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No Flame on Startup

Pit Boss Pellet Grill

Severity: Moderate

Source: OnlyErrorCodes.com — Every error code. One place.

Pit Boss No Pellet Flame Error — Failed Ignition Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

Pit Boss won't light when the hot rod fails to ignite pellets in the firepot.
Most common: ash-clogged firepot, hot rod weakened with age, or pellets too wet to combust.
Vacuum the firepot, test fresh pellets, and replace the hot rod if it doesn't glow red within 4 minutes of startup.
Hot rods are cheap (15-30 USD) and easy to swap.

Affected Models

  • Pit Boss 700FB
  • Pit Boss 820FB
  • Pit Boss Austin XL
  • Pit Boss Pro Series 850
  • Pit Boss Lockhart

Common Causes

  • Firepot full of ash — pellets bury the hot rod
  • Hot rod weakened or dead (1-3 year service life)
  • Wet or old pellets won't catch
  • Auger not delivering pellets to firepot
  • Combustion fan not running

How to Fix It

  1. Empty the firepot completely.

    Power off and let the grill cool.
    Remove grates, drip tray, and heat shield.
    Vacuum the firepot until you can see the hot rod clearly.
    Pellets need to land on the hot rod, not on top of ash.

  2. Verify the hot rod glows.

    After cleaning, set the grill to start.
    Watch the firepot through the openings (or remove the heat shield temporarily).
    The hot rod should glow visibly red within 4 minutes.
    If it doesn't, the hot rod is failing.

  3. Confirm pellets are arriving.

    While the rod heats, check for pellets falling into the firepot from the auger tube.
    Steady stream means auger is working.
    No pellets means auger jam — empty hopper and clear it.

  4. Test pellet quality.

    Old or moisture-affected pellets crumble in your hand and burn poorly.
    Try a fresh bag of premium hardwood pellets.
    If the grill lights with new pellets, the old ones were the issue.

  5. Replace the hot rod if needed.

    Power off, let cool fully.
    Disconnect the wires from the hot rod (usually 2 high-temp leads).
    Unscrew the rod from the firepot housing.
    Install replacement, reconnect, test.
    YouTube has good walkthroughs for your specific Pit Boss model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should startup take?

Pit Boss startup takes 8-15 minutes typically.
The hot rod heats for 4 minutes, pellets fall, ignition occurs, smoke pours out, then flames establish.
Combustion fan ramps up.
If 15 minutes pass with no smoke or flame, abort and clean the firepot.