Can't get the carriage to go to the left so I can get the cartridges out. Help!

There are two different types of carriage units that you may be referring to depending upon the model printer you have. Older types of photo printers had two distinct carriages.

1. Carriage referees to equipment that travel left to right in your printer.
2. One is for the print heads that receive ink from your print cartridges and dispenses it to the paper that you are using.
3. The print head carriage that travels back and forth to accept replacement ink cartridges. Most of the time it is tucked to one side or the other and only travels when the printer is opened in a specific way to expose it for ink replacements.

In newer systems the print heads are built into the Ink cartridge, each color has it's own print head.


So in answer to your question the carriage cartridge is more than likely the container that you put your ink cartridge into. Unless you have an older printer and then it would or could be the carriage for either the print head or the ink. They some times need to be replaced. I had to replace that cartridge in an old HP2500 for as long as we had the printer. (4 years). Great machine high maintenance.

it will be stuck in roller cleaner mode, that is mechanical. the only real way is to push it thether over to the left. with the power off the printer, then close the compartments and turn on the printer it can take 2 o3 goes as it will try to move it right. you have to get it off the clip that is holding it there. the cartridge is held in place to stop it moving while the roller is cleared.

Any malfunctions its gives error 'E'... Check paper jam, carriage struck, cartridges faulty and service related issues.checking carriage:Switch on the machine check carriage(the unit carrying print heads)moving left & right.. if its not moving, it might be struck in service station(service station located at right end and its allow carriage to rest on it during shut down as well as its cleans the print head nozzles). power the machine pull carriage out gently, don't force it..Clean encoder strip: Encoder is located back side of the carriage and its guides carriage to move properly, if encoder became dirty you will get error message, clean encoder with smooth cotton cloth.

Please try this solution
Switch on the printer, while its moving the cartridge carriage unit, plug out the power cable.
Open the printer's cover.
Now the printer is off, and the cartridge carriage unit is located somewhere in the middle or any side.
Pull it to the middle of the printer.
Take out both cartridge from the carriage unit, and leave the "Lid" open wide.
Turn on the printer with the Lid still open. The carriage unit will now move to the left and to the right, and then stop again at the middle.
You can put back the cartridges according to the color code: C for Color, B for Black.
Close the cover, and try to print a page.

Hi there.

It's probably jammed by dirt. Unplug the printer, move the carriage out of the way and clean thoroughly the metallic rails the carriage runs to using a cue tip.You might have to move the carriage multiple times to clean it totally. Finally spread a little fine grease over the metallic rail and again move the carriage from side to side. Now plug it in and try using it.

Let me know what happens.

1. Push down on the cartridge to release it from the carriage, and then lift it up and out of the product. Figure 2: Remove the old cartridge illustration of removing the old cartridge
2. Remove the new cartridge from its packaging, and then pull the pink tab to remove the clear protective tape. Figure 3: Prepare new cartridge illustration of preparing a new cartridge CAUTION: Do not touch the copper-colored contacts or re-tape the cartridge. Figure 4: Do not touch contacts warning not to touch the cartridge contacts
3. Hold the cartridge with the label on top. Figure 5: Label on top illustration of holding the cartridge with label on top
4. With the copper-colored contacts facing into the carriage, insert the cartridge into the carriage at upward angle. Push the cartridge up, and then into the carriage until it snaps into place. Figure 6: Install cartridge 1 - Insert cartridge 2 - Push cartridge up 3 - Push cartridge in illustration of install the cartridge
   NOTE: If the cartridge moves loosely in the carriage, it has not clicked into place. Repeat this step.
5. Close the cartridge compartment cover, and then the control panel.

Step three: Align the cartridge

1. Press the Start button ( ) on the product control panel.
2. Press 1 to indicate you installed a new cartridge. The product prints an alignment page and 06 [01-11] displays on the control panel. Figure 7: Alignment page prints illustration of alignment page printing
3. Review the alignment page, and then select the number under the straightest line.
4. Press that number on the keypad, and then press the OK button ( ).

I have the same printer. Underneath the home position is a rubber "wiper" that cleans the underside of the cartridges. Ink buildups get dried out and can cause the carriage to stick. You may be able to " help" the carriage out of home position by GENTLY using the belt that runs from left to right to move the carriage to the left. U nderneath where the carriage previous sat you will see 2 rubber objects. Carefully wipe off any dried up ink. This is a messy job ! Good luck.

Check the following steps for fixing Hp Carriage Jam Error :

Open the print carriage access door. Check for any packing material that may be blocking the internal components. Check for an orange shipping lock that may still be in place on the left side. Pull the shipping lock out, if present, and discard.

Remove and reinstall the cartridges to make sure they are properly installed. Lift the front center of the print carriage access door to open it. Lift the door up until it locks into an open position. Press down on a print cartridge and allow it to spring back up. Lift the cartridge out of the printer. Do the same for the other cartridge. Slide the black cartridge into the slot on the left and the color cartridge into the slot on the right. Press down on each one to lock it into place. Lower the print carriage access door.

Check the print cartridges to make sure the protective tape has been removed from the ink nozzles. Remove the cartridges from the printer. Remove any tape or labels. Replace the cartridges into the printer.

Push in on the tab on the left side of the clean-out door on the back of the printer to open the door. Lift the door out of the printer. Check for any paper jams. Jammed paper can block the printer cartridge carriage from moving. Pull any jammed paper out.

This is a typical cartridge problem.Try clean the contacts on the carriage unit using piece of cotton and some alcohol.If this not help open the printer cover and look when carriage unit stops.On the carriage unit have a yellow arrow.In the left sidе of printer, where the carriage stops have a two icons.If the arrow shows left icon change the color cartridge.If shows right icon change the black cartridge.If this not help there is a problem in carriage unit and your printer need repair.

I had the cartridge error message aswell. I took an alcohol swab and cleaned the points on both cartridges, let the cartridges sit for 1 minute to dry, and replace cartridges, restart printer, problem solved. Apparently I haven't used this printer in a month or so, and left it in my car and the ink dryed and caused an error.