How To Clear Carriage Jam On Hp Printer 

A carriage jam occurs when the print carriage inside your HP printer gets stuck and is unable to move freely across the width of the printer. The carriage is the component that holds the ink cartridges and moves them back and forth to deposit ink on the paper. A jam prevents the carriage from moving properly, which stops the printer from being able to print. It is one of the most common issues with HP printers. A carriage jam can be identified by the following symptoms:

• Error message on printer display – “Carriage Jam”, “Clear Carriage Jam”, or “Carriage Blocked”
• Loud grinding noises coming from printer
• Printer not printing
• Carriage visibly stuck on one side

What Causes Carriage Jams on HP Printers?

There are several potential causes of carriage jams on HP printers:

Paper Jams – Paper jams in the paper path can block the carriage mechanism and cause the carriage to jam. This is the most common trigger.

Obstructions – Objects like shredded paper, staples, paper clips or tape inside the printer can obstruct and jam the carriage.

Cartridge Issues – Improperly installed cartridges, loose cartridges or dislodged cartridge cradle can interfere with carriage movement resulting in a jam.

Connection Problems – Loose cable connections between printer and computer can disrupt communication which stalls carriage function.

Broken Carriage Belt – The carriage belt connects the carriage motor to the print carriage. A torn or broken belt will cause jams.

Faulty Sensor – Optical sensors in the printer track the carriage position. Defective sensors can provide false readings and cause carriage jams.

Carriage Motor Failure – If the carriage motor fails, it will not propel the carriage across the width of the printer resulting in a stuck carriage.

Firmware Bugs – Bugs in the printer’s firmware can sometimes cause carriage components to dysfunction leading to jamming issues.

How To Clear Carriage Jam On Hp Printer 

Clearing a carriage jam is crucial for being able to use your printer again. Follow the step-by-step solutions below to resolve a carriage jam on your HP printer.

Step 1 – Turn Off and Restart the Printer

The first solution to try for a carriage jam is simply turning the printer off and back on. This resets the printer components and clears any software issues that could be preventing the carriage from moving. Follow these steps:

1. Press the Power button to turn off the printer
2. Wait for at least 10-15 seconds
3. Turn on the printer again

Allow the printer to go through its startup routine. The start up process may take a couple minutes. Once powered back on, try printing a test page. If the test page prints successfully, then the carriage jam has been resolved and you can resume normal printing.

Step 2 – Check for Paper Jams

Paper jams are another common reason for carriage jams. Loose paper or pieces of jammed paper can obstruct and block the carriage mechanism. Check inside the printer to ensure no paper is stuck. Carefully remove any jammed paper from the input tray, output tray, duplexer, and rear access door. Check under the print carriage area also for obstructions. Remove any scraps of paper found inside. With all paper cleared, run a test print. If it prints correctly, then clearing the paper jam fixed the issue.

Step 3 – Check Carriage Moves Freely

If restarting and clearing jams did not resolve the issue, manually check that carriage can move freely side to side along the width of the printer. To check for carriage movement:

1. Open the cartridge access door so the carriage moves to center
2. Power off printer and disconnect power cable
3. Look inside to see if anything blocks the carriage
4. Gently slide the carriage left and right with your hands

If the carriage does not move smoothly, look for what is obstructing it. Remove any debris or scraps inside the printer that could cause interference. Once clear, reconnect the power cord and turn the printer back on. Run a test print to see if the manual carriage movement helped resolve the issue.

Step 4 – Remove and Reinstall Ink Cartridges

Another potential source of carriage jams is the ink cartridges themselves. The cartridges might be incorrectly installed or damaged, preventing the carriage from moving during the printing process. Removing and reinserting the ink cartridges can help realign the carriage and contacts: Cartridge removal steps:

1. Open cartridge access door once printer turns on
2. Locate cartridge release levers and lift up to unlock ink cartridges
3. Pull ink cartridges out slowly from their slots

Be careful not to touch copper contacts or ink nozzles on cartridges when handling. Also check inside the carriage slots and surrounding areas for any obstructions once cartridges removed. To reinstall cartridges:

1. Hold cartridge with nozzles facing down and contacts toward carriage
2. Slide cartridge at upward angle into correct empty slot
3. Press cartridge down firmly until a click locks it into place

Run alignment after reinserting cartridges. Test print a page. If cartridge realignment helped fix the carriage block, the test page will print properly again.

