Epson Lq 2180 User Guide

							7
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting      7-9
Wrong top-of-form position
Printing starts too high or low on the page.
 Cause What to do
The paper size setting in your 
application software or 
printer driver does not match 
the size of the paper you are 
using.Check the paper size setting in your 
application or printer driver.
The printer’s page length 
settings for the front or rear 
tractor do not match the size 
of the continuous paper you 
are using.Check the page length settings for the 
front or rear tractor using the printer’s 
default-setting mode or the EPSON 
Remote! utility. See “About Your 
Printer’s Default Settings” in 
Chapter 5, or “Using the EPSON 
Remote! Utility” in Chapter 4.
The top margin or top-of-
form position setting is 
incorrect.Check the margin or top-of-form 
position setting in your application 
software. See the printable area 
specifications in Appendix C.
Adjust the top-of-form position in 
micro adjust mode. However, settings 
made in Windows applications 
override settings made in micro adjust 
mode. See “Adjusting the Top-of-Form 
Position” in Chapter 2.
The printer you want to use is 
not selected in your software.Choose the correct printer from the 
Windows desktop or in your 
application before printing.
You moved the paper using 
the knob while the printer 
was on.Adjust the top-of-form position using 
the micro adjust feature. See “Adjusting 
the Top-of-Form Position” in Chapter 2.
 
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Caution:
Never use the knob to adjust the top-of-form position; this may damage 
the printer or cause it to lose the top-of-form position. 
						

							7-10      Troubleshooting
Wrong tear-off position
The printer prints on (or too far away from) the perforation of 
your continuous paper.
 Cause What to do
The tear-off position setting 
is incorrect.Adjust the tear-off position using the 
micro adjust feature. See “Adjusting 
the tear-off position” in Chapter 2.
You moved the paper using 
the knob while the printer 
was on.Adjust the tear-off position using the 
micro adjust feature. See “Adjusting 
the tear-off position” in Chapter 2. 
 
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Caution:
Never use the knob to adjust the tear-off position; this may damage the 
printer or cause it to lose the tear-off position.
The printer you want to use 
is not selected in your 
software.Choose the correct printer from the 
Windows desktop or in your 
application before printing.
The paper size setting in 
your application or printer 
driver does not match the 
size of the paper you are 
using.Check the paper size setting in your 
application or printer driver.
The printer’s page length 
settings for the front or rear 
tractor do not match the size 
of the continuous paper you 
are using.Check the page length settings for the 
front or rear tractor using the printer’s 
default-setting mode or the EPSON 
Remote! utility. See “About Your 
Printer’s Default Settings” in 
Chapter 5, or “Using the EPSON 
Remote! Utility” in Chapter 4. 
						

							7
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting      7-11
Printing or printout quality problems
The printer does not print when the computer sends data.
 Cause What to do
The printer is paused. Press the Pause button.
The printer cover is open. Close the printer cover and press the 
Pause button to resume printing.
The interface cable is not 
plugged in securely.Check that both ends of the cable 
between the printer and the computer 
are plugged in securely. If the cable is 
connected correctly, run a self test as 
described later in this chapter.
Your interface cable does not 
meet the printer and/or 
computer specifications.Use an interface cable that meets the 
requirements of both the printer and 
computer. See page A-3 and your 
computer documentation.
Your software is not 
properly set up for your 
printer.Select your printer from the Windows 
desktop or in your application. If 
necessary, install or reinstall the 
printer driver software as described in 
Chapter 1. 
						

							7-12      Troubleshooting
The printer makes noise, but nothing prints or printing stops 
abruptly
Cause What to do
The paper thickness lever is 
set incorrectly.Set the paper thickness lever to match 
the thickness of your paper. See 
“Setting the Paper Thickness Lever” 
in Chapter 2.
The ribbon has too much 
slack, the ribbon has come 
loose, or the ribbon cartridge 
is not installed properly.Remove any slack in the ribbon by 
turning the ribbon-tightening knob, or 
reinstall the ribbon cartridge as 
described in Chapter 1.
The printout is faint.
Cause What to do
The paper thickness lever is 
set incorrectly for your 
paper.Move the paper thickness lever to a 
lower setting.
The ribbon is worn out. Replace the ribbon cartridge as 
described in Chapter 1.
The printout has gaps.
Cause What to do
The paper thickness lever is 
not set correctly.Set the paper thickness lever to match 
the thickness of your paper. See page 
2-4 for continuous paper, or page 3-3 
for single sheets. 
						

							7
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting      7-13 Part of the printout is missing, or dots are missing in random 
positions.
Cause What to do
The ribbon has too much 
slack, the ribbon has come 
loose, or the ribbon cartridge 
is not installed properly.Remove any slack in the ribbon by 
turning the ribbon-tightening knob, or 
reinstall the ribbon cartridge as 
described in Chapter 1.
The ribbon is worn out. Replace the ribbon cartridge as 
described in Chapter 1.
Lines of dots are missing in the printout.
Cause What to do
The print head is damaged. Stop printing and contact your dealer 
to have the print head replaced. 
 
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Caution:
Never replace the print head yourself; you may damage the printer. Also, 
other parts of the printer must be checked when the print head is replaced.
All the text is printed on the same line.
Cause What to do
No line feed command is 
sent at the end of each line of 
text.Turn on the auto line feed setting 
using the printer’s default-setting 
mode or the EPSON Remote! utility so 
that the printer automatically adds a 
line feed code to each carriage return. 
See “About Your Printer’s Default 
Settings” in Chapter 5 or “Using the 
EPSON Remote! Utility” in Chapter 4. 
						

