SmokeFire Won’t Start

[SteveSpy]

It died on my my last cook, I figured it was the chute that was clogged, but when I opened it up to inspect it today, everything was fine. I put everything back together and I started it up to grill some steaks at 475, it stayed at 85 and didn’t budge for 15 minutes. Now of course I don’t have time to troubleshoot, so I fired up my gas grill to grill my steaks (boooooo).

I just ordered a new flow plug on Amazon, hoping this is the issue…

 

[bbqking]

 

[JpsBBQ]

Check the fire pot for that dreaded carbon nugget some have mentioned. It can interfere with the glow plugs ability to light the pellets.

 

[SteveSpy]

Check the fire pot for that dreaded carbon nugget some have mentioned. It can interfere with the glow plugs ability to light the pellets.

Carbon nugget? Where exactly would that manifest itself? I have cleaned the fire pot thoroughly…

 

[JpsBBQ]

Carbon nugget? Where exactly would that manifest itself? I have cleaned the fire pot thoroughly…

It would be in the fire pot above or around the hot rod. You can easily tell if the hot rod is heating by starting it up and holding your hand/ finger near the rod. Do not touch, but you will feel the heat if working.

 

[SteveSpy]

Thanks. I cancelled my glow plug order. Ima open that sucker up nice and good and look through the fire pot carefully

 

[Goneincognito]

If it lit at all it will not be the glow plug.
Was 85 the ambient temp?
Depending on what pellets you are using (which could also be the issue), they may produce the "carbon nugget".
It's good practice to make sure the burn pot is clean before each cook.
It also means you have one less thing to troubleshoot should you have problems.

 

[SteveSpy]

If it lit at all it will not be the glow plug.
Was 85 the ambient temp?
Depending on what pellets you are using (which could also be the issue), they may produce the "carbon nugget".
It's good practice to make sure the burn pot is clean before each cook.
It also means you have one less thing to troubleshoot should you have problems.

Thanks, I am using Weber pellets. I will check the burn pot. 85 degrees in Texas, indeed.

 

[SteveSpy]

If it lit at all it will not be the glow plug.
Was 85 the ambient temp?
Depending on what pellets you are using (which could also be the issue), they may produce the "carbon nugget".
It's good practice to make sure the burn pot is clean before each cook.
It also means you have one less thing to troubleshoot should you have problems.

Ok I finally took the whole thing apart including the burn pot and there is no carbon nugget, I’m now very confused and worried because I have a brisket to smoke here soon and don’t want to embarrass myself. Anybody have any other ideas?

 

[JpsBBQ]

Well, if the glow plug gets hot and the auger sends pellets to the pot I don’t know what the deal is. I’m sure there’s something being overlooked.

I

 

[MrPhilGrillTX]

Well, if the glow plug gets hot and the auger sends pellets to the pot I don’t know what the deal is. I’m sure there’s something being overlooked.

I

Fan always pulses for me during startup. But yeah, heat, fuel and air to get fire. Which one is missing? Hope you get it figured out in time for your brisket.

 

[SteveSpy]

Thanks, guys. New glow plug came in today, gonna test it tomorrow…

 

[Goneincognito]

Thanks, guys. New glow plug came in today, gonna test it tomorrow…

Probably need to troubleshoot a bit more before you go replacing the glow plug.
Did the existing glow plug heat up?
Is the auger feeding pellets?

 

[OGauge4Me]

Do you have another method to ignite the pellets in the burn pot? You might try that but I am betting the burn pot needs cleaning. If the burn pot is OK contact Weber technical support. They helped me with my heating issue last November/December.

 

[SteveSpy]

Probably need to troubleshoot a bit more before you go replacing the glow plug.
Did the existing glow plug heat up?
Is the auger feeding pellets?

The auger is feeding pellets for sure. Now that I thoroughly cleaned the burn pot and tested it and it failed, I'm going to take a good look at the auger, the chute, and the spoke pot to ensure the pellets are being dispensed properly but my suspicion is that it is the glow plug.