HP Deskjet and Deskwriter 600 Series Printers - Troubleshooting Printer Noises

/ Introduction
/ Instructions

Introduction

The HP Deskjet 600 series printer makes strange noises when printing.

  • The printer periodically makes humming and buzzing sounds as the carriage assembly (which holds the ink cartridges) moves around on the right side of the printer.
  • A new printer makes scraping or squeaking sounds as it is printing.
  • The printer makes loud grinding noises, lights are blinking, and the carriage assembly is stalling at the left or right side of the printer.
  • The printer makes loud grinding noises, lights are blinking, the carriage assembly is stalling in the printer, and the paper jams or becomes scratched as it is feeding through the printer.
  • The carriage assembly periodically slams or bangs against the left side of the printer while it is printing.

Instructions

Follow the steps below to determine what is causing the noise.

NOTE: / When the printer periodically makes humming and buzzing sounds as the carriage assembly moves around on the right side of the printer, the printer is actually cleaning the ink cartridges. This is a normal operation for the printer.
  1. Turn the printer on and open the top cover.
  2. If the printer makes a loud grinding noise and the carriage assembly is stuck behind the right side of the printer, one of the ink cartridges may not be completely locked into the carriage assembly.
  3. Turn the printer off and locate the capping station on the right side of the printer below the carriage assembly.
  4. Turn the printer on and as the capping station lowers or a grinding noise occurs, unplug the power cord from the back of the printer.
  5. Pull the carriage assembly to the center of the printer. (One or both of the ink cartridges may need to be pushed toward the back of the printer so that they do not keep the carriage assembly from moving to the center of the printer.)
  6. Remove the ink cartridges and verify that no parts are damaged or broken.
  7. Reinstall the ink cartridges in the carriage assembly making sure the ink cartridges are firmly locked into place.
  8. Plug in the power cord and turn the printer on.
  9. With the top cover of the printer open and the output paper tray removed, print a self-test to try to determine where the noise is coming from.
  10. When the printer is turned on and the top cover is open, remove the output paper tray.
  11. Push the Resume button once and the carriage assembly should return to the right side of the printer.
  12. Hold the Resume button down until the printer begins to print a self-test.

WARNING: / Be careful not to reach into the printer when printing with the top cover open.
  1. If the carriage assembly stalls on the left side of the printer, verify that the clutch actuator arm (slider arm) is correctly positioned. (See the document titled “HP Deskjet and HP Deskwriter 600 Series Printers - Paper Will Not Load, Grinding Noise, or Carriage Stall�? for more information.)
  2. Unplug the power cord from the back of the printer.
  3. Slide the carriage assembly away from the left side of the printer.
  4. Locate the black or white clutch actuator arm above the metal gear assembly on the left side of the printer. Verify that the downward-pointing “tooth�? or “arrow�? on the right edge of the clutch actuator arm is positioned to the right of the metal gear and plastic half-gear assembly below the clutch actuator arm.
  5. If the arrow on the clutch actuator is stuck between the metal gear and plastic half-gear (see Figure 1), lift the clutch actuator and move the arrow to the right of the plastic half-gear (see Figure 2). Once the arrow on the clutch actuator is to the right of the gears, the clutch actuator should move freely right and left 12.7 mm (0.5 inch).

Figure1:Incorrectly placed actuator arm

1-Actuator is out of position

Figure2:Correctly placed actuator arm

2- Actuator is in the correct position

  1. Replace the upper (OUT) paper tray, close the lid, plug in the power cord, and repeat Step 3 above to verify that the noise is gone.
  1. If the printer is making a clanking or chattering sound as it prints, the printer may require repair, contact the HP Customer Care Center.
  2. If the paper jams in the printer or becomes scratched as it is feeding through the printer, verify that the pinch springs or rollers are not damaged or missing. Also, verify that nothing is stuck under the paper sensors by following the steps below.
  3. Turn the printer off and unplug the power cord in the back of the printer.
  4. Verify that the three small brown rollers are pressing against the three larger, black paper feed rollers. Also, verify that the three metal pinch springs are pressing against the larger black paper feed rollers (except for the center pinch spring, which should be pressing against the metal guide surface).
  5. If one of the brown rollers or pinch springs is damaged or missing, the printer should be sent in for repair.
  6. Verify that nothing is stuck under the two black rectangular paper sensors located between the three pinch springs. Lift up on the sensors and blow air under them to dislodge any particles that may be stuck under them.
  7. Plug in the power cord and repeat Step 3 above to verify that the noise is gone.
  8. On the HP Deskjet 680C and 690C series printers, move the banner lever left and right four or five times and then leave the banner lever in the left position. Repeat Step 3 above to verify that the noise is gone.