epson 3880 - maintenance cartridge not recognized

[lotsawa]

Hello, my 3880 suddenly brings up the message: No Maintenance Cartridge - Install the Maintenance Cartridge.

There was no warning the cartridge will be full soon (as is mentioned in the manual). Nevertheless, I change the old cartridge for two different new ones, but the message still appears and the printer doesn't work.

Does anyone of you have an idea what happened and what to do?

Thanks,
Christof

 

[cls]

try to clean the contacts on your maintenance cartrige chip with pure isopro-alcohol with a qtip and if this doesnt help try to clean the printers cotacts with the same solution

 

[lotsawa]

Thanks. I don't have alcohol but used sensor cleaning fluid instead, but with no positive result.

I open the 'door' / cover to the maintenance cartridge, take it out, put it in again, and then the printer seems to recognize it first because the above message changes to "close the maintenance cartridge", and when I do it the ink cartridge icons flash for a second or so, along with the message "install ink cartridges" and then it changes again to "install the maintenance cartridge"

Seems I have to bring it to the service.

 

[cls]

maybe your chip on your cartrige went black-out... do you have a spare maintenance cartige?

 

[lotsawa]

Yes, apart from the one that had been in the printer (which shouldn't be filled up yet after 200 or 300 hundred A4 prints?) I tried two different new ones, all original Epsons - no difference.

 

[jtoolman]

And you are running OEM everything?

 

[lotsawa]

Ink cartridges are OEM, maintenance cartridge is Epson.

 

[websnail]

If it's all OEM, a visit to a service center is in order. Sounds like a sensor is faulty based on everything you provided so far.

 

[lotsawa]

Thanks. I am not sure if I have understood "OEM" correctly. I use third party refillable cartridges, not Epson originals. Only the maintenance cartridge is original. That might void manufacturer's warrenty.

 

[cls]

Original Equipment Manufacturer OEM...
3rd part IS NOT OEM