Redarc Tow-Pro Liberty RED53CR Has A Flashing Red Light

Updated 10/15/2026 | Published 09/15/2026

Question:

Redarc My Redarc Towpro Liberty brake controller is acting up. It’s been fine until today but this morning it started blinking red. I disconnected, it all looked clean, plugged back up and it acted normally. Stopped for gas a couple of hours later and when I started back up it was blinking red again and stayed that way. Google says the brakes should/may work but not necessarily as expected. Now I’m in the middle of West Texas wondering if I really do have brakes. Any help or advice gratefully accepted.

asked by: Harry B

Expert Reply:

Hi Harry, sorry to hear about the trouble you are running into.

A continuously flashing RED light on your REDARC Tow-Pro Liberty # RED53CR indicates a grounding fault between the towing vehicle and the trailer. I spoke to REDARC and they said your brake controller will still attempt to brake the trailer while displaying this fault, its braking performance will be diminished or erratic because it lacks a stable circuit to send full voltage to the trailer magnets. Since you are traveling, here is what you need to do immediately to troubleshoot and safely handle the situation:

Since it acted normally after you first manipulated the plug, the issue is almost certainly a loose fit or intermittent connection inside the 7-way trailer plug and base.

Unplug and reset: I know you did this already, but unplug the trailer connector again and leave it disconnected for a full 60 seconds. This allows the Tow-Pro's microprocessor to clear the stored fault memory.

Check the male pins: Look closely at the pins on the trailer side of the plug. The ground pin (typically Pin 3) or other pins might be slightly compressed or bent inward, preventing a tight connection.

Spread the pins: If you have a small flathead screwdriver, pocket knife, or key, gently spread the split male pins outward slightly. This increases tension and ensures a solid, continuous contact when plugged back into the truck.

Dielectric grease or spray: If you have any WD-40 or contact cleaner in your vehicle, spray the plug contacts to help clear away micro-corrosion

In the off chance you have an Anderson plug for auxiliary power, try unplugging that. These aren't super common, but they are used from time to time. If unplugging it stops the flashing red light, keep it unplugged until you can figure out the issue when you get to your destination. This is likely a grounding issue as well, but it could be a bit harder to find.

If none of this helps, let me know and we can troubleshoot further. What vehicle did you install this on and what trailer are you towing?