Why Your Printer Shows Motion but No Ink on the Page: Troubleshooting Guide for "Printing but No Output" Issues

Question:

My printer goes through the motions of printing, but almost no ink gets on the page. It acts like it's printing, but the paper comes out blank. I've checked the F1 fuse, installed a new printhead, inspected print cables, flushed lines, replaced cartridges, and changed ink bottle filters. What else can cause this?

Answer: 

Why a Printer "Pretends to Print" but Produces Blank Pages

When a printer moves normally-carriage sliding, paper feeding, and sounds of printing-but lays down little or no ink, the issue almost always lies deeper than ink levels or clogged lines. Since you've already checked the F1 fuse, replaced the printhead, confirmed the cables, flushed the ink system, changed filters, and installed new ink cartridges, the remaining causes are usually electrical or pressure-related.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the most common problems and how they connect to your symptoms.

1. Ink Delivery Failure Despite Clear Lines

Even after flushing the ink lines and replacing cartridges, an ink delivery problem can still occur. Here's why:

A. Negative Pressure / Vacuum Loss

Many converted or modified systems (DTF/DTG setups especially) depend on proper negative pressure to draw ink into the printhead.
If the system loses pressure due to:

• Leaky dampers

• Loose line connections

• Cracked cartridge caps

• Air leaks in the bottle filters

• Damage to the ink bay seals

...the printhead will move but no ink will flow.

The printer doesn't "know" that the ink is missing-it only registers mechanical movement.

B. Ink Dampers Not Filling Properly

Even new printheads require perfectly primed dampers. If they are not fully saturated:

• The head receives air instead of ink

• The nozzles stay dry

• Pages come out blank

Dampers can also collapse internally if the mesh is damaged.

2. Electrical Issues Even When the F1 Fuse Tests Good

You've already checked the F1 fuse, which protects the printhead firing circuit-but there are other electrical faults that can cause silent failures.

A. Weak or Partially Shorted Printhead Transistors

On many Epson boards, the transistors that trigger nozzle firing can fail without blowing the fuse.
Symptoms:

• Printer runs normally

• Nozzle test prints blank

• No burnt smell or obvious board damage

Unfortunately, this is one of the most common causes of your exact condition.

B. Ribbon Cable Issues Beyond Visible Damage

Even if the cables show no external breakage, internal micro-cracks can occur. These can:

• Prevent certain colors from firing

• Block the entire head firing circuit

• Cause intermittent or blank output

Replacing the cables outright is sometimes the quickest test.

3. Printhead Logic Failure Even if Brand New

A new printhead doesn't always guarantee functionality.

Possible Printhead Issues:

• Air trapped inside the nozzle chamber (extremely common)

• Defective manufacturing

• Incorrect seating of the head on the manifold

• Damper O-rings not forming a seal

If the head cannot build ink pressure internally, it will "act like printing" but release nothing.

4. Pump Cap / Capping Station Malfunction

The capping station is supposed to:

• Seal the printhead

• Maintain suction

• Draw ink for priming and cleaning

If the pump cap is:

• Torn

• Hardened

• Misaligned

• Clogged

...then the printer cannot pull ink into the head, resulting in blank pages.

Check if:

• The pad looks dry after cleaning cycles

• Ink pools under the caps

• The pump belt is slipping

Any of these can prevent proper ink flow.

5. Air Blockages You Can't See

Even after flushing lines, tiny pockets of air can sit:

• In the manifold

• In connectors

• Inside the head chamber

Air prevents ink from making contact with the nozzles.
Negative pressure systems are extremely sensitive to air bubbles-even a single bubble can block an entire channel.

6. Cartridge Recognition Issues (Even If Ink Is Present)

Some printers operate the printhead but disable ink firing when:

• Chips are failing

• Cartridges are not recognized correctly

• Reset chips malfunction

• Firmware blocks third-party chips

The printer still moves mechanically but does not allow ink firing.

7. Conclusion: Mechanical Motion ≠ Ink Output

When the printer behaves as though it's printing but lays down no ink, the failure is usually:

• Pressure loss

• Electrical driver failure

• Pump cap malfunction

• Air block

• Ribbon cable issue

• Internal printhead defect

Now that you've ruled out the F1 fuse, clogs, and basic ink system problems, the next steps typically involve:

• Reseating or replacing ribbon cables

• Inspecting the pump cap

• Testing the mainboard's driver transistors

• Checking for pressure leaks

• Thoroughly re-priming dampers and the head

These are hardware-level diagnostics that require hands-on access.

Service and Support Options

Printer troubleshooting can be extremely hands-on, and many of the remaining steps require physical testing. Because of this, we aren't able to provide remote repair instructions or more detailed technical guidance. We do offer in-person diagnostics and repair through our local facility (BCH Printer Repair Service - https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Due to the volume of requests, we operate on a first-come, first-served schedule, and it may take several weeks before your unit can be processed. Our services can focus on a full printer repair or specific component-level work.

That said, our pricing isn't always the most economical, so we strongly recommend starting with self-help resources. You can explore YouTube or visit our YouTube channel's homepage (BCH Technologies on YouTube - https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search icon next to "About" to quickly locate videos on specific printer problems. After nine years of content, even I can't recall every video topic, and YouTube's search will often recommend additional helpful videos from other creators as well.

Thank you again for reaching out and for supporting BCH Technologies. Please feel free to contact us anytime if you have more questions.