Question 1

copies and scans from the printer glass come out with a weird yellow or pink tint, colors are all wrong.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS The scanner isn't calibrating correctly. The white strip on the edge of the scanner glass (the calibration area) is likely dirty, so the scanner is using a dirty reference point for color. FIX Lift the document cover. Look along the top edge of the flatbed glass (near the hinge). You'll see a narrow, pure white plastic strip. This is the calibration strip. Gently wipe this strip with a soft, dry microfiber cloth. Do not use any liquid or cleaner. Then, wipe the entire scanner glass with the same dry cloth to remove dust. Close the lid and try a scan again. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK The scanner may need a software calibration. Open the Epson Scan 2 or Epson Smart Panel app on your computer. Look in the settings or tools menu for an option like 'Scanner Calibration' or 'Color Calibration'. Running this utility will have the scanner scan a target and reset its color profile. HEADS UP Never use window cleaner or alcohol on the scanner glass or the white strip. It can damage special coatings and permanently discolor the calibration strip, making the color casts permanent.

Question 2

my et-2850 won't turn on at all, no lights, no sounds, nothing. it was working yesterday.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS This is almost always a power supply issue, not a dead printer. The external power brick for the ET-2850 can fail, or the connection at the back of the printer can work loose. FIX First, check the obvious. Trace the power cable from the wall to the large black power adapter brick, and from the brick to the printer. Make sure every connection is pushed in firmly at both the wall, the brick, and the printer's DC-in port. Try a different wall outlet that you know works. Listen closely at the power brick for a very faint hum when plugged in. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK The power adapter itself might be dead. These are a standard 24V DC adapter. If you have a multimeter, you can check for voltage. If not, your best bet is to order a genuine Epson replacement (like part number C13T00A100) or a high-quality third-party equivalent rated for 24V and at least 2.5A. HEADS UP Do NOT try to open the printer's main body looking for a fuse. There's no user-serviceable power component inside. All the AC-to-DC conversion happens in that external brick.

Question 3

the scanner on my et-2850 makes a loud clunking sound and says 'scanner error' when i try to copy or scan.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS The scanner carriage is getting stuck. A piece of debris, a warped document, or a failed calibration can cause the scanner unit to hit its limit and error out. FIX Unplug the printer. Manually move the scanner carriage (the part under the glass that has the light bar) from side to side by gently pushing it. It should move smoothly. Check the white plastic scanner rail on the left side for any obstructions or sticky residue. Clean the rail with a dry cloth. Plug the printer back in and turn it on. The scanner should auto-home, which might fix it. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK The scanner might need a mechanical reset. With the printer on, open and close the scanner lid (the document cover) 5-10 times in a row. Sometimes this jogs the internal sensor. If that fails, there's a scanner reset in the service menu, but accessing that is tricky and not recommended casually. HEADS UP That clunking is the carriage hitting a physical stop. Don't keep trying to scan from software if you hear it, as you can damage the drive belt or motor. Address the physical obstruction first.

Question 4

i'm getting streaks and lines missing in my prints on the epson ecotank, the nozzle check pattern looks terrible.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS Classic printhead clog. Because the ink is pigment-based (for the black) and sits in tanks, if you don't print regularly, the nozzles can dry out and get blocked. The nozzle check page will show broken lines or missing colors. FIX Don't just run a head cleaning yet—that wastes ink. First, run a 'Nozzle Check' from the printer's maintenance menu (on-screen or via your computer's Epson printer utility). If it's bad, run ONE 'Print Head Cleaning' cycle from the same menu. Wait a few minutes, then run another nozzle check. Repeat this clean/check cycle up to three times, max. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK For a stubborn clog, you can try a more powerful clean. On the printer's control panel, hold the stop button (red X) for about 5-8 seconds until it starts a deeper cleaning cycle. The screen will show 'Head Cleaning (Strong)'. This uses more ink but can clear tougher blockages. HEADS UP Head cleanings use a surprising amount of ink from your tanks. If you're not printing at least a few pages a week, consider turning the printer off with its front power button, which parks the printhead in a capped position to prevent drying.

