Epson cx4200-ink cartridges not recognized

[fraxinusalba]

I replaced all 4 ink cartridges in Epson cx4200. Status Monito
indicates all 4 are not recognized. All are Epson brand cartridges.
If I remove one of the cartridges and recycle the printer, Statu
Monitor says all 3 cartridges are recognized and indicate they ar
full. When I install the 4th cartridge, all cartridges becom
unrecognized. Makes no difference which color is removed, other thre
are recognized and indicated as full but when last cartridge installe
printer says all 4 are not recognized.

I reinstalled the old cartridges which were working but the printe
does not recognize them now.

Any suggestions on cause of problem

 

[Jan Alter]

A couple of things to check out.

1. When you place the cartridges in their holders make sure that they are
fully seated. Errors will usually occur if that doesn't happen.

2. Remove all cartridges and make sure the wire fingers that connect to the
chip of each cartridge have not become distorted. If they have use a pen
knife or straightened paperclip to re-align them. Make sure the printer is
off when you attempt to do this.

3. There ought to be a way to reset the electronics of the printer. In older
models an electronic setting could become loused up. There was a way the
printer could be reset to default settings. In the old days (5 or 6 years
ago) it was called a general EPROM reset. One would turn on the printer
after the power cord was unplugged from the wall and then replugged, along
with removing the data cable from the computer, while holding a specific
combination of buttons and the printer's electronics would default to the
factory specs. There ought to be a way to do that with your current printer.
Perhaps someone knowledgeable can clue you in to what button combination
will actuate that renewed mode for you. You mioght also do a google search
to see if this approach is available.

4. Remove the software from the printer and reinstall it.

5. I'd say call Epson, but unless the thing's under warranty they'll want
money to talk with you.

6. Some good person on this NG will probably know the answer.

luck,

 

[Arthur Entlich]

I read ahead a bit to see if anyone tackled you problem, and Jan offers
the same suggestions I would, including contacting Epson about this if
the earlier suggestions he made don't help.

In regard to resetting, you might try unplugging the printer for 30
minutes or so, and see if that resolves anything. The chip reading
software within the printer is known to sometimes become confused. BTW,
this isn't the first time I have head of this problem when all four
cartridge are replaced at once. It may be a bug in the firmware, which
Epson should be informed about.

Art

 

[fraxinusalba]

Thanks for the replies but already did all of your suggestions an
nothing has worked. I know the contacts for chip are not misaligned a
I can get printer to recognize each cartridge individually but not whe
all 4 are installed. Reinstalled software at least 3 times, and lef
unplugged overnight.

Actually, Epson support wasn't too bad. Printer is out of warranty bu
they still helped me at no cost and sent a set of cartridges (at n
cost) in case the chips were bad in the cartridges when proble
occurred. However, they would not tell me how to reset the printer an
said I needed to take it to a repair shop.

Was hoping someone would know the reset procedure. I haven't been abl
to find it for this printer model after several hours searching interne
and that is the only thing I haven't been able to try.

Wal

 

[Jan Alter]

I'm impressed that they went to the degree to send you a set of
cartridges. Their reputation has suffered in the past few years because
they went to chips, their use of Durabrite inks that clogged their own
printers, making them landfill, and their support being less than friendly
for out of warranty problems. Maybe they're trying to renew their customer
approachability, which is appreciated at least from this writer, who has
been treated helpfully by them of late for a few problems I've encountered.
The possibility of a chip being bad is plausible. If you had a chip
resetter on hand you could reset the old chips and stick them onto the new
cartridges with a dab of plastic cement or a small ball of clay inserted
into the cavity in the cartridge below the chip. That's another story
though. I'd like to hear if that solves the problem when you get them. I
tried searching the Internet for an electronics reset for your printer but
didn't turn up anything.

more luck

 

[Arthur Entlich]

A few thoughts.

Although your printer is out of warranty, the cartridges you purchased
weren't.

