1996 VOLVO 850 automatic transmission

1996 Volvo 850

Engaging reverse gear

The gear lever must first be moved to neutral in order to engage reverse\
gear.
CAUTION: Be careful that you do not inadvertently engage reverse while m\
oving
forward.
pg. 4:7 Automatic transmission
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1996 Volvo 850
governed by accelerator pedal position and vehicle speed.

3 (Intermediate position)

Automatically shifts up and down between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gears when in\
driving modes E or S. There
is no upshift from 3rd gear. Position 3 can be used for driving in hilly\
terrain, for towing trailers or for
increased engine braking power.

L (low position)

No upshift can occur when L is engaged. Select position L for driving in\
first and second gears. Use this
position to select low gear with no upshift, e.g. when ascending and des\
cending steep grades. The
transmission will noticeably shift down from second to first if road spe\
ed drops to below 40 km/h (25
mph) when driving in E mode and below 10 km/h (6 mph in S mode.

Kick-down

Automatic shift to a lower gear (kick-down) is achieved by depressing \
the accelerator pedal fully and
briskly. An upshift will be achieved when approaching the top speed for \
a particular gear or by releasing
the accelerator pedal slightly. Kick-down can be used for maximum accele\
ration or when passing at
highway speeds.

"Lock-up"

The transmission has a "lock-up" function which reduces engine speed and\
saves fuel. "Lock-up" can
sometimes be felt as an additional gear change. pg. 4:8 Automatic transmission
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1996 Volvo 850
pg. 4:9 Automatic transmission
Special Tips - automatic transmission

l For driving down steep hills and when driving for prolonged periods at l\
ow speeds, position L should
be selected. Avoid, however, repeated changes since this can cause overh\
eating of the transmission oil.
For driving on long continuous uphill gradients, select position 3.
l See caution on page 4:7.
l Do not hold the car stationary on an incline by using the accelerator pe\
dal. Instead, apply the hand
brake (parking brake). This prevents the transmission oil from becomin\
g overheated.
l When towing a trailer, select shift position 3.
l The (E)conomy mode should be selected when the cruise control is engag\
ed.
l While towing a trailer in hilly terrain, do not drive continuously at en\
gine speeds above 4500 rpm to
help avoid high engine oil temperatures.
pg. 4:10 Points to remember
Cooling system

The risk for engine overheating is greatest, especially in hot weather, \
when:
l towing a trailer up steep inclines for prolonged periods at wide open th\
rottle and low engine rpm.
l stopping the engine suddenly after high speed driving (so-called "after\
-boiling" can occur).
l To avoid overheating, the following rules should be followed:
l Do not drive for prolonged periods at engine speeds above 4500 rpm if yo\
u are towing a trailer in
hilly terrain.
l Reduce speed and downshift when towing a trailer up long, steep inclines\
. The risk of overheating can
be reduced by switching off the air conditioning system for a short time\
.
l Do not let the engine idle unnecessarily for prolonged periods.
l Do not mount auxiliary lamps in front of the grill.
When the risk of overheating is imminent, or in the event of overheating\
, (the temperature gauge goes
repeatedly into, or stays continually in, the red section) the followin\
g precautions should be taken:
l Switch off the air conditioning system.
l Stop the car and put the gear lever into neutral. Do not stop the engine\
!
l Switch the heater to full (maximum) position. Increase the engine spee\
d to approx. 2000 rpm (twice
idling speed) until the temperature begins to drop.

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1996 Volvo 850
pg. 4:12 Emergency towing (pulling of vehicles)

Front eyelet Rear eyelet

Precautionary steps to observe when car is in tow

l Steering must be unlocked.
l Please check with state and local authorities before attempting this typ\
e of towing, as vehicles being
towed are subject to regulations regarding maximum towing speed, length \
and type of towing device,
lighting, etc.
l Remember that power brake and power steering assists will not be availab\
le when engine is
inoperative. Brake pedal pressure required is 3 - 4 times above normal a\
nd greater steering effort must
be exerted.
Automatic transmissions only:
l Gear selector in position N. Check transmission oil level (see section \
titled "Transmission oil").
l Maximum speed: 20 mph (30 km/h).
l Maximum distance with front wheels on ground: 20 miles (30 km).
l If the battery is dead, it is not possible to release the gear selector \
by pressing the brake pedal. Release
the gear selector manually, by pressing the OVERRIDE button near the bas\
e of the gear selector.

CAUTION: The towing eyelets must not be used for pulling another vehicle\
out of a ditch or any
similar purpose involving severe strain.
Do not attempt to start the car by pushing or pulling it as damage to th\
e three-way catalytic converter
can result.
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1996 Volvo 850
pg. 4:17 Trailer towing
When preparing for trailer towing, observe the following:

l Volvo recommends the use of Volvo trailer hitches which are specially de\
signed for the car. For
trailer weights exceeding 2000 lbs. (908 kg), use only a trailer hitch\
offered as a Genuine Volvo
accessory.

NOTE: Models with automatic transmission are equipped with a transmissio\
n oil cooler as standard
equipment. This cooler helps prevent overheating of the transmission dur\
ing times of increased load, as
when towing a trailer.

l Maximum trailer weight recommended by Volvo is:
Trailers without brakes : 1100 lbs (500kg)
Trailers with brakes: 2" (50 mm) ball - 3300 lbs (1500 kg), 1 7/8" (\
47 mm) ball - 2000 lbs (908 kg).

