My printer is not quite a year old and no longer lights up when it is low or out of ink. The past 2 times, the only way I knew was when I tried to print something and the page came out blank! When I check the ink status level, it still shows ink though. Any ideas as to why this is happening and how to correct it? Thanks!

Based on experiences with my Stylus Photo EX printer, it seems that ink use is based on some kind of "timing" mechanism; that is, when an ink cartridge is first inserted the printer simply starts counting how many pages it has printed. When the printed "thinks" it has used most of the ink it starts blinking its ink light. Eventually it "thinks" the cartridge should be out of ink so the light stays on and the printer won't print. Sometimes the cartridge still has alot of ink and sometimes only a little.

You can fool the printer by removing and then reinstalling the ink cartrige. then just keep printing until the cartridge really is out of ink.

I agree with the previous posting, the printer seems to count the number of pages or the pico-liters it used and just turns the light on after it "believes" the cartridge is empty. I made the mistake of removing the cartridge and placing it back (no refill or replacement), now I can't remove the (empty) cartridge, even following the directions (push and hold for 3 secs.).

As to the last post, I have Used this trick many times, turn on the printer and let it begin the startup process (motors running etc) sometime during this phase pull the plug out of the outlet. Open the access door, if you look there is a place to grab the ink carrage, pull it to the left so it lines up with the opening. replace the ink tanks and push the carrage to the right gently as far a it will go. plug in the printer and turn it on. This is basically simulating a power failure dufing the power on phase and the printer will reset it's self as far as home position etc. This should also get the counter insync again with a full ink tank.

Do not simply pull the plug in order to remove a cartridge... As it is stated in the MANUAL, to get a cartridge out when the low-ink lights are not blinking, press and hold the "paper feed" button for approx. 3 seconds instead of the ink button.

Thanks to both of you who posted suggestions to my empty cartridge issue. You're right, I should have read the manual with a little more attention. Many thanks.
BTW, any tips/recommendations on ink refills? I'm considering the one from www.inkrefill.com (16 color/12black). I've been VERY sucessful with my HP DeskWriter using the original cartridge since 1992 (I must've put "1 gal" of ink on this cartridge and the head is still holding). If the wrong forum, no flames please, I don't want to start WW III...

There are alot of tips on refilling Epson 740 and other inkjet printers at this site http://www.missupply.com/store.cgi?c...e=concern.html
They also have pretty competitive prices on photo paper and inks. Check it out!

Thanks for all of the replies! I understand what you are saying about it counting the pages and the lights being on despite still having ink, but my problem is kind of the opposite. No ink and no lights to warn me! Maybe it's all related though!?

APW, maybe you removed the cartridge the first time the light turned on, and put back the same cartridge, thus reseting the "counter"?

JPS,

Nope, never done that before! Maybe it was just a fluke thing and won't happen again next time it's empty. Don't know...just found it odd that it has lit up in the past and then all of a sudden quit!

[bobsie]

I had always wondered why Epson says to throw the cartridge away. You can't put it in.

I just installed a new 740 this morning, so, having read these forum posts, I moved the used cartridges from the old 740 to the new one. The new printer works fine with old cartridges. Now with the counter at page 1, I expect I'll actually empty the ink before the lights come on.

I wonder how much Epson ink has gone into the landfills, because we discard still-usable cartridges so we can buy new ones.

-- bobsie

Just to give an update...found out today that my problem is that the sensor has gone bad. My tech guy is calling Epson and getting me a brand new one shipped within 2 days. Glad it's still under warranty!!

[This message has been edited by APW (edited 04-05-2000).]