Epson Stylus Pro XL

Hello - when I attempt to print a self test page the ink carriage runs all the way to the left side and seems to want to push its way out of the printer, then it shoots over to the right side of the case and does the same thing without ever printing on the paper. The data and pause lights are left blinking.
When I send a job to the printer from MS Word, a sheet is pulled in, the printing action begins, then I hear a clunk or the printing stops, the carriage returns to the home position and the data and pause lights are blinking.