1990 VOLVO 240 brakes

Volvo 1990 240 Model
3rd
gear 50
mph
(80 km/h)
4th
gear 70
mph (110 km/
h)
5th
gear 80
mph (130 km/
h)
600 - 1,200 miles (1,000 - 2,000 km)
1st gear 25 mph
(40 km/h)
2nd gear 40 mph (65 km/in)
3rd gear 60 mph (100 km/h)
4th gear 80 mph (130 km/h)
5th gear 90 mph (150 km/h)

Avoid driving at low speed in high gear.

* These are the maximum speeds recommended by the factory. Note that leg\
islation in different
countries and states can stipulate other max. speeds than those given he\
re.

Automatic transmission

Do not depress the accelerator to the extent that "kick-down" is actuate\
d during the first 1,200 miles
(2,000 km) when driving a car equipped with an automatic transmission.\


Breaking in parking brakes
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Volvo 1990 240 Model

To obtain best parking brake performance, the brake linings should be br\
oken in.
Stop 5-7 times from 30 mph (50 km/h), transmission in neutral, applyin\
g the parking brake with the
release button pressed in during the stop. The force must not lock the r\
ear wheels. If this happens,
release the brake enough to let the wheels rotate. Drive a mile between \
each stop to cool the brakes.
Check for proper parking brake operation.
Note: The brake lights are not illuminated when applying the parking bra\
ke. To warn traffic from
behind it is therefore advisable to depress the brake pedal slightly to \
illuminate the brake lights.

600 - 1,200 mile maintenance service

To ensure proper operation the car should be taken to a Volvo dealer bet\
ween the first 600 - 1,200 miles
(1,000 - 2,000 km) for a maintenance service. The oil in the engine, m\
anual transmission and rear axle
will then be changed. This is very important since the oil rapidly colle\
cts impurities during the break-in
period.
pg. 43 Driving economy, Shift indicator light
Economical driving does not necessarily mean driving slowly

Better driving economy may be obtained by thinking ahead, avoiding rapid\
starts and stops and
adjusting the speed of your vehicle to immediate traffic conditions. Obs\
erve the following rules:

l Bring the engine to normal operating temperature as soon as possible by \
driving with a light foot on
the accelerator pedal instead of allowing the engine to idle for a prolo\
nged period. A cold engine uses
more fuel and is subject to increased wear.
l When possible avoid using the car for driving short distances. This does\
not allow the engine to reach
normal operating temperature.
l Drive carefully and avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking.
l Do not exceed speed limit.
l Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra load) in the car.
l Check tire pressures regularly (cold tires).
l Remove snow tires when threat of snow or ice has ended.
l Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc., increase air resistance and there\
by fuel consumption.
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Volvo 1990 240 Model
l Avoid using automatic transmission kick-down feature unless necessary.

Other factors which decrease gas mileage are:
l Worn or dirty spark plugs
l Incorrect spark plug gap
l Dirty air filter
l Incorrect valve clearance
l Incorrect idle speed
l Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter
l Dragging brakes
l Incorrect front end alignment
l Low tire pressure

Shift indicator light

(manual transmission models only)

The Volvo shift indicator light (S.I.L.) is a device designed to help \
you get even better gas mileage from
your Volvo car. Studies have shown that the best fuel economy is obtaine\
d by shifting gears at low
engine rpm and high relative engine load. The Volvo S.I.L. is calibrated\
to show you when to shift for
improved mileage without sacrificing smooth acceleration .

Use of the S.I.L. is simple. Shift to next higher gear as soon as the li\
ght comes on. You may find after
using the S.I.L. for some time that your natural shifting rhythm will ad\
apt to the S.I.L.'s suggestion.
Some drivers may even shift before the light comes on.
Obviously, there will be times when you need to shift later than the lig\
ht would indicate (for example,
when climbing hills or trailer towing). Using the light regularly, howe\
ver, should result in a mileage
improvement of six percent or more, depending on how you normally drive.\


Programming instructions for shift indicator

If the current supply to the control unit is cut (battery disconnected)\
, the control unit will have to be re-
programmed as the control unit memory will be erased.
Drive the car in each gear (first gear not necessary) for approximatel\
y 8 seconds.
The gear change indicator light will flicker once (0.5 seconds), as ea\
ch gear is programmed.
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Volvo 1990 240 Model

1. Enter the car and check that the seat is adjusted properly. Make sure\
that the brake pedal can be
depressed completely. Move the seat closer if necessary.
2. Fasten the seat belt.
3. Apply the parking brake if not already set. Depress the brake pedal w\
ith your right foot.
4. Place the gear selector in Park (or neutral).
5. Without touching the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key to the \
starting position. Release the key
as soon as the engine starts.
6. Select the desired gear. There is a slight delay before the gear enga\
ges which is most notable when
selecting Reverse. Do not accelerate until you have felt the gear engage\
!
Note: Too-rapid acceleration immediately after selecting a gear will cau\
se harsh engagement and
premature transmission wear.

7. Release parking brake, then foot brake, and accelerate. To stop the c\
ar release the accelerator and
apply the brakes with your right foot.

