2009 VOLVO S60 stop start

01 SafetyOccupant safety
0116
Volvo's concern for safetySafety is the Volvo cornerstone. Our concern
dates back to 1927 when the first Volvo rolled
off the production line. Three-point seat belts
(a Volvo invention), safety cages, and energy-
absorbing impact zones were designed into
Volvo vehicles long before it was fashionable
or required by government regulation. We will
not compromise our commitment to safety. We
continue to seek out new safety features and
to refine those already in our vehicles. You can
help. We would appreciate hearing your sug-
gestions about improving automobile safety.
We also want to know if you ever have a safety
concern with your vehicle. Call us in the U.S.
at: 800-458-1552 or in Canada at:
800-663-8255.Occupant safety remindersHow safely you drive doesn't depend on how
old you are but rather on:•
How well you see.
•
Your ability to concentrate.
•
How quickly you make decisions under
stress to avoid an accident.
The tips listed below are suggestions to help
you cope with the ever changing traffic envi-
ronment.
•
Never drink and drive.
•
If you are taking any medication, consult
your physician about its potential effects
on your driving abilities.
•
Take a driver-retraining course.
•
Have your eyes checked regularly.
•
Keep your windshield and headlights
clean.
•
Replace wiper blades when they start to
leave streaks.
•
Take into account the traffic, road, and
weather conditions, particularly with
regard to stopping distance.
Reporting safety defects in the U.S.If you believe that your vehicle has a defect
which could cause a crash or could cause
injury or death, you should immediately inform
the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis-
tration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying Volvo
Cars of North America, LLC. If NHTSA receives
similar complaints, it may open an investiga-
tion, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in
a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and
remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot
become involved in individual problems
between you, your retailer, or Volvo Cars of
North America, LLC.To contact NHTSA, you may either call the
Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at
1-888-327-4236
(TTY: 1-800-424-9153) or write to: NHTSA,
U.S. Department of Transportation, Washing-
ton D.C. 20590.
You can also obtain other information about
motor vehicle safety from:
http://www.safercar.gov
Volvo strongly recommends that if your vehicle
is covered under a service campaign, safety or
emission recall or similar action, it should be
completed as soon as possible. Please check
with your local retailer or Volvo Cars of North
America, LLC if your vehicle is covered under
these conditions.
NHTSA can be reached at:
Internet:
http://www.nhtsa.gov
Telephone:
1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

02 Instruments and controlsIndicator and warning symbols
0252
Warning symbol in the center of the
instrument panel
This symbol shines as a red or yel-
low light depending on the severity
of the discovered fault.
Red symbol - Stop the vehicle as soon as pos-
sible in a suitable location and read the mes-
sage shown in the text window. The symbol
and accompanying text will remain on until the
fault has been corrected.
Yellow symbol - Follow the instructions shown
in the text window. The text can be erased by
pressing the READ button, see page 71, or
will disappear automatically after two minutes.
When the message "
TIME FOR REGULAR
SERVICE
" is displayed, the text can be erased
and the yellow symbol light can be turned off
by pressing the READ button. The text will dis-
appear and the symbol light will go out auto-
matically after two minutes.
Symbols in the instrument panel
G027134
The indicator and warning symbols
1 light up
when you turn the ignition key to the driving
position (position II) before starting. This shows
that the symbols are functioning. When the
engine starts, all symbols go out. If the engine
is not started within 5 seconds, all symbols
exceptCHECK ENGINE and
go
out. Certain symbols may not have their func-
tions illustrated, depending on the vehicle's
equipment. The symbol for the parking brake
goes out when the parking brake is released.
Seat belt reminder
This symbol lights up to indicate
that the driver has not fastened his/
her seat belt.
Supplemental Restraint System SRS
If this light comes on while the
vehicle is being driven, or remains
on for longer than approximately
10 seconds after the vehicle has
been started, the SRS system's
diagnostic functions have detected a fault in a
seat belt lock or pretensioner, a front airbag,
side impact airbag, and/or an inflatable curtain.
Have the system(s) inspected by a trained and
qualified Volvo service technician as soon as
possible.
BRAKE - Brake failure warning lightIf the light comes on while driving or braking,
stop immediately, open the hood and check
the brake fluid level in the reservoir, see
page 193.
Canadian models are equipped
with this warning light.
1On certain engines, the symbol for low oil pressure is not used. Instead, a text warning is provided in the information display.

