Learn why your grill’s auger isn’t turning and how to fix it fast. Common causes include power issues, pellet jams, or motor problems.
Quick steps: check power, clear jams, and inspect motor and wiring.
An auger does not continuously spin and will pause between turning. This is completely normal behavior.
If your grill’s auger isn’t turning, don’t worry! Below are the most common reasons and easy steps to get it working again.
Causes
- Grill isn’t getting power
- Auger motor wires are disconnected
- Pellets are clumped or wet, causing a jam
- Problem with the auger motor
Step-by-Step Fix
Follow the steps, your grill, below in order.
Steps for Non-WiFIRE Grills
Before You Start
Important: An auger does not continuously spin and will pause between turning. This is completely normal behavior.
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Make sure your grill turns on. If the grill does not have power, select your grill below for next steps.
1. Check if the Auger Motor Fan is Spinning
Auger motors in grills without WiFIRE technology have a small, white fan attached to the motor that spins when the grill is running. If the fan is spinning, it means the auger motor is working.
- Look up into the grill components from the bottom of the hopper, if there is a bottom grate under the hopper, locate the 4 screws that hold it in place and remove them to be able to see.
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If the fan is spinning move to checking the Auger Motor Pin is in place, below.
If the fan isn't spinning, make sure wires aren't blocking it from turning. Try flicking it to see if it's stuck with built-up grime.- If the fan still doesn't spin, you may need to replace the auger motor. Continue through the remaining steps to make sure.
2. Check the Auger Motor for Damage and Wiring Connections
- Shut off and unplug the grill.
- Remove the 2 screws holding in the controller.
- Once removed, rotate the controller to push it through where it was housed.
- Unless already removed, clip the zip ties holding all the wires together.
- Locate the 4 screws holding the hopper assembly on the grill and remove them (2 on either side).
- Carefully remove the hopper assembly.
- Inspect the auger motor for any damage, such as cracks or visibly broken spots.
- Make sure the Molex connector that goes to the auger motor is connected to the corresponding Molex connector that goes to the controller. Unplug and reconnect the auger motor to ensure a solid connection.
- Turn on the grill and ignite to see if the auger begins to turn.
- If no damage is visible, continue to see if the auger motor pin is in place.
3. See if the Auger Motor Pin is in Place
- See Auger Motor Pin to learn what an auger pin is and where to find it.
- If the auger pin is missing, check the hopper and jiggle the grill to see if it is loose inside the grill.
- Check the area around the grill to ensure the auger pin did not drop or fall out during assembly.
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If the auger pin is present: check for an auger jam, see Clearing an Auger Jam in a Non-WiFIRE Grill
If you can't find the auger pin: call Customer Support.
Steps for WiFIRE Grills
Ensure the Grill is Getting Power
Important: An auger does not continuously spin and will pause between turning. This is completely normal behavior.
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Make sure your grill turns on. If the grill does not have power, select your grill below for next steps.
D2 Grills
- Power off and unplug your grill.
- Empty pellets from the hopper.
- Unscrew the two screws on the right side of the hopper and remove the access panel from the bottom of the hopper.
- Cut the zip ties from both sets of cables.
- Remove the four screws holding the controller in place.
- Disconnect the plastic connectors from the controller.
- Unscrew the four screws that secure the hopper housing to the grill. There are two on the front of the hopper and two on the back.
- Remove the hopper housing from the auger assembly and set it aside.
- Remove the plastic connector from the auger motor.
- Remove the four Phillips screws securing the auger motor to the auger assembly and remove the motor.
- Remove the bushing screw that secures the auger to the auger tube.
- Manually turn the auger. If you cannot manually turn the auger, there is most likely an auger jam. See, Clearing an Auger Jam in a WiFIRE-Enabled Grill.
Touchscreen Grills
- Use the prime auger feature. On the controller, go to Menu>Maintenance & Care>Auger>Prime Auger>Start. If the prime function does not work, continue below.
- Power off and unplug your grill.
- Remove the hopper service panel (right panel), See Removing the Service Panel on a Touchscreen Grill.
- Find the auger motor and disconnect the 4-wire molex connector from the motor.
- Remove the four Phillips-head screws holding the motor in place.
- Pull the auger motor away from the grill.
- Remove the Phillips-head screw to the right of the screw that holds the X in place.
- Pull out the X.
- Grip the end of the auger and try to turn the auger. If you cannot manually turn the auger, there is most likely an auger jam. See, Clearing an Auger Jam in a WiFIRE-Enabled Grill.
Woodridge Series Grills
- Use the manual auger prime function. If the prime function does not work, continue below.
- Remove the auger box cover (leave the box installed).
- Unscrew 10 screws (2 on each end, 3 on each side).
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Locate the motor shaft, on the back of the motor, and twist it 5 full rotations by hand
- If it moves smoothly → Success.
- If stuck → Vacuum pellets out of the hopper and firepot., shake auger from the firepot side to try to loosen any debris, and try again.
- If the shaft still won’t turn or the motor is damaged, contact Customer Support.
Westwood Series Grills
- Check the wire connection to the auger motor.
- Power off and unplug the grill.
- Remove the x6 screws from the hopper service panel on the side of the hopper in the following order:
- Remove x2 screws on the back of the panel by the vents first.
- Remove x2 screws on the bottom of the panel second.
- Remove x2 screws on the side of the panel last.
- Hold the panel with one hand to prevent it from falling when removing the last screw.
- Unplug and plug back in the auger motor wire on the back of the controller.
- Remove x2 screws on the back of the panel by the vents first.
- Plug grill in and ignite.
- If the auger still is not turning, proceed with the next steps.
- Manually fill the auger with pellets.
- Ignite the grill and see if the auger is turning.
- If the auger is turning, success! If the auger still is not turning, continue troubleshooting.
- Remove the grill grates, drip tray, and heat baffle.
- Ensure there are no pellets in the firepot.
- Turn the grill on.
- Press and hold the ignite/shutdown button until all the pellets have exited. The animation will stop being displayed.
- Remove all pellets from the firepot.
- Power off and unplug the grill.
- Remove the x6 screws from the hopper service panel on the side of the hopper in the following order:
- Remove x2 screws on the back of the panel by the vents first.
- Remove x2 screws on the bottom of the panel second.
- Remove x2 screws on the side of the panel last.
- Hold the panel with one hand to prevent it from falling when removing the last screw.
- Cut the zip ties holding the wires together.
- Disconnect the ground wire.
- Disconnect the orange auger wire connector from the back of the controller.
- Remove the auger bushing screw located behind the auger motor.
- Wiggle the auger motor back and forth and pull towards you.
- Clean any clumps out of the auger and reassemble.
- Ignite the grill and see if the auger is turning.
- If the auger does not turn, contact customer support.
- Remove x2 screws on the back of the panel by the vents first.