
03 Your driving environment
Starting the engine – Flexifuel
03
119 Fuel adaptation
Flexifuel engines can be driven on both 95
octane unleaded petrol and bioethanol E85.
Both fuels are filled in the common fuel tank so
that any variations of mixing ratios between
these two fuels is possible.
If the fuel tank is filled with petrol after the car
has been driven on bioethanol E85 (or vice
versa) then the engine may run slightly
unevenly for a time. For this reason it is impor-
tant to allow the engine to accustom itself
(adapt) to the new fuel mixture.
Adaptation takes place automatically when the
car is driven for a short period at an even
speed.
IMPORTANT
After the fuel mixture in the tank has been
changed an adaptation should be made by
driving at an even speed for about 15
minutes.
If the battery has been discharged or discon-
nected then a slightly longer period of driving
is required for the adaptation as the memory
for the electronics has been cleared.
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03 Your driving environment
Gearboxes
03
121
IMPORTANT
The operating temperature of the gearbox is
checked in order to prevent damage to any
of the drive system's components. In the
event of a risk of overheating a warning
symbol illuminates on the instrument panel
combined with a text message - In which
case, follow the recommendation given.
Manual gearbox
Gearshift pattern 5-speed gearbox.
Gearshift pattern 6-speed gearbox.
The 6-speed box is available in two versions -
reverse gear position differs between them.
Look at the actual gearshift pattern imprinted
on the gear lever.
•Depress the clutch pedal fully during each
gear change.
•Take your foot off the clutch pedal between
gear changes.
WARNING
Always apply the parking brake when park-
ing on a slope - leaving the car in gear is not
sufficient to hold the car in all situation.
Gear indicator1
An essential detail in connection with environ-
mental driving is to drive in the right gear and
change gear in time.
The driver is assisted by an indicator - GSI
(Gear Shift Indicator) - which notifies the driver
when it is most advantageous to engage the
next higher or lower gear in order to obtain the
lowest possible fuel consumption. However,
taking into consideration characteristics such
as performance and vibration-free running, it
may be advantageous to change gear at a
higher engine speed.
Indication is made with an up or down arrow in
the combined instrument panel's right-hand
display.
1Only manual gearbox for the D2 model.
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03 Your driving environment
Gearboxes
03
123
Geartronic – Manual gear positions (+/-)The driver can also change gear manually
using the Geartronic automatic gearbox. The
car engine-brakes when the accelerator pedal
is released.
Manual gearshift mode is obtained by moving
the lever to the side from D position to the end
position at +/–. The information display shifts
the indication from
D to one of the figures 1 –6, which is equivalent to the gear that is
engaged just then, see page 71.
•Move the lever forwards towards + (plus)
to change up a gear and release the lever,
which returns to its rest position between
+ and –.
or
•Pull the lever back towards – (minus) to
change down a gear and release it.
The manual gearshift mode (+/–) can be
selected at any time while driving.
Geartronic automatically shifts down if the
driver allows the speed to decrease lower than
a level suitable for the selected gear, in order
to avoid jerking and stalling.
To return to automatic driving mode:
•Move the lever to the side to the end posi-
tion at D.
NOTE
f the gearbox has a Sport programme then
the gearbox will only become manual after
the lever has been moved forwards or back-
wards in its (-+/–) position. The information
display then shifts the indication from
S to
show which of the gears 1-6 is engaged.
Geartronic - Sport mode (S)2
The Sport programme provides sportier cha-
racteristics and allows higher engine speed for
the gears. At the same time it responds more
quickly to acceleration. During active driving,
the use of a lower gear is prioritised, leading to
a delayed upshift.
Sport mode is obtained by moving the lever to
the side from D position to the end position at
+/–. The information display shifts the indica-
tion from
D to S.
Sport mode can be selected at any time while
driving.
Geartronic - Winter modeIt can be easier to pull away on slippery roads
if 3rd gear is engaged manually.
1. Depress the brake pedal and move the
gear lever from D position to the end posi-tion at +/– - the instrument panel display
shifts the indication from
D to the figure 1.
2. Scroll up to gear 3 by pushing the lever
forward towards + (plus) twice - the display
shifts the indication from
1 to 3.
3. Release the brake and accelerate carefully.
The gearbox "winter mode" means that the car
moves off with a lower engine speed and
reduced engine power on the drive wheels.
Kick-downWhen the accelerator pedal is pressed all the
way to the floor (beyond the position normally
regarded as full acceleration) a lower gear is
immediately engaged. This is known as kick-
down.
If the accelerator is released from the kick-
down position, the gearbox automatically
changes up.
Kick-down is used when maximum accelera-
tion is needed, such as for overtaking.
