2009 VOLVO V50 check engine light

IntroductionGeneral information
10
Shiftlock (automatic transmission)When your car is parked, the gear selector is
locked in the Park (P) position. To release the
selector from this position, turn the ignition key
to position II (or start the engine), depress the
brake pedal, press the button on the front side
of the gear selector and move the selector from
Park (P).Keylock (automatic transmission)When the ignition is switched off, the gear
selector must be in the Park (P) position before
the key can be removed from the ignition
switch.Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)The ABS system in your car performs a self-
diagnostic test when the vehicle first reaches
the speed of approximately 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.Fuel filler doorPress the button on the light switch panel when
the car is at a standstill to open the fuel filler
door.Fuel filler capAfter refueling, close the fuel filler cap by turn-
ing it clockwise until it clicks into place. If this
cap is not closed tightly or if the engine is run-
ning when the car is refueled, the MalfunctionIndicator Lamp ("Check Engine" light) may
indicate a fault.
About this manual•
Before you operate your vehicle for the first
time, please familiarize yourself with the
new-engine oil consumption information,
see page 216. You should also be familiar
with the information found in the chapters
"Instruments and controls", and "Starting
and driving".
•
Information contained in the balance of the
manual is extremely useful and should be
read after operating the vehicle for the first
time.
•
The manual is structured so that it can be
used for reference. For this reason, it
should be kept in the vehicle for ready
access.
NOTE
•
Optional or accessory equipment
described in this manual may not be
available in all countries or markets.
Please note that some vehicles may be
equipped differently, depending on
special legal requirements.
•
All information, illustrations and specifi-
cations contained in this manual are
based on the latest product information
available at the time of publication.
•
Volvo reserves the right to make model
changes at any time, or to change spec-
ifications or design without notice and
without incurring obligation.
•
Do not export your Volvo to another
country before investigating that coun-
try's applicable safety and emission
control requirements. In some cases it
may be difficult or impossible to comply
with these requirements. Modifications
to the emission control system(s) may
render your Volvo not certifiable for
legal operation in the U.S., Canada and
other countries.

IntroductionVolvo and the environment
12
Volvo is committed to the well being of its cus-
tomers. As a natural part of this commitment,
we care about the environment in which we all
live. Caring for the environment means an
everyday involvement in reducing our environ-
mental impact. Volvo's environmental activities
are based on a holistic view, which means we
consider the overall environmental impact of a
product throughout its complete life cycle. In
this context, design, production, product use,
and recycling are all important considerations.
In production, Volvo has partly or completely
phased out several chemicals including CFCs,
lead chromates, asbestos, and cadmium; and
reduced the number of chemicals used in our
plants 50% since 1991.
Volvo was the first in the world to introduce into
production a three-way catalytic converter with
a Lambda sond, now called the heated oxygen
sensor, in 1976. The current version of this
highly efficient system reduces emissions of
harmful substances (CO, HC, NOx) from the
exhaust pipe by approximately 95 – 99% and
the search to eliminate the remaining emis-
sions continues. Volvo is the only automobile
manufacturer to offer CFC-free retrofit kits for
the air conditioning system of all models as far
back as the 1975 model 240. Advanced elec-
tronic engine controls and cleaner fuels are
bringing us closer to our goal. After Volvo vehi-
cles and parts have fulfilled their use, recyclingis the next critical step in completing the life
cycle. The metal content is about 75% of the
total weight of a vehicle, which makes the vehi-
cle among the most recycled industrial prod-
ucts. In order to have efficient and well-
controlled recycling, dismantling information is
available for all Volvo models. For Volvo, all
homogeneous plastic parts weighing more
than 3.4 oz. (100 grams) are marked with inter-
national symbols that indicate how the com-
ponent is to be sorted for recycling. In addition
to continuous environmental refinement of
conventional gasoline-powered internal com-
bustion engines, Volvo is actively looking at
advanced technology alternative-fuel vehicles.
When you drive a Volvo, you become our part-
ner in the work to lessen the car's impact on
the environment. To reduce your vehicle's
environmental impact, you can:
•
Maintain proper air pressure in your tires.
Tests have shown decreased fuel econ-
omy with improperly inflated tires.
•
Follow the recommended maintenance
schedule in your Warranty and Service
Records Information booklet.
•
Drive at a constant speed whenever pos-
sible.
•
See a trained and qualified Volvo service
technician as soon as possible for inspec-
tion if the check engine (malfunction indi-cator) light illuminates, or stays on after the
vehicle has started.
•
Properly dispose of any vehicle-related
waste such as used motor oil, used batter-
ies, brake pads, etc.
•
When cleaning your vehicle, please use
genuine Volvo car care products. All Volvo
car care products are formulated to be
environmentally friendly.
For additional information regarding the envi-
ronmental activities in which Volvo Cars of
North America, LLC and Volvo Car Corporation
are involved, visit our Internet home page at:
http://www.volvocars.us.WARNING
Certain components of this vehicle such as
air bag modules, seat belt pretensioners,
adaptive steering columns, and button cell
batteries may contain Perchlorate material.
Special handling may apply for service or
vehicle end of life disposal.
See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.

