Issue:flashing lights for color and check paper-I unplugged and used flashlight to check for jam in feed-there is no obvious paper there and I just replaced the black cartridge and had already printed one sheet of black and red which shows the color is good both in the black and the red parts.

The error code 90020503 on an HP Deskjet 960C Series printer typically indicates a paper jam or an issue with the paper feed mechanism. Here are some steps you can take to resolve the error:

1. Check for paper jams: Open the printer's access doors and carefully remove any jammed paper. Make sure to check all areas of the printer, including the input and output trays, as well as the rear access panel.
2. Clear any obstructions: Look for any foreign objects or debris that may be blocking the paper path or causing the error. Gently remove any obstructions that you find.
3. Reset the printer: Turn off the printer, unplug it from the power source, and wait for a few minutes. Then, plug it back in and turn it on. This will perform a power cycle, which can often resolve temporary issues.
4. Check paper condition: Ensure that the paper you are using is not wrinkled, folded, or damaged. Straighten out any curled edges and make sure the paper is properly aligned in the tray.
5. Adjust paper guides: Verify that the paper guides in the input tray are adjusted correctly to fit the size of the paper being used. Improperly adjusted paper guides can cause paper jams or feeding issues.
6. Clean the paper feed rollers: Over time, paper dust and debris can accumulate on the paper feed rollers, causing them to slip and result in paper feed problems. Clean the rollers using a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with water or isopropyl alcohol.

The trouble-shooting section, page 117, of the manual says that this is an unknown error. Turn off the printer; it's best to unplug it. Then check for a paper jam anywhere in the printer. Sometimes, the error results from an issue with a print cartridge. (Try replacing them.) Other times, the paper sensor has shifted out of position. (This can happen when you try to clear a paper jam and pull in the wrong direction.) It's a pain to replace the sensor. Use a flashlight to look into the slot where the paper feeds in. Check for anything out of place. If you try to reposition the sensor, take careful notes/pictures at each step for where everything besides the sensor fit originally. Put things back where they were for all the other parts.

If the error persists when you turn it back on, then the machine needs factory service or replacement. If it is under warranty, contact Epson. The documentation is available here: https://www.epson.co.uk/support?productID=12298#manuals . The current link to the manual is https://download.epson-europe.com/pub/download/3768/epson376828eu.pdf . If the printer is out of warranty, it's cheaper to replace it than to send it for maintenance.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

Printers & Copiers
Code error E03

See if the alignments for the paper are properly place to guide the paper,nothing loose.Thank you.

There are a couple of possibilities. First is a little piece of paper could be stuck somewhere along the paper path and is causing one of the feed rollers to not grab the paper evenly, which will make the page twist on most of the models in this series, if you pull the paper out and take a flashlight and look up the feed path you will usually see anything in the feed path near/on the rollers at the top.
Another possibility is one of the feed rollers is old and worn out (If machine gets heavy use) and it will cause same issue.
Also light paper stock can sometimes be too thin for the rollers to grab properly and cause it to twist and slide around. This is usually more of an issue with gravity/drop feed printers but can also occur on front feed style too. Usually 20lb stock is good, but if thats doing it, you can try going to a 24lb.

It could be indicating that there's a paper jam, cartridge problem or carrier stalling. Try to remove the sheets of paper from the feeder. Grab a flashlight and look into the feeder for any debris that may have accidentally fell into it. If none, open the cartridge area and remove the cartridges. Make sure there are no obstructions in the carrier's path. Close the cover. Unplug and replug the printer into the power source to reset it. When the printer turns on, reinsert the cartridges. Load some paper and check if printer is working properly now.

Most of Lexmark printers (including the Z- and X- series) pull the paper down on one side slightly faster than the other. The printer hardware should even this out when printing. You should also ensure the paper meets the automatic feeder requirements of the printer.

If printing is skewed, feeding multiple pages or jamming, please follow these instructions (use a regular letter size paper to test after doing the steps given below):

Please check to ensure there is nothing obstructing the paper feed mechanism down inside the printer where it is not easily seen. If there is nothing obvious, unplug the printer and remove the paper. Open the front cover and look above the steel rod. You should see a conveyor belt with rubber teeth on it, like a fan belt. Take the bottom part of that belt and move it gently to the left. The cartridges should come out with it. Make sure the cartridges can move fully from one side of the printer to the other. Check also the output rollers on the bottom of the printer for any blockage. If it is jamming under the carrier assembly, you may be able to fix it using the manual feed slot. Turn the printer off. Next take a #10 envelope and feed it through the left side of the paper feed slot (The manual paper feed slot is preferred, but the automatic feed will do if there is no manual paper feed for this printer) until it comes completely through the printer to the back of the exit rollers. Move it up and down and slowly move it over to the right side. If something is stuck under the black guide plate this may work it loose or you may have to feed the envelope through the front rollers and push your way backward (please be careful here).

Next, take a damp warm cloth and clean the rubber rollers in the automatic sheet feeder. Dust may be coating the rollers there and as they become less tacky, they cannot feed paper correctly.
Then plug the printer back up, take your paper out and replace it with a fresh, small stack (about 5 pages) of paper. Quickly bend the stack in an 'S' shape a few times to separate pages. Make sure it is lined up on the right side of the paper feed and the paper guide on the left is snug on the left side of the paper. Then try to form feed again. If that works, then try to print the self test page.