02 Instruments and controls
Indicator and warning symbols
02``53
If the BRAKE and ABS warning lights come
on at the same time, this could indicate a
fault in the brake system.
1. Stop the vehicle in a suitable place and
switch off the engine.
2. Restart the engine.
3. If both warning lights go off, no further
action is required.
4. If both lights are still on after the engine has
been restarted, switch off the engine again
and check the brake fluid level (see
page 193 for the location of the brake fluid
reservoir).
5.
If the brake fluid level is above the MIN
mark, drive carefully to a trained and quali-
fied Volvo service technician and have the
brake system inspected.
WARNING
If the fluid level is below the MIN mark in the
reservoir or if a "
Brake failure - Service
urgent
" message is displayed in the text
window:DO NOT DRIVE. Have the vehicle
towed to a trained and qualified Volvo serv-
ice technician and have the brake system
inspected.
PARK BRAKE - Parking brake appliedThis light will be on when the parking brake
(hand brake) is applied. The parking brake lever
is situated between the front seats. For addi-
tional information, see page 71.
Canadian models are equipped
with this symbol.Low oil pressure
2
If the light comes on while driving,
stop the vehicle and then stop the
engine immediately and check the
engine oil level, see page 191.
If the light stays on after restart, have the vehi-
cle towed to the nearest trained and qualified
Volvo service technician. After hard driving, the
light may come on occasionally when the
engine is idling. This is normal, provided it goes
off when the engine speed is increased.Generator warning light
If the light comes on while the
engine is running, have the charg-
ing system checked.
Rear fog light
This light indicates that the fog
light is on.
CHECK ENGINE - Malfunction indicator
lightOn-Board Diagnostics II (OBDII): As you drive,
a computer called "OBDII" monitors your vehi-
cle's engine, transmission, electrical and emis-
sion systems. The CHECK ENGINE light will
light up if the computer senses a condition that
potentially may need correcting. When this
happens, please have your vehicle checked by
a trained and qualified Volvo service technician
as soon as possible.
ACHECK ENGINE light may have many cau-
ses. Sometimes, you may not notice a change
in your vehicle's behavior. Even so, an uncor-
rected condition could hurt fuel economy,
emission cleanliness, and driveability.
Extended driving without correcting the cause
could even damage other components in your
vehicle.
Canadian models are equipped
with this warning light.
2On certain engines, the symbol for low oil pressure is not used. Instead, a text warning is provided in the information display.

02 Instruments and controls
Indicator and warning symbols
0255
Message
Meaning
STOP SAFELY
Stop the car in a safe place and switch off the engine to help prevent the risk of serious
damage.
STOP ENGINE
Stop the car in a safe place and switch off the engine to help prevent the risk of serious
damage.
SERVICE URGENT
Take your vehicle to a trained and qualified Volvo service technician for inspection immedi-
ately.
SEE MANUAL
Refer to your owner's manual. For additional information, please contact your Volvo retailer.
SERVICE REQUIRED
Take your vehicle to a trained and qualified Volvo service technician for inspection at your
convenience (but preferably before the next scheduled maintenance service).
FIX NEXT SERVICE
Have the system affected inspected at the next scheduled maintenance service.
TIME FOR REGULAR SERVICE
This message will be displayed at 7,500 mile (12,000 km) intervals, after 750 hours of driving
or after 12 months, whichever occurs first, to remind the driver that the service interval has
been exceeded. The message will be displayed for 2 minutes each time the vehicle is started
until reset by a trained and qualified Volvo service technician.
OIL LEVEL LOW - FILL OIL
Check the oil level and top up if necessary. See page 191.
OIL LEVEL LOW - STOP SAFELY
Stop as soon as possible and switch off the engine, check the oil level and top up if necessary.
see page 191.
OIL LEVEL LOW - STOP ENGINE
Stop as soon as possible and switch off the engine, check the oil level and top up if necessary,
see page 191.
OIL LEVEL LOW - SEE MANUAL
Stop as soon as possible and switch off the engine, check the oil level and top up if necessary,
see page 191.
DSTC SPIN CONTROL OFF
The stability system's spin control function has been turned off. See page 138 for details.

06 Starting and driving
Economical driving
06
127 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 fol-
lowing rules:•
Bring the engine to normal operating tem-
perature 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.
•
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 con-
sumption.
•
Avoid using automatic transmission kick-
down feature unless necessary.
•
However, at higher driving speeds, fuel
consumption will be lower with the air con-
ditioning on and the windows closed than
with the air conditioning off and the win-
dows open.
•
Using the onboard trip computer's fuel
consumption modes can help you learn
how to drive more economically.
Other factors that decrease gas mileage are:
•
Dirty air cleaner
•
Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter
•
Dragging brakes
•
Incorrect front end alignment.
Some of the above mentioned items and others
are checked at the standard Maintenance
Service intervals.NOTE
Vehicles equipped with automatic transmis-
sions should use (D)rive as often as possible
and avoid using "kickdown" to help improve
fuel economy.
CAUTION
Drive slowly and carefully if going through
standing water (i.e. flooded roadways, etc.).
Damage to the engine could result if excess
water is drawn in through the air intake sys-
tem. Never drive the vehicle in water deeper
than 1 foot (300 mm).

