Smoker powers on but will not heat; display and timer work but interior stays cold.

Safety first: Unplug the smoker and allow it to cool before accessing the element.

• Visual inspection: Remove racks and water pan to view the heating element. Look for breaks, heavy scaling, or burn marks.
• Check wiring: From the rear or bottom access panel, inspect the element terminals and wires. Tighten loose spade connectors and replace any burned wiring with high-temp wire.
• Test element resistance: Disconnect at least one wire from the element and measure resistance with a multimeter. An open circuit indicates a failed element that must be replaced.
• Test high-limit thermostat: Verify continuity through the high-limit thermostat. Replace if open and non-resettable.
• Control board relay: If the element and thermostat are good, the heater relay on the main control board may not be closing. Replacement of the board is required.