So sad I didn't decided read this blog before attempting to fix an Epson XP 241 clogged printhead.
Like many I first try and fail, then go read the manual.
But I'll like to share my experience and maybe give someone else a shortcut. Or at least laugh with the novel.
I've got and used printer from my brother in law, SW diagnosis says 4192 prints.
Tip 1) Only remove the cartridge just before putting a new one. Despite the manual one-line hidden warning. He took the ink cartridges out and stored the printer without them. The ink dried on the printhead inlets.
I bough new, original cartridges. Installed them, and nothing came out. Then proceeded to the self-cleaning printer process, three times, no results.
Then the printer ink measurement was showing 50% levels - from brand new cartridges!
Tip 2) If you have an inkjet, simply assume you've been fooled by the manufacturer and stop counting coins. Life will be easier.
Then I watched a video from an "expert" unclogging the printhead with a syringe filled with "magic fluid" he was selling at the end. Bad, bad mistake. Using isopropyl alcohol with a syringe and forcing the flow did made the magenta and cyan work, made me proud and confident to try harder on the black and yellow. Read on.
Tip 3) Don't try fast methods like putting pressure on the inlets. Wait for the ink to melt. Though unclogging by pressure seems logic at first, read the rest of the thread - it may destroy the the ink chambers insulation. Mixing colors and even making it spread over circuits nearby.
Well, a jet with black ink came out from under the printhead, staining the paper towel I've placed under it. I'ts unclogged, I assumed. Right, the printhead has micrometric holes in it and a jet came out.
Placing the cartridges back again and making a test print showed that the yellow was working, partially, but cyan and magenta were mixing. And some lines were no longer printing on these colors (they were after the first forced unclogging). Roughly half of the lines on the three colors were ok. No black at all.
I was mad at this point, clueless, and randomly decided to start again the self-cleaning process in the printer. Low-Ink light started to blink. I made a test print and some black stains came out.
AT THE WRONG SIDE of the paper!!! Yes, during the self-cleaning the once grey cushion that goes under the paper path became black as the printhead moved.
Then the printer started to blink all the lights. Oh boy.
Using the "WIC Reset Utility" showed a ton of errors, blown fuses, scanner position error...
I decided to search for "fix epson printhead" and went into a video showing how to remove it and dissolve the ink by placing it in hot water. Doesn't sound right, water, but ok.
Upon disassembling (it was pretty easy, made to easy replacement) I noticed that the black ink leaked trough the printhead flat cable connector. And a closer look showed that the green pcb in it was flooded with ink - RIP.
The ink+electricity eroded one of the wire tips on the flat connector. Maybe it was leaking a long time before.
Tip 4) Someone posted "disassemble the printer, sell the parts on ebay, get some money back, keep the motors for future projects"
Sounds good, but I already have a few stepper motors from other printers that passed trough my bench when I was a student. I did made a robotic arm using three of the big ones to make 360 panoramic images using a cell phone. It was fun, but I'll never find the time again and the motors and other parts keep piling up.
So just sell the parts.
5) Last tip - if I get a new old printer I'll disassemble the printhead and let it dissolving the ink slowly, then proceed to the self-cleaning, no brute force.