Observe the legal requirements of the state/province in which the vehicl\
es are registered. All Volvo
models are equipped with energy-absorbing shock-mounted bumpers. Trailer\
hitch installation should
not interfere with the proper operation of this bumper system.

Trailer towing does not normally present any particular problems, but ta\
ke into consideration:
l Increase tire pressure to recommended full. See section "Wheels and tire\
s".
l Recommended hitch tongue load is 110 (50 kgs) for trailer weights belo\
w 2,650 lbs (1,200 kgs) and
165 lbs (75 kgs) for trailer weights above 2,650 lbs (1,200 kgs). Fo\
r trailer weights between 2,650-3,300
lbs (1,200-1,500 kgs) a top speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) should never b\
e exceeded.
l Engine and transmission are subject to increased loads. Therefore, engin\
e coolant temperature should
be closely watched when driving in hot climates or hilly terrain. Use lo\
wer gear and turn off air
conditioner if temperature gauge pointer enters the red range.
l Avoid overload and other abusive operation.
l Hauling a trailer affects handling, durability, and economy.
l It is necessary to balance trailer brakes with the towing vehicle brakes\
to provide a safe stop (check
and observe State/Local regulations).
l Do not connect the trailer's brake system directly to the vehicle's brak\
e system.
l More frequent vehicle maintenance is required.
l Remove the ball and drawbar assembly when the hitch is not being used.
l Volvo recommends the use of synthetic engine oil when towing a trailer o\
ver long distances or in
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1996 Volvo 850
mountainous areas.

NOTE: Refer to section "Automatic transmission" for additional trailer h\
auling tips.
WARNING!
l Bumper-attached trailer hitches must not be used on Volvos, nor should s\
afety chains be attached to
the bumper.
l Trailer hitches attaching to the vehicle rear axle must not be used.
l Never connect a trailer's hydraulic brake system directly to the vehicle\
brake system, nor a trailer's
lighting system directly to the vehicle lighting system. Consult your ne\
arest authorized Volvo retailer
for correct installation.
pg. 4:18 Winter driving
Cold weather precautions

l If you wish to check your car before the approach of cold weather, the f\
ollowing advice is worth
noting:
l Make sure that the engine coolant contains at least 50 percent antifreez\
e: that is, 3.7 qts. (3.5 liters)
Volvo Genuine Coolant/Antifreeze. This gives protection against freezing\
down to -31°F (-35°C). See
section "Coolant". The use of "recycled" antifreeze is not approved by V\
olvo. Different types of
antifreeze may not be mixed.
l Try to keep the fuel tank well filled - this prevents the formation of c\
ondensation in the tank. In
addition in extremely cold weather conditions it is worthwhile to add fu\
el line de-icer before refueling.
l The viscosity of the engine oil is important. Oil with low viscosity (t\
hinner oil) improves cold-
weather starting as well as decreasing fuel consumption while the engine\
is warming up. For winter use,
5W-30 oil, particularly the synthetic type, is recommended. Be sure to u\
se good quality oil but do not
use this cold-weather oil for hard driving or in warm weather. See secti\
on "Engine oil" for more
information.
l The load placed on the battery is greater during the winter since the he\
ater, windshield wipers,
lighting etc. are used more often. Moreover, the capacity of the battery\
decreases as the temperature
drops. In very cold weather, a poorly charged battery can freeze and be \
damaged. It is therefore
advisable to check the state of charge more frequently and spray an anti\
-rust oil on the battery posts.
l Volvo recommends the use of snow tires on all four wheels for winter dri\
ving - see section "Wheels
and tires".
l To prevent the washer reservoir from freezing, add washer solvents conta\
ining antifreeze (see page
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1996 Volvo 850
WARNING!
l The jack attachment must engage the bar in the jack attachment (A). Th\
e car's weight must not rest
on the jack's attachment (B).
l Be sure the jack is on a firm, level, non-slippery surface.
l Never allow any part of your body to be extended under a car supported b\
y a jack.
l Use the jack intended for the car when replacing a wheel. For any other \
job, use stands to support
the end of the car being worked on.
l Apply the parking brake, select position P (automatic transmission) or\
Reverse gear (manual
transmission).
l Block the wheels standing on the ground. Use rigid wooden blocks or larg\
e stones.
l The jack should be kept well-greased.

Installing the wheel

Clean the contact surfaces on the wheel and hub. Lift the wheel and plac\
e it on the hub. Make sure that
you align the wheel with the guide stud on the wheel hub prior to instal\
lation. Install the wheel bolts
cross-wise (see illustration) and tighten by turning lightly clockwise\
. Lower the vehicle to the ground
and alternately tighten the bolts to 81 ft. lbs. (110 NM). Install the\
wheel cap (where applicable).
CAUTION: Correct tightening torque on wheel bolts must be observed. The \
wheel bolts should never
be greased or lubricated. The extended, chromed wheel bolts must not be \
used with steel rims, as they
make is impossible to fit the hub caps.


Correct tightening order for wheel bolts
pg. 6:4 Spare tire
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1996 Volvo 850

Shiftlock release (automatic transmission only)

The gear selector is locked in the (P)ark position. To manually releas\
e the shiftlock:
l Turn the starting (ignition) key to position I
l Press firmly on the "SHIFTLOCK OVERRIDE" button located to the right of \
the base of the gear
selector
l While holding the override button down, press the button on the front of\
the gear selector
l Move the selector from the ( P )ark position.


Fuel tank cover does not open

Faulty motor in fuel tank cover
(Sedans):
Open the cover panel on the right tail light unit and pull on the hook. \

The fuel tank cover can then be opened.
(Wagons):
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