Carriage keeps getting stuck on HP OfficeJet Pro 6970

[kjellinux]

I have an HP OfficeJet Pro 6970.  The carriage keeps getting stuck and the display keeps ending up witt error code Ox61000004a. 

I have tried all the suggestions I could find here, including tapping the back button five times to get to a support menu and doing a semi-full reset, but nothing solved the problem.

After that I took the pronter appart using the instructions in this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao-_iasByZ8.

Having taken the printer apart, I found out that a small carriage with two rectangular funnels came in from behind and locked the print cartridge carriage. Rotating the gears next to the circuit board on the left side by hand, I managed to move the small carriage with the funnels back to free the print cartridge carriage.

I put the printer back together again and now the carriage moved from left to right a couple of times and then it got stuck again.

Before it got stuck it indicated that that there was paper stuck in the sheet feeder, that there was paper stuck in the paper tray or in the paper path or that it couldnt read the adjustment page. Regardless of the message/es it ended up with the carriage getting stuck egain and the error code Ox61000004a. 

I have now learned that I can reach the gears to free the carriage without taking the printer apart, but to no avail, since it still will not print.

So, can something be done to fix the printer? Can I reach the support menue somehow to  try to reste it again? Where are the sensors for paper jam located? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @kjellinux,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

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

Thanks for the detailed description. From everything you’ve observed on your OfficeJet Pro 6970 (carriage stalls, intermittent paper‑jam messages, alignment page not read, error 0x61000004a), the printer is almost certainly getting blocked by the service station/purge unit (the “small carriage with two rectangular funnels” you saw) or the carriage position sensing is off due to contamination on the encoder strip. Both issues can lead straight to 0x61000004a after a jam.

Below is the recommended recovery path, plus a couple of service tips that specifically address the purge unit and encoder strip. I’ll also show you how to reach the Support Menu for a deep reset when the normal UI won’t cooperate.

1) First, clear the error the HP way (quick triage)

These steps are what HP Support prescribes for 0x61000004a after a jam:

1. Check & close the cartridge access door; remove the paper path cover and any torn labels/paper so the door can seat fully.
2. Power-cycle in the sequence HP recommends to clear the fault: 
   • With the printer ON, open the access door, then turn OFF.
   • Turn ON and wait for the carriage to move; while ON, unplug power, and remove the cartridges.
   • Turn ON (door open) and let the startup complete; when the carriage returns to center and the error clears, reinstall cartridges.
   • Repeat up to three times if needed.
3. If it still errors, HP’s guidance is to service the printer (repair or replace). We’ll try to avoid that by addressing the root mechanics below.

Official how‑to video (HP Support): How to fix a '0x6100004a' error message | HP Officejet All-in-One printers | HP Support

2) Freeing the service station/purge unit (those “two funnels”)

What you described was a small carriage with two rectangular funnels sliding up from behind and locking the printhead carriage. The purge/wiper assembly was lifting at the wrong time and mechanically interlocking the carriage. This is a known failure mode after a jam or a cracked/offset gear. The fix is to re‑sync the platform and carriage:

• Power OFF & unplug.
• Gently slide the printhead carriage to the right (toward the service station).
• With a finger on the left-side gear train (the set of exposed gears you reached before), roll the gear set to lower the purge platform until the “funnels” retract enough that the carriage moves freely.
• Move the carriage to the middle and ensure no hard contact occurs as you roll the gears back and forth; this re‑synchronizes the timing.
• Close up, reconnect power, and boot.

Visual reference showing the purge unit locking the carriage and how to roll the gears to lower it: HP OfficeJet Pro Printers - 'Carriage Jam' error | HP® Support

If the jam returns instantly after power‑on, the PF/PFG gear may be worn/cracked (less common but documented in repairs). In that case, professional service is the safe path.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have an amazing day!
 

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!

Regards,

VikramTheGreat

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @kjellinux,

I hope this helps.

Take care and have an amazing day!
 

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!

Regards,

VikramTheGreat

[kjellinux]

So, I left the 6970 alone for a few days to do other things.

I have now tried the suggestions posted by VikramTheGreat. During the first part, the "quick triage", I freed the carriage manually before each cycle. The carriage then moved two full cycles left-right-left and then got stuck again.

Step two gave the same result. At no time was I able to access the maintenance menue.

Before I started, I cleaned off the encoder strip with topz and alcohol.

I would be very interested in "how to reach the Support Menu for a deep reset when the normal UI won't cooperate".