How to Fix Both Lights Flashing Error on Epson L120?

Epson is a Japanese based electronics company. It is one of the largest printer, imaging equipment and information equipment manufacturing company in the world. The company is mainly famous for printers and sells a wide variety of products in a lot of countries. In this article, we will be discussing the printer error in which both the “Power” and the “Error” Light flash continuously.

Both Lights Flashing on Epson L120

What Causes Both Lights to Flash on Epson L120?

After receiving numerous reports from multiple users, we decided to investigate the issue and devised a set of solutions to fix it completely. Also, we looked into the reasons due to which this issue might be triggered and listed them as follows.

  • Jammed Paper: In certain cases, some paper might be jammed inside the printer due to which the printing process is being derailed. This prevents the printer from printing properly and might also trigger the continuous flashing of the error and the power light.
  • Stuck Printer Head: In some cases, the printer head might be facing resistance while moving across the rails. There is a chance that some foreign object or a piece of plastic broken from the printer might be blocking the head’s path. The error is also triggered if the printer head can’t move across the rails.
  • Paper Pulling Sensor: In certain cases, the paper pulling sensor might be separated from the stand due to which the paper isn’t being pulled inside for printing and the error is being triggered.
  • Encoder Sensor Issue: It is possible that one or perhaps both of the Encoder Sensors have been either entirely or partially damaged. In some cases, the sensors might be dirty due to which the error is being triggered.

Now that you have a basic understanding of the nature of the problem, we will move on towards the solutions. Make sure to implement these in the specific order in which they are presented.

Solution 1: PowerCycling Printer

In some cases, the printing process might be derailed due to a glitch with the printer. Therefore, in this step, we will be power cycling the printer. For that:

  1. Disconnect the printer’s power adapter from the power socket.
    Disconnecting Power cord
  2. Press and hold the “Power” button for at least 30 seconds.
  3. Plug the power back in and press the power button.
  4. Try to print something and check to see if the issue persists.

Note: All Further Solutions will Require you to physically remove the printer’s lid. This may void your warranty or you might end up damaging your printer permanently. Be Cautious with the steps ahead.

Removing the Printer’s Lid:

  1. There are 6 screws holding together the casing of the printer.
  2. Some of the screws might be under the “warranty” stickers.
  3. Remove all the screws, remove the ink cartridges and remove the casing by applying force at the joints.
    Removed Casing From Epson L120

Solution 2: Removing Jammed Paper

In some cases, there may be some paper jams in the printer due to which the printing process is being derailed and the error is being triggered. Therefore, once you have opened up the printer, check for and remove any paper jams inside the printer. Check to see if the issue persists after removing the paper jam.

Removing the paper jam from the printer

Solution 3: Checking for Resistance

There may be some foreign object or a piece of plastic broken from the printer that is stuck inside it. Therefore, make sure that there isn’t any object that is preventing the printer from functioning properly. If you find any loose object that isn’t connected to the printer in any way, remove it from the printer and check to see if it fixes the issue.

Solution 4: Cleaning Encoder Sensors

There are two encoder sensors in the printer. One is the tape encoder sensor on the rail along which the printer head moves and the other one is a round encoder sensor on the right side of the printer. Make sure to clean both of these with a tissue and some water. Make sure that no residue of water remains before going ahead. After the sensors have been cleaned, check to see if the issue persists.

Cleaning Encoder Strip Epson L120

Solution 5: Checking Paper Pulling Sensor

In certain cases, the paper pulling sensor can get separated from the stand. Make sure that the paper pulling sensor is properly attached to the stand and is capable of pulling the paper. After adjusting the sensor, check to see if the issue persists.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kevin Arrows


Kevin Arrows is a highly experienced and knowledgeable technology specialist with over a decade of industry experience. He holds a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification and has a deep passion for staying up-to-date on the latest tech developments. Kevin has written extensively on a wide range of tech-related topics, showcasing his expertise and knowledge in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. His contributions to the tech field have been widely recognized and respected by his peers, and he is highly regarded for his ability to explain complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.