2008 VOLVO S80 transmission

the vehicle.
Never remove the remote key from the ignition slot while driving or when the vehicle is being towed. The
steering lock could otherwise be activated, making it impossible to steer the vehicle. Never remove the remote key
with keyless drive function (option) from the vehicle while driving or during towing.
Always place the gear selector in Park and apply the parking brake before leaving the vehicle. Never leave the
vehicle unattended with the engine running.
Always open garage doors fully before starting the engine inside a garage to ensure adequate ventilation. The
exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, which is invisible and odorless but very poisonous.
108 03 Your driving environment
Starting the engine
NOTE
The idling speed can be noticeably higher than normal during cold starts. This is to enable emission control system
can reach normal operating temperature as quickly as possible, which helps reduce exhaust emissions
1.
Keylock: Your vehicle is equipped with a keylock system. When the engine is switched off, the gear selector must
be in the Park position before the key can be removed
2 from the ignition slot.
1If the gear selector is in the D or R positions and the car is not moving, engine speed (rpm) will be lower and it will take longer for the engine to
reach normal operating temperature.
2Does not apply to vehicles with the optional keyless drive.
CAUTION
When starting in cold weather, the automatic transmission may shift up at slightly higher engine speeds than
normal until the automatic transmission fluid reaches normal operating temperature.
Do not race a cold engine immediately after starting. Oil flow may not reach some lubrication points fast enough
to prevent engine damage.
The engine should be idling when you move the gear selector. Never accelerate until after you feel the
transmission engage. Accelerating immediately after selecting a gear will cause harsh engagement and premature
transmission wear.
Selecting P or N when idling at a standstill for prolonged periods of time will help prevent overheating of the
automatic transmission fluid.
Keyless drive (option)
Follow steps 3-4 for starting the engine.
NOTE
For the vehicle to start, one of the vehicle's remote keys must be in the passenger compartment.
Steering wheel lock
The steering wheel lock is deactivated when the remote key is inserted into the ignition slot
1 and activated when the
remote key is removed from the ignition slot.
Always take the remote key or keyless drive remote when leaving the vehicle to help reduce the risk of theft.
1 On vehicles with the optional keyless drive, the steering lock is deactivated when the start button is pressed for the first time (assuming that a

Do not connect the jumper cable to any part of the fuel system or to any moving parts. Avoid touching hot
manifolds.
Batteries generate hydrogen gas, which is flammable and explosive.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not allow battery fluid to contact eyes, skin, fabrics or painted surfaces. If
contact occurs, flush the affected area immediately with water. Obtain medical help immediately if eyes are affected.
Never expose the battery to open flame or electric spark.
Do not smoke near the battery.
Failure to follow the instructions for jump starting can lead to injury.
110 03 Your driving environment
Transmission
Automatic transmission
Depress the button on the front of the gear selector knob to move the gear selector between the R , N, D, and P
positions.
The gear selector can be moved freely between the Geartronic (manual shifting) and Drive ( D) positions while driving.
Park position (P)
Select the P position when starting or parking.
1The information display (see page 74) shows the gear selector's position or the selected gear by displaying the following: P, R, N, D, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
or 6.
Keylock
To remove the remote key from the ignition slot, the gear selector must be in the P position. The remote key is locked
in the slot in all other positions.
Shiftlock
When P has been selected, the transmission is mechanically blocked in this position. The brake pedal must be
depressed before the gear lever can be moved from the P position.
Always apply the parking brake when the vehicle is parked, see page 116
. If the vehicle is equipped with the optional
electric parking brake, press the control to apply the brake, see page 116
.
CAUTION

