Epson E-01 000031 Error With Phantom Paper Jam and Grinding Noise: Sensor, Carriage, or Printhead Problem?

Question

My Epson printer has been reporting phantom paper jams for several days. I have checked the printer carefully, cleaned it, reset the settings, and inspected the gears, but I cannot find any paper stuck anywhere.

When I use the printer's Print Test Page function, it prints normally. However, when I try to make a copy using the scanner, the printer starts feeding the paper and advances it approximately one-quarter of the way through. I then hear a loud grinding noise, the printer stops, and it displays a Paper Jam error even though there is no visible jam.

The gears appear to be lined up correctly. The printer is showing E-01 and error code 000031. Could this be caused by a bad sensor, or do I need to replace the printhead? I have watched many of your YouTube videos but haven't found one that seems to address this exact problem.

Answer

Based on the symptoms you described, I would not replace the printhead first, and I would not assume that a paper sensor is necessarily defective. The most important clue is the specific 000031 error code combined with the grinding noise.

What Does Epson Error Code 000031 Mean?

On Epson printers that use this error-code system, 000031 is generally a CR Load Position Excess Load Error. "CR" refers to the carriage mechanism-the assembly that moves the printhead from side to side across the printer.

In Epson service documentation, this error is associated with the carriage motor experiencing more mechanical resistance than expected or with the printer being unable to determine the carriage position correctly. Possible causes include an obstruction in the carriage path, a carriage-lock or ink-system problem, a timing-belt problem, contamination or damage to the carriage encoder scale, carriage motor trouble, or, less commonly, a mainboard/driver problem.

This is important because a 000031 error can sometimes be presented to the user as a paper-jam-type condition even when there is no sheet of paper physically jammed inside the printer.

What Does the E-01 Error Mean?

The E-01 message is a broader printer error rather than a diagnosis of one particular sensor or component. Epson documentation generally describes E-01 as a printer or fatal error and recommends checking for paper, foreign material, or other obstructions before investigating a hardware problem.

Therefore, in your situation, I would pay more attention to the accompanying 000031 code because it gives us considerably more information about what the printer believes is going wrong.

Why the Grinding Noise Is Important

The loud grinding noise is probably the most useful physical symptom you described.

A sensor alone normally does not produce a grinding sound. Grinding usually means that a motor is attempting to move something that cannot move correctly, or gears or another mechanical component are slipping while the motor continues trying to drive the mechanism.

For a 000031 CR excess-load error, the printer may be detecting excessive resistance while trying to move or position the carriage.

Some areas worth examining include:

• The printhead carriage's full left-to-right travel path

• Small scraps of paper or foreign objects hidden underneath or behind the carriage

• The carriage locking mechanism

• The capping station or ink-system assembly on the parking side of the printer

• The carriage timing belt

• The carriage encoder strip

• The carriage motor and associated drive system

• Mechanical interference between the carriage and another assembly

Even a very small obstruction can create this error if it only contacts the carriage at a particular position.

Why Can a Test Page Print Normally but Copying Causes the Error?

This part of your description is especially interesting.

The fact that the printer can complete a test print tells us that the printer is capable of moving paper, moving the printhead, firing the printhead, and performing at least some normal printing operations. That makes a completely failed printhead considerably less likely.

However, different printer functions can use different startup sequences, carriage positions, paper movement patterns, or maintenance operations.

When making a copy, the printer has to coordinate the scanner, carriage, paper-feed system, and printing process. The printer may therefore move the carriage to a position or perform a mechanical sequence that is not required during the particular test page you are printing.

If something only binds at that particular carriage position, the test page could complete while the copy operation fails.

This is one reason I would investigate the mechanical movement before purchasing a printhead.

Does Error 000031 Mean the Printhead Is Bad?

Usually, I would not interpret 000031 alone as evidence that the printhead itself needs replacement.

A printhead can certainly contribute to mechanical problems if, for example, something attached to the carriage is improperly installed, a cable is interfering with carriage movement, or the carriage assembly has been damaged. But 000031 primarily points toward the printer detecting a carriage movement/load problem, rather than identifying the printhead's ink-firing elements as defective.

Replacing the printhead without finding the source of the grinding could therefore be an expensive repair that does not solve the problem.

Could It Be a Sensor?

Yes, a carriage-position sensing problem is possible, but I would distinguish this from the ordinary paper-detection sensor that people often associate with paper-jam errors.

Epson printers typically use a transparent or lightly marked CR encoder scale/encoder strip running behind or through the carriage area. The carriage's encoder sensor reads this strip so the printer can determine the carriage position and speed.

If the strip becomes contaminated, displaced, damaged, or unreadable, the printer may incorrectly determine where the carriage is located. Epson service information specifically includes contamination or failure of the CR encoder system among the possible causes of 000031-related carriage errors.

Therefore, the encoder system is something I would consider before automatically replacing a conventional paper sensor.

If you inspect the encoder strip, be very careful. It is thin and easily damaged or pulled out of position. Avoid aggressively rubbing, stretching, or removing it unless you understand how it is installed on your particular printer model.

Check the Carriage for Mechanical Resistance

With the printer powered off and disconnected from power, the carriage mechanism can sometimes be inspected for obvious resistance, depending on the printer design.

Do not force the carriage if it is locked in the parking position. Many Epson printers physically lock the carriage when parked, and forcing it can damage the locking or ink-system mechanism.