06 Starting and drivingHandling and road holding
06128
Weight distribution affects handlingAt the specified curb weight your vehicle has a
tendency to understeer, which means that the
steering wheel has to be turned more than
might seem appropriate for the curvature of a
bend.
This ensures good stability and reduces the
risk of rear wheel skid. Remember that these
properties can alter with the vehicle load.
The heavier the load in the trunk (max. 220 lbs,
100 kg), the less the tendency to understeer.Handling, roadholdingVehicle load, tire design and inflation pressure
all affect vehicle handling. Therefore, check
that the tires are inflated to the recommended
pressure according to the vehicle load. See
"Tire pressure" section.
Loads should be distributed so that capacity
weight or maximum permissible axle loads are
not exceeded.
Speed-sensitive power steering
(Option on certain models)With this feature, the steering is most respon-
sive at lower speeds to make parking, driving
in city traffic, etc., easier. The effect of the
power steering diminishes as you accelerate
for greater stability at highway speeds.Driving through waterThe vehicle can be driven through water up to
a depth of approximately 9 in. (25 cm), at a
maximum speed of 6 mph (10 km/h).
Take particular care when driving through flow-
ing water.
Clean the electrical connections for trailer wir-
ing after driving in mud or water.
When driving through water, maintain low
speed and do not stop in the water.
WARNING
After driving through water, press lightly on
the brake pedal to ensure that the brakes
are functioning normally. Water or mud can
make the brake linings slippery, resulting in
delayed braking effect.
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 transmis-
sion. 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
car is in water, do not attempt to restart
the engine. Have the car towed out of
the water.

06 Starting and driving
Brake system
06``135 BRAKE Brake circuit malfunction
The brake system is a hydraulic system con-
sisting of two master cylinders and two sepa-
rate 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 failure – Service
urgent
message is displayed in the text
window:DO NOT DRIVE
. Have the vehicle
towed to a trained and qualified Volvo serv-
ice technician and have the brake system
inspected.
NOTE
When the vehicle is at a standstill and the
engine is idling, e.g. at a traffic light and the
brake pedal is depressed, the pedal may go
down slightly. This is a normal function of
the power-assisted brake system.Power brakes function only when the
engine is runningThe power brakes utilize vacuum pressure
which is only created when the engine is run-
ning. Never let the vehicle roll to a stop with the
engine switched off.
If the power brakes are not working, the brake
pedal must be pressed approximately four
times harder than usual to make up for the lack
of power assistance. This can happen for
example when towing your vehicle or if the
engine is switched off when the vehicle is roll-
ing. The brake pedal feels harder than usual.
Water on brake discs and brake pads
affects brakingDriving in rain and slush or passing through an
automatic car wash can cause water to collect
on the brake discs and pads. This will cause a
delay in braking effect when the pedal is
depressed. To avoid such a delay when the
brakes are needed, depress the pedal occa-
sionally when driving through rain, slush etc.
This will remove the water from the brakes.
Check that brake application feels normal. This
should also be done after washing or starting
in very damp or cold weather.Severe strain on the brake systemThe brakes will be subject to severe strain
when driving in mountains or hilly areas or tow-
ing. Vehicle speed is usually slower, which
means that the cooling of the brakes is less
efficient than when driving on level roads. To
reduce the strain on the brakes, shift into a
lower gear and let the engine help with the
braking. Do not forget that, if you are towing a
trailer, the brakes will be subjected to a greater
than normal load.

06 Starting and drivingBrake system
06136
Anti-lock brakes (ABS)
If the warning lamp lights up there
is a malfunction of the ABS system
(the standard braking system will
however function) and the vehicle
should be driven cautiously to a
trained and qualified Volvo service technician
for inspection. The Anti-lock Braking System
(ABS) helps to improve vehicle control (stop-
ping and steering) during severe braking con-
ditions by limiting brake lockup. When the
system "senses" impending lockup, braking
pressure is automatically modulated in order to
help prevent lockup, which could lead to a skid.
The system performs a self-diagnostic test
when the engine is started and when the
vehicle first reaches a speed of approxi-
mately 12 mph (20 km/h). The brake pedal will
pulsate several times and a sound may be
audible from the ABS control module. This is
normal.
To obtain optimal effect from the ABS system,
constant pressure should be kept on the brake
pedal. Do not pump the brake pedal.
The switching of the ABS modulator will be
audible and the brake pedal will pulsate during
braking. Please be aware that ABS does not
increase the absolute braking potential of the
vehicle. While control will be enhanced, ABSwill not shorten stopping distances on slippery
surfaces.
ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake Force
Distribution)EBD is an integrated part of the ABS system.
EBD regulates the hydraulic pressure to the
rear brakes to help provide optimal braking
capacity. The brake pedal will pulsate during
braking, which is normal.
If the BRAKEandABS warning lights come on
at the same time, this could indicate a fault in
the brake system.
1. Stop the vehicle in a suitable place and
switch off the engine.
2. Restart the engine.
3. If both warning lights go off, no further
action is required.
WARNING
If the fluid level is below the MIN mark in the
reservoir or if a "
Brake failure - Service
urgent
" message is displayed in the text
window:DO NOT DRIVE
. Have the vehicle
towed to a trained and qualified Volvo serv-
ice technician and have the brake system
inspected.
4. If both lights are still on after the engine has
been restarted, switch off the engine again
and check the brake fluid level (see
page 193 for the location of the brake fluid
reservoir).
5.
If the brake fluid level is above the MIN
mark, drive carefully to a trained and quali-
fied Volvo service technician and have the
brake system inspected.Emergency Brake Assistance (EBA)The EBA function is designed to provide full
brake effect immediately in the event of sud-
den, hard braking. The system is activated by
the speed with which you depress the brake
pedal.