The vehicle must be stationary when position P is selected.
Reverse (R)
The vehicle must be stationary when position R is selected.
Neutral position (N)
No gear is engaged and the engine can be started with the gear selector in this position. Apply the parking brake if the
vehicle is stationary with the gear selector in position N .
Drive (D)
D is the normal driving position. The car automatically shifts between the various forward gears, based on the level of
acceleration and speed. The car must be at a standstill when shifting from position R to position D.
111 03 Your driving environment
Transmission
Geartronic-manual shifting
Geartronic allows you to manually shift among your vehicle's six forward speeds. Geartronic can be selected at any
time.
To access the manual ( M) shifting position from Drive ( D), move the gear selector to the right to M .
To return to the D position from M, move the gear selector to the left.
While driving
If you select the M position while driving, the gear that was being used in the Drive position will also initially be
selected in the M position.
Move the gear selector forward (toward "+") to shift to a higher gear or rearward (toward "-") to shift to a lower
gear.
If you hold the gear selector toward "-", the transmission will downshift one gear at a time and will utilize the
braking power of the engine. If the current speed is too high for using a lower gear, the downshift will not occur until
the speed has decreased enough to allow the lower gear to be used.
If you slow to a very low speed, the transmission will automatically shift down.
Shiftlock - Neutral ( N)
If the gear selector is in the N position and the vehicle has been stationary for at least 3 seconds (irrespective of
whether the engine is running) then the gear selector is locked.
To be able to move the gear selector from N to another gear position, the brake pedal must be depressed and the
ignition must be in position II , see page 80
.

Shiftlock override
If the vehicle cannot be driven, for example because of a dead battery, the gear selector must be moved from the P
position so that the vehicle can be moved
1.
Lift away the rubber mat on the floor of the storage compartment behind the center console and open the hatch.
Insert the key blade into the opening as far as possible. Press the key blade down and keep it held down. Move the
gear selector from the P position. For information on the key blade, see page 52
.
1If the battery is dead, the optional electric parking brake cannot be applied or released. Connect an auxiliary battery if the battery voltage is too
low, see page 109
.
112 03 Your driving environment
Transmission
All Wheel Drive - AWD1
Your Volvo can be equipped with permanent All Wheel Drive, which means that power is distributed automatically
between the front and rear wheels. Under normal driving conditions, most of the engine's power is directed to the front
wheels. However, if there is any tendency for the front wheels to spin, an electronically controlled coupling distributes
power to the wheels that have the best traction.
1Standard on certain models.
113 03 Your driving environment
Brakes
Brake system
The brake system is a hydraulic system consisting of two separate brake circuits. If a problem should occur in one of
these circuits, it is still possible to stop the vehicle with the other brake circuit.
If the brake pedal must be depressed farther than normal and requires greater foot pressure, the stopping distance will
be longer.
A warning light in the instrument panel will light up to warn the driver that a fault has occurred.
If this light comes on while driving or braking, stop immediately and check the brake fluid level in the reservoir.

Active chassis system-Four C
Active chassis (Four C)-option
Active chassis, Four-C (Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept), regulates the characteristics of the shock absorbers
so that the car's driving characteristics can be adjusted. There are three settings: Comfort, Sport and Advanced.
Comfort
Comfort mode offers a somewhat softer ride and the transmission shifts gears at lower rpm. This mode is particularly
suitable for long-distance highway driving. The indicator light in the button will be on when this mode is selected.
Sport
In this mode, the vehicle's body sway is reduced during cornering and steering response is more immediate. The
transmission shifts up at higher rpm for sportier driving. The indicator light in the button will be on to indicate that
Sport mode has been selected.
Advanced
In this mode, body sway in curves is minimal and steering response is very direct. Gear shifting is done at high rpm in
each gear for dynamic and active driving.
Operation
Use the buttons in the center console to change setting. The setting in use when the engine is switched off is activated
the next time the engine is started.
Speed-dependent steering force (option)
Steering force increases with the speed of the vehicle to give the driver enhanced sensitivity. At low speed the vehicle
is easy to steer in order to facilitate parking, etc.
Steering force can be changed under Car settings
Steering force level. For a description of the menu system, see
page 123
.
NOTE
This menu function cannot be accessed when the vehicle is in motion.

Contents | Top of Page

2 0 0 8
VOLVO S80
186 05 During your trip
Driving recommendations 188
Refueling192
Loading198
Towing a trailer201
Emergency towing204
187 05 During your trip
188 05 During your trip
Driving recommendations
General information
Economical driving conserves natural resources
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.
Observe the following rules:
Bring the engine to normal operating temperature as soon as possible by driving with a light foot on the accelerator
pedal for the first few minutes of operation. A cold engine uses more fuel and is subject to increased wear.
Whenever possible, avoid using the vehicle for driving short distances. This does not allow the engine to reach
normal operating temperature.
Drive carefully and avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking.
Use the transmission's Drive ( D) position as often as possible and avoid using kickdown.
Do not exceed posted speed limits.
Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra load) in the vehicle.
Maintain correct tire pressure. Check tire pressure regularly (when tires are cold).
Remove snow tires when threat of snow or ice has ended.
Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc, increase air resistance and also fuel consumption.

