DIAGNOSIS A foreign object is caught in the carriage path or the printhead carriage is hitting an obstruction. This is a hardware jam.
FIX Turn the printer off immediately. Open the scanner unit. Manually move the printhead carriage from its parked position on the right to the center. Inspect the entire track. Look for paper clips, torn paper, or other debris. Remove anything you find. Gently move the carriage left and right to check for smooth travel.
IF THAT DIDN'T WORK A piece of paper or label might be jammed deep inside the rear paper feed mechanism. You will need to remove the rear cover. Unplug the printer. Look for the release tabs on the back cover. Remove it to check for obstructions.
HEADS UP Never force the carriage. If it does not move smoothly by hand, the carriage encoder strip might be damaged or the motor is faulty. Forcing it can strip the plastic gears.