Hp Officejet pro 9018 black screen after fixing gear

[krisdr]

I had to replace the gear on the carriage of my printer. I put it back together and when I turned on the printer, The carriage is unstuck but my screen is blank. Anyone have any ideas on what I did and how I can fix it? Thank you.

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @krisdr,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

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

Since you recently replaced the carriage gear on your HP OfficeJet Pro 9018 and now the printer powers on but shows a black screen, here’s what might be happening and how to fix it:

Possible Causes of the Black Screen After Gear Repair

1. Display Cable Not Reconnected Properly
   During reassembly, the ribbon cable connecting the screen to the mainboard may have come loose or not been seated correctly.
    
2. Firmware Boot Failure
   If the printer detects a mechanical fault (e.g., misaligned carriage or sensor), it may fail to complete the boot process, resulting in a black screen.
    
3. Internal Short or Power Fault
   If a component was pinched or misaligned during reassembly, it could cause a power issue affecting the display.

Steps to Troubleshoot and Fix

1. Power Reset

• Unplug the printer from power.
• Wait 60 seconds.
• Plug it back in directly to a wall outlet (not a surge protector).
• Press the power button and listen for any startup sounds (carriage movement, fan, etc.).

2. Check for Display Backlight

• Shine a flashlight at an angle on the screen.
• If you see faint text or icons, the backlight may be disconnected.

3. Disassemble and Recheck Connections

If you're comfortable opening the printer again:

• Carefully open the top panel.
• Locate the ribbon cable connecting the display to the motherboard.
• Reseat the cable securely and ensure no pins are bent.
• Check for any loose wires or pinched cables near the carriage area.

⚠️ Be sure to unplug the printer before doing this to avoid electrical damage.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have an amazing day!
 

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Regards,

VikramTheGreat