Are you sure when the fourth cartridge is put in that the problem is no
recognition of all cartridges? Could it be you are getting another
error message such as your printer's waste ink pads are full?

Can you describe exactly: what LEDS are one/off flashing (please
describe how they are flashing, if they are: Speed, sequencing, number
of flashes, etc.

Any printed text messages on screen

What your ink monitor window is showing.


Epson uses the ink monitor graphic to indicate error conditions by
showing one or more of the items ghosted out, missing, crossed out, etc.

Art

 

[fraxinusalba]

Jan - new cartridges from Epson didn't work either. I now have 3 set
of cartridges and have same problem with all of them. The original se
I replaced still had a little life left but they are no longe
recognized when all four are inserted. Since they were working befor
but are not now recognized, I don't think its a cartridge chi
problem.

Art - yes, I'm sure the problem is only after the 4th cartridge i
installed. I have put each of the 12 cartridges I have in the printe
individually. All 8 new cartridges are recognized by the printer an
indicate they are 100% full. The 4 used cardridges show the same lo
ink levels as when they were replaced. I can put any 2 cartridges i
the printer and they are recognized and show appropriate ink levels.
Same thing with any 3 ink cartridges. As soon as I install the 4t
cartridge, Status Monitor says all 4 cartridges are not recognized an
has a big red X over each ink level indicator.

After installing the 4th cartridge in printer, green power LED and re
ink LED blink steadly until print head "settles". Then, green powe
LED is on steady, yellow error LED is off, red ink LED is on steady.
Status Monitor pops up and says "Ink cartridges are not recognized".
big red X is shown over each color of ink level indicator. No othe
error messages.

If I remove any one of the ink cartridges, same thing occurs excep
Status Monitor displays the ink level in the remaining 3 cartridge
with a red X over whichever color was removed.

For example, I install all four cartridges in printer. Status Monito
says "Ink cartidges are not recognized" and red X over all four in
level indicators. I remove the black cartridge. Status Monitor say
"Ink cartridges not recognized". Yellow, cyan, magenta ink leve
indicators show these cartridges are full. Red X over black ink leve
indicator. I then reinsert the black cartridge just removed and tak
out the yellow cartridge. Status Monitor then says "Ink cartridges no
recognized". Black, cyan, magenta ink level indicators show thes
cartridges are full and a red X is over the yellow ink leve
indicator.

I don't think the waste ink pad counter is at its limit. I only us
the CX4200 to make color printouts, copy, or scan since I have an H
LaserJet to print anything text or just in black and white. Also,
installed the SSC Service Utility and it says the waste counter is a
8000 out of 36000.

Thanks to both of you for your continued effort to help

 

[Jan Alter]

Jan - new cartridges from Epson didn't work either. I now have 3 sets
of cartridges and have same problem with all of them. The original set
I replaced still had a little life left but they are no longer
recognized when all four are inserted. Since they were working before
but are not now recognized, I don't think its a cartridge chip
problem.

Art - yes, I'm sure the problem is only after the 4th cartridge is
installed. I have put each of the 12 cartridges I have in the printer
individually. All 8 new cartridges are recognized by the printer and
indicate they are 100% full. The 4 used cardridges show the same low
ink levels as when they were replaced. I can put any 2 cartridges in
the printer and they are recognized and show appropriate ink levels.
Same thing with any 3 ink cartridges. As soon as I install the 4th
cartridge, Status Monitor says all 4 cartridges are not recognized and
has a big red X over each ink level indicator.

After installing the 4th cartridge in printer, green power LED and red
ink LED blink steadly until print head "settles". Then, green power
LED is on steady, yellow error LED is off, red ink LED is on steady.
Status Monitor pops up and says "Ink cartridges are not recognized". A
big red X is shown over each color of ink level indicator. No other
error messages.

If I remove any one of the ink cartridges, same thing occurs except
Status Monitor displays the ink level in the remaining 3 cartridges
with a red X over whichever color was removed.

