My printer list it problem as error 0502 my printer is not printing clear

The 0502 error code indicates either a faulty cartridge is detected or the encoder strip (transparent strip) is dislodged from its position. Refer to this article in the Lexmark website on Error 0502 on the Lexmark X6150/X6170 Printer LCD Display to determine and resolve the problem. Thanks.

After months of use, your printer might get the habit of stopping in the middle of a page and showing "Hardware Error 0502" on the LCD display. If you leave the printer alone for a while, it might start printing again. Then again, it might not. Pretty annoying.

The Lexmark support site will let you power off, remove the power cord for 30 seconds, take out the cartridges and fiddle with some encoder strip. This whole procedure might take you up to 30 minutes and it will not help (been there, done that).

On the multi function machine seems to be a coating on the metal rod that the cartridges travel on. Just wipe this rod with a kleenex and the problem seems to go away. Somehow it presents a drag on the cartridges and causes an error.

Clean that with a paper towel. The towel will be black from the ink residue, but you will be able to print again.

The 0502 error indicates either a problem with the encoder strip or a faulty black/color cartridge. Refer to this article from the Lexmark website on Error 0502 on the Lexmark X6150/X6170 Printer LCD Display to determine the cause of the problem and resolve the issue. If error continues even after following the steps, please contact Lexmark technical support for additional assistance. Thanks.

Refer to this article from the Lexmark website on Error 0502 on the Lexmark X6150/X6170 Printer LCD Display. If error continues even after following the steps, contact Lexmark technical support for additional assistance. Thanks.

The 0502 error can have any of four possible causes:
- A faulty black/photo cartridge
- A faulty color photo cartridge
- A dirty encoder strip
- The encoder strip being out of position
.... most of the time, it's the encoder strip that is giving the problem..
goto
http://support.lexmark.com/index?userlocale=EN_US&locale=EN&page=content&segment=SUPPORT&productCode=LEXMARK_X5150&id=HO2707

he real answer is given by a person called ‘clem’: Hardware Error: 0502.
On the multi function machine seems to be a coating on the metal rod that the cartridges travel on. Just wipe this rod with a kleenex and the problem seems to go away. Somehow it presents a drag on the cartridges and causes an error.
Clem
(from fixyourownprinter.com)
This works! Clean the ****** with a paper towel (another page talks about re-lubricating the thing, but that was not necessary in my case). The towel will be black (ink residu, presumably), but there you go printing to your heart’s desire again.

ok sir pls see the link this is the helpfull for the error 0502 in lexmark x160 all in one inkjet printer...ok

http://blog.forret.com/2006/02/lexmark-printers-with-hardware-error-0502/

check out this
http://www.fixya.com/support/t114419-error_0502

check out the solution here http://blog.forret.com/2006/02/lexmark-printers-with-hardware-error-0502/

I did as suggested by another poster, clean the area of travel(ribbon,travel bar, etc) with a clean damp cloth and now it seems the problem has corrected it self
so far anyways ........