Green Mountain Grill Troubleshooting: The Ultimate Guide

As a company, Green Mountain Grills has a solid reputation for quality and customer service. However, even the most reliable pellet grills can run into trouble sometimes.

Knowing how to identify and correct these problems in advance can save a lot of hassle. Take a look at this Green Mountain Grill troubleshooting guide to familiarize yourself with the basics.

Here’s a list of the issues that you might encounter when using a Green Mountain Grill, and the steps that you can take to resolve them.

Error Codes

These are the different error codes that you might see in the digital display window.

SEN

This message indicates a problem with the thermal sensor. It can be caused by a number of things: grease buildup, improperly positioned components, loose materials. For ideas on how to remedy them, see Thermal Sensor Problems, below.

When you’ve checked for any possible obstructions and eliminated this as the cause, remove the front control panel and check the wiring. If any of the wires are bent or damaged, the control panel will need to be replaced.

NOFD

The “NOFD” readout means that the meat probe isn’t working correctly. Check the wire for kinks and make sure it’s connected securely.

OUL

This readout is designed to alert you to problems with the electrical components of the pellet grill. Always disconnect the unit from the power source before attempting to correct any electrical issues.

FAL

“FAL” means that the igniter component has failed. See Grill Won’t Ignite, below.

E01, E02, E04

All of these messages indicate a power overload, which can occur when the grill is hooked up to an unstable power supply. It can also happen if the circuit is shared by a unit that turns on and off intermittently.

Why are there different error messages for the same issue? The readout depends on whether the problem originated with the igniter, fan motor, or auger motor.

E08

You’ll only see this message if you’re using the Davy Crockett model, which is Green Mountain’s entry into the portable grilling race. It means that the unit is suffering from low voltage, due to a power supply lower than 12v. It can be resolved by hooking the grill up to an adequate power source.

Temperature Problems

When it comes to pellet grills, this is one of the most common complaints. If the grill has ignited but isn’t reaching the set temperature, take a look at the combustion fan. If any of the blades are damaged, you’ll need to contact Green Mountain Grills for a replacement part.

The problem could also be due to a misplaced heat shield. The “V” on the bottom of the shield should be centered over the firebox in order to ensure even heating. When using the adjustment rod, make sure the shield is positioned at the “0” spot on the rod. For more advice on this issue, see Uneven Heating, below.

Auger Issues

Before using the pellet grill for the first time, you should charge the firebox by feeding a small amount of pellets into the auger tube. Once you’ve done so, turn the grill on and set it to cycle “0.”

Through the firebox, you should be able to see the auger turning. If it isn’t turning, the pellets may be jammed up around the auger’s intake. Turn the unit off and move the pellets around in the firebox, then return the grill to cycle “0.” You may have to repeat this step a second time before the pellets can feed completely through the auger tube.

Once the pellets have fed through the auger, turn the unit off again, then run it through all the cycles from 0 through 3. Listen carefully to the motor. If you can hear it and the auger still isn’t turning, contact customer support.

Clicking Sound

Sometimes you’ll hear a clicking sound from the pellet grill while the auger is turning. This happens when the wires beneath the hopper unit shift out of place and block the auger’s motor fan. Check the area and remove the obstruction to put an end to the clicking noise.

On the other hand, if the clicking sound persists even when the auger isn’t turned on, it could mean that one or more of the gears is stripped. In this case, the motor will need to be replaced as soon as possible.

Combustion Fan Issues

A faulty combustion fan can result in all sorts of trouble. Still, be aware that the fan may not always blow at a consistent speed. As long as it’s helping the grill to maintain a stable temperature, it doesn’t matter if it blows continuously or not.

If you do suspect that the combustion fan isn’t doing its job, your first step is to unplug the grill. Then try to turn the fan manually with your fingers. If the blades turn effortlessly and there’s no sign of damage, the fan should be fine. Otherwise, it will need to be replaced.

If the fan is undamaged and the problem persists, check to make sure the wiring is secure. Frayed wires should be replaced as soon as you notice them.

Thermal Sensor Problems

Whenever you fire up the pellet grill, check the temperature display. The readout should give you a number that’s fairly close to the ambient temperature, since the grill hasn’t had a chance to get hot yet. This is how you know the sensor is in fine working order.

Sometimes, the grill will display wild temperature fluctuations even when it’s been working fine up to that point. For example, if the readout goes rapidly from 200 to 450 degrees (or vice versa), it’s probably inaccurate. Likewise, if the display reads “SEN” instead of showing the temperature, you’re experiencing problems with the thermal sensor.

If you’ve wrapped your grease tray in aluminum foil for easy cleanup, check to make sure the foil isn’t blocking the sensor. The grease tray could also be improperly installed. Take a look at the instruction manual to ensure that it’s positioned correctly.

The problem might also be due to an improperly installed heat shield. See Uneven Heating, below, for advice on how to correct this issue.

If none of these steps resolve the problem, contact customer support at once.

Uneven Heating

If the grill isn’t heating evenly, a misplaced heat shield could be to blame.

