Why Is My Epson Printer Not Printing Yellow Ink? Troubleshooting Yellow Nozzle Issues and Printhead Failures

Question:

After receiving a used printer that initially only printed black, I performed several cleanings but couldn’t get any color to print. Strangely, after a firmware update, all colors began working—except for some missing yellow segments. Eventually, yellow stopped printing altogether, even though the ink tank is at least half full. I tried pulling ink with a syringe through the yellow damper and the ink flows easily, so there’s no blockage there. What should I check next?

Answer:

The Problem Recap

You've done a stellar job diagnosing so far:

• Ran numerous printhead cleanings.

• Pulled yellow ink through the damper using a syringe—flow is smooth and unobstructed.

• Verified sufficient ink levels (50% or more).

• Noted the yellow channel partially worked after a firmware update but has now stopped entirely.

These observations suggest that while the ink delivery system is intact, the problem likely lies within the printhead or associated components.

Troubleshooting Steps

1. Check the Nozzle Pattern

Print a nozzle check pattern. If the yellow section is completely blank, this narrows the issue down to either:

• Surface blockage at the printhead nozzles.

• Or electronic failure in the yellow piezo channel inside the printhead.

If you see faint yellow lines or partial segments, there's still a chance to recover flow with manual cleaning steps.

2. Perform a Manual Soak

Try a gentle soak method:

• Dampen a folded paper towel with warm distilled water or printhead cleaning solution.

• Place it over the capping station.

• Park the printhead over the towel and leave it for 2–6 hours (with the printer powered off).

• After soaking, let it rest a bit more before running a standard cleaning.

Avoid aggressive cleaning cycles immediately after the soak—give the printer time to stabilize first.

3. Examine the Capping Station

The capping station must form a tight seal to draw ink properly during cleaning cycles. Here's how to check:

• Use a syringe to pull through the waste line connected to the capping station.

• If ink draws through too easily, it may indicate a bad seal or air leak.

• If you feel heavy resistance, the station could be clogged.

In either case, cleaning or replacing the capping station might be necessary.

4. Back-Flush the Nozzle (Advanced)

For more experienced users, you can attempt to push cleaning fluid back through the yellow nozzle:

• Attach a syringe with cleaning solution to the yellow damper.

• Gently apply pressure.

  • If fluid won’t pass, a clog exists inside the nozzle.

  • If fluid flows freely and yellow still won’t print, this points to electrical failure of the piezo elements.

Apply very light pressure only—too much force can damage the internal structure.

5. Consider Piezo Channel Failure

If all else fails, and only the yellow channel is dead while others are fine, there’s a strong possibility of an electrical fault within the yellow channel. These piezo elements can fail due to:

• Prolonged inactivity or dry printing.

• Static discharge or voltage surges.

• Internal circuit degradation.

Sadly, piezoelectric failures aren't fixable without replacing the printhead entirely.

BCH Repair Options

We treat printers as integrated systems, and often one failure can indicate others are forming. At our shop, we can:

• Perform a full system diagnostic.

• Check the printhead's viability.

• Offer either component-level repair or a full rebuild.

If you're into DIY repairs, we can guide you through installing new parts like a replacement printhead, updated capping station, or a revised ink delivery system.

A Note on Service Availability

Dealing with printer failures often requires hands-on inspection and testing. For that reason, we do not provide remote repair guidance or support. However, BCH Technologies does offer in-person diagnostic and repair services (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Due to demand, repairs are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, and wait times can extend a few weeks.

We understand our repair rates may not suit every budget, which is why we encourage resourceful customers to utilize DIY repair tutorials—many of which are available on our YouTube channel homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). To find videos relevant to your printer model or issue:

1. Visit our YouTube homepage.

2. Click on the search icon beside the “About” tab.

3. Search for keywords like “Epson yellow not printing” or “Epson nozzle recovery.”

This method often yields the quickest answers—sometimes from other creators who’ve tackled the same problem.

Thank you again for your detailed question and for trusting us with your printer problem. We're here to support you however we can—whether it’s via supplies, repair service, or helpful video content. Let us know how you'd like to move forward, and we’ll be ready to assist!