Traeger Er2 Error — RTD Reading Out of Range Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

Er2 means the RTD probe is reading a temperature outside the expected range — usually too high (the wire is shorted) or absurdly low.
Most often the probe wire has melted insulation and is shorting against the grill body, or the probe itself has failed.
Power off, inspect the wire for damage, and replace if needed.
Don't ignore Er2 — running with a bad probe means the controller can't manage temperature safely.

Affected Models

Traeger Pro 575
Traeger Pro 780
Traeger Ironwood 650/885
Traeger Timberline 850/1300
Traeger Tailgater

Common Causes

Probe wire insulation melted from heat
Wire shorted against grill body
Probe itself failed (shorted)
Probe coated with grease or carbon (false reading)
Controller's RTD input damaged

How to Fix It

Power off and let the grill cool.

Press the power button.
Unplug from the wall.
Wait 30 minutes for the firepot and grill to cool — RTD probes get very hot during operation and you don't want to touch them when active.
Find the RTD probe inside the grill.

The probe is mounted inside the grill body, near the firepot.
It looks like a thin metal tube with a wire coming out.
You'll need to remove the heat shield and the grease tray to access it.
The probe sits in a clamp or bracket.
Inspect the probe and wire.

Look at the probe tip — should be relatively clean (some carbon buildup is normal but heavy coating insulates).
Check the wire from probe to controller for melted insulation, chafe damage, or breaks.
Burnt insulation is a clear sign of a short.
Clean the probe.

If the probe has heavy carbon or grease buildup, it can read low (insulating from actual temperature).
Clean with a soft brush.
Don't scrape with metal — that damages the probe surface.
Light cleaning is enough; you don't need to make it look new.
Replace the probe.

If the wire insulation is damaged or the probe is severely fouled, replace.
Traeger RTD probes: 20–40 USD parts.
Match the part number for your model.
15-minute swap with basic tools.
Route the new wire away from the firepot heat path.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Er1 and Er2?

Er1: probe disconnected or open circuit (no reading).
Er2: probe reading out of range (usually shorted, reading impossibly high or low).
Both indicate the temperature sensor isn't working, just different fault types.
Fix path is similar — inspect, clean, or replace.

Why does Er2 happen at high temperatures?

When the grill runs hot (450°F+), the RTD wire insulation can degrade if it's old or marginal.
Once insulation fails, the wire shorts.
Er2 only appears when the temperature gets high enough to cause the failure.
This is why you might see Er2 only on smoke or low-heat sessions, when the probe is fine — but Er2 returns when grilling at high temp.