Why Does White Ink Dry After Parking on the Capping Station? Troubleshooting Suncolor Printer Blinking Lights and Capping Station Issues

Question

I am experiencing two issues with my Suncolor printer:

1. Since installation, whenever the printer finishes a job and the printhead returns to rest on the capping station, the white ink dries. Right after a head cleaning, it prints perfectly and can run 3-4 meters without any issues. However, if the printer returns to the capping station and then starts another job, the white ink appears dried or clogged.

2. The printer also has a random failure. It may print two or three jobs in a row without problems, but sometimes when it finishes a job and returns to the capping station, the printer suddenly stops and the second and third indicator lights start flashing.

What could be causing these problems?

Answer

Based on your description, both of your issues appear to be related to the capping station area and carriage movement, which are critical components for maintaining ink flow and proper printer operation.

1. White Ink Drying After the Printhead Parks on the Capping Station

White ink drying after the printhead rests on the capping station usually indicates that the printhead is not sealing properly with the cap, or the vacuum system is not maintaining ink moisture.

When the printer is printing continuously, ink flows through the head and keeps the nozzles wet. However, once the printhead parks on the capping station, the cap must seal tightly against the printhead surface. This seal prevents air from entering and keeps the ink from drying.

If the seal is weak or misaligned, white ink-being heavier and more prone to settling-can dry quickly.

Possible causes include:

1. Poor capping station seal

The most common cause is that the cap is not sealing tightly to the printhead.

You can test this by:

• Parking the printhead on the capping station.

• Manually drawing air from the waste ink line using a syringe.

• If the cap is sealed correctly, you should feel resistance and be able to pull ink or cleaning fluid through the head.

If you pull air easily, the cap is not sealing properly.

Possible reasons include:

• Cap rubber worn or hardened

• Misalignment between cap and printhead

• Capping station sitting too low or too high

2. Incorrect rail or carriage height

Sometimes the carriage rail height or printer frame alignment is slightly off. If the carriage sits too high or too low, the printhead will not press firmly into the cap.

This can happen if:

• The printer frame is mounted too low

• Rail screws have loosened

• Transport or installation shifted the alignment

Adjusting the rail height slightly can restore proper sealing.

3. Carriage obstruction near the capping station

Another issue we occasionally see is the carriage getting caught on the white plastic lock located at the top-left corner of the capping station assembly.

When this happens, the printhead may appear to park correctly but is actually slightly lifted or misaligned, which breaks the seal and allows white ink to dry.

Carefully check for:

• Physical interference

• Bent plastic guides

• Loose capping station brackets

4. Weak vacuum or partially blocked waste line

If the waste tube or pump system is restricted, the capping station cannot maintain proper suction.

White ink printers rely heavily on this vacuum system to keep the ink from settling or drying.

Check for:

• Clogged waste ink tubes

• Weak pump suction

• Air leaks in the tubing

5. Capping station motor timing problems

Sometimes the capping station motor becomes rusted or weak. Even if it appears to work, it may not position the cap correctly or fast enough.

When the motor timing is off:

• The cap may arrive slightly late

• The head may park before the cap reaches full height

• The seal becomes incomplete

This can cause intermittent drying problems like the ones you described.

2. Random Printer Failure with Flashing Lights

You mentioned that the second and third lights begin flashing after the printer finishes a job and returns to the capping station.

On many Suncolor or Epson-based printers, two blinking lights together typically indicate a carriage movement or mechanical error.

Since the problem occurs while returning to the capping station, this strongly suggests:

• Carriage movement obstruction

• Rail friction

• Capping station interference

Common causes include:

1. Dry or dirty carriage rail

If the carriage rail is dry or contaminated, the carriage may struggle when moving to the parking position.

Applying a small amount of grease to the rail can help, but be careful:

• Do not apply too much grease

• Excess grease collects dust and actually worsens the problem

Use only a thin film of appropriate lubricant.

2. Capping station blocking carriage movement

If the capping station is slightly misaligned or the motor is slow, the carriage may collide with it or sense resistance.

This can trigger the printer's mechanical safety detection, causing blinking lights.

3. Gear or motor delay

As mentioned earlier, if the capping station motor is aging or rusted, it may not move the cap assembly into the correct position on time.

The carriage expects the cap to be ready when it arrives. If it isn't, the printer detects a mechanical fault and stops.

Summary of What to Check

Since both problems occur near the capping station, focus your inspection on these areas:

1. Capping station seal

2. Vacuum through the waste line

3. Rail lubrication and carriage movement

4. Capping station alignment

5. Possible obstruction near the white plastic lock

6. Capping station motor condition

7. Printer frame and rail height alignment

These areas collectively determine whether the printhead parks correctly and whether the printer can safely return to the capping station after each job.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. As a result, we are not able to provide remote troubleshooting, repair guidance, or direct technical support for printer repairs. However, we do offer in-person evaluation and repair services through our local diagnostic facility at BCH Technologies Printer Repair Service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service).

Due to high demand, repairs are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take several weeks before we are able to receive your printer. Our services can cover either the entire printer or specific components, and we provide clear instructions on how to proceed if you choose this option. That said, we understand that our rates may not be the most economical solution for everyone.

For this reason, we strongly recommend exploring self-help resources online. A great place to start is our YouTube channel homepage at BCH Technologies YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). You can use the search icon next to the "About" tab on the right side of the menu bar to find videos related to your issue.

We receive dozens of technical questions every day asking whether we have videos on specific topics. After producing videos for over nine years, it's difficult to remember every single one. Using YouTube's built-in search feature is the fastest way to locate relevant tutorials. YouTube may also recommend helpful videos from other creators that could assist with your repair.

Thank you again for reaching out to us and for supporting BCH Technologies. Your questions help us improve our technical resources and better serve the printing community.