Print head stuck

[Suzysues]

the cartridge on my HP smart tank 550 not stopping in the middle so that i can replace it. There is no error message, but it’s not printing clearly, so after doing all checks, it said I needed a new print head cartridge. That is when I found its not stopping in the middle. 

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Suzysues,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

I understand that your HP Smart Tank 550 is not moving the printhead carriage to the center, so you cannot access the printheads for replacement.

Please perform the following tasks in the order given, testing the printer after each task to see if the issue is resolved.

1. Check for obstructions in the carriage path.

If the Cancel button on the control panel is lit, press it and wait until the printer is silent.

Turn off the printer and disconnect the power cord.

Open the cartridge access door to access the carriage.

Make sure the carriage is not obstructed by gently sliding it from side to side.

Look for and remove any obstructions in the carriage path, such as crumpled paper or dislodged labels.

Do not tilt an ink tank printer, as ink may spill.

If the carriage has a latch, gently check that it is locked into place.

If the latch on an ink tank printer is already secured, do not press down on it.

If the carriage is not locked, move it to each side and remove any obstruction blocking its path.

Do not force the carriage if it is locked or stuck, as this can damage the printer.

Close the printer door.

Reconnect the power cord and turn on the printer.

2. Reset the printer.

If your printer has a rechargeable battery, remove it.

Press the power button to turn off the printer. If it does not turn off, disconnect the power cord from the printer.

Unplug the power cord from the power source.

Wait 60 seconds.

Connect the power cord directly to a wall outlet and to the printer.

Turn on the printer and test it again.

If the carriage remains stuck or the Carriage Jam/E3 error returns after these steps, please let us know exactly what happens when the printer starts up.

Best regards,
Kuroi_Kenshi