2011 VOLVO S80 tow

03 Your driving environment
Brakes
03

115 Brake system
The brake system is a hydraulic system con-
sisting of two separate brake circuits. If a prob-
lem 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.
Brake lightsThe brake lights come on automatically when
the brakes are applied.
Adaptive brake lightsThe adaptive brake lights activate in the event
of sudden braking or if the ABS system is acti-
vated. This function causes an additional tail-
light on each side of the vehicle to illuminate to
help alert vehicles traveling behind.
The adaptive brake lights activate if:
•The ABS system activates for more than
approximately a half second
•In the event of sudden braking while the
vehicle is moving at speeds above approx-
imately 6 mph (10 km/h)
When the vehicle has come to a stop, the brake
lights and additional taillights remain on for as
long as the brake pedal is depressed or until
braking force on the vehicle is reduced.
Power brakes function only when the
engine is running
The 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, consider-
ably higher pressure will be required on the
brake pedal to compensate for the lack of
power assistance. This can happen for exam-ple when towing your vehicle or if the engine is
switched off when the vehicle is rolling. The
brake pedal feels harder than usual.
Water on brake discs and brake pads
affects braking
Driving 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
when towing a trailer. 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.

03 Your driving environment
Brakes
03
116
Anti-lock braking systemThe Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) helps to
improve vehicle control (stopping and steering)
during severe braking conditions by limiting
brake lockup. When the system "senses"
impending lockup, braking pressure is auto-
matically modulated in order to help prevent
lockup that could lead to a skid.
The system performs a brief self-diagnostic
test when the engine has been started and
driver releases the brake pedal. Another auto-
matic test may be performed when the vehicle
first reaches a speed of approximately 25 mph
(40 km/h). The brake pedal will pulsate several
times and a sound may be audible from the
ABS control module. This is normal.
Cleaning the brake discsCoatings of dirt and water on the brake discs
may result in delayed brake function. This delay
is minimized by cleaning the brake linings.
Cleaning the brake pads is advisable in wet
weather, prior to long-term parking, and after
the vehicle has been washed. Do this by brak-
ing gently for a short period while the vehicle is
moving.
Emergency Brake AssistanceEBA is designed to provide full brake effect
immediately in the event of sudden, hard brak-ing. The system is activated by the speed with
which the brake pedal is depressed.
When the EBA system is activated, the brake
pedal will go down and pressure in the brake
system immediately increases to the maximum
level. Maintain full pressure on the brake pedal
in order to utilize the system completely. EBA
is automatically deactivated when the brake
pedal is released.
NOTE
•When the EBA system is activated, the
brake pedal will go down and pressure
in the brake system immediately increa-
ses to the maximum level. You must
maintain full pressure on the brake
pedal in order to utilize the system com-
pletely. There will be no braking effect if
the pedal is released. EBA is automati-
cally deactivated when the brake pedal
is released.
•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
SymbolSpecification
Steady glow – Check the brake
fluid level. If the level is low, fill
with brake fluid and check for
the cause of the brake fluid
loss.
Steady glow for two seconds
when the engine is started –
There was a fault in the brake
system's ABS function when
the engine was last running.
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 dis-
play: DO NOT DRIVE. Have the vehicle
towed to a trained and qualified Volvo serv-
ice technician and have the brake system
inspected.

03 Your driving environment
Parking brake
03

117 Electric parking brake
An electric parking brake has the same func-
tion as a manual parking brake.
NOTE
•A faint sound from the parking brake's
electric motor can be heard when the
parking brake is being applied. This
sound can also be heard during the
automatic function check of the parking
brake.
•The brake pedal will move slightly when
the electric parking brake is applied or
released.
Low battery voltageIf the battery voltage is too low, the parking
brake cannot be applied or released. Connect
an auxiliary battery if the battery voltage is too
low, see page 110.
Applying the electric parking brake
Parking brake control
1. Press firmly on the brake pedal.
2. Push the control.
3. Release the brake pedal and ensure that
the vehicle is at a standstill.
4. When the vehicle is parked, the gear selec-
tor must be in position P.
The
symbol in the instrument panel
flashes while the parking bake is being applied,
and glows steadily when the parking brake has
been fully applied.
NOTE
•In an emergency the parking brake can
be applied when the vehicle is moving
by holding in the control. Braking will be
interrupted when the accelerator pedal
is depressed or the control is released.
•An audible signal will sound during this
procedure if the vehicle is moving at
speeds above 6 mph (10 km/h).
Parking on a hill
•If the vehicle is pointing uphill, turn the front
wheels so that they point away from the
curb.
•If the vehicle is pointing downhill, turn the
front wheels so that they point toward the
curb.
The parking brake should also be applied.

03 Your driving environment
Parking brake
03
119
drive off with this error message showing, a
warning signal sounds.
Parking brake not applied – A fault is pre-
venting the parking brake from being applied.
Try to apply and release. Contact a Volvo work-
shop if the message remains.
Parking brake Service required – A fault has
occurred. Contact a Volvo workshop if the fault
remains.
WARNING
If the vehicle must be parked before the fault
has been corrected, always put the gear
selector in P and turn the wheels so that
they point away from the curb if the vehicle
is pointing uphill or toward the curb if it is
pointing downhill.