CAUTION
Engine damage will occur if water is drawn into the air cleaner.
If the vehicle is driven through water deeper than 9 in (25 cm), water may enter the differential and the
transmission. This reduces the oil's lubricating capacity and may shorten the service life of these components.
Do not allow the vehicle to stand in water up to the door sills longer than absolutely necessary. This could result
in electrical malfunctions.
If the engine has been stopped while the vehicle is in water, do not attempt to restart it. Have the vehicle towed
out of the water.
Engine and cooling system
Under special conditions, for example when driving in hilly terrain, extreme heat or with heavy loads, there is a risk
that the engine and cooling system will overheat. Proceed as follows to avoid overheating the engine.
Maintain a low speed when driving with a trailer up long, steep hills.
Do not turn the engine off immediately when stopping after a hard drive.
WARNING
The cooling fan may start or continue to operate (for up to 6 minutes) after the engine has been switched off.
Remove any auxiliary lights from in front of the grille when driving in hot weather conditions.
Do not exceed engine speeds of 4500 rpm if driving with a trailer in hilly terrain. The oil temperature could become
too high.
Conserving electrical current
Keep the following in mind to help minimize battery drain:
When the engine is not running, avoid using ignition mode II . Many electrical systems (the audio system, the
optional navigation system, power windows, etc) will function in ignition modes 0 and I . These modes reduce drain on
the battery.
Please keep in mind that using systems, accessories, etc., that consume a great deal of current when the engine is not
running could result in the battery being completely drained.
The optional 12 volt socket in the trunk provides electrical current even with the ignition switched off, which drains
the battery.
190 05 During your trip
Driving recommendations
Before a long distance trip
It is always worthwhile to have your vehicle checked by a trained and qualified Volvo service technician before
driving long distances. Your retailer will also be able to supply you with bulbs, fuses, spark plugs and wiper blades for
your use in the event that problems occur.
As a minimum, the following items should be checked before any long trip:
Check that engine runs smoothly and that fuel consumption is normal.
Check for fuel, oil, and fluid leakage
Have the transmission oil level checked.
Check condition of drive belts.
Check state of the battery's charge.

201 05 During your trip
Towing a trailer
Introduction
Volvo recommends the use of Volvo trailer hitches that are specially designed for the vehicle.
NOTE
See page 270
for the maximum trailer and tongue weights recommended by Volvo.
Observe the legal requirements of the state/province in which the vehicles are
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 take into consideration:
Increase tire pressure to recommended full. See the tire inflation tables on pages 240 and 241.
When your vehicle is new, avoid towing heavy trailers during the first 620 miles (1,000 km).
Maximum speed when towing a trailer: 50 mph (80 km/h).
Engine and transmission are subject to increased loads. Therefore, engine coolant temperature should be closely
watched when driving in hot climates or hilly terrain. Use a lower gear and turn off the air conditioner if the
temperature gauge needle enters the red range.
If the automatic transmission begins to overheat, a message will be displayed in the text window.
Avoid overload and other abusive operation.
Hauling a trailer affects handling, durability, and economy.
It is necessary to balance trailer brakes with the towing vehicle brakes to provide a safe stop (check and observe
state/local regulations).
Do not connect the trailer's brake system directly to the vehicle's brake system.
More frequent vehicle maintenance is required.
Remove the ball and drawbar assembly when the hitch is not being used.
Volvo recommends the use of synthetic engine oil when towing a trailer over long distances or in mountainous
areas.
WARNING
Bumper-attached trailer hitches must not be used on Volvos, nor should safety chains be attached to the bumper.
Trailer hitches attaching to the vehicle rear axle must not be used.
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 nearest authorized Volvo retailer for correct installation.
When towing a trailer, the trailer's safety wire must be correctly fastened to the hole or hook provided in the
trailer hitch on the vehicle. The safety wire should never be fastened to or wound around the drawbar ball.
202 05 During your trip
Towing a trailer
NOTE