DMP 207  (260-2917)          Troubleshooting           Faxback Doc. # 6689

This section discusses some of the difficulties users sometimes encounter.
All of the possible user actions are listed.  If these suggestions do not
solve the problem, contact your local Radio Shack store.  Do not try to
repair the printer yourself.

POWER

Problem:  Printer is turned on but the POWER light on the control panel
          remains off.

       *  Check the power cord.  Is it firmly connected to the wall
          outlet?

PAPER FEEDING

Problem:  Continuous-feed paper jams.

       *  Are the tractor feeders locked?

       *  Is the tractor lever set to the rear (engaged) position?

       *  Is the paper thickness lever correctly set for the type of paper
          you are using?  (Multi-part forms require a different setting
          from single sheets.

       *  Is the top cover installed and closed properly?

       *  Is the unprinted paper stack straight?

       *  Does the exiting paper have a clear path which does not
          interfere with the incoming paper?

Problem:  Paper does not feed.

       *  Is your continuous paper set in the tractor feeders correctly?

       *  Remember that the tractor lever must be set in the forward
          position for single sheets and in the rear position for
          continuous-feed paper.

Problem:  Paper parking does not operate or paper doesn't advance to the
          tear-off position.

       *  The tractor lever must be set for continuous paper (rear
          position) to park the paper.  Change it to the forward position
          only after the continuous paper is parked.

       *  The printer must be off line to park the paper.  Check the
          control panel to see if its is off line.

Problem:  Tear-off position is not at the perforation.

       *  Check the length of your paper against the setting in your
          software.  They must match.

       *  Perhaps you turned the paper feed knob manually, which should
          not be done.

Problem:  Paper does not feed from the automatic sheet feeder.

       *  Be sure the tractor lever is in the forward (disengaged)
          position.

       *  Have you left the automatic feeder levers forward in the "paper
          release" position?  Set it back to the "paper pressing"
          position.

Problem:  Paper does not feed from the manual sheet feeder.

       *  Be sure the tractor lever is in the forward (disengaged)
          position.

PRINTING OPERATION

Problem:  Printhead does not move.

       *  Open the top cover and try turning the ribbon knob.  If it is
          jammed, replace the ribbon cassette with a new one.

       *  Check the carriage shaft (the rod on which the printhead moves)
          for dirt.  Slide the printhead from side to side to see if it
          glides smoothly.  If not, the carriage shaft and the carriage
          may need lubrication; contact your local Radio Shack store for
          this type of maintenance.

SETUP MENU

Problem:  The new setting does not fill in when selected.

       *  Be sure to move the automatic feeder lever forward after
          entering the Setup menu.

PRINTING RESULTS

Problem:  Printer does not print at all.

       *  Is the ribbon cassette properly installed so that the ribbon
          feeds between the printhead and the ribbon mask (not between the
          ribbon mask and the black ribbon guide against the platen?

Problem:  Printing is faint.

       *  Check the paper thickness lever for correct location.  If you
          are not printing on multi-part copies, envelopes, or other thick
          paper, the lever should be at the standard position pointer.

       *  You may need a new ribbon.  

       *  Remove the ribbon cassette and try turning the ribbon knob.  If
          it is jammed, replace the ribbon cassette with a new one.

Problem:  Printing is faint on third copy.

       *  We recommend using the Sans Serif font because it is the most
          readable font.

       *  Adjust the paper thickness lever.

Problem:  Ink smudges on paper.

       *  Check that the ribbon is properly installed.

       *  Check the paper thickness lever for correct location.  It may
          be too close to the platen.  Adjust the lever 1 or 2 notches
          further from the platen when you are printing on thick paper to
          multi-part forms.

COLOR PRINTING

Problem:  Printer will not print in color.

       *  Is the color ribbon installed correctly?

       *  Check to be sure you are using a color driver in your software
          and that color has been selected.

Problem:  Colors mix.

       *  Is the color ribbon installed correctly?

       *  The ribbon may be at the wrong height.  it can be adjusted with
          the small lever on the color motor unit.

PRINTING CHARACTERISTICS

Problem:  Printer does not produce expected printing characteristics.

       *  Be sure that the printer selected in your software matches the
          printer you have selected with the Setup menu.

          If you have set the DMP 207 to emulate the Epson LQ-series
          printers, your software program should have the Epson LQ-570 
          (or similar) printer selected (LQ-860 or LQ-2500 for color).
          If you have set the DMP 207 to emulate an IBM printer, your
          software program should have the IBM Proprinter X24E selected.

Problem:  The font setting on the Setup menu is canceled when you print
          with your word processing software.

       *  Your word processing software may be sending a reset command to
          the printer that cancels this control panel setting.  Set FONT
          LOCK to on to protect font settings from software override.


(ALL-06/28/94)