What to do when your WiFIRE grill isn't turning on, whether your controller won't wake up or your power switch isn't lighting up when flipping it to the ON position.
Related Articles & Links
- Steps for Touchscreen grill versions - Touchscreen Controller Display Not Turning On
- Controller Display Dim, flickering or pixelated? - WiFIRE Controller Display Issues
- Grill not Igniting? - WiFIRE Grill Not Igniting
Are you Experiencing the Following?
A grill "not turning on" usually means one of three symptoms:
- The controller's display is not turning on.
- The display seems to turn on, but the screen is black, dark or blank, or there are fading pixels or a flickering screen. If this seems like what you're experiencing, check out WiFIRE Controller Display Issues.
- The controller screen is working, but the grill isn't igniting. If this sounds like what's going on for you, check out WiFIRE Grill Not Igniting.
What Might Be the Cause
- The controller is in standby mode
- The outlet isn't working
- A grill power component isn't delivering power from the outlet to the grill
- A grill component is shorting out the controller
Steps to Solving this Concern
NOTE: These steps are for a controller that will not turn on. If the controller is having display issues such as a black/dark screen or has fading pixels, see WiFIRE Controller Display Issues.
1. Preliminary Check
Make sure the grill is plugged into a working outlet, the power switch is in the ON position, and you have taken the controller out of standby
You can take the grill out of standby mode by pressing the standby button. If your controller doesn't have a standby button on the controller, press the controller knob.
2. Power cycle the grill
- If the controller does not turn on, continue.
3. Check the grill's power parts
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Check the Power Cord
- Check to see if the power cord is securely connected to the power brick underneath the hopper.
- Look for damage to the power cord. If damaged, replace the power cord.
- If using an extension cord, plug the grill directly into the outlet to see if the extension cord is faulty.
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Check the Power Brick Light
Plug in the grill and see if the power brick light is illuminated.
To view the power brick, remove the side or bottom panel (depending on the model).
IRONWOOD & TIMBERLINE PRO, CENTURY & SILVERTON Look into the hopper to locate the power brick LED light.
- The LED indicates the power brick is working.
- During a bright day, it may be difficult to tell if the light is on or off.
Look up from the ground into the underside of the hopper and look for a small green light near the top of the power brick.
- The green light indicates the power brick is working.
- You may need to remove the brick from the holder to check the light.
- During a bright day, it may be difficult to tell if the light is on or off.
- IF THE LED IS OFF OR FLICKERING: You'll likely need a new power brick. Give our Customer Support a call to verify and we can get you set up with the right part.
- IF THE LED IS ON: The grill is getting power, continue troubleshooting.
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Check the Power Switch
Flip the power switch on the back of the grill and see if it lights up.- IF THE SWITCH LIGHTS UP: Proceed to step 4 Check the Controller's Capacitor
- IF THE SWITCH FLICKERS: You'll need a new power switch. Our Customer Support can help verify and get you set up with the right part.
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IF THE SWITCH DOESN'T LIGHT UP
- Unscrew the controller from the hopper and carefully pull the controller from the hopper.
- Find the Power Source connection and look for damage on those wires such as scorch marks or cut wires. If damaged, replace the power switch.
- Wiggle the power source connection. If the rocker switch light flickers, contact Customer Support.
- Turn off and unplug the grill.
- Disconnect and reconnect the power source connection on the back of the controller.
- Plug in the grill and flip the rocker switch.
- If the rocker switch still does not light up, reach out to Customer Support.
- If the rocker switch lights up and the controller still does not turn on, continue troubleshooting.
4. Check the Controller's Capacitor
In rare occasions the controller's capacitor may become unattached. The capacitor is part of the power system and it detaching can cause the controller to not turn on.
- The Capacitor is located next to power source plug on the back of the controller.
- Is the capacitor attached to the controller?
Controller with attached Capacitor Controller with detached Capacitor Detached Capacitor - Yes: Move to Step 5 - Find the Grill Component Shorting out the Controller.
- No: Contact Customer Support.
5. Find the Grill Component Shorting out the Controller
The goal here is to disconnect each component connection to see if the controller turns on when the component is disconnected. Keep in mind that disconnecting the grills components connection to the controller may generate an error. Clear or move past the error to test each individual component.
- Turn off and unplug the grill.
- If you have not already done so, unscrew the controller from the hopper. Carefully pull out the controller from the hopper.
- Disconnect the Hot Rod, Auger Motor, Induction Fan and Thermocouple. If applicable, disconnect the Timberline WiFi Antenna and the Pellet Sensor.
- Plug in and turn on the grill. The controller should turn on.
- If the controller does not turn with everything disconnected, contact Customer Support.
- Turn off and unplug the grill.
- Go through the following steps for each connection on the back of the controller, starting with the hot rod and the pellet sensor:
- Connect a component into its spot on the back of the controller.
- Plug in and turn on the grill and attempt to wake the controller.
- If the controller does not turn on, the component is shorting out the controller:
- Replace the part you just connected.
- Turn off and unplug the grill.
- Disconnect the faulty part and repeat with the next connection to make sure no other part is also shorting out the controller.
- If the controller turns on, the component is fine:
- Turn off and unplug the grill.
- Keep the component connected and repeat with the next connection.
- If the controller does not turn on, the component is shorting out the controller:
Traeger's Customer Support is available to answer any questions you may have.