GloPlug failure

[Mabpath]

Went to fire up my SF EX4 last night. Everything seemed fine. No error messages but the gloplug didn’t get hot and the grill continued to run and extrude pellets. Did shut down. Emptied the fire box of pellets and put in new gloplug. Made extra sure it was well seated. Tried start up and same problem. No error message but gloplug failed to ignite. Had a crowd waiting for dinner so had to get out the cast iron pan and did the steaks on the stove. A little humiliating for an avid griller. Any suggestions. I’ll call Weber today but I’m afraid I may have a lemon. Bought the SF in Oct 21 and so far have had two cotter pin failures and now the gloplug. Always happens when we have guests. I’m losing trust in a grill I initially loved.

 

[Goneincognito]

Have you visually confirmed that the glow plug was not turning red?
It sounds line a silly question but what you have described may be caused by something else.

 

[Bruno]

I gotta say I love my SF, but I feel terrible hearing stories like yours, I would be so pissed if it failed when we had guests. Which is to say man you gotta have a backup kettle. Shame though!

 

[Mabpath]

I removed the grills flavor bars and heat shield, emptied the burner and restarted. Pellets quickly filled the burner so I couldn’t see the gloplug. After a few minutes the pot was full and pellets were overflowing. No smoke or smell of ignition at all. Ran shutdown. Weber is sending a new assembly. Will keep everyone posted

 

[bbqking]

I removed the grills flavor bars and heat shield, emptied the burner and restarted. Pellets quickly filled the burner so I couldn’t see the gloplug. After a few minutes the pot was full and pellets were overflowing. No smoke or smell of ignition at all. Ran shutdown. Weber is sending a new assembly. Will keep everyone posted

When initially starting up, with everything out of the way, you should be able to see and or feel, the glow plug getting hot. Don’t recommend feel…but I’ve done that. Had to put some thing in the way of pellets dumping in initially. Like a cup. Glad Weber is on it. I also suggest back up kettle/gasser. Not just for back up…everyone like grilled food….well most people do.

 

[Goneincognito]

When initially starting up, with everything out of the way, you should be able to see and or feel, the glow plug getting hot. Don’t recommend feel…but I’ve done that. Had to put some thing in the way of pellets dumping in initially. Like a cup. Glad Weber is on it. I also suggest back up kettle/gasser. Not just for back up…everyone like grilled food….well most people do.

Agreed.. Even with the auger primed, it doesn't fill fast enough not to see the glow plug.

 

[OGauge4Me]

I have found that you need to clean the burn pot after every other cook. The few times this has happened to me I have had a cinder like object in the burn pot, a byproduct of using pellets that advertise high smoke flavor. The glow plug is only used to get the pellets fired up then it turns off for the rest of the cook. Knowing that, when I have a failure to ignite, I use my Grillblazer to fire up the pellets and the problem is solved. After this cook I do a decent cleaning prior to the next cook. I use the Grillblazer to ignite my Kettle and WSM. It is a handy tool to have around. https://grillblazer.com/?utm_medium...2Oc1qdfaXsnkDQ4sHA4nF72GBXtcsD4IaAs_pEALw_wcB

 

[JpsBBQ]

I have found that you need to clean the burn pot after every other cook. The few times this has happened to me I have had a cinder like object in the burn pot, a byproduct of using pellets that advertise high smoke flavor. The glow plug is only used to get the pellets fired up then it turns off for the rest of the cook. Knowing that, when I have a failure to ignite, I use my Grillblazer to fire up the pellets and the problem is solved. After this cook I do a decent cleaning prior to the next cook. I use the Grillblazer to ignite my Kettle and WSM. It is a handy tool to have around. https://grillblazer.com/?utm_medium...2Oc1qdfaXsnkDQ4sHA4nF72GBXtcsD4IaAs_pEALw_wcB

I did notice a nugget as described in mine the last time I cleaned it. Granted it was months between cleanings, but the nugget is definitely a real thing and will eventually impede the ignition. I've seen several posts about the carbon? nugget.

 

[OGauge4Me]

I did notice a nugget as described in mine the last time I cleaned it. Granted it was months between cleanings, but the nugget is definitely a real thing and will eventually impede the ignition. I've seen several posts about the carbon? nugget.

Ye carbon. Most high smoke flavor pellets include some of the tree bark. The tree bark usually causes this cinder to develop.

 

[rexster314]

I had the same problem last week. Twice I had to start the pellets in the firepot off with a torch. The next day, I vacuumed everything out, then started the grill. No red hot little finger in the fire pot either by touch or visual. I pulled the glow plug and tested with my multi-meter and no continuity. Popped a spare plug in and I was up and running. Funny thing I didn't get any error message on the controller.

 

[OGauge4Me]

I had the same problem last week. Twice I had to start the pellets in the firepot off with a torch. The next day, I vacuumed everything out, then started the grill. No red hot little finger in the fire pot either by touch or visual. I pulled the glow plug and tested with my multi-meter and no continuity. Popped a spare plug in and I was up and running. Funny thing I didn't get any error message on the controller.

Interesting. The EX6 is my first experience with glow plugs. I did not know the plug could stop working. TY for sharing.