Fix: Traeger Grills ‘LEr’ Temperature Error

LEr code is the abbreviation for Low Error Reading in Traeger grills. This error shows up when your grill has been at a temperature of 125°F or less for at least 10 minutes.

As a result, you won’t be able to cook anything since the grill won’t get hot until this error remains. The main causes for this include poor pellet quality, dust or ashes in the firepot, and a faulty temperature probe.

So, first, make sure you’re using high-quality pellets. Secondly, don’t fill a lot of them at once in the firepot. Moreover, clean your firepot regularly. If there’s debris, sawdust, or ashes there, it will fail to ignite the pellets.

Lastly, keep a regular check on your grill’s temperature probe. If it is behaving incorrectly, then the controller can show a low temperature, and the LEr code will occur.

Below, we’ll take a look at these methods and some more in detail.

1. Get an Insulation Blanket

If your area has very cold or windy weather, then it will be difficult for the Traeger grill to maintain a hot temperature. Now, if you have a shelter, then shift the grill there and restart it again.

But if that doesn’t help, buy an insulation blanket from Traeger for your grill. It will keep it warm and won’t let the winds and cold weather have any effect on the grill’s temperature.

2. Restart the Grill

The case can be that you have opened the grill after a long time and it is having some problems running properly.

You see, if the LEr code occurs, it means the grill has not been able to get hot in 10 minutes or more. That’s a considerable amount of time.

So, before moving on to some other fixes, it’s always a good idea to restart your grill. Here’s how to do that:

1. Move the controller dial to the shutdown cycle.

   

2. Close the lid.
3. The grill will shut down in 10 minutes.
4. Unplug the grill.
5. Once done, plug it in and restart it after a while.

After it turns back on, see if the LEr code shows up in your Traeger grill now.

3. Clean your Firepot

If the firepot has too many pellets or is filled with sawdust, ash, or debris, then the airflow to the firepot won’t be optimal.

Make sure that you check your firepot and clean it if there’s a buildup of sawdust or other stuff. Also, remove some pellets that have already been used.

Here’s how to do that:

1. Remove the grill grate and take out the upper shelf.

   

2. Remove the drip tray.

   

3. Take out the heat baffle.

   

5. The firepot will be visible now.

   

6. Use a vacuum and clean the firepot from every angle except the pellets loaded in the auger.

   

4. Clear the Auger Jam

The Auger can get jammed, and then it will fail to allow pellets to go into the firepot. Due to this, you won’t have enough pellets to ignite and maintain a hot grill temperature.

So, you should ensure the Auger is cleared and cleaned before starting to cook.

Here’s how to do that:

Note: Make sure there are no pellets in the hopper before you try the steps below.

1. Remove both screws from the controller.

   

2. Now you need to push the controller through its housing by rotating it.
3. Remove the 4 screws from the hopper assembly and take out the assembly carefully.

   

4. Use an LN key and pliers to disconnect the auger from the auger motor by removing the shear pin.

   

5. Remove the bushing screw (¼-inch) holding the auger and the frame of the grill together.

   

6. Now take a couple of pliers or pipe wrenches and use them to move the auger back and forth.

   

7. Use a hammer or mallet to clear out the inside part of the auger shaft and remove the jam.

   

8. Next, use a vacuum to clean the auger shaft and the upper portion of the auger.

   

9. Once everything is done, you can reassemble the grill.

5. Ensure the Induction Fan is Working

The induction fan is one of the primary parts of the grill and should be working flawlessly at all points. If it’s rotating properly, you will be able to hear the sound and feel hot air by hovering your hand over the grill.

But if the fan is not spinning, it might have gotten some grime which needs cleaning. So firstly, try to spin the fan manually with your hand inside the hopper. This will break any grime if it was the problem.

If it still doesn’t start rotating, it has more than likely reached its endpoint and needs replacement. You can contact Traeger’s customer support and get a new one once they verify your case.

6. Use Good-Quality Pellets

Good pellets ignite faster and help give a good taste to your food, depending on the flavor you get.

First, check your current pellets and see if they are wet. If they are, then there will be problems in the ignition, and the Traeger LEr code will occur.

Secondly, if they are old, then again, the same problem will happen.

At this point, you should get new pellets and replace the older ones. Traeger itself sells pellets in multiple different flavors made from natural hardwood without any fillers.

These will probably be the best choices for a Traeger grill.

7. Have Enough Pellets to Ignite

Having a small number of pellets in your firepot will ignite them quickly, but they won’t be enough to heat the grill properly.

The trick is to maintain balance. Don’t put in too many or too few pellets. The former won’t let the air flow properly, while the latter won’t be enough to maintain a high temperature.

Also, your P-settings come into play here. If the auger motor is rotating too slowly or too fast, then adjust it to a medium speed.

8. Check the RTD Temperature Probe

The RTD temperature probe is a heat sensor located on the inside of the grill. It is responsible for communicating the internal temperature of the grill to the temperature controller.

Make sure the RTD probe is not broken, bent, or chipped. If it is, then get a replacement.

Another thing is to ensure that the probe is not directly in contact with the side of the grill. There should be a gap between the two.

Now here’s how to check if the temperature sensor is working or not:

Note: Before trying this, move your grill away from direct sunlight, as it can change the readings.

1. Turn on the grill.
2. Note the temperature on the temperature controller.
3. Check the temperature reading outside that day.
4. Compare the two readings.
5. Your sensor should work correctly if the difference between the temperatures is not more than 20°F.

9. Adjust P-Settings

P-setting stands for Pause settings and is used to control the speed of the auger motor sending pellets to the firepot.

If the P-setting is lower, the pellets will go in faster. On the contrary, if the P-setting is higher, the pellets will go in slower. You have the option to adjust it from P-1 to P-5, with the former being the lowest and the latter being the highest.

Having said that, this feature has now been discontinued on the newer Traeger grills. But if you have an older grill that has the P-settings, then adjusting it to P-2 (default) or P-1 will solve the Traeger LEr code issue.

Your grill will have the settings on the controller. There will be a tiny hole either behind a “call service” sticker or right next to the digital display.

Take a paperclip to press that button, and the setting will go one level above. Adjust it to P-1 if the grill didn’t get hot with the default P-2 setting.

Still facing the issue?

If you’re unable to repair the grill yourself or have no prior experience in doing so, contact Traeger support for assistance. Whether you want technical support or need to replace a part like the induction fan, fire pot, auger motor, or anything else, Traeger will guide you all along the process.