Dell 924 I was given a dell 924 printer that the encoding strip fell out of. After putting the strip back in the ink carriage still slams back and forth. What could still be going on?

The encoder strip may have come out of the sensor slot. Turn off power, slide cartridge carrier to center, place finger on each side of encoder strip which runs behind the carriage and push the encoder strip down and back up, slightly back and forward if necessary to get it into the sensor slot which is located behind carrier. If it is in slot, sliding the cartridge carrier back and forth to see if therre is movement. If so repeat.

Try using the instructions located at...

Dell 924 Photo All-In-One Printer owners thread (W7)

Also check the encoder strip.

Cleaning the encoder strip (Loud bang from printer carriage)


Rick

I am familiar wih some inkjet models. The encoder strip would usually be behind the ink cartridge carriage. It is a thin clear plastic strip across the length of the carriage. The ink cartridge housing glides back and forth along the encoder strip.

I’m happy to help further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/eric_7148ad2a373711a3

There could be 4 possibilities.

1. Ink cartridges lids are open which is not allowing cartridges to move freely.
2. Ink cartridges carriage will not move from its original position(left) when front cover is opened
3. Encoder strip is Dirty.
4. Encoder strip is Out of position.

Solution:
1. Open the front cover and check if ink cartridges lids are properly snapped in.

2. Turn the printer off and pull out the power cable from power socket, open the front cover and manually center the ink cartridges carriage.
Clean the metallic rod inside the printer using WD40 or Kleenex from Left corner to right corner properly.

3. Cleaning the encoder strip:
a. printer should be off and disconnected from power.
b. open the front cover.
c. Using a dry, lint free cloth, pinch the encoder strip on the right-hand side of the cartridge carriage and pull your fingers across it toward the right-hand side of the printer and you can move the cartridges carriage to clean the strip completely.
d. Note: The encoder strip is a narrow band of clear plastic and can be difficult to see without direct lighting running parallel to metallic rod.
e. Close the printer and try again to print.

4. Repositioning the Encoder strip.
a. Remove the power cord from the printer.
b. Open the front cover.
c. Gently slide the ink cartridge carrier to the middle of the printer.
d. Gently move the top part of the printer belt to the right.
e. Using an index finger, gently push encoder strip down and then back up, to get it back into the slot located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier.
f. Gently press the strip first to the rear, and then forward, to ensure that it is seated correctly.
g. Manually move the ink cartridge carrier to the left, then to the right, to check the positioning of the encoder strip.
h. Once the encoder strip has been re-seated, close the scanner lid.
i. Re-connect the power cord to the printer and try again to print.



Incorrect position of encoder strip




Correct position of Encoder strip




Hope it should fix the issue.

In your case It seems like the Encoder strip is broken or its out of printer . However if you see encoder strip inside the printer connected from left to right, try these steps.



Solution:

1. Cleaning the encoder strip:
a. printer should be off and disconnected from power.
b. open the front cover.
c. Using a dry, lint free cloth, pinch the encoder strip on the right-hand side of the cartridge carriage and pull your fingers across it toward the right-hand side of the printer and you can move the cartridges carriage to clean the strip completely.
d. Note: The encoder strip is a narrow band of clear plastic and can be difficult to see without direct lighting running parallel to metallic rod.
e. Close the printer and try again to print.

2. Repositioning the Encoder strip.
a. Remove the power cord from the printer.
b. Open the front cover.
c. Gently slide the ink cartridge carrier to the middle of the printer.
d. Gently move the top part of the printer belt to the right.
e. Using an index finger, gently push encoder strip down and then back up, to get it back into the slot located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier.
f. Gently press the strip first to the rear, and then forward, to ensure that it is seated correctly.
g. Manually move the ink cartridge carrier to the left, then to the right, to check the positioning of the encoder strip.
h. Once the encoder strip has been re-seated, close the scanner lid.
i. Re-connect the power cord to the printer and try again to print.



Incorrect position of encoder strip




Correct position of Encoder strip




Hope it should fix the issue.

There could be 4 possibilities.

1. Ink cartridges lids are open which is not allowing cartridges to move freely.
2. Ink cartridges carriage will not move from its original position(left) when front cover is opened
3. Encoder strip is Dirty.
4. Encoder strip is Out of position.

Solution:
1. Open the front cover and check if ink cartridges lids are properly snapped in.

2. Turn the printer off and pull out the power cable from power socket, open the front cover and manually center the ink cartridges carriage.
Clean the metallic rod inside the printer using WD40 or Kleenex from Left corner to right corner properly.

