QTR-Quadtone RIP

Hi -  The Epson R-1800 paper button and ink button blink red 
alternately.  The green light on the on/off button does not come on.  
The printer stopped working.  I get a message from the epson print 
program (Status Monitor 3) that says, "Parts inside your printer are 
at the end of their service life."  It is less than a year and a half 
old.  I am using K7 inks in a Niagra CIS system.  These inks plug up 
way more than Epson inks do, so you end up doing a lot more head 
cleaning.  I was once told that the printer has some kind of a 
counter, and after so many head cleans the printer assumes you have a 
full ink waste pad and shuts down.

Is anyone familiar with this?  And if there is truth to this, is 
there a formula or code that will fix the problem?  I have been 
cleaning the ink waste pad regularly.  Since I use the machine 
regularly, I would prefer not sending the machine away.  Time and 
money, you know!

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated....

Thanks - Michael G

P.S.  I live in Florida, we are calling the next hurricane Epson...