hikercheryl Loc: Madison, NC

I have a very old Epson Stylus Photo 2200 printer that just died. I printed a page Sunday and the color was off so I printed a test and saw that a couple of the color patterns were not printed fully. I cleaned the printer heads and printed again. There were still a few gaps so I cleaned the heads again. At some point in the process of doing this, I got red error signals for each ink color as well and the paper indicator. I have tried turning off and on unplugging, etc. printer and compute. I can turn the printer off, but when I turn it on again, I get all those red blinking lights.

Since the printer is so old, I don’t want to throw away money by getting a professional to fix it. I have spare parts on another of the same old printer. A friend gave me his old broken one when he got a new one just so I could have the parts. I called the closest Epson certified repair business and it is a 2-hour drive away from me. They charge $125.00 just to open up the printer. I checked out you tube to see if I could figure out anything I could do on my own. Not much help there.

Thinking I had nothing to loose, I tried to open up the printer by loosening the 3 screws that I found on the back. It wouldn’t come apart. I need suggestions! I talked to some friends in one of my photography clubs and they suggested using a hammer or dropping from a second story window. If I could just get it to come apart, I think I could destroy it without resorting to a hammer. But maybe I could find a loose part or replace the pad that collects the ink discarded while cleaning heads.

I know I’m rambling, but I would appreciate any suggestions. If, as I suspect, I can’t fix it, I need suggestions on purchasing a printer that has quality on par with my dead one.

THANKS!

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

Do the math. If you can't fix it and the nearest Epson repair shop is 2 hours away & charges $125.00 just to open it, now you're out 4 hours plus gas plus whatever they charge to repair the printer. Check your local Staples/Office Depot, Amazon, etc. & compare that against what it would a new printer would cost.

TomV Loc: Annapolis, Maryland

Maybe you can try what Epson recommends as a replacement. http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?oid=20306147

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

They are selling them as low as $160 on eBay and there are people selling parts for them. If you have used it hard and it's over 5 years old it might be time for a change. There is a point of diminishing returns on old equipment.

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

The ink pads that sit under the heads at rest may be saturated with ink- that will trigger a warning. If you have a spare printer for parts I'd Google Epson Stylus Photo 2200 repair hints on printer forums. I'd also check the "i Fix-it" website to see if they have any Epson teardowns.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Too bad the replacement has been replaced. This brings you to the P600 as the replacement. I'd also look at the P400 and P800. I recently replaced my R3000 with a P800 which I choose as the ink cost was significantly lower. Best of luck. If you were still using a 2200, you got your money's worth. You could always save it until the Smithsonian wants it!

jerrylh Loc: Texas

I tried to repair a canon once and found from a technician that Canon intended for it to go bad after so much use. And he said I would have to replace 3 parts that are very hard to get to and my cost for parts would be 70% of the cost of a new printer.

The Watcher

You should find this interesting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPPfPsqO-BI

rfmaude41 Loc: Lancaster, Texas (DFW area)

Or their newest the P400 (for 13 inch) or the P800 (for 17 inch). They do have rebates.
Also looks like Epson no longer makes the 2200, now it's the R3000 AND now the 3000 has been discontinued, LOL. The P400 is $599, but I believe there is some sort of rebate.

rfmaude41 Loc: Lancaster, Texas (DFW area)

Try This: Jose Rodriguez4 months ago - Clemente Marte Well are you using OEM carts, refillables or compatibles? Go ahead and remove then anyway, unplug the printer at the WALL and let it sit for a half hour. Reload the carts and power up the printer and cross your fingers.
Is there any specific pattern to the light flashing error? If there is then you can usually google that error and hopefully find out if it's something you can fix with a process.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

There is also a P600 in the middle costwise.

hikercheryl Loc: Madison, NC

Thanks for these leads. I was frustrated that I couldn't open it up and got no help form you tube. Will check it out Sunday when i have free time.Agreed.

hikercheryl Loc: Madison, NC

i have been looking at the ones you listed above. So reading your comment about the ink on the P800 is helpful. Thanks.

hikercheryl Loc: Madison, NC

Not good, but likely true. Thanks

hikercheryl Loc: Madison, NC

Thanks. Will check it out Tomorrow.