Touchscreen Controller Display Not Turning On

How to diagnose why your new Timberline or Ironwood's controller display won't turn on.

If the display is on but frozen/not responding to dial or touch selections, see Touchscreen Controller Display not Responding.

Tools Needed

Phillip's-head screwdriver
Optional: Scissors or a pocketknife (to cut zip ties holding wires together, if needed)
Optional: Adjustable wrench (to remove the P.A.L rail if struggling to access the screws on the Hopper Service Panel)
Optional: Masking tape or blue painters tape and a pen to label wires when disconnecting.

IMPORTANT: Before proceeding

To continue you'll need to remove your hopper service panel. To remove this panel for the first time, you'll want to use an impact driver to remove the screws behind the P.A.L rail on your hopper service panel.

If this is your first time removing the hopper service panel and you don't have an impact driver of your own. Contact our customer support team and we'll send you a complimentary manual impact driver.
- If you already have a manual impact driver, proceed to removing the hopper service panel.
- If you have already removed the service panel screws, you can disregard the impact driver and use a regular Phillips screwdriver.
Once you've removed the screws using the impact driver, continue with the next steps outlined here in this article.

1: Confirm the Grill Is Getting Power

Did you know...

An Ignitor failure can trip GFCI outlet or breaker, when this happens, it is very often related to a buildup of ash in the firepot physically touching the ignitor. To prevent the ignitor from failing and tripping the GFCI in the future, take a look at the following maintenance tips:

Clean the ash from the firepot.
Monitor the firepot for ongoing maintenance, ensuring it is cleaned out when the ash gets high enough to touch the ignitor.

Has the GFI outlet or breaker tripped?

If the GFCI is tripping, contact our support team.
If the GFCI/Breaker is not tripped and is working properly, proceed to next steps.

Make sure the power cord is fully plugged into the power strip on the back of the grill (not plugged into the induction cooktop cord) and into a working outlet.
Press the Power Button and make sure it lights up.
- If the Power Button doesn't light up, jump to step 4 to check the Motherboard LED.
Power cycle the grill. A small percentage of brand-new grills have an issue where the Display won't turn on that will be resolved by power cycling. Repeat up to 4 times, waiting 30 seconds between each cycle.
- If the grill's Display turns on, the problem is fixed!
If power cycling does not resolve the Display issue, keep the grill powered on remove the Hopper Service Panel on the right side of the grill.
- Pro Tip: If struggling to get to the screws behind the P.A.L rail, use a wrench to remove the P.A.L rail.
Check the Display Smart Combustion Harness connection to the Controller Display. The tab should be on top. If incorrect, disconnect and reconnect correctly.
Remove the Smart Combustion cover and make sure the Motherboard LED is illuminated.
- LED not on: Proceed to No Power - Timberlines & Ironwoods.
- LED on: Continue.

2: Determine Which Part Is Preventing the Display from Turning On

Now that we've confirmed the grill is getting power, let's use process of elimination to determine which part is preventing the Display from turning on -- it is likely that a part is shorting out the Display. We'll disconnect all the grill's components from the Motherboard and then reconnect them one-by-one until we find the part(s) shorting out the Display.

2.1: REMOVE GRILL COMPONENT CONNECTIONS

Turn off the grill.
Disconnect the following connections from the Motherboard:

The Motherboard has labels inscribed next to each connection. Don't worry about mixing up wires: each connection is unique and will fit only in its intended connection. Feel free to label wires with masking tape if you'd like.
Disconnect connections to Auxiliary Fan and Lid Sensor & Light.
Pro Tip: You can cut the zip ties that bundle the wires together to follow wires more easily.
1. Disconnect the Auxiliary Fan (red|blue|black wires) from the Display Smart Combustion Harness (brown|red|black wires).
2. Disconnect the two connections from the Lid Sensor & Light to the Smart Combustion Harness and the Display Smart Combustion Harness.
Verify all 5 power connections (circled in image below) are securely in place by either pushing them into place or by disconnecting and reconnecting them.

2.2: IDENTIFY THE COMPONENTS SHORTING OUT THE DISPLAY

With all the components disconnected, the Display should turn on. The Display will turn off once the faulty component reconnects.

Turn on the grill. With all the components disconnected, the Display should turn on.
- Display doesn't turn on and the green Motherboard LED is still on: You likely need a new Hopper Assembly. Contact Customer Support to verify and get set up with the right part.
Connect the Smart Combustion Harness to the SMART COMB Motherboard connection.
This checks if the Flame Sensor is shorting out the Display.
- Display stays on: Continue to find the part shorting out the display.
- Display turns off: The Flame Sensor is likely shorting out the Display. Contact Customer Support to verify and get set up with the right part.
Connect the Lid Sensor & Light to the Smart Combustion Harness
This is the connection between the green|red|yellow|black wire harness and the top Lid Sensor & Light wire harness.
This will check if the Lid Sensor & Light is shorting out the Display.
- Display stays on: Continue to find the part shorting out the display.
- Display turns off: The Lid Sensor & Light is likely shorting out the Display. Contact Customer Support to verify and get set up with the right part.
Connect the Lid Sensor & Light to the Display Smart Combustion Harness
This is the connection between the red|blue|black wire harness and the bottom Lid Sensor & Light wire harness.
This, like the previous step, provides an additional check if the Lid Sensor & Light is shorting out the Display.
- Display stays on: Continue to find the part shorting out the display.
- Display turns off: The Lid Sensor & Light is likely shorting out the Display. Contact Customer Support to verify and get set up with the right part.
Connect the Auxiliary Fan wire harness to the Display Smart Combustion Harness.
This will check if the Auxiliary Fan is shorting out the Display.
- Display stays on: Continue to find the part shorting out the display.
- Display turns off: The Auxiliary Fan is likely shorting out the Display. Contact Customer Support to verify and get set up with the right part.
Connect the Auger Motor's wiring harness to the AUGER Motherboard connection.
This will check if the Auger Motor is shorting out the Display.
- Display stays on: Continue to find the part shorting out the display.
- Display turns off: The Auger Motor is likely shorting out the Display. Contact Customer Support to verify and get set up with the right part.
Connect the Induction Fan's wiring harness to the FAN Motherboard connection.
This will check if the Induction Fan is shorting out the Display.
1. Display stays on: Continue to find the part shorting out the display.
2. Display turns off: The Induction Fan is likely shorting out the Display. Contact Customer Support to verify and get set up with the right part.
Connect the Pellet Sensor Wiring Harness to the PELLET Motherboard connection.
This will check if the Pellet Sensor is shorting out the Display.
1. Display stays on: Continue to find the part shorting out the display.
2. Display turns off: The Pellet Sensor is likely shorting out the Display. Contact Customer Support to verify and get set up with the right part.
Connect the Thermocouple to the TEMP Motherboard connection.
This will check if the Thermocouple is shorting out the Display. Make sure the + and - signs on the Thermocouple connection match with the signs on the Motherboard (+ on top; - on bottom).
- Display stays on: Continue to find the part shorting out the display.
- Display turns off: The Thermocouple is likely shorting out the Display. Contact Customer Support to verify and get set up with the right part.
Connect the AC Ignitor Harness to the AC IGN Motherboard connection.
This will check if the AC Ignitor Harness or the Hot Rod is shorting out the Display.
- Display stays on: Continue.
- Display turns off: The AC Ignitor Harness is likely shorting out the Display. Contact Customer Support to verify and get set up with the right part.
If the Display remains on once all components are connected, you can get back Traegering! Reinstall the Hopper Service Panel and enjoy your next meal.