Hello again, Stacy. I haven't had your problem, but I'm wondering about your flue cap. Mine sits about 1.25 inches above the pipe. Where's yours?
Once the pellets fire up, the igniter can't be your issue unless the fire smothers out from too many pellets - as in HHT 150. That's a lot of pellets and it can certainly happen. Make your HHT 100 and temp 500 which is plenty to get a great sear over the fire pot.
A final point if you're trying to sear steaks, let your fire build up to a roaring blaze with the lid open. Then put on the steaks and close the lid. When the temperature rises to around 550, raise the lid for 10 seconds or so to cool off the interior so the pellets keep feeding at a HHT 100 pace. If you don't, your pellets will feed very slowing once it hits and slightly exceeds temp and you'll lose some of the ability to sear until the temp drops sufficiently for the PG1000 to kick in with the faster pellet feed again, but you'll be waiting for the fire to build back up with your steaks sitting there cooking and not searing.
Good luck!