Carriage jam

[HenryFrancis]

message says "carriage jam". Cause of jam not detected.  Can move carriage to the right a good inch manually but not to the left. After a power down a power up results in message "printer not powered down properly". Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thank you. 

[Garp_senchau]

@HenryFrancis, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

Power Reset the Printer

• Turn off the printer.
• Unplug the power cable.
• Wait for 2-3 minutes.
• Plug the power cable back in and turn on the printer.

Check for Paper Jams

• Open the front and rear access doors.
• Look for any stuck paper, torn bits, or debris.
• Remove any found paper carefully without tearing it.

Inspect the Carriage Path

• Open the printer lid to access the carriage.
• Check if any obstructions are blocking the carriage.
• Remove any obstacles carefully.

Manually Move the Carriage

• Turn off the printer and unplug it.
• Gently move the carriage left and right to check for free movement.
• If stuck, check for any resistance-causing objects or broken parts.

Check the Carriage Belt and Gears

• Look inside for a loose or broken belt.
• Ensure there are no broken plastic parts or obstructions in the gear area.

Clean the Encoder Strip

• Locate the transparent plastic strip behind the carriage.
• Gently clean it with a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with water.

Reinstall the Ink Cartridges

• Remove all ink cartridges.
• Reinsert them properly and ensure they click into place.

Reset the Printer Again

• Perform another power reset by unplugging and waiting for 2-3 minutes.
• Reconnect and turn on the printer.

Check for Firmware Updates

• Go to the printer’s menu or HP Support website.
• Download and install any available updates.

I hope these steps help resolve the issue

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

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Regards,