							7-14      Troubleshooting
The printout has extra blank lines between lines of text.
Cause What to do
Two line feed commands are 
being sent at the end of each 
line of text.Turn off the auto line feed setting 
using the printer’s default-setting 
mode or the EPSON Remote! utility. 
See “About Your Printer’s Default 
Settings” in Chapter 5, or “Using the 
EPSON Remote! Utility” in Chapter 4.
The line space setting in your 
application software is 
incorrect.Adjust the line space setting in your 
application software.
The skip-over-perforation 
setting is on.Turn off the skip-over-perforation 
setting in the default-setting mode or 
the EPSON Remote! utility. See 
“About Your Printer’s Default 
Settings” in Chapter 5, or “Using the 
EPSON Remote! Utility” in Chapter 4.
The printer prints strange symbols, incorrect fonts, or other 
inappropriate characters.
Cause What to do
Your printer and computer 
are not communicating 
correctly.Make sure that you are using the 
correct interface cable and that the 
communications protocol is correct. 
See page A-3 and your computer 
documentation. If you installed an 
optional serial interface card, also see 
page A-18.
The wrong character table is 
selected in your software.Select the correct character table using 
your software, the default-setting 
mode, or the EPSON Remote! utility. 
The character table setting in your 
software overrides settings made in 
the default-setting mode or EPSON 
Remote!. 
						

							7
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting      7-15
The printer you want to use is 
not selected in your software.Choose the correct printer from the 
Windows desktop or in your 
application before printing.
Your application software is 
not configured correctly for 
your printer.Make sure that your application 
software is set up correctly for your 
printer. See your application 
documentation. If necessary, install or 
reinstall the printer driver software as 
described in Chapter 1.
Software settings override 
settings you make using the 
default-setting mode, 
EPSON Remote!, or the 
control panel buttons.Use your application software to 
select the font.
Vertical printed lines are not aligned.
Cause What to do
Bidirectional printing, which 
is the printer’s standard 
printing mode, is out of 
alignment.Use the printer’s bidirectional 
adjustment mode to correct this 
problem. See “Aligning Vertical Lines 
in Your Printout” later in this chapter. 
						

							7-16      Troubleshooting
Clearing Paper Jams 
To clear a paper jam, follow these steps: 
1. Press the Operate button to turn off the printer.
2. If a single-sheet of paper is stuck on the paper guide, gently 
remove it.
3. Remove the printer cover. If you are loading continuous 
paper from the rear slot, remove the paper guide.
4. If continuous paper is jammed in the printer, tear off the fresh 
supply at the perforation nearest the paper entry slot.
5. Turn the knob on the right side of the printer away from you 
to eject the paper in the printer. Remove any remaining pieces 
of paper.
 
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Caution:
Use the knob on the right side of the printer only to clear 
paper jams when the printer is off. Otherwise, you may 
damage the printer or lose the top-of-form or tear-off position.
6. Replace the paper guide if necessary, and replace the printer 
cover. Then close the paper guide cover.
7. Press the Operate button to turn on the printer. Make sure 
the Paper Out and Pause lights are off. 
						

							7
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting      7-17
Aligning Vertical Lines in Your Printout 
If you notice that the vertical lines in your printout are not 
properly aligned, you can use the printer’s bidirectional 
adjustment mode to correct this problem.
Note:
o
To complete the steps below, you need four sheets of A3-size 
single-sheet paper or four pages of continuous paper that are at least 
279 mm (11 inches) long and 376 mm (14.8 inches) wide. See 
Chapter 2 for instructions on loading continuous paper, or 
Chapter 3 for instructions on loading single sheets.
o
If you use single sheets, you need to load a new sheet of paper each 
time the printer ejects a printed sheet onto the paper guide. 
Follow these steps to perform the bidirectional adjustment:
1. Make sure paper is loaded and the printer is turned off.
 
c
Caution:
Whenever you turn off the printer, wait at least five seconds 
before turning it back on; otherwise you may damage the 
printer.
2. While holding down the 
Pause button, press the 
Operate 
button to turn on the printer. The printer enters the 
bidirectional adjustment mode and then prints instructions 
and the first set of alignment patterns.
3. As described in the instructions, compare the alignment 
patterns and select the pattern with the best alignment.
4. Follow the instructions to print the remaining sets of 
alignment patterns and select the pattern with the best 
alignment in each set.
5. After you select the best pattern in the final set of alignment 
patterns, press the 
Operate button to turn off the printer and 
exit the bidirectional adjustment mode. Your selections are 
saved automatically. 
						

							7-18      Troubleshooting
Printing a Self Test 
Running the printer’s self test helps you determine whether the 
printer or the computer is causing the problem:
oIf the self test results are satisfactory, the printer is working 
properly and the problem probably results from your printer 
driver settings, application settings, computer, or interface 
cable. (Be sure to use a shielded interface cable.)
oIf the self test does not print properly, there is a problem with 
the printer. See “Problems and Solutions” for possible causes 
and solutions to the problem.
You can print the self test using either single sheets or continuous 
paper. See Chapter 2 for instructions on loading continuous 
paper, or Chapter 3 for instructions on loading single sheets.
Note:
Use paper that is at least 376 mm (14.8 inches) wide, such as A3-size 
paper.
To perform a self test, follow these steps:
1. Make sure paper is loaded and the printer is turned off.
 
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Caution:
Whenever you turn off the printer, wait at least five seconds 
before turning it back on; otherwise you may damage the 
printer.
2. To run the test using the Draft font, hold down the LF/FF 
button while you press the Operate button to turn on the 
printer. To run the test using the printer’s letter-quality fonts, 
hold down the Load/Eject button while you turn on the 
printer. Either self test can help you determine the source of 
your printing problem; however, the draft test prints faster 
than the letter-quality test.