Printer message suggesting paper stuck but nothing there

[LorraineP1]

Keep getting a message that carriage has stalled. Clear paper, but there isn’t any there, or re-insert cartridges but I’ve done that too.

[RLeBon]

HP "CARRIAGE IS STALLED" ERROR FIX

this guide assumes that your printer was previously working fine, that there are no paper jams (double-check for them), that there is nothing obstructing the carriage path, that this error came out of nothing and that it has no defective parts (has good printheads, good dented belt, no broken wires or flat cables, all wire harnesses are properly connected, etc)
I've seen printers with swapped wires (important!) and other horrors straight from the repair shop
an alleged "technician" once said "your printer has reached the end of its service life", after failed attempts to repair it, which is non-sense (it's a machine, it WILL work, one way or another)
do not even think of replacing the main module (aka mother-board), as it rarely fails, unless your printer was hit by a thunderbolt

with that out of the way, let's get started

with the printer turned OFF, disassemble it and try the following steps, one at a time (try the next step only if the previous one fails), perform a step and test the printer:
- clean the horizontal encoder strip with a tissue paper and water (do not use alcohol)
- remove and clean the rotary encoder disc on the left, using the method above; also clean the optical sensors for the encoder disc (without water); reinstall the disc
- manually clean the printheads with a dry tissue paper
- lubricate the crossbeam (that shiny rod bar where the carriage rolls around - kind of a rail) with gun oil (a thin oil, do not use car oil), and slide the carriage left and right, it must move freely (if you need to apply too much force to slide it, then there is something wrong -> remove and service the carriage)
- with the printer turned ON, unplug the power cable and let it rest for 24 hours, then plug it back
- with the printer turned OFF, remove and clean the service station
- remove and service the carriage
- replace the carriage flat cable

disassembly instructions are in another guide (I have instructions for the K8600 - please ask for it)

hope that helps

[Sneha_01]

Hi @LorraineP1,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

If you're dealing with a "Carriage is Stalled" error on your HP printer and have ruled out basic issues like paper jams and obstructions, the steps you've outlined are quite thorough. Here's a recap of your guide with a bit of added detail to ensure clarity and effectiveness:

Clean the Horizontal Encoder Strip:

• Turn off the printer.
• Locate the horizontal encoder strip (a thin, transparent strip running behind the carriage).
• Use a soft tissue paper and a small amount of water to gently clean the strip. Avoid using alcohol as it can damage the strip.

Clean the Rotary Encoder Disc and Optical Sensors:

• Turn off the printer.
• Remove the rotary encoder disc (found on the left side of the carriage).
• Clean the disc with a soft tissue paper and water.
• Gently clean the optical sensors (without water) to remove any dust or debris.
• Reinstall the encoder disc.

Clean the Printheads:

• Turn off the printer.
• Remove the printheads.
• Use a dry tissue paper to gently clean the printheads. Be careful not to damage the delicate parts.

Lubricate the Crossbeam:

• Turn off the printer.
• Locate the crossbeam (the shiny rod where the carriage moves).
• Apply a small amount of gun oil (thin oil) to the crossbeam.
• Manually slide the carriage left and right to ensure it moves smoothly. If it feels sticky or requires excessive force, there might be a mechanical issue.

Power Reset:

• Turn on the printer.
• Unplug the power cable while the printer is on.
• Let the printer rest for 24 hours.
• Plug the power cable back in and turn the printer on.

Clean the Service Station:

• Turn off the printer.
• Disassemble the printer to access the service station (where the printheads rest when not in use).
• Clean any ink or debris from the service station components.

Service the Carriage:

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support