Epson D120 "Service required"

[JohnSmith]

Hi. I have an Epson D120, just over a year old. The status monitor is
showing the message " Service Required. Parts inside your printer are
near the end of their service life. See your printer documentation.

That says "The waste ink pad in the printer is saturated. Contact your
dealer to replace it."

After reading in here, and googling, I presume this is really a counter
on a chip causing the message.

Any ideas how to get rid of it?

The SSC Service Utility doen't recognise the printer. There doen't seem
to a front panel reset option documented anywhere


I'm in the UK, BTW.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

I hate to say this but you really need to contact your MP or whomever is
responsible for your consumer legislation.

In the US and Canada due to pressure and legal arguments, Epson was
forced to supply the small propriety software required to reset that
counter (It is held in an EEPROM within the printer).

The reason for it is to protect your furniture and carpets from being
damaged to ink leaking out of the waste ink pads. However, not only
doesn't Epson make mention of this limitation, or that it will just shut
the printer down with a few moment's notice, but also the numbers are
set rather conservatively such that most people have found they can
reset the number at least once without leaking ink.

Further, Epson printers are no capable of actually knowing how much ink
does go down the waste ink tube since the printer only counts the
supposed amount, based upon a totally unclogged head. When nozzles are
clogged less ink is released during cleaning and purging. In some
cases, no ink is removed (a full head clog) and yet your ink levels on
the cartridge are reduced, as well as the amount f use you can get from
the waste ink cartridges before they shut the system down as well.

My suggestion for most people is to install a waste ink tube extension
and bring it outside the printer and into a clear bottle of some type.

You will then see just how much ink gets wasted, and also be able to
keep track of the ink without soiling the waste ink pads anymore than
has been done.

The cost to having the waste ink pads professionally replaced in not of
get economic value.., as it usually cost nearly the price of a new
printer which comes with new inks as the cost of getting the old one
repaired.

The UK and the European Union should take Epson to task on this. It is
wasteful, unnecessary, and IMHO a rip off to the consumer and the
environment.

Art



If you are interested in issues surrounding e-waste,
I invite you to enter the discussion at my blog:

http://e-trashtalk.spaces.live.com/

 

[Jan Alter]

http://www.epson.co.uk/Support


Having checked out the Epson UK support site above I'm dismayed that you
have to contact a support person to get help downloading drivers and
utilities for your printer. They don't seem to be obviously available. It
does appear that you can do an online chat without cost. In the U.S. drivers
are on the Epson site.
However, Epson should have a piece of utility software that will reset
the diaper on your printer. I did not use the SSC utility for a Stylus 880 I
have, but a downloaded utility from Epson that reset the counter the last
time all its red lights came blaring at me to indicate that the printer
should have its waste styrofoam sponge replaced. Looking over the U.S. Epson
website today I found that I could not find that utility anymore. Most
likely I would have to contact Epson myself to get it now if it were needed.
With that said I am right behind Art with his criticism to Epson for the
intentional waste of ink that could be recycled back to the printer
cartridge, intentional difficulty in refilling of cartridges, and its throw
away attitude of the printer when the software screams 'My pants are full of
ink. Replace me now'. Although Epson is constantly advertising how
environmentally friendly it is to the world it is really one of the most
hostile companies of all.

Jan Alter
(e-mail address removed)

 

[RCC]

Hi. I have an Epson D120, just over a year old. The status monitor is
showing the message " Service Required. Parts inside your printer are
near the end of their service life. See your printer documentation.

That says "The waste ink pad in the printer is saturated. Contact your
dealer to replace it."

After reading in here, and googling, I presume this is really a counter
on a chip causing the message.

Any ideas how to get rid of it?

The SSC Service Utility doen't recognise the printer. There doen't seem
to a front panel reset option documented anywhere


I'm in the UK, BTW.

I have the same printer, in UK, almost 2 years old, well used, as yet no
message like yours but I fear the worst. If you do find a solution
please post, but I suspect you will find that the cost of 'authorised
repair' exceeds the cost of buying new.

