Troubleshooting Redarc Liberty Solid Red Light When Installed on a 2020 Cadillac Escalade

Products Featured in This Question

Redarc Tow-Pro Liberty Brake Controller - Dash Knob - Up to 2 Axles - Proportional

(2102)

$148.50

Redarc Plug-and-Play Wiring Harness for Tow-Pro Trailer Brake Controllers

(165)

$25.00

Hook Probe Circuit Tester

(55)

$16.19

Question:

2020 Cadillac Escalade ssv 6.2, installed all according to instructions and e trailer video and when I connect trailer the controller light stays solid red and trailer brakes do not work on trip to campground. On our way home they worked for most of trip and them stopped working again and light still solid red. Any ideas on what I can do?

asked by: Matthew H

Expert Reply:

Hey Matthew, thanks for reaching out!

The Redarc Tow-Pro Liberty Brake Controller # RED24FR should only be showing solid red when you press and hold the control knob to show that you're using the manual override operation. Since it sounds like this isn't working correctly, I recommend verifying that all of your wiring is connected to the correct functions, and that the manual override will activate your trailer brakes.

I see that you used the Plug-and-Play Wiring Harness # 331-TPH-010 for the install so I recommend using a circuit tester # PTW2993 to verify that the wires on the adapter are carrying the following functions:

Blue - 7-Way Output to Trailer
Black - 12V Power
White - Ground
Red - COLD Side of Stop Light Switch (only gets hot when brake pedal is pressed)

expert reply by: Jon G

Matthew

7/12/2024

I used my Klein mm600 multi meter instead of a test light and I have ground at white, constant 13.47 at black ,0 at red with no brakes depressed and 13.47 when I depress the brakes, and blue is static until I depress brakes and then it increasingly goes to 1.17 and then decreased back to static even when I hold the brake. Please advise

Jon G.

7/12/2024

@Matthew I've reached out to my contact at Redarc to see if they have any other insight into what might be going on, but what I can say is that the Liberty is a proportional brake controller with a sensor that tells it if the vehicle is moving or not. Since you're at a standstill in the vehicle the controller senses this and backs off the power since the braking isn't needed to keep the trailer stopped. The only time that light should be red is when the brakes are being used, including the manual override feature. I'm now wondering if you potentially have something going on with the control knob where it isn't installed completely and it's somehow activating the manual override on it's own. I recommend trying to mess around with that control knob some to see if something isn't seated correctly. I'll let you know what my Redarc contact says once they get back with me.

Matthew

7/12/2024

Funny you said that because that was my first inclination so I had ordered the universal mount for the control knob and made sure that it's operating freely. I can hear and feel the button detent when I push and let off it. I will take it all apart again and check it all out though cause I actually enjoy doing anything vehicle wiring so it's kinda one of my hobbies. Construction pays my bills and truck accessories are my enjoyment.