Pit Boss Igniter Not Working [Why And How To Fix/Replace]

Grilling is one of America’s oldest traditions. Most families spend their holidays throwing barbecue parties and cooking meat on the grill for their loved ones.

Pit boss is a company that is well known for making very high quality grills and smokers. But, if you have been a user of the company for a while, you might have faced an issue with the pit boss igniter not working.

This can be very scary at first but is in reality nothing to worry about.

Most often, there is an issue with the control board or the fuse. In special cases, the problem might also be with the electrical outlet, the weather, or even the extension cord at use.

Why Pit Boss Igniter Not Working?

There could be many reasons why your pit boss is not igniting. The reason could be as simple as a loose wire, or as complex as a broken combustion fan. Let’s take a look at a few reasons why the igniter tends to fail at times.

1. Damaged Or Phony Extension Cords

Smokers are often placed in our backyards and connected to the outlets using extension cords.

If the extension cord is not of high quality, there might be a problem with the smoker functioning properly. The extension cord might have been torn or damaged.

2. Outlet

Sometimes, there is a problem with the outlet as well. If your smoker is igniting just fine when connected to another outlet, the problem is with the outlet that you were initially using.

3. Combustion Fan

Combustion fans can sometimes get very dirty. There’s a lot of dirt and grease buildup on them. When the combustion fan becomes too heavy with grease, it does not operate right.

As the combustion fan does not spin properly, the igniter does not function.

4. Loose Wire

There are a lot of wires that are connected to smokers. If one becomes loose or is not connected to its right outlet, the igniter might not work properly.

This is a very simple issue in connectivity and can be fixed easily.

5. Igniter

Sometimes the problem remains in the igniter itself. For some issues, like using low quality or wet pellets, ashes build up, and the igniter might stop working properly.

In a scenario as such this, the igniter has to be replaced.

How To Fix Pit Boss Igniter Problems?

So, your Pit Boss grill is not working or igniting anymore. What to do?

If you are facing this problem while in your warranty period, you should surely reach out to their customer service for help.

But, if you have passed the warranty period, or want to try some home remedies first, you can try the following steps.

1. Check The Outlet

This is one of the first things that you should do when you see your pit boss pellet grill igniter not working.

Although it seems like a very small issue, it is oftentimes the main cause of the igniter not working.

Commonly, Pit Boss smokers use an outdoor outlet or a GFCI outlet. The first thing that you can do, is to directly plug in the pit boss smoker. The igniter should work just fine.

If the igniter does not function properly even after plugging it in directly, try and connect different appliances to the outlet. If those appliances don’t work as well, it’s time for you to call an electrician.

But, if other appliances work just fine, but only the smoker malfunctions, the problem might be elsewhere.

2. Check Extension Cords

Sometimes, extension cords get cracked or even can get torn. This might be the main reason why the igniter on your pit boss grill is not working.

Replace your extension cord with a good quality outdoor one. Extension cords that are three-prong grounded will be the right gauge for your smoker. With that, you will also have to use a ground fault circuit interrupter breaker.

3. Check Combustion Fan

When a Pit Boss grill has been with you for quite some time, there’s a possibility that the combustion fan starts to deteriorate.

Because there is a restriction in the movement of the combustion fan, the smoker’s heating capability is negatively affected.

To solve this issue, you can either replace the combustion fan entirely or try and give it a good cleaning.

4. Check For Loose Wire

As we have mentioned in our intro, sometimes your pit boss grill might not be functioning properly because of any loose connections.

Oftentimes, the smoker is connected to a power source using an extension cord. The transfer of power through so many wires can sometimes cause an issue with the performance of the device.

Therefore, you will have to check if all of the wires are correctly connected. As Pit Boss uses a color coded wiring approach, fixing this issue will be very easy.

4. Check The Igniter

If all other parts of your smoker are working just fine, the problem might just be in the igniter itself. If nothing else works, the next thing that you need to do is replace the igniter.

When To Replace The Pit Boss Igniter?

Depending on how often you use your smoker, the igniter should last a few years. You will have to replace your Pit Boss igniter once you Start facing issues with it.

Before you replace the pit boss igniter, you will have to check whether it is actually the source of the problem.

Follow our instructions above, and check whether all other parts of your smoker are working properly. If you are sure that the igniter is the problem, you will have to replace it.

How To Replace Pit Boss Igniter?

So, you are 100% sure that the igniter is the problem, and now it’s time to replace it. Fortunately, the process is not that hard and can be done easily at home.

Follow the steps below if you want to replace your igniter successfully.

1. Clean The Smoker

The smoker has to be cleaned properly before you start the installation process.

You can do this by using a vacuum. Remember to remove all of the ashes from the bottom of the grill. While you’re at it, you should also try and clean the hopper to remove any pellets.

2. Remove Flame Broiler

Next, you will have to remove the flame broiler so that you get complete access to the fire pot. You might also have to remove the grill grates.

3. Replace The Igniter

You will then use a set of screwdrivers to take out the screw that holds the igniter and the fire pot.

After that, take out the igniter via the burn tube.

During this process, you will have to remove the bottom plate that is placed below the pellet hopper.

Usually, there are three zip ties that hold all the wires together. You have to cut open the zip tie to get access to the igniter wires. Disconnect the white and purple wires and install the igniter.

Put back all of the parts that you took off, secure them properly, and you’re done!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How To Test An Outlet?

Plug in multiple devices to see whether they work on the outlet. If all of the appliances work, except for your smoker, the outlet is not the issue.

2. What Kind Of Extension Cords Should Be Used With Pit Boss Grill?

You should use an outdoor extension cord that is durable with your pit boss grill smoker. The cord has to be 3 prongs grounded as well.

3. How To Clean A Pit Boss Grill Combustion Fan?

You can use a soft scrubber to get off all of the greases from a combustion fan. You can use a mixture of vinegar and dish soap to do so.

4. How Often Should You Clean a Pit Boss Fan Combustion Fan?

You should clean the combustion fan when you see it becoming too dirty. This might be after you have cooked for a large number of people or used the grill for quite some time.

Final Verdict

Your pit boss igniter not working is not a challenging issue if you can figure out the root cause. Oftentimes, the issue remains in the outlet or the wires.

The issue could also be in the combustion fan. In rare cases, the igniter fails and needs to be replaced. We’ve covered solutions for every type of problem and you should be able to solve this issue with ease.

You may also read:

• How to Adjust the P Setting on a Pit Boss? Check Here!
• Pit Boss Temperature problems – Check how to fix