Won't pick up paper from tray 2

[Diana_Agate]

Here's the problem with our LaserJet 3015dn, which just started happening out of the blue:

Printer sounds like it is trying to pick up from tray 2, doesn't pick up, gives me a jam message, but there is no jam anywhere in the printer.  It sounds like a mechanical problem, like something is not catching the paper the right way.

I've tried:

Unloading/reloading tray (to various depths of paper)

Resetting paper guides

Turn off/on again

Pulling tray 2 out and feeling around in the printer for anything loose/broken.  Hard to tell, since I don't know what things are supposed to feel like in there, but nothing felt obviously wonky.

Cursing at it (no results)

Speaking gently and encouragingly to it (ditto)

Prints fine from tray 1 (manual tray).

Suggestions?

Thanks

[SHThompson]

Your first effort should be to clean the pickup roller for tray 2.

The easiest way might be to remove tray two, reach in and push up the lever that detects paper in the tray, use the control panel to start a test page printing which will cause the roller to rotate.

As the roller rotates be ready with a damp paper towel so that you can hold the paper towel to the roller and wipe off the accumulated dust.

As you're doing this you can also determine if there's a mechanical problem since you will be able to tell if the roller is actually rotating.

You can also check to see if the roller is working properly by lifting the flap at the back of the printer and looking in through the back side of the tray to see what's actually happening.

There is also a way to remove the roller and rotate the rubber tire on it slightly so the worn part of the roller is moved to the flat back side that never touches the paper.

Before attempting to remove that roller assembly see if you can find a video demonstration, it is a rather interesting arrangement and some people have removed the roller and then realized they don't know how to reinstall it.

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[Diana_Agate]

Thanks.  I tried this, but pushing up the lever (assuming I had the right one) didn't convince the printer that I there was paper in there.  I rotated the rubber roller manually and cleaned with a damp cloth.  No luck.  It seems as though there might be something wrong with the paper sensors.  Sound possible?  And if so, what is to be done?

[SHThompson]

Try watching the printer from the back side through the tray with a flashlight and see if you see the roller turning and what is happening.