You just bought a fresh steak to throw on the Pit Boss grill. But when you turn on the grill, you notice the Pit Boss not igniting. We experienced this problem with a friend’s grill last weekend, so I decided to research to find out what causes the Pit Boss Igniter problems, and here’s everything I found.
Pit Boss Igniter Problems
If your Pit Boss won’t ignite, it could be due to the extension cord, electrical outlet, the grill’s control board, or the fuses might be blown. Unfortunately, it will take a little bit of leg work to figure out what’s causing the problem.
However, once you know what it is, you’ll know the proper steps to take. Don’t worry. We’ll walk you through how to figure out what’s causing the problem and what steps to take once you figure it out.
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Related: Why Does My Pit Boss Keep Shutting Down?
If you feel uncomfortable troubleshooting your pellet grill, then contact Pit Boss’s customer support. I’m not an expert by any means, but I’ve researched to see what other Pit Boss owners did and put the information in one place just for you!
Pit Boss Won’t Ignite? Possible Reasons & What to Do About It!
Check Your Extension Chord
It could be something as simple as a faulty extension cord. Check the extension cord thoroughly, and if you notice the cord to lose, too short, hot to the touch, cracked, missing essential safety features, or if you’re using an indoor one instead of an outdoor one.
If the extension cord you’re using is damaged or it’s just old, it may be best just to replace it. It’s perfectly fine to use an extension cord with your Pit Boss, which is good because the power cord that comes with the Pit Boss is only about 5 feet long or less.
Just make sure the extension cord is the correct gauge and used with a GFCI breaker. Make sure it specifically says it is indoor/outdoor or outdoor only. It should also be a 3-prong grounded one.
Test the Outlet
All Pit Boss appliances work on most GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets, just like the outlets in your bathroom and kitchen. If you’re using an outdoor outlet, it likely is a GFCI outlet.
To test the outlet, try plugging the Pit Boss directly into the outlet without the extension cord. If your Pit Boss still isn’t working, you may need to test the outlet to see if it’s functioning correctly.
I’m no electrical expert, but this article will walk you through how to use and read a multimeter. If the outlet is not working or doesn’t pass the test, it’s time to call an electrician.
Check The Connection to the Igniter to the Control Board
Some people who have experienced this issue have found it as simple as a loose wiring connection. All companies have a quality control inspection before the grill hits the marketplace, but sometimes a faulty one can get through.
This will require you to remove the control board to ensure that all the wires are correctly connected. Pit Boss uses a color-coding system to ensure everything is plugged in correctly and in the right spot.
If you’ve recently replaced the control board or replaced the fuses, it could be something as simple: you misconnected the cords. It happens, especially if you’ve never done it before.
The igniter wires are purple and white, so be sure to check those!
No harm, no foul. Just fix the connections and ensure they are secure. If this was the problem, the ignitor should work correctly.
Do the Fuses Need to Be Replaced?
The control board requires a 5 amp, 120-volt Fast-Blow fuse to work correctly. If the fuse has blown in the Pit Boss, it needs to be changed. To check the fuse, you will need to pull out the control panel.
If it’s time to be replaced, you can purchase the Pit Boss fuses .
Time to Replace The Pit Boss Igniter
If you’ve performed all the following checks, and the igniter still isn’t working, you may need to replace the igniter. It’s not hard, and you can order a new Pit Boss igniter/Hot Rod with an extra fuse on Amazon by clicking here.
It’s a great deal, and even if your grill is under warranty, I’d recommend getting it. Some people have said they have had to wait five weeks for a replacement. The Pit Boss 5-year warranty can help you replace certain parts.
You can contact support to get a new one for free under warranty; at least you’ll have a backup for when you need to replace it again.
Official Pit Boss Guide On Replacing The Hot Rod Igniter
Replacing an igniter on a Pit Boss pellet grill isn’t as scary as it seems. All you need is a Phillips head screwdriver and this video.
This video was created by Pit Boss to help people how to perform maintenance on their grills. The video below walks you through on how to replace the igniter on a brand new grill.
If you’re replacing it on an older grill, or one that’s been used, you’ll want to clean your Pit Boss grill before you start the process. Vaccuum out the ashes from the bottom of the grill and the burn pot. Don’t forget to empty out the hopper.
I’ll quickly run you through the steps from the official Pit Boss process of how to replace the hot rod igniter. These are the same exact steps they talk about in the video above.
- Start by removing the grill grates and the flame broiler, so you can access the fire pot.
- Remove the screws holding the firepot in place using a Phillips screwdriver.
- Once the screws are removed, remove the set screw that is holding the igniter in place.
- When loosened, feed the igniter back through the burn tube.
- Next, remove the bottom plate underneath the pellet hopper.
- Cut the three zip ties holding the wires, then pull the igniter wires back through the burn tube, into the hopper.
- Once the igniter is out, disconnect it from the purple and white wires.
- Reverse the process to install the new igniter.
- Replace and tighten the bottom housing under the hopper.
The video above will walk you through on how to remove the old igniter and replace it with a brand new one. We all know things work differently when your grill has been used for a few years.
Your grill may be rusted, the screws may be worn, and etc. Things don’t work as flawlessly as it does with a brand new unused grill.
This video will walk you through how to replace the Pit Boss igniter on an older grill that has been used.
Conclusion
It’s common to experience some problems with a Pit Boss grill, especially if you’ve had it for a while. If the igniter isn’t lighting, it is likely one of the issues above.
The last resort will be to replace the igniter. If the grill still doesn’t work after you’ve replaced it, you will want to contact customer support, especially if your grill is still under warranty.
If you have an older grill, I suggest watching the second video that walks you through on how to complete the process on a grill that’s been used for a few years.