A Traxxas receiver blinking red typically indicates a problem with the connection between the transmitter (remote control) and the receiver. You won’t find many companies that can match Traxxas’s rep when it comes to RC vehicles and paraphernalia. Many of you use Traxxas receivers, and sometimes you might see their screen blinking red.
Traxxas Receiver Blinking Red: Potential Causes
Cause | Troubleshooting Guideline |
| The Transmitter And The Receiver Has Lost Connection | Rebind The Transmitter And The Receiver |
| The Vehicle Has Gone Out Of Transmitter Range | Bring The Vehicle Back Within The Range |
| Low Voltage Detection | Recharge The Batteries |
| Improper Wiring | Redo The Wiring |
| Damaged Transmitter/ Antenna/ Receiver | Replace/Repair The Damaged Part |
Why Is Traxxas Receiver Blinking Red? – Causes & Solutions
Why is your Traxxas receiver blinking red? Is it a major issue or something that you can get fixed in an instant? Here are some possible reasons for the blinking red light:
1. Transmitter And Receiver Lost Connection
When you see the receiver blinking red, you must assume that the transmitter and the receiver are not talking to each other. You input the driving instructions into the transmitter, and it sends the signals to the receiver. The receiver accepts the signal, interprets it, and makes the vehicle act accordingly.
When the connection between the transmitter and the receiver breaks down, you lose control over the vehicle. The blinking red indicator on the receiver could be a distress signal sent out by the receiver, denoting that you are no longer in control of your RC unit. What to do in such a case?
Solution
The first troubleshooting attempt you must pursue is rebinding the transmitter and the receiver. Power off the vehicle and transmitter before trying to relink them. Find the receiver box and remove the screws you see on top of it. Once you take the receiver box cover off, you will get access to the link button.
Now, switch on the transmitter. Press the ‘’set’’ button and hold on to it. You will see a red light blinking on the transmitter as well. It means the transmitter is now in binding mode. Switch on the ESC and hold on to the link button of the receiver. The red light will keep on blinking on the receiver before it eventually turns green.
If the transmitter indicator turns green as well, it’s confirmed that the transmitter and the receiver are now successfully bound. Try moving the wheels or running the car to make sure that everything is working fine. To avoid binding complications in the future, avoid using cell phones when you are driving the RC.
2. The Vehicle Has Gone Out Of Transmitter Range
Traxxas does not specifically say how much range you can expect from its transmitters. 2.4 GHz transmitters usually have a 300/400 feet range. So, if the receiver begins to blink red, it’s possible that you have driven the unit out of the transmission range.
Solution
Move closer to the vehicle to check whether it’s a range issue. If the receiver stops blinking red and you regain control of the vehicle, it’s definitely a range issue. No need for any elaborate repair regimen here. Not letting the RC car wander too far away from the transmitter should be sufficient to keep this problem from popping up again.
3. Low Voltage Detection
The receiver can also blink red when you have Low Voltage Detection (LVD) turned on in your ESC. It indicates that soon the unit will be shut down because of insufficient battery power. You might also experience some control issues. It’s also possible for the transmitter to unbind from the receiver.
Solution
Low Voltage Detection switches off the unit when the battery status reaches critical levels. It doesn’t allow the battery to be drained out, which is harmful to LiPo batteries. If you don’t use LiPo batteries, you can turn off LVD, and the receiver will not blink red when the battery gets low.
When the LVD is on, recharge the battery when you see the receiver blinking. After you replenish the battery levels, the receiver indicator light will turn green. However, in some cases, you might have to rebound.
4. Wrong Wiring
Another highly probable cause behind blinking Traxxas receiver lights could be wrong wiring. You might have put the probes into the wrong channel ports. Yes, it’s possible to have some control over the RC vehicle, even if the wiring is wrong. But you will never get the maximum performance out of your RC without proper wiring.
Solution
Take a look at the wiring diagram and make sure to connect the servos, battery, and telemetry expander module wires to the correct ports. If there is no binding issue and the battery levels are sufficient, the receiver light will turn back green.
5. Damaged Transmitter/ Antenna/ Receiver
The red light on the receiver might signify a malfunctioning part in your RC system. It could be the transmitter, the antenna, or the receiver itself. You should rule out all technical possibilities before you contemplate a hardware issue. Getting new equipment without diagnosing the problem could be a costly mistake.
Solution
Examine the transmitter, receiver, and antenna closely. Check for visible signs of damage. If you find any, that’s an easy fix. Repair or replace the damaged component, and you are good to go! But if you don’t find any discernible issue after a thorough visual inspection, you need to test the parts separately.
First, test the transmitter on other compatible RCs. If the transmitter works fine, check the receiver. Get a different transmitter of the same frequency and bind it with the receiver. You can suspect the receiver if the red light doesn’t go away. If both the transmitter and receiver turn out to be okay, you can be all but sure that the antenna is culpable.
Final Words
Your Traxxas receiver blinking red should not be much of an unfamiliar sight to you. The receiver indicator could flicker red for some perfectly normal reasons. But, it’s also possible that it’s telling you about some serious problems. Work your way from the innocuous reasons to the relatively severe ones. You might find a fix much easier than you had expected.
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