How to Troubleshoot and Fix Carriage Jam on HP Officejet Pro 6968

Question. I'm experiencing a carriage jam on my HP Officejet Pro 6968. Despite checking thoroughly, I don't see any paper jam or obstruction. The paper feed gear seems to be intact and turns properly, as I noticed in one of your videos. The carriage is also moving, as shown in the attached video. I'm unsure what else to check. Can you please advise?

Answer: 

Thank you for reaching out to us at BCH Technologies. We sincerely appreciate your engagement and support, particularly with our YouTube channel BCH Technologies on YouTube. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us continue to enhance our technical expertise.

Now, regarding the carriage jam issue you're facing with your HP Officejet Pro 6968, let's go through some troubleshooting steps to help you identify and resolve the problem.

Firstly, it's great to hear that you've checked for obvious obstructions and verified that the paper feed gear is intact. These are crucial steps, but since the issue persists, let's explore some other potential causes and fixes.

1. Check for Small Debris or Obstructions: Even though you didn't find any major obstructions, small bits of paper, dust, or other debris can sometimes cause the carriage to jam. Use a flashlight to inspect the printer's internal pathways and the carriage path. If you find any debris, gently remove it using tweezers or a soft brush.

2. Examine the Carriage Belt: The carriage belt is responsible for moving the carriage back and forth. Over time, this belt can wear out or become misaligned, leading to carriage jams. Inspect the belt for any signs of wear, fraying, or slackness. If the belt appears damaged, it may need to be replaced.

3. Check the Carriage Movement: While the carriage is moving in the video, it's important to observe if it's moving smoothly across the entire length of its path. If the movement is jerky or if the carriage gets stuck at a specific point, it could indicate an issue with the carriage rail or the lubrication. Clean the carriage rail and apply a small amount of printer-safe lubricant if necessary.

4. Reset the Printer: Sometimes, a simple reset can resolve issues like these. Turn off the printer, unplug it from the power source, and wait for about 60 seconds. Then, plug it back in and turn it on. This can sometimes reset the printer’s internal sensors and resolve the error.

5. Check for Firmware Updates: Outdated firmware can sometimes cause false error messages. Visit the HP Support website to check if there are any firmware updates available for your printer model. Updating the firmware can sometimes resolve issues related to error messages.

6. Perform a Carriage Test: If the above steps don’t resolve the issue, you might want to perform a manual carriage test. This involves turning off the printer, manually moving the carriage from one end to the other, and then turning the printer back on to see if the issue persists. If the carriage moves smoothly by hand but jams when powered on, this could indicate an issue with the printer's internal sensors or electronics, which may require professional repair.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. So, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We offer an in-person evaluation and repair service via our local diagnostic facility BCH Technologies Printer Repair Service. Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis. So, it might take a few weeks before we can get to your printer if you drop it off or mail it to us. Our services are structured to repair either a whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed if you opt for mail-in or local drop-off services. However, we acknowledge that our rates aren't the most economical. Thus, we highly recommend that you resort to self-help via online research. You can start by checking out YouTube or visiting our YouTube channel's homepage. Look for specific videos using the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar. I receive dozens of queries every day asking about videos for specific topics. Having created videos over the past nine years, it's challenging to remember every single one. Therefore, using YouTube's search function would be most efficient. Plus, YouTube might suggest relevant videos from other channels that could assist you.

Thank you again for reaching out, and we hope this information helps you resolve your printer issue. If you need further assistance or decide to bring in your printer for repair, please don't hesitate to contact us.