02 Instruments and controls
Indicator and warning symbols
02``53 Function check
The indicator and warning symbols
1 light up
when you turn the ignition key or the optional
keyless drive start control to the driving posi-
tion (position II) before starting. This shows that
the symbols are functioning.
When the engine starts, all sym-
bols go out. If the engine is not
started within 5 seconds, all of the
symbols except the malfunction
indicator light (CHECK ENGINE)
and the oil pressure warning light
will go out. Certain symbols may
not have their functions illustrated, depending
on the car's equipment.
CHECK
ENGINEThePARK BRAKE symbol will not go out until
the parking brake has been released.
Symbols in the center of the instrument
panel
G026365
Warning symbol
The red warning symbol lights up
to indicate a fault that could affect
the car's drivability.This symbol
illuminates when the vehicle is
traveling at speeds above 5 mph
(7 km/h). A text explaining the nature of the fault
will also be shown in the information display.
The symbol and accompanying text will remain
on until the fault has been corrected. This sym-
bol may also light up in combination with other
indicator or warning symbols.
If the red warning symbol lights up:
1. Stop the car as soon as possible in a suit-
able location.
2. Read the message in the information dis-
play.
3. Follow the instructions provided, or con-
tact a trained and qualified Volvo service
technician. Erase the message by pressing
READ, see page 58.Information symbol
The yellow information symbol
lights up to alert the driver to a
message in the information dis-
play. This symbol illuminates when
the vehicle is traveling at speeds
below 5 mph (7 km/h).
The message can be erased by pressing the
READ button, see page 58, or will disappear
automatically (the length of time required for
the message to disappear varies, depending
on the function indicated).
When the message "
TIME FOR REGULAR
SERVICE
" is displayed, the text can be erased
and the information symbol light can be turned
off by pressing the READ button. The text will
disappear and the symbol light will go out auto-
matically after two minutes.
1On certain engines, the symbol for low oilpressure is not used. Instead, a text warningis provided in the information display, see page 216.

02 Instruments and controls
Symbols – instrument panel
02``55 Symbols – left side
G026439
1. Malfunction indicator light
As you drive, a computer called
On-Board Diagnostics II (OBDII)
monitors your car's engine, trans-
mission, electrical and emission
systems.
TheCHECK ENGINE light will light
up if the computer senses a condition that
potentially may need correcting. When this
happens, please have your car checked by a
trained and qualified Volvo service technician
as soon as possible.
CHECK
ENGINEACHECK ENGINE light may have many cau-
ses. Sometimes, you may not notice a changein your car's behavior. Even so, an uncorrected
condition could hurt fuel economy, emission
controls, and drivability. Extended driving with-
out correcting the cause could even damage
other components in your car.
NOTE
Canadian models are equipped with the
second symbol.2. Anti-lock Brake system (ABS)
If the warning light comes on, there
is a malfunction of the ABS system
(the standard braking system will
still function).
The vehicle should be driven to a trained and
qualified Volvo service technician for inspec-
tion, see page 153 for additional information.
NOTE
Canadian models are equipped with the
second symbol.3. Rear fog light
This symbol indicates that the rear
fog light (located in the driver's
side taillight cluster) is on.
4. Stability system STC or DSTC
This indicator symbol flashes when
the STC (Stability and Traction
control system) or the DSTC
(Dynamic Stability and Traction
control system) is actively working
to stabilize the car, see page 155 for more
detailed information.
5. Tire Pressure Monitoring System
This system monitors inflation
pressure in the tires. See page
197 for more information.
6. Fuel level warning light
When this light comes on, the vehi-
cle should be refueled as soon as
possible.

02 Instruments and controlsSymbols – instrument panel
0256
Symbols – right side
G026438
1. Turn signal indicator for trailer (certain
markets only)
If you are towing a trailer, this light
will flash simultaneously with the
turn signals on the trailer. If the
light does not flash when signaling,
one of the turn signals on the trailer
or on the car are not functioning properly.
2. Parking brake applied
This light is on when the parking
brake (hand brake) is applied. The
parking brake lever is situated
between the front seats, see
page 74 for more information.
NOTE
Canadian models are equipped with the
second symbol.3. SRS system warning light
If this light comes on while the car
is being driven, or remains on for
longer than approximately 10 sec-
onds after the car has been
started, the SRS system's diag-
nostic 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.
4. Oil pressure warning light
1
If the light comes on while driving,
the car, stop the engine immedi-
ately, and check the engine oil
level. If the oil level is normal and
the light stays on after restart, have
the car towed to the nearest trained and quali-
fied Volvo service technician. After hard driv-
ing, the light may come on occasionally when
the engine is idling. This is normal, provided it
goes off when the engine speed is increased.
5. Seat belt reminder
This symbol (and the seat belt
reminder light above the rear view
mirror) will light up if either front
seat occupant has not buckled his/
her seat belt. If the car is not mov-
ing, the symbols will go out after approximately
6 seconds.
6. Generator warning light
If the light comes on while the
engine is running, have the charg-
ing system checked by an author-
ized Volvo workshop.
1On certain engines, this symbol is not used to indicate low oil pressure. Instead, a text warning is provided in the information display, see also page 216.