Please follow the steps given below to perform the self-test:

1. Make sure the printer is in “Copy Mode.”
2. Press the “Menu” button once.
3. The screen will display “Copy Menu: Copies”.
4. Press the left arrow button once. The screen will display “Copy Menu: Tools”.
5. Press the check button once. The screen with read “Tools: Maintenance”.
6. Press the check button once. The screen with read “Maintenance: Ink Levels”.
7. Press the right arrow button until the screen reads “Maintenance: Print Test Page”.
8. Press the check button once. This will start the Self-Test. Once the page has printed, the printer will stop. The test is not continuous.

The self-test should at least print out a set of either a solid black or solid color bars, if not both (if you have a printer with both color and black installed simultaneously). Should this test fail, please try it again without cartridges installed. If the self-test still fails to take paper in and make sounds like the carrier is moving across the paper, this is a hardware issue, and the printer will require service. If the self-test completes without any cartridges installed, run the self-test again with only a color cartridge installed (If you have both black and color cartridges, after this test, run the test again with just the black cartridge installed). If you find that either cartridge causes the self-test to fail, please let us know.
If the self-test prints, but has lines or smudges or other print quality issues, please let us know. This includes any print quality issues - we need to know if the problems you have with your black or color are based in the printer, or communications with your computer, or the computer's software.

If the self-test prints your test bar(s) clearly, the printer hardware is not at fault.

Most of the Lexmark printers (including the Z- and X- series) pull the paper down on one side slightly faster than the other. The printer hardware should even this out when printing. You should also ensure the paper meets the automatic feeder requirements of the printer.

If printing is skewed, feeding multiple pages or jamming, please follow these instructions (use a regular letter size paper to test after doing the steps given below):

Please check to ensure there is nothing obstructing the paper feed mechanism down inside the printer where it is not easily seen. If there is nothing obvious, unplug the printer and remove the paper. Open the front cover and look above the steel rod. You should see a conveyor belt with rubber teeth on it, like a fan belt. Take the bottom part of that belt and move it gently to the left. The cartridges should come out with it. Make sure the cartridges can move fully from one side of the printer to the other. Check also the output rollers on the bottom of the printer for any blockage. If it is jamming under the carrier assembly, you may be able to fix it using the manual feed slot. Turn the printer off. Next take a #10 envelope and feed it through the left side of the paper feed slot (The manual paper feed slot is preferred, but the automatic feed will do if there is no manual paper feed for this printer) until it comes completely through the printer to the back of the exit rollers. Move it up and down and slowly move it over to the right side. If something is stuck under the black guide plate this may work it loose or you may have to feed the envelope through the front rollers and push your way backward (please be careful here).

Next, take a damp warm cloth and clean the rubber rollers in the automatic sheet feeder. Dust may be coating the rollers there and as they become less tacky, they cannot feed paper correctly.
Then plug the printer back up, take your paper out and replace it with a fresh, small stack (about 5 pages) of paper. Quickly bend the stack in an 'S' shape a few times to separate pages. Make sure it is lined up on the right side of the paper feed and the paper guide on the left is snug on the left side of the paper. Then try to form feed again. If that works, then try to print the self test page.

Please follow the steps given below to perform the self-test:

1. Make sure the printer is off.
2. Press and hold the "Color Copy" button.
3. While holding the "Color Copy" button, press and release the "Power" button to turn the power on.
4. Wait for the "Power" light to flash off and on.
5. Release "Color Copy" button.

The self-test should at least print out a set of either black or color bars, if not both (if you have a printer with both color and black installed simultaneously). Should this test fail, try it again without cartridges installed. If the self-test still fails to take paper in and make sounds like the carrier is moving across the paper, this is a hardware issue, and the printer will require service. If the self-test completes without any cartridges installed, run the self-test again with only the color cartridge installed. (If you have both black and color cartridges, after this test, run the test again with just the black cartridge installed.) If you find that either cartridge causes the self-test to fail, please let us know.

If the self-test prints, but has lines or smudges or other print quality issues, let us know. This includes any print quality issues, we need to know if the problems you have with your black or color are based in the printer, or communications with your computer, or the computer's software.

If the self-test prints your test bar(s) clearly, the printer hardware is not at fault.

I am going to make a couple of assumptions here, I am thinking a couple of things.
Do you get the message immediately on power up ? Or does the machine attempt to feed paper then declare a jam?
What it sounds like, if I understand correctly is a sensor has either popped out of place in shipping, or the flag on the sensor, the actuator, it stuck.
Taking note that you say is specifically says check tray one, Take a flash light and inspect carefully. In the middle of the paper path out in that tray is where you want to look for the sensor.
Now, if it is trying to feed paper, then jamming, The feed rollers may just be dusty and need wiped off with some soapy cleaner.
If it is indeed trying to feed and not picking up paper, try with a flashlight to look into the paper path and see if the rollers are slipping.
Also, being new, see if a wire is unplugged. That may be harder to see though. Albeit some connectors are pretty easy to locate.
Let me know.