WARNING
An extra mat on the driver's floor can cause the accelerator and/or brake pedal to catch. Check that the movement of
these pedals is not impeded. Not more than one protective floor covering may be used at one time.
4. Press and release the START/STOP ENGINE button. The autostart function will operate the starter motor until the
engine starts.
The starter motor operates for a maximum of 10 seconds. If the engine has not started, repeat the procedure.
1On vehicles with the optional keyless drive, it is only necessary to have a remote control in the passenger's compartment.
2 If the vehicle is moving, it is only necessary to press the START/STOP ENGINE button to start the vehicle.
WARNING
Always remove the remote key from the ignition slot when leaving the vehicle, especially if there are children in
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.
110 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
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The 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 119
. If the vehicle is equipped with the optional
electric parking brake, press the control to apply the brake, see page 119
.
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 .
113 03 Your driving environment
Transmission
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.
Sport (S)
1
Sport mode offers more immediate engine response and allows the transmission to shift up at higher rpm.
To access Sport mode ( S), move the gear selector to the right from Drive ( D). The information display will change
from D to S.
Sport mode can be selected at any time.
Geartronic-manual shifting
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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 (or to S on
models equipped with Sport mode).
1Available on models with 6- cylinder turbo engines only.
NOTE
On models equipped with Sport mode, the transmission will not switch to manual shifting mode until the gear
selector is moved forward or rearward. The selected gear will then be shown in the information display (see page
74).
To return to the D position from M or S , 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
2.
Lift away the rubber mat on the floor of the storage compartment behind the center console and open the hatch.
2If 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 111
.
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When the vehicle has been parked for some time, the brake pedal may sink more than usual when the engine is
started. This is normal and the pedal will return to its usual position when it is released.
Symbols in the instrument panel
WARNING
If
and come on at the same time and the brake level is below the MIN mark in the reservoir or if a
brake system-related message is shown in the information display: DO NOT DRIVE. Have the vehicle towed to a
trained and qualified Volvo service technician and have the brake system inspected.
117 03 Your driving environment
Hill Descent Control (HDC)
Introduction1
Normally, when the accelerator pedal is released while driving down hills, the vehicle's speed slows as the engine runs
at lower rpm (the normal engine braking effect). However, if the downhill gradient becomes steeper and if the vehicle
is carrying a load, speed increases despite the engine braking effect. In this situation, the brakes must be applied to
reduce the vehicle's speed.
HDC is a type of automatic engine brake and makes it possible to increase or decrease the vehicle's speed on downhill
gradients using only the accelerator pedal, without applying the brakes. The brake system functions automatically to
maintain a low and steady speed.
HDC is particularly useful when driving down steep hills with rough surfaces, and where the road may have slippery
patches.
WARNING
HDC does not function in all situations, and is a supplementary braking aid. The driver has full responsibility for
driving in a safe manner.
1HDC is only available on the XC70, on which it is standard equipment.
Function
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HDC can be switched on and off with the button in the center console. An indicator light in the button illuminates
when HDC is activated.
The indicator light in the instrument panel illuminates and a message is displayed when the system is
controlling the vehicle's speed.
HDC only functions when first or reverse gears are selected ( 1 will be shown in the instrument panel display when
first gear is selected.).
NOTE
HDC cannot be activated if the gear selector is the D position.
Using HDC
HDC allows the car to roll forward at a maximum speed of 6 mph (10 km/h), and 4 mph (7 km/h) in reverse.
However, the accelerator pedal can be used to select any speed that is possible in first or reverse gears. When the
accelerator pedal is released, speed is quickly reduced again to 6 mph (10 km/h) or 4 mph (7 km/h), depending on the
gear selected, regardless of the hill's gradient. It is not necessary to apply the brakes.
The brake lights illuminate automatically when HDC is controlling the vehicle's speed.
The driver can slow or stop the vehicle at any time by applying the brakes.
HDC is deactivated when:
The button on the center console is pressed
A gear higher than first gear is selected
D is selected on vehicles with an automatic transmission
118 03 Your driving environment
Hill Descent Control (HDC)
HDC can be deactivated at any time. If this is done while driving down a steep hill, the system's braking effect will
decrease gradually.
NOTE
Engine response to pressure on the accelerator pedal may be slightly slower than normal when HDC is activated.
119 03 Your driving environment
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2 0 0 8
VOLVO V70
122 04 Comfort and driving pleasure
Menus and messages 124
Climate system128
Audio system136
Trip computer149
Compass151
Stability system153
Active chassis system-Four C155
Cruise control156
Adaptive Cruise Control-ACC158
Distance Alert165
Collision Warning with Auto-brake (option)168
Driver Alert System -option173
Park assist (option)178
Blind Spot Information System (option)182
Passenger compartment convenience186
123 04 Comfort and driving pleasure
124 04 Comfort and driving pleasure
Menus and messages
Center console
Certain functions are controlled from the center console via the menu system or from the optional keypad in the
steering wheel. Each function is described under its respective section.
The current menu level is shown at the top right of display in the center console.
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READ - access to the list of messages and message confirmation.
Thumbwheel - browse among menus and options in the list of functions.
RESET - reset the active function. Used in certain cases to select/activate a function, see the explanation under
each respective function.
The menus shown on the information displays in the instrument panel are controlled with the left lever. The menus
shown depend on ignition mode. Press READ to erase a message and return to the menus.
Menu overview
Driving distance on current fuel reserve
Average
Instantaneous:
Average speed
Current speed in mph (Canadian models only)
DSTC
Message
When a warning, information or indicator symbol comes on, a corresponding message appears on the information
display. An error message is stored in a memory list until the fault is rectified.
Press READ to acknowledge and scroll among the messages.
NOTE
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Blower control
Turn the control clockwise to increase or counterclockwise to decrease the blower speed. Pressing the AUTO switch
will automatically regulate blower speed and override manual adjustment.
NOTE
If the blower is turned off completely, the air conditioning is disengaged, which may result in fogging on the
windows.
Heated front seats (option)
Press the button once for the highest heat level - three indicator lights come on.
Press the button twice for a lower heat level - two indicator lights come on.
Press the button three times for the lowest heat level - one indicator light comes on.
Press the button four times to switch off the heat - no indicator lights come on.
132 04 Comfort and driving pleasure
Climate system
Heated rear seats 1
Heat control for the outboard seating positions takes place in the same way as for the front seat.
Air distribution
The figure consists of three buttons. When the buttons are pressed, an indicator light in front of the respective part of
the figure illuminates and shows which air distribution is selected, see page 135
.
1Option on Canadian models only.
Auto
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