Epson P700 Channel Failure

1) I ran a nozzle check, which indicated that the LG head needed cleaning. (Only one or two gaps.)
Note: The VLM and VM blocks were fine.

2) Ran a cleaning.

3) Ran a nozzle check. The VLM block was blank.

4) Ran a cleaning again.

5) Ran a nozzle check. Now both the VLM and VM blocks were blank.

6) Ran a cleaning.

7) Ran a nozzle check. Now both the VM and VLM blocks show faint traces of color.

8) Repeated nozzle checks and cleaning several more times, with the same result: VM and VLM blocks
showing faint traces (small randomly spaced lines) of color, all other blocks O.K. with no gaps.

My conclusions:

1) Very unlikely that both the VM and VLM heads would suddenly become so clogged that a number of
cleanings would not clear them.

2) Something common to both the VM and VLM channels has failed. (Pressurization?)

3) The printer needs repair or replacement.

Neither is a happy choice.
The place in Albuquerque (nearest to Santa Fe) no longer has a Web site, and the next nearest is in
Denver.
Replacement means $$$.

Does anyone have suggestions that might fix the problems w.o. repair or replacement?

Thank you very much.

Note: All cleanings listed were regular cleanings, not power.
The ink levels are too low to perform a power cleaning.
And given that the feed to those two heads seems to have failed, and that head clogs don't seem to be
the problem, not clear what a power cleaning would accomplish.

P.S. I installed new VM and VLM cartridges before running the later nozzle checks and cleanings.

It may have simply run out of ink for those colors, especially given that you state the ink levels are low. The ink level is only an estimate based on usage since the cartridge was last replaced, there is nothing that measures the actual ink level in each cartridge.

My bad! I should have made it clear that I had installed new full cartridges for VM and VLM before running the later series of nozzle checks.

Assuming the ink isn't way out of date and a tad thick, or the print heads have had many months without use to get über clogged, then I'm afraid you're right and there's a serious mechanical issue. My own painful experience is that the hourly rate of the people who fix these things is often too crucifyingly painful to make major repairs viable.

Bummer. I'm guessing yes, but will go ahead and ask, are you out of your warranty period?

jpegman suggested on DPR (as of today 4/19 it's still live!) that it might be that somehow air got into the two lines.

Not sure how that could have happened, but am following up ... .

Out of original warranty, but purchased an extended one.

Here's the solution:

After installing new cartridges, the printer ran 'Recognizing' for a long time - at least 10 minutes.

Then a nozzle check showed good boxes for all channels, including the VM and VLM ones.

My guest is that that the printer ran something akin to a head charge, that forced ink into the VM and VLM channels.