2011 VOLVO V50 instrument panel

02 Instruments and controls
Symbols – instrument panel
02
58
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.
The CHECK 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.
A CHECK ENGINE light may have many cau-
ses. Sometimes, you may not notice a change
in 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 inspection, see
page 152 for additional informa-
tion.
NOTE
Canadian models are equipped with the
second symbol.
3. Rear fog lightThis symbol indicates that the rear
fog light (located in the driver's
side taillight cluster) is on.
4. Stability system STC or DSTCThis 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 156 for more
detailed information.
5. Tire Pressure Monitoring SystemThis system monitors inflation
pressure in the tires. See page
199 for more information.
6. Fuel level warning lightWhen this light comes on, the vehi-
cle should be refueled as soon as
possible.

02 Instruments and controls
Symbols – instrument panel
02

59 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 appliedThis light is on when the parking
brake (hand brake) is applied. The
parking brake lever is situated
between the front seats, see
page 155 for more information.
NOTE
Canadian models are equipped with the
second symbol.
3. SRS system warning lightIf 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 light1
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 reminderThis 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 lightIf 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 217.

02 Instruments and controls
Symbols – instrument panel
02
60
7. Brake failure warning lightIf 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 216 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 STOP
SAFELY 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 216 for the location of the reservoir.
Door open warning
The driver will be alerted if one of the doors, the
hood or the tailgate are open or ajar.
At low speedsIf 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 speedsIf 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 tailgateIf 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.

02 Instruments and controls
Information display
02

61 Messages
G019617
When an indicator or warning light in the instru-
ment panel comes on, a message is also
shown in the information display. To read a
message:
1.
Press the READ button (1).
2.
Pressing READ repeatedly enables you to
scroll to any other messages that may be
stored.
NOTE
If a message is displayed when e.g. you are
using the trip computer, this message must
be read before you can access the trip com-
puter.
MessageMeaning
.....STOP
SAFELYAStop the vehicle in a
safe place and switch
off the engine to help
prevent the risk of seri-
ous damage.
HIGH ENGINE
TEMP STOP
SAFELYStop the vehicle in a
safe place and switch
off the engine to help
prevent the risk of seri-
ous damage.
......SERVICE
URGENTATake your car to a
trained and qualified
Volvo service techni-
cian for inspection
immediately.
......SEE MAN-
UALARefer to your owner's
manual. For additional
information, please
contact your Volvo
retailer.
MessageMeaning
.....SERVICE
REQUIREDATake your car to a
trained and qualified
Volvo service techni-
cian for inspection as
soon as possible (but
preferably before the
next scheduled mainte-
nance service).
BOOK TIME
FOR MAINTE-
NANCEBook time for service at
an authorized Volvo
workshop.
TIME FOR
REGULAR
MAINTE-
NANCEThis message is affec-
ted by the number of
miles/km driven, by the
number of months, or
by the number of engine
hours since the service
reminder was reset at
the most recent regu-
larly scheduled service.
MAINTE-
NANCE OVER-
DUEIf the vehicle is not serv-
iced according to
schedule, the warranty
may not apply to dam-
aged parts, etc.

02 Instruments and controls
Lighting panel
02
64* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
Parking lights
G026415
Light switch
Thumb wheel for adjusting brightness of
instrument lighting
Daytime running lights
To unlock the fuel filler door
Rear fog light
Pos.Lighting
Daytime running lights off. High
beam flash only.
Parking lights
Daytime running lights. High
beams and high beam flash can
be used in this position.
The front and rear parking lights can be turned
on even when the ignition is switched off.

