After doing an extensive forum search over which thermometers to purchase I wound up buying two Polders and one Taylor true-temp. Both Polder probes failed after 2 uses each. The Taylor probe is still working fine. I've taken great care not to damage the probes (go through the smoke hole, not the door, don't kink, don't submerge in water etc)but they still failed, meaning they read about 100 degrees too high. Since the two brands of probes are interchangeble, I've ordered new probes from Taylor. Replacement probes for the Taylor are hard to find online but Polder replacements are common. Hmmm, is there a message there?

What I have found in regards to Temp probes over the years is: Over time they seem to fail rather quickly. I have cleaned the probe that goes into the temp display with alcohol. My probes sitting on my range hood in the kitchen seems to collect grease and dust over time.....like the surface of your range hood. Try cleaning the ends of the probe with alcohol, see if that helps. Of course some probes are just plain cheap and don't last. I keep my Maverick stored in it's orginal box.

I recently went to Amazon to replace my Polder (which failed after two uses) because I liked the dual temp function. After reading the customer reviews posted there I will avoid Polder like the plague. I can handle a product's premature death, but too many folks are telling the same story this time.

Some here have revived their probes by boiling them in oil. Doing this disburses any moisture that may have collected where the wire meets the probe. I've never tried it but some have had great success. Do a search on different probe names. Smokin or Tom may jump in and give a better description of the process.

Myself, I've had my best success with Taylor brand therms.

Good luck!

I have left mine in 400 degree oil for a while to cook the moisture out. I have used silicone to seal where the braided cable goes into the probe.
I tried a piece of heat shrink, but to get it to where it is needed you need to large of a size and it doesn't shrink that much. I have thought about splitting some and then shrinking.

I have 2 polders, both problematic, and 2 no name 7.00 a piece units that work great. The one reads a little off at the low end but the spread between the 2 goes down to about 4 degrees.