Safety functionTo prevent overrevving the engine, the gearbox
control program has a protective downshift
inhibitor which prevents the kick-down func-
tion.
2Only models D5 and T6.
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03 Your driving environment
Gearboxes
03
124
Geartronic does not permit downshifting/kick-
down which would result in an engine speed
high enough to damage the engine. Nothing
happens if the driver still tries to shift down in
this way at high engine speed – the original
gear remains engaged.
When kick-down is activated the car can
change one or more gears at a time depending
on engine speed. The car changes up when the
engine reaches its maximum speed in order to
prevent damage to the engine.
Mechanical gear selector inhibitor
G021351
The gear selector can be moved forward and
back freely between N and D. Other positions
are locked with a latch that is released with the
inhibitor button on the gear selector.With the inhibitor button depressed the lever
can be moved forwards or backwards between
P, R, N and D.
Automatic gear selector inhibitorThe automatic gearbox has special safety sys-
tems:
Parking position (P)Stationary car with engine running:
Keep your foot on the brake pedal when mov-
ing the gear selector to another position.
Electric gear inhibitor – Shiftlock Parking
position (P)
To be able to move the gear selector from P to
other gear positions, the brake pedal must be
depressed and the remote control key must be
in position II, see page 78.
Shiftlock – Neutral (N)If the gear selector is in N position and the car
has been stationary for at least 3 seconds (irre-
spective of whether the engine is running) then
the gear selector is locked.
To be able to move the gear selector from N to
other gear positions, the brake pedal must be
depressed and the remote control key must be
in position II, see page 78.
Deactivate automatic gear selector
inhibitor
If the car cannot be driven, e.g. due to a flat
battery, the gear selector must be moved from
the P position so that the car can be moved.
Lift the rubber mat in the compartment
behind the centre console and open the
hatch.
Fully insert the key blade. Press the key
blade down and hold (For information on
the key blade, see page 48.)
Move the gear selector from the P position.
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03 Your driving environment
Foot brake
03
135 General
The car is equipped with two brake circuits. If
one brake circuit is damaged then this will
mean that the brakes engage at a deeper level
and harder pressure on the pedal is needed to
produce the normal braking effect.
The driver's brake pedal pressure is assisted
by a brake servo.
WARNING
The brake servo only works when the engine
is running.
If the brake is used when the engine is switched
off then the pedal will feel stiff and more force
must be used to brake the car.
In very hilly terrain or when driving with a heavy
load the brakes can be relieved by using engine
braking. Engine braking is most efficiently used
if the same gear is used downhill as up.
For more general information on heavy loads
on the car, see page 378.
Anti-lock braking systemThe car is equipped with ABS (Anti-lock
Braking System) which prevents the wheels
from locking during braking. This means the
ability to steer is maintained and it is easier to
swerve to avoid a hazard for example. Vibrationmay be felt in the brake pedal when this is
engaged and this is normal.
A short test of the ABS system is made auto-
matically after the engine has been started
when the driver releases the brake pedal. A
further automatic test of the ABS system may
be made when the car reaches 10 km/h. The
test may be experienced as pulses in the brake
pedal.
Emergency brake lights and automatic
hazard warning flashers
Emergency brake lights are activated to alert
vehicles behind about sudden braking. The
function means that the brake light flashes
instead of - as in normal braking - shining with
a constant glow.
Emergency brake lights are activated at
speeds above 50 km/h if the ABS system is
working and/or in the event of sudden braking.
After the car's speed has been slowed below
10 km/h the brake light returns from flashing to
the normal constant glow - while at the same
time the hazard warning flashers are activated,
and they flash until the driver changes engine
speed with the accelerator pedal or they are
deactivated with their button, see page 92.
Cleaning the brake discsCoatings of dirt and water on the brake discs
may result in delayed brake function. This delay
is minimised by cleaning the brake linings.
Manual cleaning is advisable with wet road sur-
faces, prior to long-stay parking and after the
car has been washed. Carry this out by braking
gently during a short period while en route.
Emergency Brake AssistanceEmergency Brake Assistance EBA (Emergency
Brake Assist) helps to increase brake force and
so reduce braking distance. EBA detects the
driver's braking style and increases brake force
as necessary. The brake force can be rein-
forced up to the level when the ABS system is
engaged. The EBA function is interrupted when
the pressure on the brake pedal is reduced.
NOTE
When EBA is activated the brake pedal low-
ers slightly more than usual, depress (hold)
the brake pedal as long as necessary. If the
brake pedal is released then all braking
ceases.
MaintenanceTo keep the car as safe and reliable as possi-
ble, follow the Volvo service intervals as speci-
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