So I went to use my GMG Daniel Boone Prime grill and it started smoking but the smoke when out.  I had to manually start it.  The next day I checked the hot rod and the temp on the rod only got to 375. That explains it only smoking and not starting.  I called GMG and they are sending me a new hot rod.  This hot rod is going to be ceramic.  My current rod is metal.  I'm hoping the ceramic rod is a better design.

 
 It seems ceramic is the new norm and tend to be larger in diameter. Is id a direct fit?

 It seems ceramic is the new norm and tend to be larger in diameter. Is id a direct fit?

Yes, I replaced mine earlier this year.  They cautioned me not to use the set screw on the new one though. 

I hate to say this out loud as many things have broken lately, but I am still on my original hot rod after 6 years.  Well I said it, now I will just wait for it to fail next.

Mine seems to take longer to fire up. Maybe I should clean it out again. Been about 10 or so cooks ago.

 That's pushing it. The igniter may very well be buried.