Epson Stylus C86

Control Panel

To diagnose some problems, check the printer’s control panel, as described below.

Paper button and paper out light (also cancels print jobs)

Replacing an Ink Cartridge

❏When the red ink light flashes, one or more ink cartridges are low on ink.

❏When the red ink light stays on, you need to replace the cartridge(s).

Ink button

Power button and

When you print, you’ll also see a message on your screen telling you which cartridge is low or empty.

and ink out

light

light

When a cartridge is more than six months old, you may need to replace it if printouts don’t look their best. If the quality doesn’t improve after cleaning and aligning the print head, you can replace the cartridge even if the red ink light is off.

Follow the guidelines in this table when you check the control panel lights:

Green

power

The printer is receiving a print job, charging ink,

light flashes

cleaning the print head, or ink is being replaced.

 

 

 

Red

paper light

Your paper ran out. Load more and press the

is on

 

paper button.

 

 

 

Red

paper light

Paper is jammed in the printer. Press the

flashes

 

paper button to eject the jammed paper. If

 

 

the light is still flashing, open the cover and

 

 

remove all paper, including any jammed or torn

 

 

pieces. Then reload paper and press the

 

 

paper button to continue printing.

 

 

 

Red

ink light

One of the cartridges is low on ink. Check the

flashes

 

message that appears on your screen to

 

 

determine which cartridge is low. Make sure you

 

 

have a replacement cartridge.

 

 

 

Red

ink light is on

One of the cartridges is out of ink or not installed.

 

 

Make sure you have a replacement cartridge.

 

 

If you have just installed a new cartridge, it may

 

 

be incompatible with the printer or incorrectly

 

 

installed. Reinstall it or replace it with the correct

 

 

cartridge.

 

 

 

Green

power

One or more ink cartridges is not installed

light and red ink

correctly. Reinstall cartridges.

light are on

 

 

 

 

Green

power

Paper may be blocking movement of the print

light is off; red

head. Turn off the printer, open the cover, and

paper and

remove any jammed paper or other foreign

ink lights flash

objects. Turn the printer back on again. If the

alternately

lights are still flashing, contact your dealer or

 

 

Epson.

 

 

 

Green

power

The printer may have an internal error. Turn off

light is off; red

the printer, wait a few seconds, and turn it on

paper and

again. If the lights are still flashing, contact your

ink lights flash

dealer or Epson.

 

 

 

Green

power

The printer is not receiving power. Make sure the

light is off

printer is on. Turn off the printer, plug in the

 

 

power cord securely, and turn the printer on

 

 

again. Make sure the outlet is working and is not

 

 

controlled by a switch or timer. If in doubt, try

 

 

another outlet.

 

 

 

Checking the Ink Supply

To check your ink supply, do the following:

❏Windows: Double-click the icon on the Windows taskbar.

Note: If you don’t see the icon, go to your printer properties window, click the Maintenance tab, then select Status Monitor.

You see a window like this:

❏Macintosh OS X: Double-click the Epson Printer Utility icon in the Applications folder. Choose C86 Series and click OK. Then click Epson Status Monitor. You see a window like this:

❏Macintosh OS 9: From the File menu, select Print, then click the ink icon.

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