20 Most Recent Epson PictureMate 500 InkJet Photo Printer Questions & Answers

Sounds like Blocked Nozzle heads assuming its making the correct noises when press "print" If Not First ensure connected correctly: Control panel / Devices and printers / select printer ( make sure its the default printer) right click on printer properties : Print test page. Next repeat but right click Printing Preferences / maintenance / Nozzle check then Head cleaning. This generally works with printers used fairly regularly. Where printers left for long periods may have to resort to removing offending cartridge/s and using a syringe with warm water and flexible tubing to clear blocked print head (gently !) Kitchen towel underneath the print head will show when ink / water is clear. Usually have to replace with new cartridges :Then use nozzle check.

Try blowing the printer out with a can of compressed air. Tiny bits of paper will often get stuck in the "eye" of the optical reader that tells the printer that it has a jam. Compressed air can blow this debris loose. Another thing to double-check is the paper tray. Remove the paper tray and inspect the place where the paper gets pulled into the printer. Sometimes you will find a sheet of paper stuck there that isn't readily apparent anywhere else.

there are actually three ink pads in this model, only one has a sensor and is monitored by an electronic counter. there is a long one located under the the print head as it is printing, and a small rectangular one located on the far right side of the printer and this is the one that gets used during cleaning, and it also helps to park the printhead when you turn the power off The biggest on is located on the very bottom of the plastic base of the printer. The pad you are speaking about is the rectangular one. The only way to reach this pad is to remove the upper assembly of the printer--which means you remove alot of screws the main circuit board, the plastic covers on the ends---5 quick connctors on the back of the mainboard and a total of 8 ribbon connectors--ALL CAN BE DONE WITH NO PSECIAL TOOLS REQUIRED!

A sensor WITHIN the main ink waste pad indicates when the pad is getting soaked. There is also an electronic "counter" which can be reset off of the mainboard, if you have the right software. The photomate 500 has a design limit of roughly 5200 pictures before this sponge gets all soaked up with ink. I have just been using qtips to soak up the ink. I cannot find parts **** as print heads, or inkpads to order online.

If you like, make a post here and I will share pictures I have taken (plus some pages from the service manual......

Hi, Hope this helps,I downloaded & manually Translated it from a Russian Website (I speak Fluent Russian)!! fatal error code 10x50 Home position error. Possible causes : Foreign object, Deformation of the Main Frame, Change Lever failure, Paper jam. Last fatal error code 20xF1 PF PID excess load error. Possible causes : PF Motor failure, PF drive mechanism overload (paper jam, foreign object, insufficient grease, deformation of the Main Frame), Tooth skip of the PF Timing Belt, Improper tension of the PF Timing Belt, Cable disconnection, Main Board failure (Motor driver failure). Last fatal error code 30x50 Home position error. Possible causes : Foreign object, Deformation of the Main Frame, Change Lever failure, Paper jam. Last fatal error code 40x0A CR load position excess load error. Possible causes : CR Motor failure, CR Unit drive mechanism overload (paper jam, foreign object, Change Lever failure), Cable disconnection, Main Board failure (Motor driver failure). Last fatal error code 50x50 Home position error. Possible causes : Foreign object, Deformation of the Main Frame, Change Lever failure, Paper jam.

Take the ink-cartridge out, shake it only very lightly and put it back in the printer. Turn it on and go to the options section and run the printhead cleaner option and alignment, this might make it work properly. Good Luck

You can find a user manual here: http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/supDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=135064&prodoid=63084666&infoType=Doc