Traxxas is one of my favorite RC brands because they produce quality vehicles and pack them with the best electronic components.
But, have you ever noticed your Traxxas receiver blinking red? Typically, a blinking red light on your Traxxas receiver means one of the wires is plugged into the wrong channel.
Traxxas vehicles come with top-of-the-line motors, servos and ESCs, and receivers. What I like most about Traxxas is they pay attention to every detail, all the way down to the receiver and potential error codes that may popup if something isn’t quite right. In this post, we will explore why the Traxxas receiver blinking red and what you can do to get your car back on the road.
TLDR: Traxxas Receiver Blinking Red
Most of the time the receiver will blink red because either the wires are loose and not plugged in properly, the wires are not in the correct channel on the receiver, or the receiver is faulty and needs to be replaced.
Check out this video showing one fix for your Traxxas receiver blinking red:
If your receiver is broken, you can pick one up on Amazon by following the link below. We also have a post about how to bind your Traxxas transmitter and receiver if you need those instructions.
Why is the Traxxas Receiver Blinking Red?
Your RC car’s steering and motor is controlled by a transmitter and receiver. The transmitter is the controller that you hold in your hands, and it send the steering instruction over to the receiver that is onboard the vehicle.
If your car isn’t working properly or running as it should, you may need to take a look at the receiver to see if it is flashing any error codes.
After you plug in the battery and power on your Traxxas vehicle, the TQi receiver should show a solid green light. If you notice the receiver is flashing a red light, there is a problem.
If you need a new waterproof receiver box, you can pick one up on Amazon by clicking on the link below:
How To Fix A Traxxas Receiver Blinking Red
The first thing you should do is find the TQi wiring diagram and review which channel each wire is supposed to plug into.
The next thing you can try is to push each wire into the channel slot to test if any of the wires are loose and not fully seated into the receiver channel slot.
If you notice a grey wire plugged into your receiver, this is an accessories wire that can be used to monitor temperatures and voltages. If it is plugged into the wrong port, the receiver LED may flash red even though you still have steering and throttle controls.
Just because your Traxxas TQi is blinking red does not mean the car won’t drive properly. However, you should try to figure out why the Traxxas receiver is flashing red.
Most of the time the receiver will blink red because:
- The wires are loose and not plugged in properly
- The wires are not in the correct channel
- The receiver is faulty and needs to be replaced
Check out our post on changing the mode on the Traxxas ESC, it is closely related to this post!
Why is the Traxxas Receiver Blinking Red FAQs
Why Is My Traxxas Receiver Flashing?
If you notice the Traxxas TQi receiving LED flashing or blinking, something is wrong with the wiring or the receiver has malfunctioned. A wire could be in the wrong slot or the entire receiver could be faulty.
How Do I Reset the Traxxas TQI Reciever?
First, turn off the transmitter and hold down the red set and menu buttons. Next, keep the two buttons pressed down and turn on the transmitter and release the two buttons. Finally, prese the set button one time. Note, some models have a different set procedure and you can see those models here.
Do All Traxxas Models Use The Same Transmitter Profile?
No, the transmitter profile depends on which car or truck you own. Refer to your user manual or this video to see which transmitter profile your vehicle should use.
Conclusion For Why is the Traxxas Receiver Blinking Red?
If you notice your Traxxas receiver is blinking red, something isn’t quite right. The best thing to do is read the manual that came with the vehicle to understand where each wire is supposed to go. Next, make sure the wires are properly seated in the receiver port. What I mean here is give the plugs a firm push downwards to make sure they are all the way plugged into the receiver port.
You can also look to see if one of the wires is plugged into the wrong port. If the wiring is not exactly right, the receiver may blink red to indicate there is a problem. If all else fails, you can always take your car or truck down to the local hobby shop and for professional help.
If you have trouble finding your receiver, it may be enclosed in a water proof box. You can remove the outer cover of the waterproof box with a small screwdriver.
