Why Is My EcoTank Printer Not Printing Even Though the Lines Have Ink? Troubleshooting Empty Dampers and Ink Flow Issues

Customer Question:
I've run a nozzle check and head cleaning on my EcoTank printer, but nothing is printing. The ink tanks are complete, and ink is visible in the lines. However, the dampers aren’t filling with ink. What else can I do to fix this?

Answer:
Understanding the Problem: No Ink Printing Despite Full Tanks and Ink in Lines

When the ink lines are filled, but the dampers remain empty, and the printer outputs nothing after multiple head cleanings, the issue typically lies between the dampers and the printhead.

There are a few possible causes and steps you can take:

1. Manually Prime the Dampers with a Syringe

The most direct solution is manually drawing ink into the dampers using a syringe. This primes the system and ensures ink is ready to flow through the printhead.

How to do it:

• Disconnect the ink line at the damper.

• Attach a syringe to the damper and gently pull to draw ink into it.

• Once ink fills the damper, reconnect the line.

• Run 1–2 head cleaning cycles from your printer’s software.

This is particularly effective when the dampers have air gaps or were recently replaced, as they might need initial priming to establish suction.

2. Observe the Waste Ink Tube During Cleaning Cycles

While running a head cleaning cycle, monitor the waste ink line (typically located near the capping station).

• If ink comes out into the waste tube during head cleaning, this means the head is pulling ink and is likely not severely clogged.

• If no ink flows out: This could indicate that:

  • The capping station isn’t sealing properly with the printhead. A poor seal prevents vacuum pressure from pulling ink through.

  • The printhead itself is clogged, mainly if it hasn’t been used in a while or has dried ink.

We recommend watching our video that covers related troubleshooting:
"EcoTank Not Printing, Ink in Lines But Dampers Dry" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsbTX5XpmUM).

3. Capping Station Issues

The capping station serves to seal and clean the printhead. If it’s:

• Misaligned,

• Not making contact,

• Or its pump is failing,

Then your cleaning cycles won’t properly pull ink through the head. You can test suction by placing some cleaning solution on the cap and observing if it gets drawn during a cleaning cycle.

If the cap looks dry or damaged, replacement or cleaning may be necessary.

4. Printhead Clogging

In more severe cases, the nozzles might be clogged, especially if the printer sat idle or used non-genuine ink.

You can attempt:

• Soak the printhead with a cleaning solution using a paper towel under the printhead.

• Use a direct flush method (with caution, as this can be risky if done improperly).

For advanced users, accessing the bottom of the printhead and gently flushing with cleaning solution using a syringe can restore ink flow, but only if you're confident.

Note on Error Codes:
While you didn’t mention a specific error code in your message, it's worth noting that printers may not always throw a code for this type of issue. However, standard related codes like 0x97 or 0x10A might pop up in extreme head communication failure or pressure problems.

Additional Support and Service Options

Printer troubleshooting often requires hands-on diagnosis. Due to the limitations of remote support, we are not able to provide individualized troubleshooting beyond general advice. However, BCH Technologies offers in-person printer evaluation and repair services (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service) at our diagnostic facility.

Repairs are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, and due to demand, there may be a waiting period. Our services include full printer repairs and specific part replacements, each with step-by-step instructions for customers.

We understand our rates might not suit every budget, so we encourage DIY enthusiasts to explore free resources like YouTube. Start with our BCH Technologies YouTube channel homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies), and use the search bar beside the "About" tab to locate specific video topics. With over nine years of content, this method is often faster than reaching out directly.