This foot long plastic strip has come out of my MP150 printer. It goes somewhere back where the cartridges go. I can't figure out what it does or how to put it back on. Help!!!

Installing the print cartridges Follow the instructions below to install the print cartridges: CAUTION: Do not touch the print cartridge ink nozzles or copper contacts. Touching these parts will result in clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections. Do not remove the copper strips. They are required electrical contacts.

1. Remove the print cartridge from its packaging and carefully remove the plastic tape from the copper strip. Figure 2: Removing the plastic tape
2. With the power on, open the printer's top cover. The cradle moves to the center of the printer.
3. Hold the print cartridge so that the copper strip is on the bottom. Figure 3: Holding the print cartridge
4. Insert the cartridge into the cradle at a slight upward angle until you feel resistance. Figure 4: Inserting the print cartridge
5. Firmly push the cartridge into the cradle. You will hear a snapping sound when the print cartridge is correctly positioned. The print cartridge fits securely in its cradle. Figure 5: Print cartridge in correct position
6. Close the top cover.
7. Calibrate the printer for optimum print quality.
   Best of luck!

Most likely the encoder strip is dirty and the print cartridge can't tell where it is in the printer. If you look in the printer through the paper feed area you should be able to see a clear plastic strip running along the back of the printer that is attached to the print cartridge carriage. Wet a q-tip and GENTLY rub along the front face of the encoder strip. You should be getting black to grey material on your q-tip. Continue until the q-tip comes out clean. Take a dry q-tip and dry the water off the encoder strip. Turn on the machine and see if it figures itself out. If it does it would be a good idea to clean the part of the strip where the cartridge carriage was.

That strip goes in a slot under where the printhead goes back and forth. If it is all in one piece you just start at one end pushing into the track and then let it fold while you pass the printhead over it and then continue pressing in to the end. The only use of this is to catch ink when you make borderless prints. If paper doesn't jam, you don't need it installed.

Hi Debbie,

If the plastic strip is about 10mm (or ~0.4 inches) and about the with of the printer, and if you look very closely the strip is striped (with tiny very think vertical lines).. .that strip is the locator strip… The ink cartridges read that strip to know where the carriage is (ie the carriage reads/counts the strips and then it knows where it is)

Hence if the stripe is now in your possession the printer doesn’t know where the cartridges are and just keeps moving them back and fro hoping to “find them”.. sadly without that stripe you printer will work no more L

Sorry.
Ed

Error 0502-Carrier Stall indicates a physically blocked carrier. This condition can occur for many possible reasons. Most often, the carrier is blocked because the ink cartridge lids are open while the printer is on (Figure 1).


Figure 1: Open Ink Cartridge Lids
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» Reseat the Ink Cartridges and Make Sure the Lids Are in Place

1. Make sure the printer is turned on.
   
   
2. Lift the printer's front cover.
   
   Note: The ink cartridge should be in the up/loading position unless the printer is busy.

1. Squeeze the tabs on the cartridge lids and lift the cartridge lids up. The cartridge pops up when the lid is fully lifted.
   
   
2. Remove the cartridges.
   
   
3. Make sure that all of the protective tape has been removed from the contacts on the ink cartridge.
   
   
4. Replace the cartridges.
   
   
5. Snap the lids closed.
   
   
6. Close the printer's front cover.
   
   
7. When prompted on the printer's LCD to choose New or Old, choose Old.
   
   
8. Press Select.

Note: For more information about reseating ink cartridges, refer to the Maintenance or Ink Cartridge Maintenance section in the Online User's Guide.

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» Reposition the Encoder Strip

1. Remove the power cord from the printer.
   
   
2. Lift the scanner unit to expose the inside, where the printer cartridges are located.
   
   
3. Gently slide the ink cartridge carrier to the middle of the printer.
   
   
4. Gently move the top part of the printer belt to the right.
   
   
5. Using an index finger, gently push encoder strip (Figure 1) down and then back up, to get it back into the slot located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier.
   
   
   Figure 1: Inkjet Printer Encoder Strip
   
   
6. Gently press the strip first to the rear, and then forward, to ensure that it is seated correctly.
   
   
7. Manually move the ink cartridge carrier to the left, then to the right, to check the positioning of the encoder strip.
   
   
8. Once the encoder strip has been re-seated, close the scanner lid.
   
   
9. Re-connect the power cord to the printer.

The encoder strip is most likely the problem. Unplug the power from the printer. Open the front cover and move the cartridge carrier to the center. You should see a white ribbon cable, a thin plastic strip and a black belt with teeth.
The thin plastic strip is the encoder strip. It rides in a sensor on the back of the cartridge carrier that you will not be able to see. Reach in with the first finger of either hand and carefully strum the strip as if playing a guitar.
The strip will need to be lowered slightly and brought towards you slightly. Please be careful not to break the strip or your printer will not function. Once you believe the strip is set correctly, plug the power back and try printing the self test. If it slams to the left again, the strip is not yet set correctly.
If you cannot repair the strip, please let us know so that we can assist you further.
Please Note: Fixing the encoder strip is a delicate procedure. During the troubleshooting, if the strip breaks, you will not be able to use the printer.

The encoder strip is most likely the problem. Unplug the power from the printer. Open the front cover and move the cartridge carrier to the center. You should see a white ribbon cable, a thin plastic strip and a black belt with teeth.
The thin plastic strip is the encoder strip. It rides in a sensor on the back of the cartridge carrier that you will not be able to see. Reach in with the first finger of either hand and carefully strum the strip as if playing a guitar.
The strip will need to be lowered slightly and brought towards you slightly. Please be careful not to break the strip or your printer will not function. Once you believe the strip is set correctly, plug the power back and try printing the self test. If it slams to the left again, the strip is not yet set correctly.
Please Note: Fixing the encoder strip is a delicate procedure.

Try to print any document.

If this failed then printer cannot be repaired, if the printer is under warranty then Lexmark will replace the printer else. I am sorry to say you need to purchase a new printer

your's tech expert
Jeeth

installation

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Check if the Encoder Strip is Broken or Missing
1.Power down the printer and unplug the power.
2.Slide the cartridge carrier inside the printer a couple of inches to the left.
3.Locate the encoder strip (Figure 1) on the right-side of the cartridge carrier encoder strip
Note:
The encoder strip is a plastic strip with small markings over its entire length. The strip may appear to be translucent.

Reposition the Encoder Strip
1. Remove the power cord from the printer.
2. Lift the scanner unit to expose the inside, where the printer cartridges are located.
3. Gently slide the ink cartridge carrier to the middle of the printer.
4. Gently move the top part of the printer belt to the right.
5. Using an index finger, gently push encoder strip (Figure 1) down and then back up, to get it back into the slot located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier.
6. Gently press the strip first to the rear, and then forward, to ensure that it is seated correctly.
7. Manually move the ink cartridge carrier to the left, then to the right, to check the positioning of the encoder strip.
8. Once the encoder strip has been re-seated, close the scanner lid.
9. Re-connect the power cord to the printer.

Ensure the Paper Tray is Not Overfilled
Each printer tray has a maximum capacity rating, and this rating is based on a specific paper weight and or thickness. Consequently, situations might arise in which the tray will not be able to accommodate the maximum number of sheets listed in the printer specifications. Verify that the paper is not packed too tightly in the paper tray.

Hi, if you open the open the printer, unit to gain access to install ink cartridge, if you see the metallic end which has got a hook on both the ends left and right side. the ink cartridge runs between the strip from left to right which should be connected above the ink cartridge meta rod.

< ------------- >metal hooks on left and right above the cartridge rod
======= __ cartridge rod

Let me know for further info.