Step 5 – Check Printer Power Connection

An inadequate power supply can also contribute to carriage jams in HP printers. If none of the above steps have resolved a persistent carriage jam, try plugging the printer’s power cable directly into a wall outlet rather than any power strips, surge protectors, or extensions cords. This tests providing consistent electricity directly from a wall socket. Print a test page with the device powered directly from a wall plugged. If the test page prints successfully, then the issue was likely insufficient voltage from a middle extension like a power strip. Consider relocating your printer closer to a wall outlet to receive consistent power needed for smooth operation.

Step 6 – Reset the Printer

If a carriage jam still shows after trying the above troubleshooting, perform a reset on the HP printer:

1. Turn off the printer
2. Unplug the power cable from electrical socket and printer
3. Wait full 15 seconds
4. Plug power cable back in and turn printer on

Allow printer to cycle through reboot. This often clears software issues causing carriage blocks. Run a test print after resetting the device. If normal print operation is restored, then the power cycle helped resolve the fault.

When To Get HP Printer Serviced

If none of the at-home solutions are able to fix your HP printer’s carriage jam issues, the internal carriage mechanism likely requires professional repair or replacement. Contact HP Printer Support or take your device into a certified HP service center. A technician can fully evaluate the faulty carriage components and provide quote for fixing or replacing broken parts. Getting early servicing help can often reduce long term costs compared to letting a printer problem deteriorate further over time.

People Also Ask

Why does my HP printer say carriage jam?

The most common causes of a “Carriage Jam” error message on HP printers are obstructions restricting the ink carriage, paper jams preventing carriage movement, improperly installed cartridges misaligning the carriage, inadequate power supply voltage, and internal mechanical failures of the carriage mechanism.

Where is the carriage jam located?

Carriage jams occur inside HP printers around the print carriage component. The carriage holds the ink cartridges and transports them left-right during printing. Jams cause it to get stuck on one side, preventing proper movement.

How do I unclog my HP print carriage?

Methods to unclog an HP print carriage include – Removing cartridges and clearing obstructions around the carriage, manually sliding the carriage left/right along width of the printer, cleaning copper cartridge contacts using swab/cotton ball, and running printhead cleaning and alignment utilities.

Why does my printer make a loud grinding noise?

Loud grinding noises from an HP printer usually signal a carriage jam. As the printer tries unsuccessfully to move a stuck carriage during printing, the grinding occurs from carriage motor gears spinning while obstructed. Clearing jams will resolve the noise.

Does WD40 fix printer carriage jams?

No, do not use WD40 to try and fix carriage jams. It can actually damage the printer components over time. Use compressed air instead for clearing printer area obstructions. If jams persist, have an HP technician service the faulty carriage mechanism.

How do I know if my cartridge needs to be replaced?

Signs that HP ink cartridges need replacing include faded or streaky printouts, missing colors, “Out of Ink” alerts on printer display, grinding noises when printing, cartridges past expiration date, or if cartridge contacts seem clogged with dried ink.

Can low ink levels cause carriage jams?

Yes, low printer ink levels can potentially lead to carriage jams. As cartridges start running dry, the print carriage and ink delivery system have to work harder during printing which can cause motor issues. Replacing low cartridges helps.

Does resetting HP printer clear carriage jam?

Resetting power on the HP printer essentially reboots the device which often clears any software issues contribute to carriage obstruction. However, physical jams need manual removal of debris/paper around print carriage in order to fully fix mechanical carriage issues.

How do I check my print carriage alignment?

To check alignment on an HP print carriage, print a small test page consisting of a series of vertical lines. If lines look sharp and evenly spaced, the carriage is properly aligned. Jagged, blurred or double lines indicate misalignment requiring adjustment.

Why does my printer keep jamming top of paper?

Frequent paper jams at the top of HP printers are generally caused by an improperly installed or damaged top cover, worn-out paper rollers unable to grab paper effectively, inappropriate print media size or thickness, or an overly packed paper tray preventing sheet separation.