E2 error appears during preheat and unit shuts off

Safety first: Unplug the smoker and let it cool.

• Inspect sensor wiring: Follow the sensor leads from the probe to the control board. Look for areas where the insulation is melted or rubbed through and touching metal.
• Dry connectors: If the smoker was recently cleaned with water, disconnect the sensor plug and allow it to dry completely. Use compressed air on low pressure if available.
• Check resistance: Disconnect the sensor and measure resistance. A reading near 0 ohms indicates a shorted sensor.
• Repair or replace: If the wire insulation is damaged but the sensor tests good, repair with high‑temperature heat‑shrink tubing and reroute away from hot surfaces. If the sensor is shorted, replace it with the correct Char‑Broil part.
• Retest operation: After reassembly, plug in and start a preheat cycle to confirm the E2 code is cleared.