How do you clean bar and the ink holder on lexmark series x 5100

Hi David,

Unless you have a very expensive printer or you know of a store that has a wide range of used printers, it won't be worth your time and money to order a new cartridge tray for your printer.
I would suggest buying a new 730 series printer and keeping the old one for spares.
If however you're curious as to the price of a new cartridge holder it would be your best bet to browse to www.lexmark.com and do a parts enquiry from the website.
Best wishes,
Graemevm

It could be that your cartridge needs cleaning. Open the Lexmark Solution Center. Click Start, Programs (Windows XP: All programs), Lexmark Z600 Series. Click the Maintenance tab. Under Select a maintenance tool, select Clean to fix horizontal streaks. Click Print. If the printed bars in one color fade on either side of the page or are shorter than the other bars, the cartridge is running low on ink of that particular color. If there are thin lines running through the bars or if the diagonal lines at the bottom are broken, the cartridge may need cleaning. Follow these instructions:

1. Remove the problematic cartridge or cartridges from the printer.


2. Take a warm damp paper towel and set the ink cartridge right-side-up on it so that the ink nozzles are against the towel.


3. Hold the cartridge in this position for about 15 seconds.


4. Wipe the printhead (on the bottom where the ink comes out) across in one direction only (left to right) until it looks clean.


5. Next, dab the cartridge on the towel to make sure that the ink is flowing.


6. Use a clean part of your dry paper towel to make sure that the cartridges are dry and then snap them back into the printer.


7. Select Old Cartridge install in the software.


8. Repeat the Clean Nozzle Page test one more time.


9. If the problem persists, you may need to replace the cartridge.

Source: How to Clean the Cartridges of the Lexmark Z615 Color Jetprinter in Windows

It sounds like something isn't physically "seating" in the cartridge holder, but maybe for some reason the ink dried out in the holder assembly, and trying to clean it with a qtip and alcohol might help (if you've only previously cleaned the cartridge).
Another thing that might be going on is that ribbon connector to the ink cartridge assembly might be slightly loose and not making a good connection on some of the copper traces, and you can try taking it off and reseating it, to see if that fixes the problem. However, if the warranty is still in effect (and it sounds like it is), I would have it serviced before doing anything that would jeopardize the warranty.
Here's Lexmark's support site:
http://www1.lexmark.com/content/en_us/about_us/contact_us.shtml
Good luck, and hope this helps.

5100 error means a Carriage Home Position Error.

Just make sure you remove the plastic strip covering the print head and the contact copper of the ink cartridge before you insert it to the cartridge holder.

Other possible solutions is that the cartridge is not properly seated on the carriage or cartridge holder. Once it is not properly seated the cover of the cartridge holder usually hit when it moves.

You may also clean the contact copper of the ink cartridge using an soft cloth or cotton moistened with alcohol to clean the surface. Please avoid touching the surface by your fingers.

It's mean your catridges overflow even from brand new catridges after a several prints or right after you refilled the catridges. Check to see if ink are smeared on the holder where the contact panel with the catridge. I have the same problem which I think lexmark have a proble and overlook.
Solution:
I use the klennex with a few drops of water to dampen and clean off those contact on the holder and my printer work again.
The refill ink work very well if you let it sit 24 hrs. Then before you print anything, you should run aligned the catridges a couple times then run clean catridges a couple times.
Print the test page to see how it's look and way you go.
Be sure not to leave any debris of klennex on those holder contact panel.

Dell Series 5 ink cartridges have a sensor in them that cannot be reset. Article on refilling Dell ink cartridges.

Dell Series 5 ink cartridges can be purchased at Staples, Walmart or Dell's Website.



regards
iversh

A very helpful rating is appreciated for answering your query...

ERROR 5100 means that there is some foreign object blocking your ink cartridge carriage that disables it from moving. It may be a piece of paper or a scotch tape or a staple wire. You may try cleaning also the encoder strip with a moist tissue paper. Furthermore, you may also try cleaning CAREFULLY the contact points of the cartridge holder and the cartridge itself (those shiny bronze pins) with a moist lint-free cloth.

OK. It sounds like there's something on the carriage bar restricting the movement of the ink carrier. Perhaps some ink got on the bar.
Try taking a clean lintfree rag dampened with rubbing alcohol and clean the bar. This may have to be repeated a number of times to get the foreign matter off the bar and the ink carriage.
Let me know if this helps. iF it does not we can try something else.
Thanks.

http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/forums/inkjet/30183#1

Solution:
I use the klennex with a few drops of water to dampen and clean off those contact on the holder and my printer work again.
The refill ink work very well if you let it sit 24 hrs. Then before you print anything, you should run aligned the catridges a couple times then run clean catridges a couple times.
Print the test page to see how it's look and way you go.
Be sure not to leave any debris of klennex on those holder contact panel. OR
This error can happen if you refill your own carts. Try taking the cart that causes the error out and placing it on a water-soaked paper towel. This will 'wick' the excess ink out of the cart. See if that works.

http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/forums/inkjet/30183#1
This error can happen if you refill your own carts. Try taking the cart that causes the error out and placing it on a water-soaked paper towel. This will 'wick' the excess ink out of the cart. See if that works. OR

Solution:
I use the klennex with a few drops of water to dampen and clean off those contact on the holder and my printer work again.
The refill ink work very well if you let it sit 24 hrs. Then before you print anything, you should run aligned the catridges a couple times then run clean catridges a couple times.
Print the test page to see how it's look and way you go.
Be sure not to leave any debris of klennex on those holder contact panel.

Lexmark X5100 Hardware error0502