Question 1

just assembled my 850 and the control panel is blank, no lights, nothing. checked the outlet, it's good.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS The controller is not receiving power after assembly. The most likely cause is an unplugged internal wiring harness or a blown fuse on the control board. FIX Check the main wiring connections. Unplug the grill from the wall. Remove the four screws securing the control panel assembly. Gently pull the assembly forward. Locate the large, rectangular wiring harness connector where the main power cord meets the circuit board. Ensure it is fully seated and locked. Also check the smaller connectors for the display and buttons. Re-seat them all. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK Check the internal fuse. On the circuit board, locate the small, clear, 5-amp automotive-style fuse in a holder. Remove it and inspect the metal wire inside. If it is broken, replace it with an identical 5A fuse. Do not use a higher amperage fuse. HEADS UP During assembly, the metal chimney cap must be installed. If omitted, rain can enter the grill and run directly onto the control panel, causing a short circuit and permanent controller damage. Verify the chimney is fully assembled per Step 1 of .

Question 2

how do you clean the grease tray on this thing? it's welded in there and the drip cups don't catch half of it.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS Grease is bypassing the slide-out grease tray and dripping into the base of the grill. This is a design flaw in the stock setup. The factory grease management system is inefficient. FIX Perform a modified clean. Let the grill cool completely. Pull out the slide-out grease tray. Scrape it with a putty knife over a trash bag. For the welded-in channel beneath it, line it with heavy-duty aluminum foil before your next cook. Fold the foil up the sides to create a channel that directs all grease into the drain hole and cup. Replace the foil liner after 2-3 long cooks. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK Upgrade to a third-party grease management system. Aftermarket solutions like LavaLock's Grease Tray Divider or a custom-fitted stainless steel baffle are available. These physically block grease from flowing into the hard-to-clean areas and direct it more effectively to the cup. HEADS UP Never allow grease to pool in the bottom of the grill. It is a major fire hazard. If a grease fire occurs, turn the grill to OFF and close the lid to smother the flames. Do not use water. The resulting heat can warp the welded-in grease channel, making the problem worse.

Question 3

the auger on my pellet grill is making a loud clicking sound but it's not turning. hopper is full.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS The auger motor is jammed. The clicking is the motor's internal clutch or gear train slipping. A rock, clump of degraded pellets, or foreign object is lodged in the auger tube. FIX Clear the auger jam. Turn the power dial to OFF and unplug the grill. Empty the hopper completely using the clean-out lever. Remove the hopper assembly if necessary (four bolts). Inspect the auger intake at the bottom of the hopper for a visible obstruction. Use a long, flexible tool to carefully probe and clear the auger tube from the hopper end. Never force the auger from the motor end. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK The auger motor may have failed. With the grill unplugged, disconnect the 2-wire harness from the auger motor located at the rear of the hopper. Apply 12V DC directly to the motor terminals using jumper wires from a battery. If the motor does not turn, it is defective. Part number PB2000002. HEADS UP Always use food-grade, kiln-dried hardwood pellets. Avoid pellets with excessive dust or those that have absorbed moisture. Damp pellets swell and can form a cement-like mass in the auger tube, requiring complete disassembly to remove.

Question 4

my temperature is all over the place, set it to 250 and it swings from 180 to 350. how do i fix this?

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS The grill is experiencing extreme temperature instability. Primary cause is a dirty or faulty RTD temperature probe. Secondary cause is poor pellet quality or feed rate issues. FIX Clean the RTD probe. Unplug the grill and let it cool. Remove the cooking grates and heat baffle. Locate the thin, metal, pencil-like probe extending into the left side of the cooking chamber. Scrub it thoroughly with a brass brush or fine steel wool to remove all carbonized grease and soot. Do not bend it. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK Calibrate the controller's temperature offset. With the grill clean and at room temperature, power it on. Press and hold the PROBE and POWER buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds. Use the up/down arrows to adjust the offset in ±25°F increments. Start with a +25°F adjustment if the grill reads low. Confirm with a reliable third-party oven thermometer placed on the grate. HEADS UP Massive swings often indicate the P-setting may have been altered inadvertently. On the SMOKE setting, pressing the TEMP UP button cycles through P-settings (P0 to P7). Lower numbers (P0, P1) increase pellet feed for more heat and less smoke. Higher numbers (P6, P7) decrease feed for more smoke and less heat. For stable temps at 225°F+, use P-setting 4 or lower.