Question 5

setup was fine but now my computer and phone just won't find the epson et-2850 on wifi anymore.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS The ET-2850's wireless connection can be flaky, especially after a router reboot or if there's interference. The printer's network settings sometimes get confused or drop out. FIX Start with the printer. On its screen, press the home button, go to Settings, then select 'Wireless LAN Setup'. Run the 'Connection Check' tool. If it fails, select 'Restore Network Settings' to wipe its wifi memory. Then, you'll need to set it up again like new using the WPS button on your router or by selecting your network name and entering the password on the printer screen. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK The issue might be your router assigning it a problematic IP address. Try giving your printer a reserved IP address (a static IP) in your router's admin settings. You'll need the printer's MAC address, which you can find on a sticker on the printer or in its network status report. HEADS UP The printer's wifi chip isn't the strongest. If it's far from the router or buried in a cabinet, that can cause chronic dropouts. Moving it even a few feet can make a difference.

Question 6

my et-2850 makes this horrible loud grinding noise every time it tries to feed paper.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS That grinding is the sound of the paper feed motor straining because it can't grab the paper properly. The most likely culprit is the paper feed roller—that little gray rubber wheel inside the paper tray area—has gotten smooth and slick from dust or wear. FIX Power off and unplug the printer. Pull out the paper tray. Look inside the slot where the paper sits. You'll see a gray rubber roller. Dampen a lint-free cloth with a little distilled water (not alcohol or cleaner) and wipe the roller thoroughly as you manually spin it with your finger. Let it dry completely, plug it back in, and try again. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK If the roller looks visibly worn or flat, it might need replacing. Epson sells a maintenance box (part number varies by region) that includes a new feed roller and wiper for the printhead. Installing it involves running a utility from the Epson Software on your computer. HEADS UP That grinding is bad for the gears. If cleaning doesn't fix it quickly, stop trying to print. Forcing it can strip the plastic drive train, which is a much bigger repair.

Question 7

the ink levels on my ecotank et-2850 always show empty even right after i refilled the tanks, what gives?

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS The ink level indicators on these are notoriously slow and sometimes just plain stubborn. They're not measuring the physical tanks; they're estimating based on page counts and a software reset that sometimes doesn't trigger. FIX You need to manually reset the ink levels. On the printer's control panel, press the home button, navigate to Settings, then select 'Reset Ink Levels'. Confirm the reset for the colors showing empty. The printer will beep and the status should update to full within a minute. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK If the reset option is grayed out or doesn't stick, the printer might need a deeper reset. Unplug it from power for a full 2-3 minutes. While it's off, press and hold the power button for 30 seconds (to drain any residual charge). Then plug it back in and turn it on normally. HEADS UP Ignoring the low ink warning is fine for printing. The printer will keep working until the physical tanks are actually dry. Just keep an eye on the actual ink in the bottles, not the screen.

Question 8

my brand new epson et-2850 is set up but the screen just says 'paper jam' and there's no paper stuck anywhere.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS Yeah, this one's common. The printer's paper jam detection is super sensitive, especially right out of the box. A tiny piece of packing tape, a torn paper edge, or even a sensor flag that didn't pop back up can trigger it. FIX First, unplug the printer. Open the rear cover and the scanner unit all the way. Get a flashlight and look at the entire paper path from the tray to the output slot. Check for any plastic shipping tape you might have missed. Gently move any white plastic levers or rollers you see to make sure they're not stuck. Close everything up, plug it back in, and the message should clear. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK The jam detection can also be triggered by a faulty sensor. Try performing a reset. With the printer on, hold the stop button (the red circle with an X) for about 10 seconds until it beeps and restarts. This can clear a false error. HEADS UP Don't force anything when you're looking around. The paper feed mechanism is driven by plastic gears that can strip if you muscle a roller that's fighting the motor.

Epson EcoTank ET-2850 All-in-One Printer

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