The Maintenance Box is at the end of its service life. What should I do?

Applies To

Description

The maintenance box stores surplus ink flushed from the system during printing and print head cleaning. To prevent ink leaking once it's full, the printer stops printing when the maintenance box reaches its absorbing capacity and shows a message telling you to replace it. Needing to replace it is normal and doesn't mean anything is wrong with the printer; it isn't covered by the Epson warranty, as it's a user-serviceable part.

Important: Because the exact access method varies by model, follow the steps in your printer's own User's Guide rather than a generic walkthrough — this guarantees you're looking at the correct diagrams and steps for your exact unit. See "Finding Your Model-Specific Instructions" below.

Symptoms

  • The printer shows a message that the maintenance box is full, nearing, or at the end of its service life
  • The printer may stop printing or performing print head cleaning operations, although scanning and other non-print functions may remain available.
  • The printer displays a message referring specifically to the borderless ink pad.

Solution

Check which message you have

This matters, because only one of these is something you can fix yourself:

  • "Maintenance Box" named specifically — user-replaceable. Follow the steps below.
  • "Borderless ink pad" message — this part is not user-replaceable. Contact Epson support. You can still print with a border in the meantime.
  • "Parts inside the printer" (no specific part named) — this is a different, older-style message covered in a separate article: KA-01491: Error Message "Parts Inside the Printer Have Reached the End of Their Service Life". This applies to traditional cartridge printers, but also to some EcoTank models — mostly older ones — that were built with sealed internal waste ink pads rather than a removable Maintenance Box. It isn't user-serviceable either way — contact Epson.
Note: Maintenance box part codes vary by printer model. Check your printer's screen, its User's Guide, or Epson's ink and parts finder tools to confirm the correct code for your model before ordering.

General Process

While the exact access steps vary by model, every model follows this same overall sequence. Make sure you have a new, genuine Epson maintenance box for your model before you begin, and make sure the printer isn't printing.

  1. Remove the new maintenance box from its packaging.
    Caution: Don't touch the green chip on the side of the maintenance box — doing so may prevent normal operation and printing.
  2. Access the maintenance box (method varies by model — see "Finding Your Model-Specific Instructions" below).
  3. Remove the old maintenance box.
    Note: Don't tilt the used maintenance box until it's sealed in a plastic bag, and don't take it apart — ink may leak.
  4. Place the used maintenance box in the plastic bag supplied with the new one, seal it, and dispose of it responsibly according to your local requirements.
  5. Insert the new maintenance box fully into the printer, making sure it's the correct way round.
  6. Close any cover you opened, and confirm on the control panel that the printer recognises the new box.
Caution: If ink gets on your skin, wash it thoroughly with soap and water. If it gets in your eyes, flush them immediately with water and see a doctor if discomfort or vision problems persist. If it gets in your mouth, spit it out and see a doctor right away. Keep the maintenance box out of the reach of children, and don't drink the ink.

Handling and storage precautions

  • Do not drop the maintenance box or subject it to strong shocks.
  • Do not replace the maintenance box during printing — ink may leak.
  • Do not remove the maintenance box or open its cover except when replacing it — ink may leak.
  • Do not reuse a maintenance box that has been removed and left detached for a long period — the ink inside will have solidified and can no longer be absorbed.
  • Do not store the maintenance box in high or freezing temperatures, or in direct sunlight.
  • Do not touch the openings in the maintenance box — you may get smeared with ink.
  • Once a maintenance box has been installed in a printer, it cannot be used in a different printer.
  • If your maintenance box is near the end of its service life, you may need to replace it mid-print. Replacing it during printing — especially on glossy paper — can cause uneven colours depending on how the ink dries. For best results, replace the box before printing whenever possible.

Finding Your Model-Specific Instructions

For the exact steps, diagrams, and access method for your specific printer:

  1. Visit the Epson Support page.
  2. Enter your printer's model name or serial number.
  3. Open your product's online User's Guide and look for the "Replacing the Maintenance Box" or "Maintenance Box" section.
Note: If the maintenance box isn't recognised after replacement, try reinstalling it. If it's still not recognised, contact Epson support.