it's making a loud grinding or crunching noise from the right side when it starts up.

Diagnosis

The grinding or crunching noise emanating from the right side of the Canon PIXMA TS6520 is almost always caused by a mechanical failure in the Service Station (purge unit). This assembly is responsible for capping the printheads to prevent ink from drying and performing cleaning cycles. When the printer initializes, the carriage moves to the right to dock with this unit. If the purge unit is stuck or a gear is slipping, the motor continues to drive the mechanism against a hard stop, creating a loud, repetitive grinding sound. This typically happens due to a "paper jam cascade" where a small scrap of paper—often no larger than a fingernail—gets lodged in the gear teeth or the wiping blade assembly. Alternatively, a buildup of thickened, dried ink (ink sludge) can create enough friction to stall the plastic gears. You can confirm this by observing the carriage: if the printhead attempts to move to the far right but "stutters" or vibrates violently without fully seating, the purge unit is the culprit.

How to Fix It

1. Power down the printer and disconnect the power cable from the wall to prevent accidental motor activation while your hands are inside the chassis.
2. Open the main scanning unit (top cover) and the paper output tray to gain maximum visibility.
3. Locate the Service Station on the far right side. This is the gray plastic housing where the ink cartridges park. Use a high-lumen LED flashlight to inspect the narrow gaps between the plastic guide rails and the wiper blade.
4. If you see a scrap of paper, use a pair of fine-tipped needle-nose pliers or tweezers to gently pull the debris outward. Do not push the paper further into the gear assembly.
5. Check the "capping station"—the small rubber rectangular seal. If it is covered in a thick, crusty layer of ink, gently dab it with a lint-free cloth dampened with distilled water to soften the residue.
6. Manually slide the printhead carriage to the center of the printer to ensure it moves freely on the metal rail, then slowly guide it back to the right to see if the grinding persists without power.
7. Reconnect the power cable and perform a "Hard Reset" by holding the power button for 5 seconds, then restarting to recalibrate the carriage home position.

If That Didn't Work

• Check for Foreign Objects: Small items like paperclips, staples, or coins frequently fall into the top feeder and slide down to the right-side mechanism. Use a vacuum with a crevice tool or compressed air to clear the area around the right-side gears.
• Lubricate the Carriage Rail: If the noise is a high-pitched screech rather than a crunch, the stainless steel carriage rail may be dry. Apply a tiny amount of synthetic lithium grease (do not use WD-40) to the rail using a cotton swab, then move the carriage back and forth manually to spread it.
• Perform a Deep Cleaning Cycle: If the noise is intermittent, the purge unit may be partially clogged. Navigate to the OLED display: Setup › Maintenance › Cleaning › Deep Cleaning. This forces the pump to engage and may clear a minor mechanical obstruction.
• Check the Encoder Strip: Look for a thin, clear plastic strip running horizontally across the printer. If there is a smudge of ink or grease on this strip, the printer "loses" the position of the carriage and may slam it into the right wall, causing a crunching sound. Clean the strip gently with a dry, lint-free cloth.

Heads Up

• Never use rubbing alcohol or acetone on the rubber capping station, as these chemicals can degrade the seal and lead to permanent printhead clogging.
• Avoid forcing the printhead carriage manually if it feels completely locked; forcing it can strip the plastic teeth of the drive gear, requiring a full chassis replacement.
• Ensure you are using high-quality, weight-appropriate paper. Using overly thick cardstock in the TS6520 often leads to the "micro-tears" that cause these mechanical jams.
• If the grinding noise is accompanied by a "5100" or "5200" error code on the OLED screen, it confirms a carriage jam and requires the mechanical clearance steps listed above.