printer cartridge is stuck on L side. I can manually move it but it goes back to the jammed position

[BarbaraB21]

I removed a paper jam. Now the ink cartridge is stuck on left side. I can move it to the right.When I press the OK button, it now makes a grinding noise and goes back to the print cartridge jam screen.

[Max3Aj]

@BarbaraB21, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 

It sounds like the carriage might still be obstructed or out of alignment after clearing the paper jam. Here’s what you can try to fix the issue:

Power Reset the Printer

>Turn off the printer and unplug it from the power source.

>Open the printer’s access door and gently move the carriage from left to right to check for any obstructions.

>Close the access door and plug the printer back in.

>Turn the printer on and check if the error persists.

Check for Remaining Paper or Debris

>Use a flashlight to look deep inside the printer for any small pieces of torn paper.

>Ensure there are no paper fragments stuck in the carriage path or near the rollers.

Manually Move the Carriage to Reset

>With the printer off and unplugged, gently move the ink carriage all the way to the right and then back to the center.

>If it resists, do not force it—check for obstructions.

>Close the printer, plug it in, and turn it on.

Check the Carriage Belt and Gears

>If you hear a grinding noise, the issue may be with the carriage belt or encoder strip (a thin transparent strip behind the carriage).

>Gently clean the encoder strip with a soft, lint-free cloth and isopropyl alcohol.

>Inspect the carriage belt (rubber belt that moves the carriage) to see if it’s loose or broken.

Perform a Hard Reset

>Turn off the printer and disconnect all cables, including power and USB.

>Wait for 2-3 minutes to allow the printer to reset.

>Reconnect only the power cable and turn on the printer.

>If prompted, press OK on the control panel.

Check for Sensor or Hardware Issues

>If the printer still reports a print cartridge jam, the sensor might be blocked or damaged.

>Try cleaning the carriage path and sensors with a soft, dry cloth.

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support