Turn switch (1) to the parking light position.
The license plate lights also illuminate when the
parking lights are switched on.
Headlights
1.
Turn the ignition key to position II.
2. The low beam headlights (daytime running
lights) illuminate automatically, except
when the light switch (1) is in the parking
light position
1.
NOTE
See page 67 for information on switching
between high and low beams.
Active Bending Lights (ABL)*
G026507
Lighting panel, vehicles with Active Bending head-
lights
When this function is activated, the headlight
beams adjust laterally to help light up a curve
according to movements of the steering wheel.
This function can be activated by turning the
lighting switch to the Active Bending Light
position (indicated by the arrow in the illustra-
tion). The indicator light
in the Active
Bending Light symbol will illuminate. The func-
tion can be deactivated by turning the lighting
switch counterclockwise to one of the other
lighting positions.
1On Canadian models, the daytime running lights will remain on with the light switch in this position.

02 Instruments and controls
Lighting panel
02

* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.65
G020789
Headlight pattern with ABL deactivated (left) and
activated (right)
NOTE
•This function can only be activated in
twilight or dark conditions, and only
when the vehicle is in motion.
•If the indicator light flashes, this indi-
cates a fault in the ABL system. A text
message will also be displayed.
Brake lights
The brake lights come on automatically when
the brakes are applied.
Fog lights
Front fog lights*The front fog lights can be used in combination
with either the headlights or the parking lights.
1.
Turn the ignition key to position II.
2. Press button (3) to turn on the front fog
lights.
An indicator light in the button illuminates when
the front fog lights are on.
Rear fog lightsThe rear fog lights are located in both taillight
clusters.
The rear fogs light will only function in combi-
nation with the high/low beam headlights or the
optional front fog lights.
1.
Turn the ignition key to position II.
2. Press button (5) to turn on the rear fog
lights.
An indicator light in the button illuminates when
the rear fog lights are on.
NOTE
The rear fog lights are considerably brighter
than the normal taillights and should be
used only when conditions such as fog, rain,
snow, smoke or dust reduce visibility for
other vehicles to less than 500 ft.
(150 meters).
Instrument panel lighting
The instrument panel lighting illuminates when
the ignition is in position II and the light
switch (1) is in either position
or .
NOTE
To make it easier to read the odometer, trip
odometer, clock, and ambient temperature,
these gauges illuminate when the vehicle is
unlocked and when the key has been
removed from the ignition switch. The light-
ing will go out when the vehicle is locked.
Move the thumb wheel (2) up to increase
brightness or down to decrease brightness.

02 Instruments and controls
Lighting panel
02
66
Unlocking the fuel filler door
With the ignition switched off, press button (4)
to unlock the fuel filler door. Please note that
the fuel filler door will remain unlocked until the
car begins to move forward.
An audible click will be heard when the fuel filler
door re-locks.

02 Instruments and controls
Cruise control*
02

* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.71 Engaging the cruise control function
G020141
The cruise control buttons are located on the
left side of the steering wheel hub.
NOTE
This does not set the vehicle's speed.
1.
Press the CRUISE button. CRUISE will
appear in the function display in the center
of the instrument panel.
2.
Press + or – to set the current speed.
CRUISE-ONwill be displayed.
Increasing or decreasing speed
G031667
Use + or – in the following ways to increase or
decrease the vehicle's speed:
1.
Press and hold down + or – until the vehicle
reaches the desired speed. This will
become the set speed when the button is
released.
2.
Press + or – for approximately a half sec-
ond and release the button to increase or
decrease vehicle speed by approximately
1 mph (1.6 km/h).
NOTE
•Cruise control will not function at
speeds below 20 mph (30 km/h).
•Momentary acceleration, for less than
1 minute (e.g. when passing another
car), does not affect cruise control oper-
ation. The car will automatically return
to the previously set speed when the
accelerator pedal is released.
Temporarily disengaging the cruise
control
•Press 0 to temporarily disengage cruise
control.
CRUISEwill appear in the function display. The
currently set speed is stored in the system's
memory.
Cruise control is also automatically
disengaged:
•If the speed drops below approximately
20 mph (30 km/h) when driving uphill.
•When the brake or clutch pedal is
depressed.
•If the gear selector is moved to posi-
tion N.