Printer Moves but Prints Blank Pages: How to Diagnose No-Ink Output When Everything Seems Normal

Question

The printhead cables and the printhead itself appear to be in good condition, and I've already checked the main board using a multimeter with no issues found. Is there a way to test the stylus board by checking continuity between ribbon cable contacts so I can avoid dismantling and removing the entire printhead assembly? That process is very time-consuming, and I'm hoping to save some effort if possible.

I'm also wondering if the issue could be related to the CR encoder board or the board where the cable connects. Mechanically, everything seems to be functioning correctly-the paper feeds, the carriage moves, and the printer behaves normally-but nothing prints. There's absolutely no ink on the paper when it attempts to print.

Answer

1. Printhead Fuse (Very Common Cause)

The first and most important thing to check is the printhead fuse on the main board. On many Epson-based printers, this fuse protects the printhead driver circuit. If it's blown, the printer will still power on, move normally, and even "print" without triggering an error-but the printhead will never fire ink.

Using a multimeter, check continuity across the printhead fuse. Even if it looks visually intact, it can still be open. If the fuse is blown, replacing it may restore printing-but keep in mind that a blown fuse often indicates an underlying issue, such as a shorted printhead or driver IC.

2. Printhead Driver IC (Critical and Often Overlooked)

If the fuse checks out, the next suspect is the printhead driver IC on the main board. This chip is responsible for delivering precise firing signals to the printhead. If it fails, you'll get exactly what you're seeing: normal motion, no ink, no smearing, and no partial prints-just completely blank pages.

Unfortunately, a failed driver IC cannot be reliably tested with simple continuity checks alone. In many cases, it may show normal resistance values but still fail under load. Replacing the driver IC is possible, but it requires advanced soldering skills and proper equipment.

3. Stylus Board and Ribbon Cable Testing

Your idea of checking the stylus board via the ribbon cable contacts is understandable, but in practice, it has limitations. You can test for basic continuity across ribbon traces to confirm there are no open lines, but this does not verify whether the board can handle high-frequency firing signals or proper voltage delivery during printing. A stylus board can pass continuity tests and still fail functionally.

Because of that, continuity testing alone usually won't eliminate the need to remove the printhead assembly if deeper diagnosis is required.

4. CR Encoder Board and Interface Board

While the CR encoder board or the interface board where the ribbon cable plugs in can cause print issues, failures there usually result in positioning errors, carriage crashes, encoder-related error codes, or misaligned prints-not a perfectly moving printer that produces zero ink. Since your carriage movement is smooth and accurate, these boards are lower on the list of suspects.

5. Zero Ink Output with No Error Codes

The fact that there is absolutely no ink on the paper-not even faint traces-strongly points back to the printhead firing circuit, not ink flow, dampers, or capping issues. If ink delivery were the problem, you would typically still see some smearing, banding, or partial output.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. Because of this, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or repair support for printers. We do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service through our local diagnostic facility-Printer Repair Service by BCH Technologies (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Due to high demand, repairs are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks before we're able to accept your printer for drop-off. Our services can cover either full printer repairs or specific components, with clear instructions on how to proceed. That said, we fully acknowledge that our rates are not the most economical option.

For that reason, we strongly encourage self-help through online research. A great starting point is YouTube, especially our BCH Technologies YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). You can use the search icon next to the "About" section on the right-hand side of the channel page to look for specific topics. I receive dozens of questions every day asking whether I've made a video on a particular issue, and after producing content for over nine years, it's impossible to remember every single one. Using YouTube's built-in search is by far the fastest way to find relevant content, and it may also recommend helpful videos from other creators.

Thank you again for your patience, your detailed troubleshooting efforts, and your continued support of BCH Technologies. We truly appreciate you taking the time to reach out and engage with our work.