I have used Epsons for years, but as the price of ink has gone from high
to exorbitant (I now use compatibles) and the way it stops printing with
almost no notice when ink is low, and the way it says it is empty when
there is loads of ink in the cartridge, has made me realise they have
become a rip off company. Cartridge life seems very short.

My last printer was an 880 which lasted many years and which could be
controlled via the SSC utility. Buying another Epson was a mistake.
Sadly I have 2 - the 120 and a Dx8400 which uses the same carts.

The D120 was pitched as a small/home office machine with twin black ink
carts for speed and convenience, and I use it on our home network,
children's homework, my work, my wife's work. No mention of limited
total life in the advertising! I guess they hope you will need a
working printer (I do) so will rush out and buy a new one. Even if
repair was economic it could take days or weeks.

The answer is likely to be ditch the printer and buy non Epson. The
Kodak approach seems OK - pay more for printer, less for ink. I wonder
if they have a hidden 'lifetime limit' like the Epson has?

I ramble, and sadly can't help, but share your forthcoming anger!

 

[RCC]

Http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3806&p=1

I found this thread, starts to get interesting towards the bottom but
the inference is that UK models have no chance/hope of it working.

Grrrr - who can you trust to give a fair deal these days?

 

[Ali]

Jan Alter suggested

http://www.epson.co.uk/Support


Having checked out the Epson UK support site above I'm dismayed that
you have to contact a support person to get help downloading drivers
and utilities for your printer. They don't seem to be obviously
available. It does appear that you can do an online chat without
cost. In the U.S. drivers are on the Epson site.

I've tried there. They gave me this piece of guff
"Like so many other products, Epson consumer inkjet products have a
finite life span due to component wear during normal use. At some point
the product will reach a condition where either satisfactory print
quality cannot be maintained or components have reached the end of their
usable life. This is normal operation for a sophisticated mechanical
device"
and provided the address of their service agent.

Thanks for looking.

 

[Ali]

RCC suggested

Http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3806&p=1

I found this thread, starts to get interesting towards the bottom but
the inference is that UK models have no chance/hope of it working.

Thanks, I've downloaded the file linked to in the last post, and will
try it when the printer actually stops. (It's just warning at the
moment.)

Strange that no-one came back to say that it worked, or didn't work.

Grrrr - who can you trust to give a fair deal these days?

Pass.

 

[John Smith]

RCC suggested

I have the same printer, in UK, almost 2 years old, well used, as yet
no message like yours but I fear the worst. If you do find a
solution please post, but I suspect you will find that the cost of
'authorised repair' exceeds the cost of buying new.

So do I. I'm currently waiting to see if an 'unauthorised repair' can be
done cheaply - or at all.

I use my printer in bursts, around 2100 sheets as quick as possible, once
a year, and just odd sheets the rest of the time. The cheap compatible
carts I use seem to get air in the jets when changed, so can go through 3
or 4 cleaning cycles each time they are changed, which will have increased
the waste ink counter without actualy wasting much ink.
I had nearly finished the second burst when the warning appeared.
Fortunately I've finished now, till next year, and it's still printing.

I have used Epsons for years, but as the price of ink has gone from
high to exorbitant (I now use compatibles) and the way it stops
printing with almost no notice when ink is low, and the way it says
it is empty when there is loads of ink in the cartridge, has made me
realise they have become a rip off company. Cartridge life seems
very short.

And the way it stops printing partway through a sheet - which is then
ejected during the cart change, and then the printer continues where it
left off, but on a new sheet of paper! They not only waste the ink, they
waste the paper too.

I got a chip resetter with my first ink order. Can sometimes reset the
carts twice before the ink actually runs out.

My last printer was an 880 which lasted many years and which could be
controlled via the SSC utility. Buying another Epson was a mistake.
Sadly I have 2 - the 120 and a Dx8400 which uses the same carts.