02 Instruments and controls
Symbols – instrument panel
0257
7. Brake failure warning light
If this light comes on while driving
or braking, stop the car as quickly
as possible in a safe place, open
the hood, and check the brake fluid
level in the reservoir, see
page 215 for the location of the reservoir.
NOTE
Canadian models are equipped with the
second symbol.
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 infor-
mation display: DO NOT DRIVE. Have the
car towed to a trained and qualified Volvo
service technician and have the brake sys-
tem inspected.
If the BRAKES and ABS warning lights come
on at the same time, this could indicate a fault
in the brake system.In this case:
1. Stop the car 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 and the car can be
driven.
4. If both lights remain on after the engine has
been restarted, switch off the engine again
and check the brake fluid level, see
page 215 for the location of the reservoir.
Door open warningThe driver will be alerted if one of the doors, the
hood or the tailgate are open or ajar.At low speeds
If the car is moving at a speed of
less than approximately 3 mph
(5 km/h), the Information symbol in
the instrument panel will light up
and a message will be shown in the
information display indicating which door(s),
etc is not completely closed.
At higher speeds
If the car is moving at a speed
above approximately 6 mph
(10 km/h), the Warning symbol in
the instrument panel will light up
and a message will be shown in the
information display indicating which door(s),
etc is not completely closed.
Hood and tailgate
If the hood and/or tailgate is not
completely closed, the Information
symbol in the instrument panel will
light up and a message will be dis-
played, regardless of the vehicle's
speed.

06 Starting and drivingGeneral information
06136
Economical driving conserves natural
resourcesBetter 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 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.
•
Use the transmission's Drive (D) position
as often as possible and avoid using kick-
down.
•
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.
•
At highway driving speeds, fuel consump-
tion will be lower with the air conditioning
on and the windows closed than with the
air conditioning off and the windows 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
intervals.
WARNING
Driving with the tailgate open: Driving with
the tailgate open could lead to poisonous
exhaust gases entering the passenger com-
partment. If the tailgate must be kept open
for any reason, proceed as follows:
1. Close the windows.
2. Set the ventilation system control to air
flow to floor, windshield and side win-
dows and the blower control to its high-
est setting.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 cargo area, the less
the tendency to understeer.

06 Starting and driving
General information
06``137 Handling, roadholding
Vehicle 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 the
"Tire pressure" section. Loads should be dis-
tributed so that capacity weight or maximum
permissible axle loads are not exceeded.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
flowing water.
•
Clean the electrical connections for trailer
wiring 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.
Cold weather precautionsIf you wish to check your vehicle before the
approach of cold weather, the following advice
is worth noting:•
Make sure that the engine coolant contains
50 percent antifreeze. Any other mixture
will reduce freeze protection. This gives
protection against freezing down to –31 °F
(–35 °C). See section "Coolant". The use of
"recycled" antifreeze is not approved byVolvo. Different types of antifreeze must
not be mixed.
•
Volvo recommends using only genuine
Volvo antifreeze in your vehicle's radiator.
Your Volvo retailer stocks plenty of Volvo
engine coolant to help protect your vehicle
during cold weather.
•
Try to keep the fuel tank well filled – this
prevents the formation of condensation in
the tank. In addition, in extremely cold
weather conditions it is worthwhile to add
fuel line de-icer before refueling.
•
The viscosity of the engine oil is important.
Oil with low viscosity (thinner oil) improves
cold-weather starting as well as decreas-
ing fuel consumption while the engine is
warming up. For winter use, 5W-30 oil, par-
ticularly the synthetic type
1, is recom-
mended. Be sure to use good quality oil but
do not use cold-weather oil for hard driving
or in warm weather, see page 269 for more
information.
•
The load placed on the battery is greater
during the winter since the windshield wip-
ers, lighting, etc. are used more often.
Moreover, the capacity of the battery
decreases as the temperature drops. In
very cold weather, a poorly charged bat-
tery can freeze and be damaged. It is there-
fore advisable to check the state of charge
1Synthetic oil is not used when the oil is changed at the normal maintenance intervals except at owner request and at additional charge. Please consult your Volvo retailer.