Chosen Solution
When printer initializes before printing, a loud ratcheting noise comes from beneath ink cartridge carrier for several seconds. What lis likely cause?
I have this printer at home!! It made those noises for me as well until I cleared a jam in the paper slot. Also make sure all gears are still working and ensure there is no excess paper floating around. Go to the backside open the door and just give it a good cleaning. Also take out the ink carts, and put them back in making sure they are flush.
On this model make sure you clean the encoder strip that the print head slides through. It gets excess ink on it and loses its way. Also check the printhead bottom to make sure it isn’t coagulated at its base.Always brush the drive gears with a clean tooth brush. ( Best cleaning solution is a windex mix )
Cleaned the glass very carefully twice…no improvement. removed and replaced ink cartridges…no improvement. unplugged and replugged..took an hour off for attitude adjustment….. removed power… rotated printer …opened rear panel to view paper feed operation. …examined light dust….printer now fed normally. Replaced rear panel..operates normally. Apparently I accidentally fixed it S.
This is my second HP5520 printer. The first one made grinding noises after about 2 yrs. Kept making noise until it quit. Had to buy the same model because I had so many ink cartridges left. Well, her I go again. This one is grinding and won’t pick up paper. I’ve cleaned everything, didn’t find any broken pieces but it just won’t pick up. I love this little printer, when it works. I’m off the buy another one. HP is still the best printer, maybe I’ll spend more this time.