The D120 was pitched as a small/home office machine with twin black
ink carts for speed and convenience,

I'm not sure where the convenience comes when the printer won't work
unless it thinks both blacks have ink.

and I use it on our home
network, children's homework, my work, my wife's work. No mention of
limited total life in the advertising!

I did see something somewhere - but the life was 40,000 sheets, not the
~4000 sheets it's actually done.

I guess they hope you will
need a working printer (I do) so will rush out and buy a new one.

Don't they think that the new one will be from a different manufacturer?

Even if repair was economic it could take days or weeks.

The answer is likely to be ditch the printer and buy non Epson. The
Kodak approach seems OK - pay more for printer, less for ink. I
wonder if they have a hidden 'lifetime limit' like the Epson has?

I shall have to look closely at them, next time.

 

[John Snith]

Arthur Entlich suggested

I hate to say this but you really need to contact your MP or whomever
is responsible for your consumer legislation.

We have a big election next year, so that may actually be worthwhile.

In the US and Canada due to pressure and legal arguments, Epson was
forced to supply the small propriety software required to reset that
counter (It is held in an EEPROM within the printer).

Do you have a pointer to those arguments, please. For passing on to my
MP.

The reason for it is to protect your furniture and carpets from being
damaged to ink leaking out of the waste ink pads. However, not only
doesn't Epson make mention of this limitation, or that it will just
shut the printer down with a few moment's notice, but also the
numbers are set rather conservatively such that most people have
found they can reset the number at least once without leaking ink.

Further, Epson printers are no capable of actually knowing how much
ink does go down the waste ink tube since the printer only counts the
supposed amount, based upon a totally unclogged head. When nozzles
are clogged less ink is released during cleaning and purging. In
some cases, no ink is removed (a full head clog) and yet your ink
levels on the cartridge are reduced, as well as the amount f use you
can get from the waste ink cartridges before they shut the system
down as well.

My suggestion for most people is to install a waste ink tube
extension and bring it outside the printer and into a clear bottle of
some type.

You will then see just how much ink gets wasted, and also be able to
keep track of the ink without soiling the waste ink pads anymore than
has been done.

Unless the waste ink counter can be reset this doesn't get me much
further.

The cost to having the waste ink pads professionally replaced in not
of get economic value.., as it usually cost nearly the price of a new
printer which comes with new inks as the cost of getting the old one
repaired.

The UK and the European Union should take Epson to task on this. It
is wasteful, unnecessary, and IMHO a rip off to the consumer and the
environment.

Art



If you are interested in issues surrounding e-waste,
I invite you to enter the discussion at my blog:

http://e-trashtalk.spaces.live.com/

Thanks for your reply.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Arthur Entlich suggested


We have a big election next year, so that may actually be worthwhile.


Do you have a pointer to those arguments, please. For passing on to my
MP.

No, unfortunately I don't have references. If you wish you can look
into the several class action lawsuits which Epson has responded to in
the US and Canada in regard to issues like the cartridges reading empty
early and the chipped cartridges and their consequences. Epson, in all
causes so far have chosen to pay small settlements to each printer owner
rather than fight these in court. This also allows them not to have to
admit to the charges made by the plaintiffs.

If you wish to see the Epson pages which offer the owners of certain
Epson printers the options of downloading the waste pad protection
number resetting software go to:

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/InkPadsForm.jsp

Unless the waste ink counter can be reset this doesn't get me much
further.

Yes, you are correct, the EEPROM reset is fundamental to reversing this
event. This is why you need to convince your MPs or other appropriate
gov't officials that this practice of not allowing for user resets in
anti-consumer and anti-environment. This system as it stands also has
the additional problem of poorly contained waste ink (some exposed pads)
which absorb the ink and then allow it to escape if the printer is
discarded into a landfill or other discard system.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

If you are interested in issues surrounding e-waste,
I invite you to enter the discussion at my blog:

http://e-trashtalk.spaces.live.com/

Jan Alter suggested


I've tried there. They gave me this piece of guff
"Like so many other products, Epson consumer inkjet products have a
finite life span due to component wear during normal use. At some point
the product will reach a condition where either satisfactory print
quality cannot be maintained or components have reached the end of their
usable life. This is normal operation for a sophisticated mechanical
device"
and provided the address of their service agent.