Question 5

i can't get the app to connect to my navigator grill, it just spins forever. bluetooth is on.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS The Pit Boss Connect app is failing to pair with the grill's Bluetooth module. Common causes are incorrect app procedure, phone permissions, or a weak signal due to distance or interference. FIX Follow the exact pairing sequence. Ensure the grill is powered ON. On your phone, go to Bluetooth settings and forget any existing "PB-" device. Close the Pit Boss app completely. Open the app and tap "Connect a Grill." Immediately press and hold the Bluetooth button on the grill's controller for 5 seconds until the Bluetooth icon flashes. Select the "PB-XXXX" device that appears in the app list. Grant location permissions if prompted by your phone. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK The controller may need a hard reset to clear the Bluetooth module. Unplug the grill from power. Wait 2 minutes. Plug it back in. Attempt the pairing sequence again. Ensure you are within 10 feet of the grill with no major metal obstructions. Disable any VPN or ad-blocker on your phone temporarily. HEADS UP The grill's Bluetooth signal is weak. The connection is for setup and monitoring only, not for long-range control. Your phone must maintain an active connection within range; it will not reconnect automatically if you walk away and return.

Question 6

the fan on my pit boss is making a loud grinding noise, it's not the normal hum. sounds bad.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS The convection fan motor bearings are failing or fan blades are contacting the housing. Debris ingress or heat stress is the typical cause. The fan is located behind the controller assembly. FIX Access and inspect the fan. Unplug the grill and let it cool. Remove the four screws securing the control panel assembly. Gently pull the assembly forward. Locate the black plastic fan housing. Inspect for visible obstructions like a stray pellet, wire, or carbon buildup on the fan blades. Remove any debris. Manually spin the fan to feel for grinding or catching. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK The fan motor assembly likely requires replacement. It is not a serviceable bearing. The part is the combustion blower motor, Pit Boss part number PB2000003. Replacement involves disconnecting the wiring harness and removing mounting screws. Match wire colors during reconnection. HEADS UP A failing fan will impact temperature stability and smoke quality. The grill relies on this fan for consistent combustion air flow. Do not operate the grill for long cooks with a malfunctioning fan, as it can lead to poor burns and temperature swings.

Question 7

why does my 850 keep shutting off randomly in the middle of a cook? it just goes dead.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS The grill is experiencing a power interruption. The most common cause is the auger jamming, which triggers a safety shutdown. A close second is a faulty connection at the AC power inlet or a tripped household GFCI outlet. FIX First, check the pellet supply. Open the hopper and verify pellets are flowing freely. Use a hopper clean-out tool to remove any dust or debris causing a bridge. Manually feel the pellets at the auger entrance to ensure they are loose. Second, check your power source. Ensure the grill's plug is fully seated in the outdoor-rated outlet. Verify the household GFCI outlet has not tripped. Reset it if necessary. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK The thermal limiter safety switch may be activating. This occurs if grease fires cause excessive heat in the base of the grill. Let the grill cool completely. Remove the grates, heat baffle, and drip tray. Inspect the grease management system for excessive buildup. Clean thoroughly. The switch is located near the controller and may need to be manually reset once cool. HEADS UP Always use a dedicated outlet for the grill. Do not use an extension cord. A voltage drop from a shared circuit or undersized cord can cause the controller to reset, terminating the cook.

Question 8

my navigator 850 just shows er1 on the screen and won't light up, what is that?

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS The controller is displaying an ER1 error code. This is a low-temperature fault. The firepot failed to ignite or the grill did not reach a safe temperature within the startup time limit. FIX Perform a full shutdown and restart. Turn the main power dial to OFF and unplug the grill. Open the hopper lid and cooking chamber. Remove all pellets from the firepot. Wait 5 minutes. Plug the grill back in. Ensure the hopper is at least 1/3 full with dry, quality pellets. Turn the main power dial to SMOKE. The auger will feed pellets and the igniter will activate. The fire should start within 10-15 minutes. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK The hot rod igniter may have failed. Check the igniter. With the grill off and unplugged, remove the heat baffle and cooking grates to access the firepot. Look at the metal rod in the firepot. It should not be broken or severely corroded. A continuity test with a multimeter can confirm failure. Part number PB2000001. HEADS UP An ER1 error often follows a failed initial startup. Do not repeatedly attempt to start without clearing the firepot of unburned pellet dust. This can cause a dangerous overfeed situation on the next ignition attempt.

Pit Boss Navigator 850 Pellet Grill

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