Epson 0xEA — Carriage blocked (check for packing tape)

What this error means

The print head carriage hit resistance during its startup sweep and the machine halted to protect itself. Torn paper fragments and foreign objects are the usual causes — and on brand-new units, famously, internal packing tape nobody removed.

Symptoms

• 0xEA at power-on
• New printer out of the box
• After a bad jam

Try this first (safe DIY steps)

1. Power off; open the cover; remove ALL packing tape and material (check thoroughly — it hides)
2. Clear paper fragments from the carriage path, especially the right side
3. Reseat the ink cartridges; never force the carriage by hand roughly
4. Power on

Safety: power off before any physical intervention. Never bypass covers or interlocks — fuser areas run hot enough to burn.

When to call a technician

Persistent with a clean path — mechanical service, rarely economical on consumer units.