Thanks for looking.

What I find interesting is that should the waste ink pad protection
numbers come up while the printer is under warranty (usually indicating
the printer has been heavily used) then Epson will replace the printer,
as if this issue is a defect. But as soon as the warranty period runs
out, suddenly this is just "normal aging" and you should just buy a new
printer because the old one wore out.

However, it is not that parts "wore out" in most cases these printer
become dysfunctional due to head clogs (and people not knowing how to
fix and avoid future ones) and the filling of the waste pads which is
just a "normal result of clogged heads and general usage.

These are all forms of planned obsolescence. In most cases the printer
is fine mechanically otherwise, and both are relatively easy fixes.
There are design changes which would have resolved these issues.

These are the kind of issues which only wide publicity, change of brand
when purchasing, and lobbying of higher government officials will force
change.

Sadly, many manufacturers aren't much or any better.

Art

 

[John Smith]

Arthur Entlich suggested

No, unfortunately I don't have references. If you wish you can look
into the several class action lawsuits which Epson has responded to
in the US and Canada in regard to issues like the cartridges reading
empty early and the chipped cartridges and their consequences.
Epson, in all causes so far have chosen to pay small settlements to
each printer owner rather than fight these in court. This also
allows them not to have to admit to the charges made by the
plaintiffs.

If you wish to see the Epson pages which offer the owners of certain
Epson printers the options of downloading the waste pad protection
number resetting software go to:

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/InkPadsForm.jsp


Yes, you are correct, the EEPROM reset is fundamental to reversing
this event. This is why you need to convince your MPs or other
appropriate gov't officials that this practice of not allowing for
user resets in anti-consumer and anti-environment. This system as it
stands also has the additional problem of poorly contained waste ink
(some exposed pads) which absorb the ink and then allow it to escape
if the printer is discarded into a landfill or other discard system.

Ok, thanks again.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

The printer manufacturers, in general, are selling ink, toner and other
consumables at very high mark ups. But to sell these things, they have
to create a printer which the public will buy at low profit margin, but
which is designed to try to require you to buy their consumable goods.
This adds complexity to the designs, sometimes those design features
cause functionality failures or cause restricted capabilities, and they
further add to the cost of manufacture.

It is a poor business model for most consumers, and certainly for
environmental considerations. It also inspires the manufacturers to
make printers which don't last, because they are constantly competing on
supposed improvements, which may or may not really matter in terms of
output, but which generally introduce new methods of further restricting
consumable use to their own products. Further, because the cost of
upgrading the printer itself is minimal, and consumable costs these days
don't vary much between model types and brands, this further encourages
replacing the unit the moment something new comes along or any
mechanical difficulty ensues. In some cases the cost of the printer
with factory provided initial consumables, makes buying a new printer
nearly the same cost as replacing the consumables once.

At least in some countries, legislation is requiring that cartridges be
refillable. This should become universal, IMHO. While it may cause
increases in cost of acquisition of the printer, it will allow for a
much more "natural" process of longevity in the products.

The one current exception to the common business model is Kodak, which
is trying to break this cycle by selling their printers at more initial
cost, but charging considerably less for consumables.

There are a few other product lines coming down the line which are
likely to do the same and they should be supported when they appear.

Again, ultimately, legislation may be the only method to level the
playing field and allow the products to stand on their own merits.

My blog (which has been stagnant for quite a few months now,
unfortunately) does go into these issues in much more detail.

Art

If you are interested in issues surrounding e-waste,
I invite you to enter the discussion at my blog:

http://e-trashtalk.spaces.live.com/