Cleaning the Print Head
If your printouts are unexpectedly light, colors are not correct,
or dots or lines are missing, you may need to clean the print
head. This unclogs the nozzles so they can deliver ink
properly. Print head cleaning uses ink, so clean it only if
quality declines.
Note:
You can also use a printer software utility to clean the print head right
from your computer. Select the ? or Help button on your printer
settings window for instructions.
1. Make sure your Stylus Photo RX500 is turned on but not
!
printing, and the
error light is off. (If the
flashing or on, you may need to replace an ink cartridge; see
the next section.)
2. Press the Setup button to enter setup mode. You see this
LCD screen:
Press this
button
3. Press the top left button (next to Ink levels) until you see
Head Cleaning on the LCD screen.
4. Press the x Color button.
Cleaning takes about 30 seconds, during which Head
Cleaning appears on the LCD screen.
Caution:
Never turn off the Stylus Photo RX500 while the message Head
Cleaning appears on the LCD screen, unless it hasn't moved or
made noise for more than 5 minutes.
5. When you again see the LCD screen shown below, run a
nozzle check to confirm the print head nozzles are clean.
Press this
button
Make sure letter-size plain paper is loaded. Press the top left
button until you see Nozzle Check on the LCD screen,
then press the x Color button. The nozzle check pattern
prints.
!
error light is
1.Ink levels
Press the Color
3.Head Cleaning
Press the Color
6. Examine the printed nozzle check pattern. It should look
like this:
❏ If it looks correct, you're done.
❏ If any dots or lines are missing, clean the print head
again; see the previous steps for instructions.
If you don't see any improvement after cleaning three or four
times, see the "Solving Problems" section of your online
Reference Guide. You can also turn the Stylus Photo RX500 off
and wait overnight—this allows any dried ink to soften—and
then try cleaning the print head again.
Caution: When you don't turn on your Stylus Photo RX500 for a
long time, the print quality can decline. It's a good idea to turn it on
at least once a month to maintain good print quality.
Replacing an Ink Cartridge
If the ! error light on the EPSON Stylus Photo RX500 is
flashing, or you see an ink cartridge error message on the LCD
screen or computer monitor, you need to replace one of the
cartridges. When a cartridge is more than six months old, you
may need to replace it if printouts don't look their best. If the
quality doesn't improve after cleaning and aligning the print
head, you can replace the cartridge.
Use these ink cartridges within six months of installing them
and before the expiration date on the package:
❏ Black: T048120
❏ Cyan: T048220
❏ Magenta: T048320
❏ Yellow: T048420
❏ Light Cyan: T048520
❏ Light Magenta: T048620
Caution:
To ensure good results, use genuine EPSON ink cartridges and do
not refill them. Other products may cause damage to your EPSON
Stylus Photo RX500 not covered by EPSON's warranty.
When you need new ink cartridges, contact your dealer. You
can also call the EPSON Store at (800) 873-7766, or visit
www.epsonstore.com (U.S. sales only). In Canada, please call
(800) 463-7766 for dealer referral.
Warning:
Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children. If ink gets on your
hands, wash them thoroughly with soap and water. If ink gets in
your eyes, flush them thoroughly with water.
10/03
EPSON Stylus Photo RX500
EPSON Stylus Photo RX500
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