Diagnosis
That fan is the combustion blower, and it's critical. It feeds oxygen to the fire. If it's weak or intermittent, the fire will smother and your temperature will plummet. On the Tailgater, this is often a simple obstruction.
How to Fix It
Let's check for blockages. Power off and unplug the grill. The blower is located at the back, near the bottom. You'll see a vent. 1) Use a flashlight to look into the vent for obvious debris like spider webs, leaves, or pellet dust. 2) Use a can of compressed air (like for keyboards) to blow into the vent and dislodge anything. 3) You can also carefully vacuum the vent from the outside. Often, a good cleaning is all it needs to get back to its normal, steady hum.
If That Didn't Work
If the fan is clean but still not running consistently, the issue could be electrical. Check that the plug is fully seated in the outlet and you're not using an overly long extension cord, which can cause voltage drop. If it's still faulty, the blower motor itself may be failing. You can confirm this by starting the grill and feeling for a strong, consistent stream of air coming from the exhaust vent on the left side.
Heads Up
Don't run the grill with a failed blower. Without proper airflow, pellets will smolder and produce excessive dirty smoke (creosote) and can even back-burn into the auger tube, causing a major jam. If the fan is dead, it's a replaceable part.