What you are looking for is an area where the carriage becomes noticeably harder to move, catches on something, or produces the same type of mechanical resistance that could explain the grinding sound.

Epson's troubleshooting documentation for error 000031 specifically points toward checking for carriage obstruction, abnormal carriage lock/ink-system operation, timing-belt condition, excessive carriage load, and encoder contamination before progressing to motor or mainboard replacement.

Inspect the Carriage Timing Belt

The timing belt is another important possibility.

Look for:

• Fraying

• Missing or damaged teeth

• A loose belt

• A belt that is jumping over the drive gear

• A belt that has moved out of its normal position

A damaged or loose timing belt can produce a grinding or skipping sound because the motor continues turning while the carriage does not move the distance expected by the printer.

The printer then sees a disagreement between commanded movement and the position reported by the encoder, potentially resulting in the 000031 error.

Check the Parking and Capping Station Area

Another area I would examine closely is the location where the printhead normally parks.

This area contains parts of the ink system, typically including the capping and cleaning mechanism. If this mechanism is stuck in the wrong position, the carriage can collide with it or experience excessive resistance while attempting to leave or enter the parking position.

This can easily sound like gears grinding.

A common mistake when troubleshooting "paper jam" messages is to concentrate exclusively on the paper path. With 000031, the carriage and ink-system mechanisms deserve just as much attention.

Consider the Carriage Rail and Sliding Resistance

Excessive friction can also cause the carriage motor to work harder than expected.

Service documentation for Epson models using this error system lists excessive sliding load or insufficient lubrication among possible carriage-related causes.

However, I would not recommend simply applying household oil, WD-40, grease, or another general-purpose lubricant to the printer. Printer carriage mechanisms can require specific lubricants, and using an inappropriate substance can contaminate the encoder strip, attract dust, damage plastics, or create additional problems.

The first objective should be determining whether abnormal friction actually exists.

Could the Paper Feed Mechanism Still Be Involved?

It is possible, particularly because you said the sheet advances approximately one-quarter of the page before the grinding starts.

However, the presence of 000031 specifically shifts my attention toward the carriage mechanism rather than immediately blaming the PE paper sensor or another paper-feed sensor.

The timing of the noise can help isolate the problem. For example, observe whether the grinding happens while:

• the paper is moving,

• the printhead carriage is moving,

• the carriage is attempting to leave the parking station,

• the carriage reaches one particular side of the printer, or

• another gear-driven mechanism is changing position.

You do not need to disassemble anything simply to make this observation. Knowing exactly what begins moving immediately before the grinding starts can be extremely useful.

The Scanner Is Probably Not the First Component I Would Replace

Because the problem happens while making a copy, it is understandable to suspect the scanner.

However, a 000031 error is associated with the printer's CR/carriage system, so I would not start by replacing the scanner assembly unless there are separate scanner-specific symptoms or error codes.

The copy operation may simply be exposing a printer-side mechanical problem that your test-page routine does not reproduce.

Recommended Diagnostic Order

Based on the information you provided, I would investigate the printer roughly in this order:

1. Look again for very small foreign objects or scraps in the entire carriage travel area, not only the paper path.

2. Observe exactly which mechanism is moving when the grinding begins.

3. Inspect the carriage parking/locking and ink-system area for anything stuck or incorrectly positioned.

4. Inspect the carriage timing belt for looseness, damage, fraying, or jumping.

5. Inspect the CR encoder strip for contamination, displacement, or physical damage.

6. Determine whether the carriage has abnormal resistance anywhere along its normal travel.

7. Check the carriage motor, encoder connections, and associated cables if the mechanical system appears normal.

8. Consider the mainboard or motor-drive circuitry only after the mechanical and encoder-related possibilities have been eliminated.

I would not purchase a printhead simply because of E-01/000031, and I would not replace a paper sensor without first determining which sensing system is actually involved.

The grinding noise strongly suggests that finding the source of the mechanical resistance should be the priority.

One additional caution: if the printer repeatedly makes a loud grinding noise, I would avoid repeatedly cycling it through the same failing operation. Continuing to force a mechanically blocked carriage can potentially damage gears, the timing belt, the carriage motor, or motor-drive circuitry.

Addressing printer issues can be complicated because so much of the diagnosis depends on physically observing and testing the machine. For that reason, we're not able to provide individualized remote troubleshooting, repair instructions, or ongoing repair support.

We do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service through our local BCH Technologies Printer Repair Service [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Because demand is high, the service operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take several weeks before an appointment or drop-off opportunity becomes available. Our repair options cover either complete printers or certain individual components, with instructions provided on the service page. We also recognize that professional repair may not always be the most economical option, so we strongly encourage customers to research self-help resources online when appropriate.

A good place to begin is YouTube or the BCH Technologies YouTube channel [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. On our channel homepage, you can use the search icon near the "About" section to search terms such as 000031, E-01, CR carriage error, encoder strip, carriage motor, paper jam, or your exact Epson printer model. We receive dozens of questions asking whether we have videos covering particular repairs. Since we have produced repair videos for many years, it is difficult to remember every individual video, so YouTube's channel search is usually the fastest way to locate the relevant material. YouTube may also recommend useful videos from other repair channels.

Thank you again for reaching out to BCH Technologies and for supporting our YouTube channel. I hope this information helps you narrow the problem down before purchasing replacement parts, particularly a printhead or sensor that may not actually be responsible for the E-01 / 000031 error.