04 Comfort and driving pleasure
Climate system
04
128* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
Air vents in the dashboard
G021367
Open
Closed
Horizontal airflow
Vertical airflow
Direct the outer air vents toward the side win-
dows to defrost.
Air vents in the door pillars
G021368
Open
Closed
Horizontal airflow
Vertical airflow
Direct the outer air vents toward the side win-
dows to defrost.
Direct the vents into the passenger compart-
ment to help maintain the desired temperature
in the rear seat.
Electronic climate control, ECC
Ventilated front driver's seat*
Blower
Heated front driver's seat*
Air distribution
Ventilated front passenger's seat*
Auto
Heated front passenger's seat*
Temperature control, passenger's side
A/C – On/Off
Heated rear window and door mirrors, see
page 101.
Defroster (maximum effect)

04 Comfort and driving pleasure
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)*
04

* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.163
WARNING
Adaptive Cruise Control only warns of vehi-
cles detected by the radar sensor, see
page 165. In some cases there may be no
warning or the warning may be delayed. The
driver should always apply the brakes when
necessary.
Steep inclines and/or heavy loadsACC is primarily intended for use on fairly level
roads. The system may have difficulty main-
taining the correct distance to a vehicle ahead
on steep inclines, if the vehicle is carrying a
heavy load or is towing a trailer. In these situa-
tions, the driver should always be prepared to
apply the brakes if necessary.
Operation
Controls and display
Resume previous settings, increase speed
Standby mode on/off1
Set time interval
Put in active mode and set a speed
Set speed (parentheses indicate standby
mode)
Time interval while it is being set
Time interval after it has been set
Putting ACC in standby modeBefore ACC can be used to regulate speed
and/or the distance to a vehicle ahead, it must
first be put in standby mode.
To do so:
Press
.
The
symbol appears in the display and
parentheses (---) indicate that ACC is in
standby mode.
Setting a speedOnce ACC has been put in standby mode, use
the
or buttons to store (set) the vehicle's
current speed. This puts the system in active
mode. The set speed, for example 55 mph, is
shown in the display.
NOTE
Adaptive cruise control cannot be put in
active mode at speeds below 20 mph
(30 km/h).
1The driver's door must be closed and the driver's seat belt must be fastened before ACC can be put in standby mode

04 Comfort and driving pleasure
Distance Alert*
04
170* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
Introduction
Distance Alert is part of Adaptive Cruise Con-
trol and is a function that provides information
about the time interval to the vehicle ahead.
Distance Alert is active at speeds above
approximately 20 mph (30 km/h). Time interval
information is only given for a vehicle that is
driving ahead of your vehicle in the same direc-
tion. No information is provided for vehicles
driving toward you, moving very slowly, or at a
standstill.
G017362
A smaller section of the red warning light in the
windshield glows steadily if your vehicle is
closer to the one ahead than the set time inter-
val.
NOTE
Distance Alert only monitors distance to the
vehicle ahead while Adaptive Cruise Control
is in active mode.
WARNING
Distance Alert only indicates the distance to
the vehicle ahead. It does not affect the
speed of your vehicle.
Operation
Press the button in the center instrument panel
to switch this function on or off. The indicator
light in the button illuminates when the function
is on.
Setting a time interval
Controls and display
Time interval: Increase/decrease
Time interval: On, while it is being set
Time interval: On, after it has been set
Press
to increase the interval or to
decrease it.
Five different time intervals
can be selected and are
shown in the display as 1–5
horizontal bars. The greater
the number of bars, the longer
the time interval. One bar rep-
resents approximately
1 second to the vehicle ahead; 5 bars is
approximately 2.5 seconds.

04 Comfort and driving pleasure
Park assist*
04

* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.185 Signals from the park assist system
Active
Active
Active
1
2
3
Views in the display
Visual indicatorThe audio system’s display gives an overview
of the vehicle’s position in relation to a
detected object.
The markers in the display indicate that one or
more of the four sensors has detected an
object. The greater the number of markers, the
closer the vehicle is to the object.
Display in a vehicle with rear park assist
only: An object has been detected by both of
the right rear sensors.
Display in a vehicle with both front and rear
park assist. The solid marker in this example
indicates that an object is closer than approx-
imately 1 foot (30 cm) to the right front sensor.
Display in a vehicle with both front and rear
park assist: Reverse gear is selected and no
objects have been detected in front of or
behind the vehicle.
Audible signalThe Park Assist system uses an intermittent
tone that pulses faster as you come close to an
object, and becomes constant when you are
within approximately 1 ft (30 cm) of an object
in front of or behind the vehicle (example 2 in
the illustration). If there are objects within this
distance both behind and in front of the vehicle,
the tone alternates between front and rear
speakers.
If the volume of another source from the audio
system is high, this will be automatically low-
ered.
Rear park assist
G021423
The distance monitored behind the vehicle is
approximately 5 ft (1.5 m). The audible signal
comes from the rear speakers.
The system must be deactivated when towing
a trailer, carrying bicycles in a rear-mounted
carrier, etc, which could trigger the rear park
assist system's sensors.
NOTE
Rear park assist is deactivated automati-
cally when towing a trailer if Volvo genuine
trailer wiring is used.