What’s your default troubleshooting move when a print goes bad?

[Alan]

I want to build a simple, practical reference thread for the 3D Printing Forum that new members can skim without getting overwhelmed. What’s the most common failure you deal with these days, and what’s the first thing you do that genuinely helps?

If you can, share your current “default fix” like you’re explaining it to someone who’s printed enough to be dangerous but still gets tripped up. What do you check first, what do you ignore, and what’s the quick sign that tells you you’re on the right track.

Bonus question: has your default fix changed over time, like you used to chase leveling, but now you jump straight to nozzle condition or filament moisture?

 

[Chapman_Armor]

If it suddenly goes bad, I look for something loose first. Belt tension, grub screws, wobble in the hotend mount. I ignore slicer tweaks until I’m sure nothing is physically shifting.

 

[GrandmasterOuroboros]

My default move is always the same. Stop the print and look at the first layer. If the first layer looks wrong, nothing else matters yet. I check nozzle cleanliness, bed temp, then re do the Z offset. I ignore fancy settings until that looks right.