Display
Control for setting the clock.
Turn the control clockwise/counterclockwise to set the time. The set time is shown in the information display.
80 03 Your driving environment
Ignition modes
Functions
Inserting and removing the remote key
The various ignition modes are accessed by inserting the remote key into the ignition slot.
The remote key can be removed from the ignition slot by pressing the key in. It will then be ejected slightly and can
be removed from the slot. The gear selector must be in position P (Park) .
NOTE
The brake pedal must not be depressed when accessing ignition modes I or II.
CAUTION
Foreign objects in the ignition slot can impair function or damage the lock.
Ignition mode 0
Insert the remote key in the ignition slot.
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Steering wheel
Horn
Press the steering wheel hub to sound the horn.
89 03 Your driving environment
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
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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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114 03 Your driving environment
Transmission
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
.
All Wheel Drive - AWD
1
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.
NOTE
The message AWD disabled Service required will be appear in the information display if an electrical fault should
occur in the AWD system. A warning light will also illuminate in the instrument panel. If this occurs, have the
system checked by a trained and authorized Volvo service technician.
1Standard on certain models.
115 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.
NOTE
Press the brake pedal hard and maintain pressure on the pedal - do not pump the brakes.
WARNING
If the fluid level is below the MIN mark in the reservoir or if a brake system 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.
Power brakes function only when the engine is running
The power brakes utilize vacuum pressure which is only created when the engine is running. Never let the vehicle roll
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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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