Epson WF-7720 Error 000023, 000031, and 0xEA: Scratching Sound, Carriage Stuck Left, and How to Troubleshoot It

Question

I have an Epson WF-7720 showing error 000023. I have already tried everything I found online, but nothing has worked so far. The printer seems to have a carriage movement problem, and I need help figuring out what could be causing the error and what else I should check.

Answer

For the Epson WorkForce WF-7720, error 000023 is usually related to a carriage movement, paper feed, or mechanical initialization failure. It is often seen when the printer powers on, attempts to move the printhead carriage, and then detects that something is not moving correctly. Depending on the exact failure point, similar symptoms may also appear with Epson errors such as 000031 or 0xEA. These errors are not always caused by the same part, but they commonly point to a problem where the printer cannot complete its startup sequence.

If your WF-7720 makes a scratching, grinding, clicking, or dragging sound before showing 000023, the first thing I would suspect is a mechanical obstruction or carriage movement issue. The printhead carriage must move smoothly from side to side during startup. If it hits resistance, moves too slowly, cannot find its home position, or the printer cannot read its movement correctly, the machine may stop and display an error.

Start by checking the carriage path carefully. Turn the printer off and unplug it before touching anything inside. Open the scanner unit and inspect the area where the printhead travels. Look for small pieces of paper, torn labels, foreign objects, broken plastic tabs, dried ink buildup, or anything that may be blocking the carriage. Sometimes a tiny piece of paper hidden near the far left or far right side can cause the printer to fail during initialization.

If the carriage is stuck on the left side, do not force it aggressively. Epson printers often park the printhead on the right side when they are idle, but when the machine fails during startup, the carriage can stop in different positions. If it is stuck left and will not move, the issue could be a jammed carriage, a blocked rail, a dirty encoder strip, a failed carriage motor, or a problem in the service station/capping station.

The encoder strip is one of the most important parts to inspect. This is the thin, clear plastic strip that runs horizontally behind the carriage. The printer uses it to know the printhead's position. If the strip is dirty, covered with ink mist, knocked out of place, scratched, or not seated correctly through the carriage sensor, the printer may lose track of the carriage location and throw an error such as 000023, 000031, or 0xEA.

You can gently clean the encoder strip using a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water. Be very careful not to pull the strip loose, bend it, scratch it, or wipe off its fine markings. Support the strip gently while cleaning. If the strip has jumped out of the sensor slot on the back of the carriage, the printer will not be able to read the carriage position correctly, even if the strip itself looks clean.

Next, inspect the carriage rail. The rail should be clean and lightly lubricated. If old ink, dust, or dried grease builds up on the rail, the carriage may drag and create a scratching or squeaking sound. Do not over-lubricate it. Too much grease can attract dust and ink mist, which creates another problem later. A very small amount of appropriate light lubricant on the rail may help if the carriage is dry, but cleaning away heavy buildup is more important than adding more lubricant.

The 0xEA error on Epson printers is commonly associated with a carriage jam or carriage obstruction, especially after setup, cartridge replacement, or internal movement failure. While your printer is showing 000023, the troubleshooting logic is similar: the printer is trying to move the printhead assembly and is detecting that the movement is not normal. That is why carriage inspection, encoder strip cleaning, and obstruction checks are important.

Error 000031 can also appear when the printer detects an internal mechanical failure, scanner/printer initialization problem, or carriage-related fault. On wide-format Epson printers like the WF-7720, the machine has to coordinate several moving systems during startup. If one system is out of position, the printer may report a general mechanical error rather than naming the exact part.

Another area to check is the right-side maintenance station, also called the service station or capping station. This is where the printhead parks when the printer is not printing. It contains the cap, pump, wiper, and cleaning mechanism. If dried ink causes the wiper or cap to stick, the carriage may not be able to release properly. A jammed service station can make the printer sound like gears are slipping or scratching. If the printer was unused for a long time or has had repeated cleaning cycles, dried ink in this area becomes a stronger suspect.

Also inspect the timing belt that moves the carriage. If the belt is loose, damaged, missing teeth, or off track, the motor may try to move the carriage but fail. You may hear the motor running, clicking, or grinding before the error appears. A damaged belt or pulley can produce symptoms similar to an obstruction.

If you recently had a paper jam, cartridge problem, printhead cleaning issue, or any internal part removed, double-check that everything was reinstalled correctly. The cartridges must be seated correctly, the printhead carriage must not be tilted, and the scanner unit must close properly. Epson printers may stop during startup if a cover sensor, paper sensor, or carriage sensor does not report the expected position.

A practical troubleshooting sequence would be:

1. Turn the printer off and unplug it.

2. Check the entire carriage path for paper scraps, labels, debris, or broken pieces.

3. Gently see whether the carriage can move when the printer is powered off, but do not force it if it is locked.

4. Clean the encoder strip carefully with distilled water and a lint-free cloth.

5. Inspect whether the encoder strip is seated through the carriage sensor.

6. Check the carriage rail for dried ink or sticky buildup.

7. Inspect the right-side service station for dried ink or stuck parts.

8. Listen during startup to determine whether the sound comes from the carriage area, the gear train, the paper feed area, or the service station.

9. Check the belt and pulley system for looseness or damage.

10. Restart the printer and see whether the error changes or remains 000023.

If the printer still shows 000023 after those checks, then the issue may require disassembly. At that point, possible causes include a failed carriage motor, damaged carriage sensor, stuck service station gear, damaged paper feed mechanism, failed timing sensor, or mainboard-related control issue. Unfortunately, the error code alone does not identify the exact failed part. It tells us the printer detected a movement or initialization failure, but hands-on inspection is usually needed to determine which component caused it.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. Because of that, we are not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We offer an in-person evaluation and repair service through our local diagnostic facility: BCH Technologies Printer Repair Service [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so it may take a few weeks before we can get your printer in for drop-off. Our services are structured to repair either a whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. However, we understand that our rates are not always the most economical option. For that reason, we highly recommend using self-help through online research first. You can start by checking YouTube or visiting our YouTube channel homepage: BCH Technologies on YouTube [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. Look for specific videos using the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar. I receive dozens of questions every day asking about videos for specific topics. Since we have created videos for more than nine years, it is difficult to remember every single one. Therefore, using YouTube's search function is usually the most efficient method. YouTube may also suggest relevant videos from other channels that could help with your specific Epson WF-7720 issue.

Thank you again for reaching out and for watching our video. Error 000023 can be frustrating because it may come from several different mechanical areas, but your symptoms are most consistent with a carriage movement, encoder strip, service station, or internal obstruction problem. I hope these checks help you narrow down the cause.