Display shows E5 and heating element does not energize even though the unit powers on.

Safety first: Unplug the smoker and verify the element is cool before touching.

• Visual inspection: Remove the interior drip pan and racks to expose the heating element. Look for breaks, heavy scaling, or burn marks on the element and its terminals.
• Check wiring: From the rear or bottom access panel, inspect the high‑temperature wires leading to the element. Tighten any loose spade connectors and replace any burned or brittle wires.
• Test element continuity: Disconnect at least one wire from the element and measure resistance across the terminals. A typical element will show a finite resistance (often 10–40 Ω). If the meter reads OL (open), the element is bad.
• Check for power (advanced): With the unit reassembled and carefully powered (only if you are qualified), measure AC voltage at the element terminals when the smoker is calling for heat. If there is no voltage but the control is on, the relay/triac on the control board may have failed.
• Replace faulty part: Replace the heating element if open, or the main control board if it is not sending power to a good element.