Igniter Malfunction on 2 different smokers

cowmancowan · Jun 24, 2023

I recently purchased the pro series 1600 elite from Lowe’s. Got it delivered premade. Went through the initial testing to make sure everything worked, put some pellets in and turned back on. While it was igniting I downloaded the app and updated the software on the smoker. Around the time the initial thick smoke starts, it throws an error on the screen that says “Igniter Malfunction” with an upside down pig. No code. Just this screen. So I called Lowe’s and we exchanged it today and brought home a second one. Went through all the same steps as before, and then right as the initial thick white smoke was really going, it throws the same error again! on a 2nd brand new pro series 1600 elite??? I am pre heating it with the smoker lid open and the heat plate open as well. Using Pitt Boss brand pellets. Since it’s done it on 2 different brand new units, it makes me think there’s possibly a bug with the software update that the app makes me do to update the software in the smoker, or is there something I’m doing that’s causing this?!? Help?!?!

Cowboy1955 · Jun 25, 2023

Welcome from Texas to the group!
Would be worth a call to pitboss support
Have you tried unplugging it then start over?

Sparky · Jun 25, 2023

Welcome to the group

cowmancowan · Jun 25, 2023

Cowboy1955 said:
Welcome from Texas to the group!
Would be worth a call to pitboss support
Have you tried unplugging it then start over?

Thanks! Yeah, I have. Still does it.

cowmancowan · Jun 26, 2023

Update: I switched up my ignition process a little and I was able to do the burn in. Next day I smoked and seared some rib eyes on it no problem. Went to use it today, following the same process as before but the error popped up again.

Cowboy1955 · Jun 27, 2023

cowmancowan said:
Update: I switched up my ignition process a little and I was able to do the burn in. Next day I smoked and seared some rib eyes on it no problem. Went to use it today, following the same process as before but the error popped up again.

I’d definitely be on the phone with pitboss support at this point

Freedbyjc · Jul 1, 2023

cowmancowan said:
I recently purchased the pro series 1600 elite from Lowe’s. Got it delivered premade. Went through the initial testing to make sure everything worked, put some pellets in and turned back on. While it was igniting I downloaded the app and updated the software on the smoker. Around the time the initial thick smoke starts, it throws an error on the screen that says “Igniter Malfunction” with an upside down pig. No code. Just this screen. So I called Lowe’s and we exchanged it today and brought home a second one. Went through all the same steps as before, and then right as the initial thick white smoke was really going, it throws the same error again! on a 2nd brand new pro series 1600 elite??? I am pre heating it with the smoker lid open and the heat plate open as well. Using Pitt Boss brand pellets. Since it’s done it on 2 different brand new units, it makes me think there’s possibly a bug with the software update that the app makes me do to update the software in the smoker, or is there something I’m doing that’s causing this?!? Help?!?!

Close your sear plate. The sear plate should stay closed at all times unless you are actively searing something over it. With it open all your heat is going straight up and not preheating the heat diffuser/drip tray. Without that heating up your digital temperature probe is not registering any heat and the controller it reading that lack of heat as a igniter malfunction.

Try that and I’m sure the code will go away.