The printer carriage cannot move open the carriage access door clear any paper jam or obstruction.

[tombertwill]

HP office jet Pro 6978, The print carriage cannot move, remove paper jam or obstruction... I have tried everything for two days, nothing works.  Please help.

[Sneha_01]

Hi @tombertwill 

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

It sounds like you're dealing with a frustrating issue where the print carriage on your HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 isn't moving, and you can't clear the paper jam or obstruction. I'll walk you through some additional troubleshooting steps that can help resolve this issue.

Steps to Try for Fixing the Print Carriage Movement Issue:

1. Turn Off the Printer and Disconnect It:

• Power off your printer using the power button.
• Unplug the power cord from the back of the printer and also from the wall socket. Wait for about 60 seconds to let any electrical charges dissipate.

2. Check for Paper Jam or Obstruction:

• Open the carriage access door (where the ink cartridges are located).
• Check the area carefully for any jammed paper or obstructions that might be blocking the carriage. Sometimes tiny bits of paper can get caught, causing the carriage to get stuck.
• Look underneath and around the carriage area for any stray paper or objects.

If you find any paper, gently pull it out in the direction of the paper path.

3. Manually Move the Print Carriage:

• Once the printer is powered off and unplugged, try to gently move the print carriage by hand. It should move smoothly from left to right. If it’s stuck, you may feel some resistance. Be sure not to force it too hard, as this could damage the mechanism.
• If the carriage doesn’t move, carefully check for any blockages along the rails where the carriage moves.

4. Look for Any Jammed Paper Inside the Printer:

• After checking the print carriage area, open the back panel of the printer to inspect the paper path.
• Gently pull out any visible jammed paper. Be very careful not to tear the paper, as small bits could remain inside, causing the issue.

5. Check the Ink Cartridges:

• Check the ink cartridges to make sure they are seated correctly and not obstructing the carriage’s movement.
• Sometimes, cartridges can become misaligned or loose, preventing the carriage from moving properly. If you see any ink leakage, clean it up carefully and reseat the cartridges.

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