Epson Lq680 User Guide

							5
Troubleshooting      5-5
R4C4590
Rev. C
A5 size TRBLE.FM
10/30/00 Pass 1
R
Proof Sign-off:
Takahashi, Kono _______
Takahashi _______
Hoadley _______
Power supply problems
The control panel lights come on briefly, but then go off and 
stay off.
 Cause What to do
The printer’s voltage rating 
does not match the voltage of 
your electrical outlet.Check the printer and the outlet 
voltage ratings. If the voltages do not 
match, unplug the printer 
immediately and contact your dealer.
 
wWarning:
Do not reconnect the power cord to an electrical outlet that has the wrong 
voltage for your printer.
The printer does not work and the control panel lights are off 
even though you turned on the printer.
Cause What to do
The power cord is not 
properly plugged into the 
electrical outlet or your 
printer.Turn off the printer, and make sure the 
power cord is firmly plugged into the 
electrical outlet and the printer, if 
necessary. Then turn on the printer.
The electrical outlet does not 
work.Use a different outlet. 
						

							5-6      Troubleshooting
R4C4590
Rev. C
A5 size TRBLE.FM
10/30/00 Pass 1
L
Proof Sign-off:
Takahashi, Kono _______
Takahashi _______
Hoadley _______
Single-sheet paper loading or feeding problems
The printer does not load single-sheet paper or does not feed 
it properly.
 Cause What to do
Tractor feeding is selected.  Select single-sheet feeding. For more 
information, see “Selecting a Paper 
Source” on page 2-2.
The paper on the paper 
guide is positioned too far to 
the left or right for the paper 
sensor to detect that it is 
there.Move the paper a little to the left or 
right.
Single-sheet paper is not 
loaded properly.See “Using Single Sheets” on page 
2-20 for instructions on loading single-
sheet paper.
The paper thickness lever is 
not set correctly.See “Adjusting the Paper Thickness 
Lever” on page 2-6.
Your paper is creased, old, 
too thin, or too thick.See the paper specifications in 
Appendix C and use new, clean sheets 
of paper.
The printer does not fully eject a single sheet.
Cause What to do
Your paper is too long. Press the Load/Eject
 button to eject 
the sheet. Make sure the page length 
of your paper is within the range 
specified for single-sheet paper in 
Appendix C. Also check and adjust 
the paper size setting in your 
application or printer driver. 
						

							5
Troubleshooting      5-7
R4C4590
Rev. C
A5 size TRBLE.FM
10/30/00 Pass 1
R
Proof Sign-off:
Takahashi, Kono _______
Takahashi _______
Hoadley _______
The optional cut-sheet feeder does not feed your single-sheet 
paper properly.
Cause What to do
The cut-sheet feeder is not 
installed properly.Reinstall it as described in “Installing 
the cut-sheet feeder” on page A-3.
Too many sheets are loaded 
in the cut-sheet feeder. Load no more than 150 single sheets in 
the high-capacity cut-sheet feeder. See 
“Cut-Sheet Feeders” on page A-2 for 
more information.
You may have loaded the 
wrong type of paper in bin 2 
of the double-bin cut-sheet 
feeder.Use only the high-capacity feeder 
(bin 1) or the sheet guide for single-
sheet multipart forms (only the type 
glued at the top of the forms), 
envelopes, and postcards. 
The edge guides of the 
cut-sheet feeder are not 
positioned correctly.Align the left edge guide with the 
arrow mark, then move the right edge 
guide to match your paper’s width.
There are only a few sheets of 
paper left in the bin. Load more paper in the cut-sheet 
feeder. 
Sheets of paper are stuck 
together.Remove the paper stack, fan it, and 
then reload it.  
						

