Before you start
- A flashlight and access to the printer’s power connection. Finish or cancel the current job.
Step 1:Confirm E3 before clearing the carriage
E3 concerns the moving cartridge holder inside the printer. Press Cancel. If the error remains, open the front and cartridge-access doors and wait for the carriage to become idle and silent.
Step 2:Disconnect power before reaching inside
Do not copy the source’s movement of a powered carriage. Avoid touching the rail, belt or other internal parts unnecessarily.
Step 3:Remove accessible paper or foreign objects
Use the flashlight to look through the cartridge-access area. Gently pull an accessible sheet straight out with both hands so it does not tear. Do not use sharp tools.
HP permits sliding a carriage that is in the centre to the right after power has been disconnected, to inspect underneath. Do not force a carriage that will not move or repeatedly push it from side to side. If the obstruction cannot be removed safely, stop and contact HP.
Step 4:Reconnect and check whether the error clears
Close the access and front doors, reconnect the cables and turn the printer on. If prompted, press Resume to continue or Cancel to discard the job. Check that E3 is gone and try a small print.
If it persists after the documented check and restart, contact HP with the exact error and the checks performed. The source’s suggestion that a replacement is inevitable is not a diagnosis.
Questions & troubleshooting
Is E3 the same as E4?
No. HP labels E3 as a stalled or jammed carriage and E4 as a paper jam. Paper can obstruct the carriage, but the displayed code determines which checks to follow.
Should I force the carriage to the opposite side?
No. Disconnect power before the documented access check, and do not force a stuck mechanism.
