Page 84 of 275
Seats
Automatically lowering the rear seat's outboard head restraints
1. The ignition must be in mode I or II.
2. Press the button to lower the rear head restraints for improved visibility.
NOTE
The head restraint must be returned to the upright position manually.
The outboard head restraints cannot be folded down on models that are not equipped with this button.
WARNING
For safety reasons, no one should be allowed to sit in the outboard rear seat positions if the head restraints are folded
down. If these positions are occupied, the head restraints should be in the upright (fixed) position.
87 03 Your driving environment
Steering wheel
Adjusting
Lever for releasing/locking the steering wheel
Possible positions
The steering wheel can be adjusted for both height and reach:
Page 85 of 275
1. Pull the lever toward you to release the steering wheel.
2. Adjust the steering wheel to the position that suits you.
3. Push back the lever to fix the steering wheel in place. If the lever is difficult to push into place, press the steering
wheel lightly at the same time as you push the lever.
WARNING
Never adjust the steering wheel while driving.
With speed-dependent power steering (option) the level of steering force can be adjusted, see page 153
.
Keypads
Cruise control, see page 154
Adaptive cruise control (option), see page 156
.
Audio controls, see page 122.
88 03 Your driving environment
Steering wheel
Horn
Press the steering wheel hub to sound the horn.
89 03 Your driving environment
Page 86 of 275
Lighting
Lighting panel
Thumb wheel for adjusting display and instrument lighting
Rear fog light
Front fog lights
Headlights/parking lights
Instrument lighting
Illumination of the display and instrument lights will vary, depending on ignition mode.
The display lighting is automatically subdued in darkness and the sensitivity is set with the thumb wheel.
The intensity of the instrument lighting is adjusted with the thumb wheel.
High/low beam headlights
Low beams
When the engine is started, the low beams are activated automatically (daytime running lights) if the headlight control
is in position
or .
Page 87 of 275

Daytime running lights can be deactivated by an authorized Volvo workshop.
NOTE
The use of daytime running lights is mandatory in Canada.
Continuous high beams cannot be activated when the headlight switch is in position or . High beam
flash will function in these positions.
High beam flash
Move the lever toward the steering wheel to position
. The high beams come on until the lever is released.
High/low beam headlights
Continuous high beams
Set the ignition to mode II.
With the light switch in position
, pull the turn signal lever toward the steering wheel to position to toggle
between high and low beams (this also applies on models equipped with the optional Active Bi -Xenon® headlights).
The
symbol illuminates in the instrument panel to indicate that the high beams are on.
90 03 Your driving environment
Lighting
Active Bi -Xenon® Lights (ABL)-option
When the ABL function is activated, the headlight beams adjust laterally to help light up a curve according to
movements of the steering wheel (see the right-pointing beam in the illustration).
This function is activated automatically when the engine is started and can be deactivated/reactivated by pressing the
ABL button
in the center console. This button lights up when the ABL function is activated, and will flash if
there is a fault in the system.
NOTE
This function is only active in twilight or dark conditions, and only when the vehicle is in motion.
Page 90 of 275
flashers, press the button in the center dash. Press the button again to turn off the flashers.
NOTE
Regulations regarding the use of the hazard warning flasher may vary, depending on where you live.
The hazard warning flashers will be activated automatically if an airbag deploys.
Turn signals
When changing lanes
The driver can automatically flash the turn signals 3 times by moving the turn signal lever up or down to the first
position and releasing it.
When turning
Move the lever as far up or down as possible to start the turn signals. The turn signals will be cancelled
automatically by the movement of the steering wheel, or the lever can be returned to its initial position by hand.
93 03 Your driving environment
Lighting
NOTE
This automatic flashing sequence can be interrupted by immediately moving the lever in the opposite direction.
If the turn signal indicator flashes faster than normal, check for a burned-out turn signal bulb.
Interior lighting, front
Page 92 of 275

The passenger compartment lighting can be switched on and off manually within 30 minutes after the vehicle has been
unlocked.
If the lighting is switched on manually and the vehicle is locked, the courtesy lighting will switch off automatically
after one minute.
Home safe lighting
When you leave your vehicle at night, you can make use of the home safe lighting function to illuminate the area in
front of the vehicle.
1. Remove the key from the ignition slot.
2. Pull the direction indicator lever as far as possible towards the steering wheel and release it.
3. Exit the vehicle and lock the doors.
The headlights, parking lights, turn signals, lights in the door mirrors, license plate lights, and footwell lighting will
illuminate and remain on for 30
1, 60 or 90 seconds. The time interval can be set under Car settingsLight settings
Home safe lighting. For a description of the menu system, see page 123.
1Factory setting
Approach lighting
Approach lighting is activated by pressing the approach light button on the remote key (see the illustration on page 54
).
When the function has been activated, the parking lights, indicator lights, door mirror lights, license plate lighting,
dome lighting and door step lighting come on.
The time interval for this lighting can be set under Car settings
Light settings Approach lighting . For a description
of the menu system, see page 123
.
Contents | Top of Page
Page 93 of 275
2 0 0 8
VOLVO S80
95 03 Your driving environment
Wipers and washers
Windshield wipers/washers
Rain sensor on/off
Thumb wheel sensitivity/frequency
Windshield wipers off
Move the lever to position 0 to switch off the windshield wipers.
Single sweep
Move the lever upward from position 0 to sweep the windshield one stroke at a time for as long as the lever is held up.
Intermittent wiping
With the lever in this position, you can set the wiper interval by twisting the thumb wheel upward to increase wiper
speed or downward to decrease the speed.
Continuous wiping
wipers operate at normal speed.
The wipers operate at high speed.
Rain sensor (option)
The rain sensor automatically regulates wiper speed according to the amount of water on the windshield.The sensitivity
of the rain sensor can be adjusted moving the thumb wheel up (the wipers will sweep the windshield more frequently)
or down (the wipers will sweep the windshield less frequently). NOTE
Page 94 of 275

The wipers will make an extra sweep each time the thumb wheel is adjusted upward.
When the rain sensor is activated, the symbol
will illuminate in the instrument panel.
Activating and setting the sensitivity
When activating the rain sensor, the vehicle must be running or in ignition mode II and the windshield wiper lever
must be in position 0 or in the single sweep position.
Activate the rain sensor by pressing the button
. The windshield wipers will make one sweep.
Press the lever up for the wipers to make an extra sweep. The rain sensor returns to active mode when the stalk is
released back to position 0.
Deactivating
Deactivate the rain sensor by pressing the button
or press the lever down to another wiper position.
The rain sensor is automatically deactivated when the key is removed from the ignition slot or five minutes after the
ignition has been switched off.
CAUTION
Use ample washer fluid when washing the windshield. The windshield should be thoroughly wet when the wipers
are in operation.
Before using the wipers, ice and snow should be removed from the windshield. Be sure the wiper blades are not
frozen in place.
96 03 Your driving environment
Wipers and washers
Windshield washing
Move the lever toward the steering wheel to start the windshield and headlight washers. After the lever is released the
wipers make several extra sweeps.
Heated washer nozzles (option)
The washer nozzles are heated automatically in cold weather to help prevent the washer fluid from freezing.