Control panel displays E5 and the smoker shuts down or refuses to start; fan and display may still work but no heat.

Safety first: If you suspect overheating or a grease fire, keep the smoker door closed, unplug the unit, and allow it to cool completely. Do not use water on grease fires.

After cooling:

• Inspect for grease buildup: Remove racks, water pan, and drip tray. Clean out heavy grease deposits from the bottom pan and around the heating element using a plastic scraper and degreaser. Excess grease can ignite and cause overheat conditions.
• Check exhaust and intake vents: Make sure the top exhaust vent and any side or rear vents are open and not blocked by foil, debris, or insects. Restricted airflow can cause the cabinet to overheat.
• Locate the high-limit thermostat: On many East Oak electric smokers, a small round or rectangular thermal cutoff/thermostat is mounted on the inner wall or near the heating element wiring. Inspect for signs of overheating or damage.
• Manual reset (if applicable): Some high-limit thermostats have a small red reset button. With power disconnected, press the button firmly until it clicks. Reassemble and test.
• Continuity test: If there is no reset button, disconnect one wire from the high-limit thermostat and test continuity with a multimeter. If it is open at room temperature, replace it.

Persistent E5: If the high-limit thermostat tests good and vents are clear, the main control board may be misreading temperature or driving the element incorrectly. Replace the high-limit thermostat first; if the problem remains, replace the main control board.