PRINTER KEEPS BLINKING WITH "E" AND INK ICONS FLASHING

[VAGABOND2]

Printer is an HP 4480 Deskjet.  I turned it on the other day, and it would not print.  The error light was blinking and showed an "E" and the icon for ink levels flashes.  Even though there is still ink in the black ink cartridge. The color ink cartridge hasn't had ink in years, but had been printing fine in black ink only. Now, not even a TEST PAGE will print.  I've tried EVERYTHING... cleaning the contacts on ink cartridges, doing the "off/on" reset thing for 10+ seconds,  opening the back to see if there' a paper jam, the entire troubleshooting thing. And each time it resets,  I still get the blinking light.  
I did notice that sometimes when I turn it back on, it goes through its normal power up and sometimes there are clicking sounds like it's trying to clean.   

[VAGABOND2]

Also,  after trying all  the suggested troubleshooting steps, I put a non-OEM black ink cartridge in it just in case low ink was the issue. But unfortunately it wasn't.  The blinking continued and won't print.

[VAGABOND2]

ANYBODY?  😞

[Raj1788]

@VAGABOND2

Thank you for joining the HP Community

I suggest you do a Hard Reset on the printer

(1) Turn the printer on, if it is not already on.

(2) Wait until the printer is idle and silent before you continue.

(3) With the printer turned on, disconnect the power cord from the rear of the printer.

(4) Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.

(5) Wait at least 60 seconds.

(6) Plug the power cord back into the wall outlet.

NOTE: HP recommends connecting the printer power cord directly to the wall outlet.

(7) Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the printer.

(8) Turn on the printer, if it does not automatically turn on.

The printer might go through a warm-up period. The printer lights might flash, and the carriage might move.

Wait until the warm-up period finishes and your printer is idle and silent before you proceed.

Then, click on this link: https://support.hp.com/ph-en/product/hp-deskjet-f4400-all-in-one-printer-series/3742084/model/374208... and follow solution under Issue: One or both Estimated Ink Level lights blink, the Attention light blinks, and an 'E' displays

Keep me posted, how it goes!

If the information I've provided was helpful, give us some reinforcement by clicking the Accepted Solution and Kudos buttons, that'll help us and others see that we've got the answers!

Have a great day!

Cheers:)

[VAGABOND2]

The "cause" is determined as
"One or both of the cartridges are missing, defective, or have tape on them, or there is a carriage jam."

The "E" is displayed, orange light blinks, and arrow is pointing to the color ink side.  It is EMPTY and HAS been for years. It had up to now been printing fine with just black ink and an empty color cartridge.  So could that suddenly be an issue now? The color ink side is almost impossible to click into place, could that be the issue... maybe a bad spring?

[sandytechy20]

@VAGABOND2

Welcome to HP support community.

This seems to be hardware issue.

I request you to talk to HP support.

They might have multiple options to help you with this.

1. Click on this link - https://support.hp.com/us-en/contact-hp?openCLC=true
2. Select the country.
3. Enter the serial of your device.
4. Select the country from the drop-down.
5. Click on "Show Options".
6. Fill the web-form. A case number and phone number will now populate for you.

I hope that helps.

To thank me for my efforts to help you, please mark my post as an accepted solution so that it benefits several others.

Cheers.

[VAGABOND2 · Accepted solution]

Thanks anyhow, but I fixed it.  I just pulled the color cartridge out and somehow that worked.  Had to try it twice for it to work though.

[sandytechy20]

@VAGABOND2

Good to know that issue is resolved.

Feel free to contact us in the future if you need any assistance.

Cheers.