jbk240z Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 I have an EPSON stylus CX5400 printer for my home computer. It won't print at all. I think it fails from lack of use. I replaced the ink packs, nothing. I disassembled and cleaned the printing head and the "ink ducts" from the packs to the head, and still nothing. I ran the printer through several head cleanings and nozzle test patterns, nothing still. Anyone have any ideas/suggestions? Thanks in advance. jbk240z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redruM_0381 Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Remove the cartridges and clean the gold contacts on the cartridge and the printer with qtips dipped in rubbing alcohol. Also clean the print head itself in the same manner. If it still wont print after that, get a dish of HOT water thats about 5mm deep. Dip the cartdige in the water print head first, and leave it sit for about 15 minutes, occasionally swirling it around etc. Dry it off good. That should do it! If it still wont work, its time for new cartridges! EDIT: All the above is assuming that you have removable cartridges, and not just the removable ink "bladders", whereas the print head is NOT removable... if THIS is the case, you could get daring and take the printer apart to clean the head Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 I don't buy all-in-one units of any kind for any use because if one thing breaks, everything breaks. I buy the cheapest printer I can find and throw it away when it begins to act quirky. I look at it this way... if it costs me $45 to buy replacement ink cartridges, I don't feel that bad about throwing a $60 printer away. It comes with new ink anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtmny1999 Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 If they are new cartridges make sure to take the tape protector off =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelToad Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 ... if it costs me $45 to buy replacement ink cartridges, I don't feel that bad about throwing a $60 printer away. It comes with new ink anyway Ah, but they're getting craftier, the cartridges that come with the printer have a 1/2 - 1/4 load of ink. The the alcohol / water ideas are both good. A makeup sponge with peroxide helps too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrFancypants Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 After serious frustration with an inkjet, I finally went laser about 4-5 months ago and have been happy ever since. If you dont use your inkjet frequently, the cartridges clog and seem to be impossible to clean right. At $40/pack it's total B.S. With a laser printer, you get 3,000+ pages per toner cartridge and they dont dry out. Go Laser Our laser printer is so big, it's called Hercules on the LAN - Greg - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 In marketing lingo, this is correct. But the last four printers I've bought lasted longer on the 25-50 percent original ink/cartridge than the "full" replacement ink/cartridges did. It's like the "throw-away" contact lens scam from a couple years ago... they're the same darn thing... they just LIE to us!! Ah, but they're getting craftier, the cartridges that come with the printer have a 1/2 - 1/4 load of ink. The the alcohol / water ideas are both good. A makeup sponge with peroxide helps too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Umm... depends on the brand/model... After serious frustration with an inkjet, I finally went laser about 4-5 months ago and have been happy ever since. If you dont use your inkjet frequently, the cartridges clog and seem to be impossible to clean right. At $40/pack it's total B.S. With a laser printer, you get 3,000+ pages per toner cartridge and they dont dry out. Go Laser Our laser printer is so big, it's called Hercules on the LAN - Greg - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbk240z Posted November 23, 2006 Author Share Posted November 23, 2006 I did totally disassemble the print head/ink duct assembly. I cleaned the print head the best I could with rubbing alcohol/q-tips, soaked the "ink ducts" in alcohol for 2 days, cleaned all the gold contacts. The cartridges were recently refilled, so I didn't think that would be the issue, but maybe the lack of use has taken its toll on the ink. Maybe the refill place can test them for flow. Thanks for the ideas guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Print heads are often the downfall of inkjet printers. This is why some manufacturers design the heads into their ink cartridges... they're replaced with each new cartridge. That way they don't have to build much head care into the printer. If you ask me, it's a cheesy way to force us into buying their ink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrFancypants Posted November 24, 2006 Share Posted November 24, 2006 Print heads are often the downfall of inkjet printers. This is why some manufacturers design the heads into their ink cartridges... they're replaced with each new cartridge. That way they don't have to build much head care into the printer. If you ask me, it's a cheesy way to force us into buying their ink. Yep.. always seems like a great deal when you get a "free printer", only to find out the cartridge is 90% of the cost of the printer and it lasts 6 months if youre lucky. TANSTAAFL! - Greg - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted November 24, 2006 Share Posted November 24, 2006 I just treat cheap peripherals like throw-away commodities. I refuse to pay $50 for just the ink when the printer with new ink is just $10 more. It's been said that new printers come with only partially full ink/toner. However, it's been my experience that this is a lie. They're just trying to fool us into overspending for the ink. I just HATE it when big business makes fools of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veritech-z Posted November 24, 2006 Share Posted November 24, 2006 Mike, when i bought my scanner, they fed me the half full line. They also showed me a half full printer cartridge that I could by for like $10 less than a full one to replace my current half full one...I was like WTF?! is the world coming to? WHY would I want to purchase a half full cartridge of anything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted November 24, 2006 Share Posted November 24, 2006 Well put, MAX. Especially the "WTF" part;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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