Pit Boss 820 - Troubleshooting Performance Problems

Trouble Shooting and Pit Boss Error Messages
Problem Cause Solution
Grill will NOT
Start
 Power  Ensure unit is plugged in.
 Verify there is power at the electrical outlet.
 Check and reset the Ground Fault Interrupter, if necessary
 Temperature Dial  Ensure Temperature Dial is in OFF position.
 Turn Temperature Dial to SMOKE.
LCD SCREEN will light up,
 Igniter  Remove Cooking Grids and Flavor/Grease Tray. Turn unit on
and visually inspect the igniter.
 If igniter not working , check 5 amp fuse found on the back of
the control. Replace if necessary.
 If 5 amp fuse is good, call Customer Service for replacement
part. START UNIT USING MANUAL START INSTRUCTIONS.
 Auger Motor  Remove Cooking Grids and Flavor/Grease Tray. Turn unit on
and visually inspect the auger feed.
 If not working, Call Customer Service for replacement Auger
motor
 Control Board  If not working, Call Customer Service for replacement Pit Boss
Control Board.
Grill Temprature
when set at
SMOKE is too
high
 “P” Setting is to LOW  Turn Temperature Dial to SMOKE, Pushing the “P” SETTINGl
Button to INCREASE the “P” setting.
Unexpected Grill
Temperature is
Displayed
 Grill is exposed to high
ambient temperature and
direct sun.
 The interior temperature has reach or gone over 130° F. It will
not harm the unit.
 Place unit in shaded area.

Prop the lid open to reduce inside temperature.
Grill will not
achieve or
maintain stable
temperature
 Insufficient air flow
through burn pot
 Check the burn pot for ash build-up or obstructions
 Check the fan for proper operation, that it is working, that the
air intake is not blocked and that there is no blockage in the
auger tube.
 Perform a quick test. Remove cooking grids and flavor /
grease plate. Ensure all the above has been done, start the
grill, set temperature to pre-heat and wait for 10 minutes.
Check that the flame produced is bright, vibrant and is being
pushed away from the hopper end.
 Insufficient or poor fuel  Check the hopper for sufficient fuel.
 Check fuel for size, dampness and sawdust.

Check and clean the temperature probe
 Control Settings

Ensure “P” setting is correct
Grill produces
excess or
discolored
smoke
 Excess grease build-up
or general cleaning
 Check and clean the interior grilling area.
 It is a good practice to clean and do a controlled burn off of the
hidden excess grease after each large cooking of tasty greasy
foods.
 Wood pellet quality  Check and clear the hopper and burn pot of moist pellets,
replacing them with fresh dry pellets.
 Burn Pot  Check for build-up of fuel in the burn pot
Frequent Flare-
ups
 Cooking temperature  Slow and Low is the way to go.
 Grease does have a flash point, keep the temperature under
350° F when cooking highly greasy food.
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Section Four: TROUBLE SHOOTING
Page 24