hi does any one know how to open a epson c42 printer when my printer ran out of ink i replaced it with new ink but it will not print it just makes a sound and then bring on the out of ink red light and when you go to print trouble shooter it will not register the ink as if the ink is done is there a sponge that can get cloged up in these printers and should you not remove the old ink untill you are ready to replace the new ink can the ink heads dry up and stop the ink getting trought and if that is the case can the be cleaned and made work again thanks .

pat, June 2006

The printer draws ink through to the waste pads in the bottom of the machine. There is a silicon tube that runs from the pump cap to the pads. This tube can get clogged with dry ink if stood for a while or if you use rubbish compatible cartridges which do not contain the anti coagulant (spelin iz not my strong poynt) used by Epson.

Get a service manual from www.TheServiceManualShop.com and use it to remove the covers to get access to the tubes. If they are clogged clean them out in water and reassemble.

Clogging will also render any number of head cleans usless as the head clean uses vacuum from the pump cap to suck ink through the head. If ink can't pass through the tubes, no vacuum can form

Mike Burton, September 2006

Go to:
www.ssclg.com

and download the software v4.10.

It will allow you not only to freeze the chip readings in your print cartridges [for refilling] but also to reset your drip tray readings.

I use it on the latter - I get my cartridges for 99p so notr worth the worry of refilling.

Paul Beaumont, July 2006

the heads can get clogged up. take the ink out and use cotton buds and cartridge cleaner to clean any old ink off the printer. ( if this printer monitors the ink levels you may also need a chip resetter to reset the cartridge, available from many superstores and computer shops ). turn the cartridges upside down and put some cartridge flush into them then put back in printer and leave for 24 hours.
this should clean the heads if its severely blocked you may have to do this a few times.

Gary, June 2006