouTube's search function would be the most efficient approach. Additionally, YouTube may suggest relevant videos from other channels that can assist you.

Thanks again for reaching out and supporting BCH Technologies. We hope the resources above help you restore your printer to full functionality quickly. Let us know if you make progress or need further guidance—we’re always here to help our growing community of printer owners and enthusiasts.