Troubleshooting Red Blinking Lights and Printer Head Jamming After Motherboard and Printhead Replacement

Question: 
I get two red blinking lights after replacing my printer's motherboard and printhead. Right after it started, I found the printhead jammed, and I had to unjam it by hand through the left gears. Now, when I switch the printer on, the printhead crashes over to the left. Do I have to change gears, and how? I’ve already ordered a cable from you, just in case, but I need advice on getting my printer to work. It’s been down for more than a month, and I’m waiting for it to be fixed! Thank you.
 
Answer:
We apologize for the delay in replying to your query. We know that printer problems can be time-sensitive issues as well, particularly when your hardware has been down for a long time. We’re trying to give the most thorough and considerate guidance we can. In addition, your support for our YouTube channel helps us continue to develop and refine our expertise; without you, this would not be possible!
 
Diagnosing the Issue
The two red blinking lights and the printhead slamming to the left suggest CR problems and possible misalignment of the CR encoder scale or the gears. Here are some detailed steps to diagnose and fix these issues:
Check the CR Encoder Scale
Focusing on the incident, the CR encoder scale is a transparent plastic strip placed at the back of the carriage. It aids the printer in knowing the precise location of the printhead while in action. If the encoder scale is not inserted properly in the back of the carriage through the sensor in the back of the printer, the printer cannot read the position correctly, and the printhead will move erratically or slam to one side.
Solution:

1. Please turn off the printer and disconnect it from power.
2. I've included the CR encoder scale at the back of the carriage.
3. This keeps the scale free from dust or ink residue. To clean it gently, use isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth.
4. Could you ensure the encoder scale is correctly inserted through the sensor on the back of the carriage? The sensor is typically a small rectangular slot; the scale needs to slide directly through it.
5. Could you put the printer back together and test it out?

• Check our YouTube video If you need a visual walkthrough: How to Fix Printer CR Encoder Scale Problems [https://youtu.be/7JovBDaamtU]

Inspect and Adjust the Gears
It could be that the gears were misaligned when you manually unlocked the printhead with gears. We need to align the carriage and align neatly on the rail to prevent slamming.
Solution:

1. Please look at the gears you touched on the left side of the printer.
2. If a printer service manual is available, you can refer to it for proper gear positions. Heresay: Most printers have alignment marks, telltale marks, default indices on gears, etc.
3. Gently rotate the gears in a clockwise motion until they are in their default states.
4. Now that it is aligned slide the printhead back and forth manually to ensure there is no movement resistance.
5. Could you put the printer back together and test it?

Inspect the New Cable
Now that you have renamed a replacement cable, could you ensure that the cable connecting the printhead to the motherboard is secure and not damaged? The printhead's erratic behavior can be caused by loose or incorrectly seated wires.
Solution:

1. Please ensure the ribbon cable is seated correctly on the printhead and the motherboard.
2. Could you check the cable for visible damage, like creasing or fraying?
3. When the new cable arrives, replace the old one with its new counterpart and test the printer.

Testing the Printer after fixing the Scale and Gears
Thread the CR encoder scale to ensure it is completely secured. The Infographic curve is horizontal and in alignment with the drive gears and power on your printer. If the printhead no longer slams to the left and moves smoothly, that should be the problem.
Error Code Troubleshooting
If these suggestions do not correct the problem and the red blinking lights persist, check the printer's error log and confirm the error code. Doing this will help identify any lingering issues, such as a bad printhead or deeper hardware issues.
 
Please Note:
Unlike most other technologies, troubleshooting printer problems is tricky because these are very much hands-on problems. Unfortunately, we cannot offer remote troubleshooting, advice, or printer repair assistance. However, a local diagnostic center (BCH Technologies Printer Repair Service) performs on-site diagnostics and repairs. Due to the great demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so it may take several weeks until your printer will fit our schedule. We will fix a whole printer or parts with instructions. Our rates may not be the cheapest, but we suggest you self-help by researching the internet. We have a YouTube Channel, so start there and then use the search icon to look for what you need. YouTube also recommends valuable videos from other channels about your specific printer model.
Again, thank you for reaching out. We hope the above steps help you troubleshoot the issue and get your printer running quickly. If you need any further assistance, please feel free to contact us!