2011 VOLVO V50 Owner´s Manual

06 Starting and driving
Ignition switch
06
145 Ignition switch positions
0 – Locked positionRemove the key to lock the
steering wheel1. Never turn
the key to position 0 while
driving or when the vehicle is
being towed.
NOTE
A ticking sound may be audible if the key is
turned to a position between 0 and I. To
stop this sound, turn the key to position II
and back to position 0.
I – Intermediate position2
Certain accessories, radio,
etc. on, daytime running lights
off.
II – Drive positionThe key's position when driv-
ing. The vehicle's entire elec-
trical system is activated.
III – Start positionTurn the key to this position
and release it immediately.
The key returns automatically
to the Drive position.
A chime will sound if the key
is left in the ignition and the
driver's door is opened (does not apply to vehi-
cles with the optional keyless drive).
1Automatic transmission: the gear selector must be in the Park position. The optional keyless drive start control does not need to be removed.2Please be aware that leaving the key in positions I or II will increase battery drain.

06 Starting and driving
Starting the vehicle
06
146
To start the engine
WARNING
Before starting, check that the seat, steering
wheel and mirrors are adjusted properly.
Make sure the brake pedal can be
depressed completely. Adjust the seat if
necessary.
1. Fasten the seat belt.
2. Apply the parking brake if not already set.
The gear selector should be locked in the
Park (P) position (Shiftlock). See also page
151.
NOTE
After a cold start, idle speed may be notice-
ably higher than normal for a short period.
This is done to help bring components in the
emission control system to their normal
operating temperature as quickly as possi-
ble, which enables them to control emis-
sions and help reduce the vehicle's impact
on the environment.
3. The vehicle is equipped with an autostart
feature. Without touching the throttle
pedal, turn the key to position III and
release it. The starter motor will then oper-ate automatically (for up to ten seconds)
until the engine starts. If the engine fails to
start, repeat this step.
4. To release the gear selector from the Park
(P) position, the engine must be running (or
the ignition key must be in position II) and
the brake pedal must be depressed.
5. Select the desired gear. The gear engages
after a very slight delay, which is especially
noticeable when selecting R.
NOTE
•Immobilizer: If two of the keys to your
vehicle are close together, e.g., on the
same key ring when you try to start the
vehicle, this could cause interference in
the immobilizer system and result in the
vehicle not starting. If this should occur,
remove one of the keys from the key
ring before trying to start the vehicle
again.
•Keylock: The automatic transmission
has a keylock system. When the engine
is switched off, the gear selector must
be in the Park (P) position before the key
can be removed from the ignition
switch
1.
•When starting in cold weather, an auto-
matic transmission may shift up at
slightly higher engine speeds than nor-
mal until the automatic transmission
fluid reaches normal operating tem-
perature.
•Do not race a cold engine immediately
after starting. Oil flow may not reach
some lubrication points fast enough to
prevent engine damage.
1The optional keyless drive start control does not need to be removed from the ignition switch.

06 Starting and driving
Starting the vehicle
06
147
WARNING
•Volvo's floor mats are specially manu-
factured for your car. They must be
firmly secured in the clips on the floor so
that they cannot slide and become trap-
ped under the pedals on the driver's
side.
•Always place the gear selector in Park
(P) and apply the parking brake before
leaving the vehicle. Never leave the
vehicle unattended with the engine run-
ning.
•Always open garage doors fully before
starting the engine inside a garage to
ensure adequate ventilation. The
exhaust gases contain carbon monox-
ide, which is invisible and odorless but
very poisonous.
CAUTION
Automatic transmission: 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 trans-
mission wear. Selecting P or N when idling
at a standstill for prolonged periods of time
will help prevent overheating of the auto-
matic transmission fluid.

