Blackstone Griddle Igniter Not Working
If you’re having trouble getting your Blackstone Griddle igniter to work, you’re not alone.
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The igniter is an essential part of the griddle, and there are a few reasons why yours might be giving you trouble.
The simplest explanation for why your Blackstone Griddle igniter isn’t working properly is that your igniter needs a new battery.
Apart from this, another common issue is that the igniter needles or essential wiring can be knocked out of position.
You can troubleshoot to determine the cause of the issue, but as an immediate fix, you can also manually light your Blackstone.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the main causes of igniter-based issues and what steps you can take to solve the problem.
Why won’t my igniter work on my Blackstone Griddle?
Your igniter might not be working because of an issue with the battery, improper positioning of the igniter needle, a misplaced wire, or a faulty igniter.
One of the most common causes of igniter problems is the battery.
Check your griddle model to see if you have a battery-powered igniter.
It could be the case that you forgot to install a battery or didn’t know that you needed to.
It also might be that the battery was inserted wrong or that you have a dead battery.
Apart from battery-related issues, another fairly common problem is that the igniter needles can be knocked out of position.
This can happen during shipping or while moving your griddle around.
The igniter needles need to be pointed at the burner tube where the gas will emit, and they need to be a certain distance away to properly ignite the griddle.
Along with this, wiring can also get knocked out of place as the griddle is moved around.
If you think that your igniter needles or wiring maybe be out of place, you may need to remove the flat griddle plate to investigate further.
If you’ve done the trouble-shooting to ensure that it’s not a battery issue, a need positioning issue, or a wiring issue, it could just be that you got a faulty igniter than needs to be replaced.
What to do if a Blackstone Griddle igniter is not working?
You’ll have to do some diagnostic analysis to determine the cause of the issue.
You may need to replace the igniter battery, adjust the igniter position, address disconnected wires, or replace your igniter altogether.
Start with the simplest fix first.
If you have a battery-powered igniter, try a brand new battery.
Make sure it is in the correct position and try it out.
If you hear the igniter clicking, then the igniter is powered and working.
If your griddle still won’t light, then the problem is likely due to improper needle positioning or an issue with the gas release.
If you need to determine if your igniter needles are out of position or if any wiring is disconnected, you’ll need to carefully remove the flat griddle surface or see if you can examine the igniters and burner tubes from the back.
When you’re examining your griddle, it is important to make sure your griddle is turned off and that the propane is disconnected.
These important safety steps will keep both you and your griddle protected.
The igniter needs should be ¼” to ⅛” away from the burner tube, and they should be pointed at the closest hole in the burner tube.
If your igniter needle is too far away or isn’t directed at the hole, you can gently bend the needle to get it into the proper position.
Next, you can check your griddle manual to examine the wiring and see if anything may be out of place.
Again, make sure your griddle is off before messing with any wiring.
If the wiring seems to be in place and you’re still having trouble, then you may need to replace your igniter.
Does a Blackstone igniter have a battery?
Some Blackstone Griddle models come with a battery-powered igniter box, while others have a Piezo igniter valve, which is battery-free.
If you’re not sure if your griddle igniter has a battery or not, you should check the manual.
The manual will walk you through setting up your griddle and will say if you need to install a battery to get the igniter to work.
You may have a battery-powered igniter or you may not.
It just depends on your individual griddle model!
Blackstone Griddle igniter battery size
If your Blackstone Griddle is equipped with a battery-powered igniter, you will need one AA battery.
Be sure to install a brand new battery with the positive side facing outwards towards you and the negative side facing inwards towards the griddle.
Once the battery is in the proper position, you can test it out.
Listen for the sound of the igniter clicking to determine if it’s working.
How do you replace the igniter on a Blackstone Griddle?
In the case that you need to replace the igniter on your Blackstone Griddle, you will need to detach the faulty igniter box from the griddle base, detach the wiring, and remove the igniter needles.
Then, you can insert the new igniter needles, connect the wires, and attach the new igniter box.
Make sure that your griddle is completely off and that the gas is disconnected.
Then, you can remove the old igniter by unscrewing it from the base unit of the griddle.
Inside the griddle unit, you’ll find the igniter box, which you can detach from the griddle.
There will be wiring attached to the igniter box.
These wires each lead to one of the igniter needles.
Carefully detach each wire from the igniter box and unthread it from its attachment points in the griddle unit.
When you reach the igniter needles, use a screwdriver to detach each igniter needle from the griddle.
Once the igniter needles, wiring, and igniter box have been completely removed, you can start to install your new igniter.
Attach the igniter needles to the inside of the griddle unit.
Make sure that the needles each point to a hole on the closest burner tube and that they are around ¼” to ⅛” away from that hole.
Make sure your wires are attached to the igniter needles and then thread them back through the attachment places inside the griddle unit.
Connect the wires to your new igniter box.
Then, you can attach the new igniter box to the griddle.
How do I manually light a Blackstone?
If you’re dealing with igniter issues and need an immediate fix, you can manually light your Blackstone Griddle.
To do this, put your burners on low and use a long lighter or match to ignite the gas.
If your griddle still won’t light, you may also be experiencing an issue with the propane release.
Final Thoughts
Your Blackstone Griddle should be consistent and reliable.
If it’s not, and you’re having trouble igniting your griddle, you can resolve the problem with a little time and effort.
As a quick-fix, you can always manually light your griddle.
If you can’t seem to resolve the issue by troubleshooting with the battery, the igniter needles, or the wiring, you may need to contact Blackstone to get a replacement igniter.
This article was written by Robert McCall, the founder of bbqdropout.com. Robert also owns and operates the BBQ dropout YouTube channel where he demonstrates his first-hand experience cooking all kinds of meats and strives to provide helpful, authoritative content for people looking how to barbecue.
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