Encoder strip is loose - HP PhotoSmart 7660 InkJet Printer

Turn off the printer by unplugging it from the power outlet. Open the printer cover. Remove the cartridges. Check around the cartridge area for a transparent strip (encoder strip). The encoder strip helps in the movement of the cartridge carrier along the assembly. If the encoder strip is out of position or have gotten loose from its position, it would cause an abnormal carrier travel - slamming on the sides, alignment problem, carrier stalling, etc.
Instructions on how to reseat the encoder strip can be found from the Lexmark website at http://bit.ly/aSibXk.

1. Remove the left hand cover
2. Remove the right hand cover
3. Remove 1 T15 screw that secures the Encoder strip to the left encoder holder
4. Release the Encoder strip from the left hand side
5. Release the Encoder strip from the Service station holder on the right side
6. Remove the Encoder strip from the printer

Re-position the Encoder Strip on your all in one Printer

To re-position the encoder strip, perform the following steps:

1. Remove the power cord from the unit.

2. Lift the lid of the unit, just below the scanner portion of the All-In-One, to expose the inside of the unit 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 down and then back up to get it back into the slot located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier.

NOTE
NOTE: There is a small slot that the encoder strip fits into, which is going to be 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 lid to the unit.

9. Re-connect the power supply to the All-In-One.

10. Press the Power button. If the encoder strip was re-seated correctly, the Hardware Error: 502 code will not appear.

See attached pictures, one for an out or place encoder strip, the other for a well placed strip.

Other faults that can bring up this error is a carriage rail that needs cleaning and oiling (so you might want to do that while your inside the thing), and also obstructions to the paper ways. Try removing paper jams, and put the printer upside down to shake loose anything that might jam the mechanism.

Good luck!

This was originally posted by member silly girl 5 years ago for this model printer. and same error code.

Hi There, Please follow the below steps to get off this error :
Re-position the Encoder Strip on your Printer

To re-position the encoder strip, perform the following steps:

1. Remove the power cord from the unit.

2. Lift the lid of the unit, just below the scanner portion of the All-In-One, to expose the inside of the unit 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 down and then back up to get it back into the slot located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier.

NOTE
NOTE: There is a small slot that the encoder strip fits into, which is going to be 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 lid to the unit.

9. Re-connect the power supply to the All-In-One.

10. Press the Power button. If the encoder strip was re-seated correctly, the Hardware Error: 502 code will not appear.

See attached pictures, one for an out or place encoder strip, the other for a well placed strip.

Other faults that can bring up this error is a carriage rail that needs cleaning and oiling (so you might want to do that while your inside the thing), and also obstructions to the paper ways. Try removing paper jams, and put the printer upside down to shake loose anything that might jam the mechanism.

Hi,

This one's a bit tricky, but fixable. Here's what I found:

Re-position the Encoder Strip on your all in one Printer

To re-position the encoder strip, perform the following steps:

1. Remove the power cord from the unit.

2. Lift the lid of the unit, just below the scanner portion of the All-In-One, to expose the inside of the unit 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 down and then back up to get it back into the slot located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier.

NOTE
NOTE: There is a small slot that the encoder strip fits into, which is going to be 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 lid to the unit.

9. Re-connect the power supply to the All-In-One.

10. Press the Power button. If the encoder strip was re-seated correctly, the Hardware Error: 502 code will not appear.
Other faults that can bring up this error is a carriage rail that needs cleaning and oiling (so you might want to do that while your inside the thing), and also obstructions to the paper ways. Try removing paper jams, and put the printer upside down to shake loose anything that might jam the mechanism. Hope i helped you.

Thanks for using ' Fixya ' and have a nice day!!

hi ., it s not easy to get an encoder strip that actually fits with a dell printer .
in case the strip is in good condition , and only is hanging loose ..u can try to fit it with ur own hands . on either side ., 

the model 926 is a very old printer , and so honestly ..the money he would want to spend buying a encoder strip ....u can actually get a new printer with new warranty +new carts + tech support ..

good luck .

Re-position the Encoder Strip on your all in one Printer

To re-position the encoder strip, perform the following steps:

1. Remove the power cord from the unit.

2. Lift the lid of the unit, just below the scanner portion of the All-In-One, to expose the inside of the unit 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 down and then back up to get it back into the slot located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier.

NOTE
NOTE: There is a small slot that the encoder strip fits into, which is going to be 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 lid to the unit.

9. Re-connect the power supply to the All-In-One.

10. Press the Power button. If the encoder strip was re-seated correctly, the Hardware Error: 502 code will not appear.

See attached pictures, one for an out or place encoder strip, the other for a well placed strip.

Other faults that can bring up this error is a carriage rail that needs cleaning and oiling (so you might want to do that while your inside the thing), and also obstructions to the paper ways. Try removing paper jams, and put the printer upside down to shake loose anything that might jam the mechanism.

Sounds like the Encoder Strip, but without the Brand Printer and model number, I cant be 100% sure.
If it is the encoder strip, this is what the printer uses to tell where the carrriage is located at. Without it, the printer won't work.
You can try to repair but it will take a little time. 1st make sure that the encoder strip isn't torn at either ends where the spring goes in.
The encoder strip goes from 1 end to the other end, and it also goes through a small opening in the back of the carriage unit.
If you have a make and model, I could be a little more specific.

Good luck.

Is it just loose or out of its slot or is it faulty and you need a new one?

I tried for hours to reattach my encoder strip, and finally figured out the way to do it after reading many web postings, and my own trial and error.
The key is to use a "dental mirror" that you can pick up at a pharmacy or hardware store for about $5. (Perhaps a small compact mirror may also work.) And you need to focus light back there. (I used a head lamp.)
The problem is you just can not see the small slot through which the encoder strip must be threaded from the front of the printer. It sits in back of the ink cartridges. This thin slot "tunnel" goes though a rectangular piece of plastic. You can feel the rectangular piece of plastic in back of the ink cartridges, and looking with the dental mirror you can see how small the slots are on the right and left side, through which the encoder strip must be threaded. After "seeing" these small slots using the dental mirror, you then can feel them with the tip of a fingernail, and know exactly what you are aiming for as you then feed the encoder strip through. (It doesn't make any difference of you feed the strip from the left or the right, but the down arrow end of the encoder stip must end up on the right when you later attach it to the wire tab.) I fed the strip "blind" after I had formed a strong mental image of exacly what I was trying to do, and now being able to feel the small slot I was aiming for with the tip of a fingernail. (It is tough working in the small space in back of the ink cartridges, and if you have really big hands and fingers it may be impossible. I did not want to use forceps or tweezers because of a fear of damaging the encoder strip.)
The encoder strip then must be attached with the down arrow end on the right attaching to a flimsy looking wire on the right side of the printer. The left end of the encoder strip must be attached to a metal tab on the left side of the printer. You will need to hold tension on the encoder strip, and manually push the sliding ink cartridge back and forth out of the way as you attatch both ends.
(It's probably a good idea to gently clean the encoder stip of all your fingerprints and any smudged ink with a tissue after you get it back in place. Also be sure to clean the metal bar the ink cartridges slide back and forth on, so you don't get error message 0502.)
Be prepared for this to be a very frustating experience!
You will be maddened by how many times it will take to thread the encoder strip though the slot, how difficult it will be to catch the end of the encoder strip on the wire and metal tabs, and how you will have to figure out how to hold tension on the encoder strip so one end won't fall off as you attach the other end.
But once you use the dental mirror to see where you have to thread the encoder strip, and once you see the wire and metal tabs to which the ends of the encoder strip must be attached, then YOU CAN DO IT! It just takes persistance.