To resolve this issue, carefully slide the shield to the warmer side of the grill, taking care to move it just 1/4-inch at a time. Once the temperature begins to increase on the cooler side, the heat shield should be in the right spot.

Tip: When you’ve found the proper placement, take measurements so you’ll be able to put the shield back in the correct position every time you move the grill.

Grill Won’t Turn On

If you’ve pushed the power button and the grill still won’t turn on, the first step is to make sure the power cord is plugged into a working outlet. Once you’ve done that, check to see if the adapter light has turned on.

Still having trouble? Inspect both ends of the power cord to ensure that you’re getting a strong connection. The next step is to unplug the grill and check the circuit breaker and ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). If another appliance works when you plug it into the same outlet, the issue isn’t with the power source.

The last step you can take is to remove the control panel from the grill and check for any loose wires. Make sure the grill is unplugged before you attempt this. If the grill still won’t turn on, it’s time to contact Green Mountain’s customer service department.

Grill Isn’t Heating Up

When this occurs, check the firebox. In most cases, when the grill doesn’t reach the desired temperature, it’s because the firebox is overloaded with pellets. If that’s the problem, turn off the grill until you’ve had a chance to clean out the firebox, then start over.

Tip: You’ll need to prime the firebox before the first use, and also if you’ve allowed it to run until the auger component is completely empty.

Grill Won’t Ignite

You may be alerted to this issue by the “FAL” message. When the grill isn’t lighting, it could be because there’s too much ash buildup in the firebox. Make sure to wait until the unit has had a chance to cool down before attempting to clean it out.

Similarly, the firebox may be too full of wood pellets to ignite properly. Because the igniter won’t work unless the air can flow freely through the compartment, this is a common problem. The same issue can occur if the auger isn’t feeding the pellets into the compartment at all (see Auger Issues, above).

As a last resort, check the combustion fan. If none of these fixes does the trick, the igniter is likely defective and in need of replacement.

Tip: You can light the grill manually while you wait for the replacement part to arrive. Just add a handful of pellets to the burn pot and light them with a propane torch.

Smoke Coming Out Of Hopper

This can be an alarming sight, especially if you have guests you’re trying to impress. The key to avoiding it is to keep the burn pot as clean as possible. Clear out all ashes and pellets on a regular basis.

It’s also important for the hopper lid to fit snugly. Press down on every corner of the lid until it’s sealed as tightly as possible. If the lid is warped, you can perform a quick fix by using two sheets of tin foil to create a seal between the lid and the hopper.

The pellet dump door should fit tightly as well, and the square gasket between the hopper and auger needs to be well-sealed. Alternatively, you can inspect the combustion fan for damage and replace the part if necessary.

Beeping Low Pellet Alarm

A constantly beeping alarm could be a sign that the pellet level has fallen beneath the sensor. Refilling the pellets usually does the trick. If not, you can try unplugging the grill, then disconnecting and reconnecting the alarm. When these steps don’t work, it means the alarm is broken.

Tip: The low pellet alarm is just a secondary feature. If it’s beeping all the time, you can disable it and continue cooking as usual.

Temperature Control

When it’s working correctly, a unit from Green Mountain Grills offers a temperature range of 150 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

If there’s a power interruption, you can use the “hot start” button on the mobile app (see below) to restart the unit, so it won’t lose too much heat. There’s also a heat shield mode that will alert you when the hopper is running low on fuel.

Issues With Wi-Fi

Green Mountain Grills offers a mobile application that allows you to control the temperature of the grill from a distance. This is an ingenious and useful feature—as long as it’s working correctly.

When the Wi-Fi feature is malfunctioning, it’s time to reset the system for an update. Here’s how to do it.

Attempt to reset the router. You may need to repeat this step several times, just in case.

Next, make sure that the Green Mountain Grills network signal is coming through. The stronger the signal is, the better results you’ll have.

Check the grill antenna and ensure that you’re using the 2.4 GHz band on the router.

Set the password, taking care not to use the “!” symbol. In fact, it’s a good idea not to use any special characters at first, since older versions of the Wi-Fi feature didn’t accept them. The password should also be less than 40 characters.

If the update works properly, the grill will be connected to your home’s Wi-Fi network.

When these steps don’t work, it means that the system is unable to locate your grill. That’s when you need to contact someone in the customer service department.

How To Reset

If you need to reset the grill for any other reason, here are a few more tips:

Disconnect the unit from the power source and then plug it in again. Press the “FOOD” button and turn on the grill. Wait 15 seconds before releasing the button.

Wait until the LCD readout reaches 999, then unplug the grill again. Plug it back in and wait for 30 seconds. You should be able to use the grill again with no problems.

Warranty

If all else fails, contact the manufacturer directly. As long as the grill is still under warranty, they’re responsible for replacing any damaged parts. Be sure to act before the warranty expires, or the company will no longer be obligated to help out.

Final Thoughts

If you encounter any more problems in the future, now you have enough Green Mountain Grill troubleshooting experience to address them. Fortunately, the company has a friendly and knowledgeable customer support department that will be happy to assist you if you continue to have trouble.

Best of luck, and happy grilling!