3. Cleaning the encoder strip:
a. printer should be off and disconnected from power.
b. open the front cover.
c. Using a dry, lint free cloth, pinch the encoder strip on the right-hand side of the cartridge carriage and pull your fingers across it toward the right-hand side of the printer and you can move the cartridges carriage to clean the strip completely.
d. Note: The encoder strip is a narrow band of clear plastic and can be difficult to see without direct lighting running parallel to metallic rod.
e. Close the printer and try again to print.

4. Repositioning the Encoder strip.
a. Remove the power cord from the printer.
b. Open the front cover.
c. Gently slide the ink cartridge carrier to the middle of the printer.
d. Gently move the top part of the printer belt to the right.
e. Using an index finger, gently push encoder strip down and then back up, to get it back into the slot located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier.
f. Gently press the strip first to the rear, and then forward, to ensure that it is seated correctly.
g. Manually move the ink cartridge carrier to the left, then to the right, to check the positioning of the encoder strip.
h. Once the encoder strip has been re-seated, close the scanner lid.
i. Re-connect the power cord to the printer and try again to print.



Incorrect position of encoder strip




Correct position of Encoder strip




Hope it should fix the issue.

There could be 4 possibilities.

1. Ink cartridges lids are open which is not allowing cartridges to move freely.
2. Ink cartridges carriage will not move from its original position(left) when front cover is opened
3. Encoder strip is Dirty.
4. Encoder strip is Out of position.

Solution:
1. Open the front cover and check if ink cartridges lids are properly snapped in.

2. Turn the printer off and pull out the power cable from power socket, open the front cover and manually center the ink cartridges carriage.
Clean the metallic rod inside the printer using WD40 or Kleenex from Left corner to right corner properly.

3. Cleaning the encoder strip:
a. printer should be off and disconnected from power.
b. open the front cover.
c. Using a dry, lint free cloth, pinch the encoder strip on the right-hand side of the cartridge carriage and pull your fingers across it toward the right-hand side of the printer and you can move the cartridges carriage to clean the strip completely.
d. Note: The encoder strip is a narrow band of clear plastic and can be difficult to see without direct lighting running parallel to metallic rod.
e. Close the printer and try again to print.

4. Repositioning the Encoder strip.
a. Remove the power cord from the printer.
b. Open the front cover.
c. Gently slide the ink cartridge carrier to the middle of the printer.
d. Gently move the top part of the printer belt to the right.
e. Using an index finger, gently push encoder strip down and then back up, to get it back into the slot located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier.
f. Gently press the strip first to the rear, and then forward, to ensure that it is seated correctly.
g. Manually move the ink cartridge carrier to the left, then to the right, to check the positioning of the encoder strip.
h. Once the encoder strip has been re-seated, close the scanner lid.
i. Re-connect the power cord to the printer and try again to print.



Incorrect position of encoder strip




Correct position of Encoder strip




Hope it should fix the issue.

There could be 4 possibilities.

1. Ink cartridges lids are open which is not allowing cartridges to move freely.
2. Ink cartridges carriage will not move from its original position(left) when front cover is opened
3. Encoder strip is Dirty.
4. Encoder strip is Out of position.

Solution:
1. Open the front cover and check if ink cartridges lids are properly snapped in.

2. Turn the printer off and pull out the power cable from power socket, open the front cover and manually center the ink cartridges carriage.
Clean the metallic rod inside the printer using WD40 or Kleenex from Left corner to right corner properly.

3. Cleaning the encoder strip:
a. printer should be off and disconnected from power.
b. open the front cover.
c. Using a dry, lint free cloth, pinch the encoder strip on the right-hand side of the cartridge carriage and pull your fingers across it toward the right-hand side of the printer and you can move the cartridges carriage to clean the strip completely.
d. Note: The encoder strip is a narrow band of clear plastic and can be difficult to see without direct lighting running parallel to metallic rod.
e. Close the printer and try again to print.

4. Repositioning the Encoder strip.
a. Remove the power cord from the printer.
b. Open the front cover.
c. Gently slide the ink cartridge carrier to the middle of the printer.
d. Gently move the top part of the printer belt to the right.
e. Using an index finger, gently push encoder strip down and then back up, to get it back into the slot located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier.
f. Gently press the strip first to the rear, and then forward, to ensure that it is seated correctly.
g. Manually move the ink cartridge carrier to the left, then to the right, to check the positioning of the encoder strip.
h. Once the encoder strip has been re-seated, close the scanner lid.
i. Re-connect the power cord to the printer and try again to print.



Incorrect position of encoder strip




Correct position of Encoder strip




Hope it should fix the issue.

The encoder strip is out of it's way, or is removed...

Try to cut off a thin plastic strip. just try to copy that. it basically guides the cartridge on where to print. also i remember that it should have a spring connected to the holes.