							5-8      Troubleshooting
R4C4590
Rev. C
A5 size TRBLE.FM
10/30/00 Pass 1
L
Proof Sign-off:
Takahashi, Kono _______
Takahashi _______
Hoadley _______
Continuous paper loading or feeding problems
The printer does not load continuous paper or does not feed it 
properly.
Cause What to do
Single-sheet feeding is 
selected.Select tractor feeding. For more 
information, see “Selecting a Paper 
Source” on page 2-2.
Continuous paper is not 
loaded properly.See Chapter 2 for instructions on 
loading continuous paper on the 
tractor you want to use.
The paper has come off the 
tractor. Reload the paper on the tractor as 
described in “Loading continuous 
paper with the tractor” on page 2-9. 
The paper thickness lever is 
not set correctly.Set the paper thickness lever to match 
the thickness of your paper. See 
“Adjusting the Paper Thickness 
Lever” on page 2-6.
The paper supply is 
obstructed. Make sure the paper supply is not 
obstructed by a cable or some other 
object. See “Positioning your 
continuous paper supply” on page 2-8. 
The holes on the sides of the 
paper are misaligned.Check that the holes on the sides of the 
paper are aligned with each other. Also 
make sure the sprocket units are 
locked and their covers are closed.
The printer does not feed continuous paper back to the standby 
position.
Cause What to do
You did not tear off the 
printed pages before pressing 
the Load/Eject
 button.Tear off the printed pages at the 
perforation. Then press the 
Load/Eject
 button to feed the paper 
backward to the standby position. 
						

							5
Troubleshooting      5-9
R4C4590
Rev. C
A5 size TRBLE.FM
10/30/00 Pass 1
R
Proof Sign-off:
Takahashi, Kono _______
Takahashi _______
Hoadley _______
Printing position problems
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 tractor do not 
match the size of the 
continuous paper you are 
using.Check the page length settings for the 
tractor using the printer’s default-
setting mode or the EPSON Remote! 
utility. See “About Your Printer’s 
Default Settings” on page 4-3 or “Using 
the EPSON Remote! Utility” on page 
3-19.
The top margin or top-of-
form position setting is 
incorrect.Check the top 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. Be aware, however, 
that settings made in Windows 
applications override settings made in 
micro adjust mode. See “Adjusting the 
loading position” on page 2-28.
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 loading position” on 
page 2-28.
 
cCaution:
Never use the knob to adjust the top-of-form position; doing so may damage 
the printer. 
						

							5-10      Troubleshooting
R4C4590
Rev. C
A5 size TRBLE.FM
10/30/00 Pass 1
L
Proof Sign-off:
Takahashi, Kono _______
Takahashi _______
Hoadley _______
The printer prints on or too far away from the perforation of 
your continuous paper.
 Cause What to do
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 tractor do not 
match the size of the 
continuous paper you are 
using.Check the page length settings for the 
tractor using the printer’s default-
setting mode or the EPSON Remote! 
utility. See “About Your Printer’s 
Default Settings” on page 4-3 or “Using 
the EPSON Remote! Utility” on page 
3-19. 
						

							5
Troubleshooting      5-11
R4C4590
Rev. C
A5 size TRBLE.FM
10/30/00 Pass 1
R
Proof Sign-off:
Takahashi, Kono _______
Takahashi _______
Hoadley _______
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 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 “Optional interface 
cards” on page A-19 and your 
computer’s 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.
The printer makes noise, but nothing prints or printing stops 
abruptly
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 
“Adjusting the Paper Thickness 
Lever” on page 2-6.
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. 
						

							5-12      Troubleshooting
R4C4590
Rev. C
A5 size TRBLE.FM
10/30/00 Pass 1
L
Proof Sign-off:
Takahashi, Kono _______
Takahashi _______
Hoadley _______
The printout is faint.
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 
“Adjusting the Paper Thickness 
Lever” on page 2-6.
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 
“Adjusting the Paper Thickness 
Lever” on page 2-6.
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. 
						

							5
Troubleshooting      5-13
R4C4590
Rev. C
A5 size TRBLE.FM
10/30/00 Pass 1
R
Proof Sign-off:
Takahashi, Kono _______
Takahashi _______
Hoadley _______
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. 
 
cCaution:
Never replace the print head yourself; you may damage the printer. Other 
parts of the printer must also be checked when the print head is replaced.
All the text is printed on the same line.
Cause What to do
A line feed command is not 
sent to the printer 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” on page 4-3 or “Using the 
EPSON Remote! Utility” on page 3-19. 
						

							5-14      Troubleshooting
R4C4590
Rev. C
A5 size TRBLE.FM
10/30/00 Pass 1
L
Proof Sign-off:
Takahashi, Kono _______
Takahashi _______
Hoadley _______
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” on page 4-3 or “Using the 
EPSON Remote! Utility” on page 3-19.
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” on page 4-3 or “Using the 
EPSON Remote! Utility” on page 3-19.
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 your computer documentation. If 
you installed an optional serial 
interface card, also see “Optional 
interface cards” on page A-19.
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 the 
EPSON Remote! utility.