Three orange lights blinking, cartridge holder thing slamming against the inside

[Jdneksnsj]

This first happened a while ago and I was planning to take my printer to a repairer so I don't remember exactly how it began but when I turn my DeskJet printer on, the lights of the following,

• The button with a paper with an arrow pointing downwards on it,

• The color ink indicator, and

• The black ink indicator

starts blinking. The cartridge holder piece moves around like it usually did, but a bit more aggressively. It kind of slams onto the left side as well. When I open the cartridge access door when the printer is turned on, unlike how it would stop on the center, the cartridge "holder" does not even move. When I press the page down button, the cartridge holder thing slams on both the left and right and stops at the right side. It remains on the right side when closed and opened again. It looks like it gets stuck on the right side and then all lights begin to blink; that's what it sounds like. 

Please help. It's been about 8 months since it started. Taking it to get repaired will cost so much. I hope somebody could help me out! Thank you!

[Raj_05]

Hi @Jdneksnsj,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

It sounds like your HP DeskJet printer is experiencing a mechanical issue with the carriage, which is the part that holds the ink cartridges and moves left to right during printing. The slamming and blinking lights suggest that something is obstructing the carriage's movement or the printer is not able to detect the cartridges correctly.
 

Here are a few steps you can take to try and resolve the issue.

Check for Obstructions:

• Turn off the printer and unplug it from the power source.
• Open the cartridge access door and carefully check for any paper jams, debris, or foreign objects inside the printer, especially near the carriage.
• Use a flashlight if necessary to inspect all areas. Remove any obstructions you find.

Manually Move the Cartridge Holder:

• With the printer still off and unplugged, gently move the cartridge holder (carriage) manually from one side to the other to see if it is stuck or facing resistance. Be careful not to force it.
• If it moves smoothly, close the access door and try turning the printer back on to see if the issue persists.

Clean the Carriage Rod:

• Dust or ink buildup on the metal rod that the carriage moves along can cause this issue. With the printer unplugged, use a lint-free cloth lightly moistened with water to clean the rod.
• Ensure that the rod is dry before turning the printer back on.

Check Cartridge Installation:

• Make sure the ink cartridges are properly installed and seated in their slots. Sometimes, a cartridge can be loose or misaligned, causing the carriage to act erratically.
• Remove the cartridges and reinsert them securely, ensuring the protective tape (if new) is removed from the cartridge heads.

Reset the Printer:

• Unplug the printer from the wall outlet and wait for at least 60 seconds.
• Plug the printer back in and turn it on. This can sometimes reset the internal mechanisms and clear temporary errors.

Firmware/Software Update:

• If the printer turns on without slamming after these steps, check if there are any firmware updates available for your printer model. You can do this via the HP Smart app or HP's website.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support