There was a carriage jam error and a long narrow gray piece with a small hole on either end is now completely out of the machine. Help

Error E3 is a paper jam. Open the main cover and look for a small piece of paper behind where the carriage (the printhead and cartridges holder) sits on the right side of the machine. There is a small hole in the metal frame where a sensor arm sits. This little black arm should move freely. I bet it does not and there is paper stuck around it.

Joe,
Pull all of the paper out of the machine. Look for a wadded up small piece of paper. After you look for it. Examine the door slide tray where paper is stored. Look at take-up rollers... make sure slide drawers close easily...examine door where print cartridge is....Look at (on side) feed tray...Paper feed tray... If you fail get a flashlight and take another look it does not have to be a very large piece of paper...good luck

If paper is jammed, a Paper jam message will appear on the control panel display.

Follow these steps to clear the jam:

1. Gently pull any jammed paper out of the output tray or sheet feeder.
   
   
2. If the paper is stuck inside, turn off the Epson Stylus CX.
   
   
3. Open the scanner, remove the jammed paper and torn pieces, close the scanner, and turn the Epson Stylus CX back on.
   
   Note: Be sure to check the far left of the carriage area when checking for jammed paper. Paper that is jammed there may be hidden from view.

If paper jams inside the Automatic Document Feeder, clear the jam as follows:

1. Open the Automatic Document Feeder cover and remove any jammed paper.
   
   
   
   
2. If necessary, lift the document cover and remove any paper that has jammed inside.
   
   
   
   
3. Press OK to clear any messages on the display screen.

If you are getting a 'carriage jam' error as soon as you turn on your Epson printer with no tasks in progress, then check for any piece of paper stuck in the carriage. Remove the paper carefully. If the paper tears, part of it might remain inside the paper path and damage the product.

Fix 'Carriage Jam' : Open Door, clear carriage jam,
and then press OK to continue' error message
Turn off the printer and open it to see where the paper is stuck.
Manually move the carriage toward the opposite side.
Check the paper path and remove any piece of paper or any other object that is stuck in the path.
Reconnect the power cord and turn on the printer.
http://www.fixya.com/support/t5192341-epson_photo_1400_paper_feed_ink

Had the same problem.
Took alot of work but I fixed it.
Frist thing you need to know that error means your ink waste pad is full. Its a $75.00 to replace but there is a work around it.
You will need this free app. SSC service utitlty.
http://inkjetprinterhelp.us/epsonSSC.html Its a great app.
Instrusctions are on the website there.
You will also have to Open the access panel on the rear of the printer (remove screw) and look inside carefullly with a flashlight. You will see a tube (down and to your left) coming from the cleaning pump and it will have an open end on it. This is the tube that delivers ink to the waste pad.
Use a piece of coat hanger wire or equivalent, and fish out this piece of tube. Bring it to the outside of the printer, thru the access panel.
Find yourself a suitable container (Tupperware or a plastic cup or jar) that is not too tall. Put the tube into this container and secure the tube and container so they won’t come apart or lose connection if the printer is moved.
If you wish you can make a hole or notch in the access panel cover so it can be replaced.

Hi,

Here is the document that i want you to follow exactly in order to resolve your issue.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DOCUMENT.==>> DOCUMENT

Please let me know the result after following the document.

Thank you so much. I remain.

adonscott

I tried all these steps and it still did not work was ready to throw the printer out from frustration. Instead I traced what I did when I had the jam. I believe if the factory can fix it so can I. My printer is now working and it was so simple yet HP does not tell you how to fix it.

I was able to run run a piece of photo paper through a couple of times and printer now seems to be working again. The theory was that running a heavy piece of paper through might help clear little piece of paper that was not visible. The photo paper is less likely to tear if it gets jammed too.

This "plastic strip" is called the "carriage encoder strip". This strip dictates the timing of the carriage assembly. If the end slots aren't broken, you can re-attach it. Otherwise, you'll need to replace it. They are about $10.

Iv'e seen these problems a 100000000 times with this printer and I found a little article you may wanna read before going farther with this machine!!!! Go to http://.i18nguy.com