06 Starting and driving
Starting the vehicle with keyless drive*
06
148* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
Starting a vehicle with keyless drive
G019410
Keyless drive makes it possible to unlock, start
and lock the vehicle without using a remote
key.
A start control is fitted in the ignition switch on
vehicles equipped with the optional keyless
drive. This control is used in the same way as
the ignition key to start the engine. See also
page 146 for general information on starting
the engine.
NOTE
A keyless drive remote key must be inside
the vehicle in order to start the engine.
1. Press the brake pedal.
2. Press in the keyless drive start control and
turn it to position III.
NOTE
The vehicle is equipped with an autostart
function that makes it possible to start the
engine without holding the start control in
position III. Turn the start control to posi-
tion III and release it. The starter motor will
then operate automatically (for up to ten
seconds) until the engine starts.
Starting the vehicle with the ignition key
(remote key)
A vehicle with keyless drive can also be started
with the ignition key (if, for example, the battery
in the keyless drive remote key is weak). To do
so:
G019420
Removing the keyless drive start control
Press the catch on the side of the start con-
trol (see the illustration).
Pull the keyless drive start control out of the
ignition switch.
Insert the remote key into the ignition switch
and turn it to position III to start the engine,
page 146 for complete starting information.

06 Starting and driving
Automatic transmission
06

149 Shiftgate positions
G020237
Depress the button on the front of the gear
selector knob to move the selector between
the R, N, D, and P positions.
The gear selector can be moved freely between
the Geartronic (manual shifting) and Drive (D)
positions while driving.
Gear selector positions
P – ParkSelect the P position when starting or parking.
In P, the transmission is mechanically blocked
(Shiftlock). Always apply the parking brake
when parking.
G018264
D - left position: automatic shifting, M - right posi-
tion: manual shifting
CAUTION
The car must be stationary when selecting
position P.
R – ReverseThe car must be stationary when shifting to
position R.
N – NeutralN is the neutral position. The engine can be
started, but no gear is selected. Apply the park-
ing brake when the car is stationary with the
gear selector in N.
NOTE
If the gear selector is in the Neutral position
and the vehicle has been at a standstill for
at least 3 seconds, the brake pedal must be
pressed before the gear selector can be
moved to another position.
In order to move the gear selector to another
position:
1.
Turn the ignition key to position II (if the
engine is not already running).
2. Depress the brake pedal.
3. Move the gear selector to the desired posi-
tion.
D – DriveD is the normal driving position. The Drive posi-
tion offers 5 forward gears1. The car automat-
ically shifts between the various forward gears,
1T5 models have 6 forward gears.

06 Starting and driving
Automatic transmission
06
150
based on the level of acceleration and speed.
The car must be at a standstill when shifting to
position D from position R.
Manual shifting – Geartronic
The manual shifting mode (Geartronic) can be
selected at any time to manually select forward
gears, including while the car is moving.
NOTE
Reverse, Neutral, and Park cannot be
selected in Geartronic mode.
•To access the Manual (M) shifting position
from Drive (D), move the gear selector to
the right to M.
•To return to the Drive (D) position from M,
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 atime 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 trans-
mission will automatically shift down.
Cold starts (turbo engines)
When driving before the engine has reached its
normal operating temperature, the transmis-
sion will shift up at slightly higher engine
speeds to heat the three-way catalytic con-
verter as quickly as possible.
Kickdown
Automatic shift to a lower gear (kickdown) is
achieved by depressing the accelerator pedal
fully and briskly. An upshift will occur when
approaching the top speed for a particular gear
or by releasing the accelerator pedal slightly.
Kickdown can be used for maximum acceler-
ation or when passing at highway speeds.
Safety functionTo help prevent excessive engine speeds (rpm)
that could lead to engine damage, the engine
management system includes a function that
prevents kickdown from taking place if the
engine speed is too high.Kickdown will not occur if the driver attempts
to use this function when engine speeds are
too high. The transmission will remain in the
currently selected gear.

06 Starting and driving
Shiftlock override
06
151 Overriding the shiftlock system
G018263
Shiftlock prevents the gear selector from being
moved out of the P position unless the ignition
key is in position II and the brake pedal is
depressed.
In certain cases it may be necessary to move
the gear selector from the P position manually.
To manually override the Shiftlock
system:
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Depress the brake pedal.
3.
There is a small cover below P-R-N-D on
the gear selector panel. Open the rear edge
of the panel.4. Insert the key blade, see page 124, into the
opening and press it down until it bottoms.
5. With the key blade pressed down, move
the gear selector out of the P position.

06 Starting and driving
Brake system
06
152
Brake lights
The 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.
Brake circuit malfunction
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 Volvo
retailer and have the brake system inspec-
ted.
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.