Hardware Error 0502

I just fixed my printer that had the same error message.  Open your printer as if to change the ink cartridges.  This error message has nothing to do with your ink cartridges. You will see a thin plastic strip going from one side of the printer to the other side and will be behind the ink cartridge carrier.  One side possibly came undone.  This strip of plastic has to be up and going from side to side or the printer won't work.  They call this strip an "encoder".  I don't know what it actually does but you do need to have it in the printer correctly for the printer to work.  Again the "encoder strip" runs from the left side to the right side and runs behind where the ink cartridges sit.  It is eay to locate if you move the cartridge carrier to one side.  The strip is see through grey in color.  In order to reattach you will have to move the cartridge carrier the left side, and hook up the strip on the right side first (letter D). The strip hooks to a wire in the shape of "  }  "  you will have to fold the tip of the strip in order to get it to hook into the little spike in the middle of the wire.  Once you attach it don't let go of the strip and hold it taught!! Slide the ink cartridge carrier to the right and attach the left side.  The hook-up on the right side don't look like the hook-up on the left side.  On the left side there is a hole with a little piece of metal sticking out.  The hole at the end of the strip(letter F) fits on the little piece of metal sticking out.   

Message Edited by timberlee on 02-21-2005 02:59 PM

on the left side, the arrow should be pointing up not down

I didn't clean mine but it would be okay to clean it with a dry tissue. 

and yes the letter  F  is upside down when the arrow is pointing up on the left hand side.