It is not necessary to move the gear selector as the transmission will d\
ownshift automatically.
When idling for extended periods of time, select position N to prevent u\
nnecessary heating of the
transmission.
WARNING! Always place gear selector in Park and apply parking brake befo\
re leaving vehicle. Never
leave car unattended with engine running.
pg. 48 Emergency towing (pulling)

Front eyelet Rear eyelet
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Volvo 1990 240 Model
l It is necessary to balance trailer brakes with the towing vehicle brakes\
to provide a safe stop (check
and observe State regulations).
l More frequent vehicle maintenance is required.
l Remove the ball and drawbar assembly when the hitch is not being used.
l Increase tire pressure to recommended full-load pressure. See section 'W\
heels and Tires."
Note: Refer to section entitled "Automatic transmission" for additional \
trailer hauling
tips.
Warning: Do not drive with trunk lid or tailgate
open!

Poisonous exhaust gases may enter via the open trunk lid or tailgate. (\
This is especially true for wagon
models.)
If the trunk lid or tailgate for any reason must be open, proceed as fol\
lows:
l Close the windows.
l Set the heating system controls for floor and defroster to max. and the \
blower to full speed (4). See
section titled "Heating and Ventilation".

Handling, roadholding

Vehicle load, tire design and inflation pressure are important for prope\
r handling. Therefore check that
the tires are inflated to the recommended pressure according to the vehi\
cle load.
Loads should be distributed so that capacity weight or maximum permissib\
le axle loads are not
exceeded.
It is recommended to use tires of the same make and dimensions on all fo\
ur wheels.

Warning: Do not mix radial ply and bias ply tires as this will adversely\
alter the vehicle handling
characteristics.

Roof rack

Permanent and removable roof racks are available from Volvo Accessories.\

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Volvo 1990 240 Model
l Observe the following points when in use.
l Avoid point loads. Distribute the load evenly.
l Place the heavy cargo at bottom of load.
l Observe that center of gravity and handling are influenced by the load w\
eight.
l Increasing load size increases wind resistance.
l Anchor the cargo correctly with a cord.
l Drive carefully. Avoid rapid starts, heavy cornering and heavy braking. \
l Max. roof load is 220 lbs (100 kg); use a root rack with a sufficient \
load rating.
pg. 51 Automatic transmission, Brake system
The following "Special Tips" apply to cars with automatic transmission

l For steep hills and when driving for prolonged periods at low speeds, po\
sition 1 should be selected.
Avoid, however, repeated changes since this can cause overheating of the\
transmission oil. For driving
on mountain roads with long persistent uphill gradients, select position\
2.
l When negotiating long, steep, downhill slopes, position 1 should be sele\
cted and position 2 for less
severe inclines, in order to obtain the best possible engine braking eff\
ect.
Do not hold the car stationary on an incline by using the accelerator pe\
dal. Instead, engage the hand
brake. This prevents the transmission oil from becoming overheated.
l 4th gear must be disengaged when hauling a trailer!
l If an additional transmission oil cooler is installed you can haul a tra\
iler with the overdrive engaged.
See next "special tip".
l When driving with heavy trailers, it is recommended that an additional o\
il cooler be installed. This
applies especially when driving under severe conditions e.g. mountain dr\
iving or prolonged driving at
high speeds without breaks. The additional oil cooler is available as a \
genuine Volvo accessory.
Regarding oil change, see section titled "Transmission oil".

Moisture on brake discs and brake pads affects braking.

Driving in rain and slush or passing through a normal car wash can cause\
water to collect on the brake
discs and pads. This will cause a delay in braking effect when the pedal\
is depressed. To avoid such a
delay, when the brakes are needed, depress the pedal occasionally when d\
riving in rain or slush.
This will remove the water from the brakes.
This should also be done after washing or starting in very damp weather.\


If the brake power assist does not function --
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Volvo 1990 240 Model

The power assist to the brakes functions only when the engine is running\
. When the car is moving
without the engine running the brake pedal pressure required to stop the\
car is increased 3- 4 times.
The brake pedal feels stiff and hard.
Disc brake noise: A slight-to-moderate amount of disc brake "squeal" is \
considered normal.

Air dam (front spoiler)

A non-factory air dam can negatively influence the normal flow of coolin\
g air to the front wheel brakes.
(See section titled "Wheels and Tires").

If one of the brake circuits should malfunction the red warning light wi\
ll come on



(See section titled "Warning Lights".)
The pedal stroke increases slightly and the pedal feels softer but the p\
edal pressure required does not
increase noticeably.
If the light comes on while driving and the brake pedal can be depressed\
further than normal, it is an
indication that one of the brake circuits is not functioning. Stop immed\
iately, open engine hood and
check brake fluid level.
Reservoir empty: do NOT drive. Tow car to shop for check/repair of brake\
system. Reservoir not empty:
proceed immediately and with caution to a Volvo dealer for an inspection\
of the brake system.

Severe strain on the brake system

The brakes will be subject to severe strain when driving in mountains or\
hilly areas. The speed is usually
low which means that the cooling of the brake is less efficient than whe\
n driving on level roads.
To reduce the strain on the brakes it is advisable not to use the brakes\
excessively.
Instead, shift into a lower gear and let the engine help with the brakin\
g. A good rule is to use the same
gear downhill as would be used ascending the same grade. For vehicles wi\
th automatic transmission use
position 2, or in some cases, 1.
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Volvo 1990 240 Model
ENGINE
Engine coolant I I I R I I R
Fuel (line) filter R
PCV nipple (orifice) I
Ventilation hoses I
EGR valve A
Battery condition I I I I I I I I I I I I I
BRAKES
Inspect brakes,
replace components
as necessary I
I I I I I
Change brake fluid R R
STEERING
Tire wear (align front
end if needed) I
I I I I I I
Check power steering
fluid level I
I I I I I I I I I I I I
BODY
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