How to Fix the Printer Cartridge Bay on HP 5550

The black and color ink cartridges inside your Hewlett-Packard Deskjet 5550 printer are housed in a cartridge bay that is designed to move automatically when you open or close the printer's lid. If your 5550's bay isn't moving properly or you hear a grinding noise coming from the machine during print jobs, it isn't necessary to throw out the printer or take it to a repair shop. Troubleshooting procedures will fix a malfunctioning cartridge bay.

• 1

  Power on the printer if it is turned off. Pull open the black plastic lid at the center of the 5550 and wait to see if the printer cartridge bay slides into view.

• 2

  Turn the printer around so the back is facing you if the cartridge bay doesn't move into position. Open the rear access door and check to see if there is any paper jammed inside the machine. Pull out the paper.

• 3

  Close the access door and turn the printer around again. Unplug the power cable. Grip the paper roller inside the printer near the back end and rotate the roller upward five times. Rotate the roller downward four times.

• 4

  Grip the ink cartridge bay and pull it manually into position at the center of the printer. Press down the plastic covers over the black cartridge and the color cartridge and lift both covers upward to expose the ink cartridges.

• 5

  Pull out both the cartridges and set them upside down on a flat work area. Moisten one end of a cotton swab with distilled water and wipe off the metal contacts on the ink cartridges.

• 6

  Moisten the other end of the swab and wipe off the metal contacts inside the right and left sides of the cartridge bay. Wait five minutes for the contacts to dry and reinstall the black and color cartridges.

• 7

  Plug in the printer's power cable and push down the black, plastic lid at the center of the printer. Press the "Power" button.