Quick Answer: When a Pit Boss, Traeger or Weber SmokeFire pellet grill won’t light, won’t hold temperature, or throws an error code, the cause is usually one of four parts. The auger isn’t feeding pellets, often because of a jam from wet pellets. The temperature probe (an RTD, or a thermocouple on the SmokeFire) has a loose connection or has failed. The igniter isn’t heating. Or the controller has failed. Let the grill finish its shutdown and cool completely, unplug it, then check each one in order.
I’m Master Tech Scott with HomeWise Services. Pellet grills get a workout in San Antonio. Here’s what the manufacturers’ own guides say to check.
⚠️ Safety first: Pit Boss says to always disconnect the power cord before inspection, cleaning or service, and to make sure the grill is completely cooled. Weber warns that hazardous voltage is present while the grill is plugged in. Both Weber and Traeger say to let the shutdown cycle finish rather than pulling the plug partway through. So let it finish, let the fire pot go cold, then unplug.
Auger motor: is the grill getting pellets?
The auger carries pellets from the hopper to the fire pot. Traeger notes it’s normal for the auger to pause between turns.
On many grills the auger motor has a small cooling fan you can see. Traeger’s troubleshooting uses it as a quick test:
- Fan spins, but no pellets drop: the motor is working, and the auger is most likely jammed. Clumped or wet pellets are a common cause.
- Fan doesn’t spin: unplug the grill and check the auger motor’s wire connector, then the motor itself.
Weber’s SmokeFire guide uses E1 for an auger jam and E7 for a motor failure.
About wet pellets: Weber says pellets exposed to rain or high humidity can expand, break apart and clog the auger. Store pellets airtight, and swap moist pellets for dry ones. With our Gulf humidity and pop-up storms, that one matters here.
RTD temperature probe: when the grill can’t read its own heat
The RTD (Resistance Temperature Detector) tells the controller how hot the cook chamber is.
- Traeger Err/Er1 (non-WiFi grills): a bad connection between the RTD and the controller. Unplug the grill and reseat the RTD wires.
- Traeger Er2: the RTD has failed and needs to be replaced.
- Pit Boss Er1: the temperature probe wire isn’t making a connection. Check the probe wires and connectors to the control board.
- Weber SmokeFire E8: a thermocouple error (the SmokeFire uses a thermocouple, not an RTD). Weber directs owners to contact them for a replacement.
Traeger says swings of more than 4°F aren’t normal, and a greasy probe can be cleaned with a natural degreaser or rubbing alcohol.
Controller: the brain of the grill
The controller (control board) runs the auger, fan and igniter based on what the probe reads. Pit Boss lists a faulty control board as one cause of a grill with no power, along with a blown fuse or a tripped GFCI outlet. Check the outlet and the fuse first.
Rule out the simpler causes (connections, probe, igniter) before blaming the controller.
Fire pot igniter: no heat, no fire
The igniter (Traeger calls it the hot rod; Weber uses a glow plug) heats the pellets in the fire pot to start the fire.
- Set the grill to SMOKE.
- Hold your hand above the fire pot and feel for heat. Traeger and Pit Boss both describe this check. Don’t touch it. Weber warns never to touch the burn pot or glow plug to see if it’s hot.
- No heat? On Traeger non-WiFi grills, unplug and reseat the igniter connection.
- Still nothing? Traeger’s wire swap test helps tell a bad igniter from a bad controller.
Traeger notes a failing igniter can trip a GFCI, and the hot rod holds heat, so let it cool fully.
🔥 Grease fire safety: Traeger says to keep the lids closed and not to use water or flour on a grill fire. If the fire is out of control, call the fire department. Pit Boss notes grease has a flash point and recommends cooking very greasy food under 350°F.
FAQ
Why does my pellet grill keep showing Er1?
On Traeger and Pit Boss grills, Er1 points to the temperature probe connection. Let the grill cool, unplug it, and reseat the probe wires at the controller. If it comes back, the probe or controller needs a closer look.
Should I unplug my grill if it catches fire?
No. Traeger says not to unplug it during a fire. Keep the lid closed, don’t use water, and call the fire department if it’s out of control.
Do you charge for a diagnosis?
There’s no free diagnostic. The $80 service fee covers the on-site diagnosis and is credited toward the repair if you go ahead with it.
Need your pellet grill looked at?
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Sources: Traeger: Auger Not Turning · Traeger: Err/Er1/Er2/Er4 · Traeger: RTD · Traeger: LEr Error Code · Traeger: Failed to Ignite · Traeger: Wire Swap Test · Traeger: Grill Fires · Pit Boss PB260PSP2 Owner’s Manual, Troubleshooting · Weber SmokeFire EX4/EX6 Owner’s Guide
Scott, HomeWise Services, (210) 580-6670
20710 Huebner Rd, San Antonio, TX 78258. Serving San Antonio and the area within 30 miles.
This article is general information, not a professional assessment.
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