Paper won't feed through printer

[Dr Seven]

I have not used my lexmark Z43 printer since I got my new computer in October of the last year. It is compatible with my computer since it is recognized and it tries to print. I have the correct cartridge installed since the ink is coming out. But the paper will only feed about halfway through -- the test page I am trying to print will only print one line.

In other words, the paper won't go through. It keeps trying to print then tells me it is jammed. Could this simply be a case of the printer being needed to be cleaned? If so, how would one go about cleaning it without wrecking something? The last time I used the printer in the summer of 2005 the paper would feed through then. I hate to think I have to buy a new printer simply because the paper won't feed through.

I have Windows XP if that matters.

[eddds40]

I use alchol on a swap and clean the slides wipe them with a soft cloth also clean rollers and look for any foreign objects. It can some times help to run a piece of card stock grade paper through it as well. I have used alchol on rollers also to clean them but not sure that would be recomened for all printers

[troyz]

have you tried different paper? are you using copy paper or inkjet paper?

[guitarplayer]

Hi,
This is usually a rubber roller problem. I would not use alcohol on the rubber rollers. Alcohol absorbs moisture and can cause the rubber to dry rot faster. We use carburetor cleaner from an auto supply. It cleans the rubber rollers and adds moisture. Spray some on a paper towel or rag and clean the rollers then wait for it to dry before trying to print. For laser printers new rollers are included with a printer maintance kit.

[Dr Seven]

If anyone is looking at this for a follow up reply from me to see if the issue was resolved then thanks for taking the time to try to help.

But I think the printer is trashed. I head some kind of snapping grinding noise last night after I wrote my question. And all I dd was try to make the paper go through by pushing on it a little bit.

[jerryctx]

When new this printer sold for well under $100 (I seem to recall it at under $50 in a local store but I'm not sure). Since Lexmark ink is at least twice as expensive per page as the competition, I wouldn't spend much money trying to fix it.