For example, I install all four cartridges in printer. Status Monitor
says "Ink cartidges are not recognized" and red X over all four ink
level indicators. I remove the black cartridge. Status Monitor says
"Ink cartridges not recognized". Yellow, cyan, magenta ink level
indicators show these cartridges are full. Red X over black ink level
indicator. I then reinsert the black cartridge just removed and take
out the yellow cartridge. Status Monitor then says "Ink cartridges not
recognized". Black, cyan, magenta ink level indicators show these
cartridges are full and a red X is over the yellow ink level
indicator.

I don't think the waste ink pad counter is at its limit. I only use
the CX4200 to make color printouts, copy, or scan since I have an HP
LaserJet to print anything text or just in black and white. Also, I
installed the SSC Service Utility and it says the waste counter is at
8000 out of 36000.

Thanks to both of you for your continued effort to help.

Please take a look at the cartridge chambers. Inspect them carefully. Is
there anything protruding from any of them? When you place the cartridge cap
back down is it hard to do? My thought is that if there is something that is
not fitting correctly once the cap is snapped down then one of the chip
wires stops making contact correctly. It only appears to happen with 4
cartridges places in the chamber,
If this still isn't the issue then I'm foibled to believe a cb has failed
and needs replacement. That of course means it's unfortunately not worth the
money you'd have to pay for the repair compared to getting a new printer.

sigh,

 

[fraxinusalba]

Everything in the printhead is in good order. I disassenbled th
printer so I could inspect the cartridge contacts closely. None ar
bent or dirty. Even checked the flat cables from print head to contro
board for damage and all are in good shape and no loose connections.

I'm convinced the problem is in the control board. Only option at thi
point is probably to replace the printer. Control board probably cost
more than 2 printers way parts are these days. Manufacturers want yo
to replace products instead of fix them

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Well, I'm baffled. It's something outside of my experience, and could
be any of dozens of problems. A short somewhere, a firmware corruption.

Sorry, I honestly don't know where to send you in this regard.

I would make sure all cartridge sensing wires are properly placed,
properly bent and clean, just as a consideration.

Art

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Sadly, replacement may be the only alternative. What is particularly
annoying about this defect is that the whole mechanism is only there
because Epson doesn't want the owner to have the option of using 3rd
party inks. You'd be amazed how many problems regarding the ink
monitoring/chip monitoring system I hear about. While you end up paying
in some manner for the R&D and costs involved in integrating these
"features" into the machine, it is Epson who directly benefits.

When complexities are added to something fully for the benefit of the
manufacturer, it should be their responsibility to repair them for life,
IMHO.

Art

 

[Jerry1111]

I'm convinced the problem is in the control board. Only option at this

Of course you've tried removing and connecting again all the cables?
Sometimes a bit of dust/whatever can go near the contact are of flat
cables (I'm assuming those are flexible-PCBs) and do sth wrong with
contacts. F.e. interfere with Vcc/GND and as soon as you install 4th
cardridge - there's not enough power (the device can work without either
VCC or GND because of cmos protection diodes - but only under extremely
light load, like only 2 or 3 chips in your case).

 

[fraxinusalba]

Art - I agree with you on the manufacturer being responsible but don'
ever look for that to happen. What I hated most about the chip is i
forced you to replace the cartridge when there was still about 1/3 th
ink left. So not only do you pay exorbitant price for the ink, yo
don't even get to use it all. Oh well, if it gets too bad I'll jus
revert to the old LaserJet and settle for printing everything in blac
and white.

Guess I'll just have to get a replacement and create more landfil
fodder with the old one. Tired of messing with it and gettin
nowhere.

Jerry - yeah, been through all that. Removed the cables, cleaned th
contacts and cable ends, removed the IC board in printhead and cleane
contact points - been through every cable, wire, and connection.
Nothing solved problem.

Thanks for trying to help guys