Summer is here and you’re ready to start grilling some of your favorite foods. The burgers and dogs are ready to go, but when you turn on the grill, nothing happens. Believe it or not, when a grill isn’t working properly, it’s usually due to some easy fix that anyone can resolve.
If you’re like me, you tend to do all the troubleshooting by yourself. After all, no one wants to spend hours trying to contact customer service and wait weeks to get it resolved. Even worse, you don’t want to pay a repair man to come out and fix something that you can likely fix yourself.
Even if you’re not mechanically inclined, there are some Pit Boss troubleshooting tips you can follow to see what’s causing the grill to not work.
*This page contains affiliate links to products I recommend. If you purchase something from this page, I may receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you.
Why Doesn’t My Pit Boss Grill Turn On? 5 Troubleshooting Tips
If you properly maintain your Pit Boss, it will work for several years. Overtime you will have to replace the fuse, RTD probe, or auger, but for the most part it will work when you need it.
Below are some of the most common reasons a Pit Boss pellet grill won’t turn on are:
- It’s not plugged in
- The grill is plugged into a bad outlet or extension chord
- Tripping the GFI
- The power chord on the Pit Boss may be damaged
- The fuse may be burnt on the grill
These are the the most common issues a Pit Boss won’t turn on. So, now let’s take a look at how to troubleshoot each step.
Troubleshooting A Pit Boss Pellet Grill
Before throwing away your grill, and run out and buy a new one, run through these steps one by one.
Step 1: It’s Not Plugged In
The Pit Boss is an electrical appliance that needs to be plugged a 110-120V outlet. These are the standard outlets in homes throughout the United States.
It’s not uncommon to hear a 110 volt outlet referred to as a 120 volt. There is some differences between the two outlets, but both will power the Pit Boss pellet grill.
You may also want to ensure the power outlet is working properly. The best way to do this is to plug in a hair dryer or other household appliance to make sure it’s working properly.
Step 2: Check the Outlet and Extension Chord
If the grill is plugged in and still won’t turn on, check the extension chord. First things first, you’ll inspect the connections to make sure they are not damaged, broken or have any obstructions.
You’ll also want to do a visual inspection for any bare wires.
Then use a multi meter to test out the ground side of the connector. If the chord is good, the multimeter will read 0 ohms. On the other hand, if the meter displays high or fluctuating ohms, the chord should be replaced.
This video will walk you through step by step on how to properly test an electrical chord with a multi-meter.
Check out this post for the best electrical chords for a Pit Boss pellet grill.
Step 3: The Grill Tripped the GFI
Every household in the United States has a GFI, also known as Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters. They are designed for your safety, and will trip for various reasons such as; moisture, overloaded circuit, faulty GFI, and electrical faults from storms.
If the Pit Boss keeps tripping the GFI, then there is more amperage flowing through the electrical wire than it can handle. Don’t worry, the Pit Boss only requires about 250 watts and 3.1 amps, which won’t trip a GFI.
In the rare case the grill does trip the GFI, wait a few minutes and reset the circuit on your fuse box.
Step 4: The Pit Boss Power Chord May Be Damaged
The Pit Boss has a 6 ½ foot long power chord like most other pellet grills, including the Traeger. Inspect the chord to ensure it doesn’t have any wire showing and is securely attached to the back of the grill.
If for some reason it is damaged and needs to be replaced, you can pick up a spare on Amazon or the Pit Boss website. This fits Camp Chef, Traeger, and PIt Boss grills.
To replace the chord, remove all the pellets from the hopper. I haven’t replaced a power chord, but after watching several videos, you’ll likely have to remove the panel on the bottom and unscrew the hopper for easy access.
Search YouTube as you’ll likely find several helpful videos for replacing the power chord on the Pit Boss pellet grill.
Step 5: The Pit Boss May Have A Bad Fuse
Last but not least, make sure the Pit Boss grill doesn’t have a blown fuse. To check the fuse, remove the bottom panel to get to the dashboard.
The fuse on the Pit Boss is located on the back of the control board. If the fuse is black, it needs to be replaced. A fuse shouldn’t need to be replaced often, read this article if the fuses keep blowing in your Pit Boss.
Final Word
These are some of the most common reasons a Pit Boss pellet grill won’t turn on. As mentioned, there’s no reason to contact customer support or a mechanic to help you fix things. Instead, follow the guide to find out why your grill isn’t working.
As you continue using your Pit Boss regularly, you’ll better be able to handle these kinds of hiccups. Plus, you’ll start learning why your grill works like it does as well as how it cooks and the hot zones.
Best of all you won’t stress out when you see a error code on the dashboard or the auger fan won’t work. Instead, you’ll fix the issue and carry on with your grilling.
Related Articles