
08 Starting and driving
08
}}
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.245
Condition/situation
The driver is turning the steering wheel hard.
The road's incline is very steep.
A trailer's electrical system is connected to the vehicle.
The hood has been opened A
.
The transmission has not reached its nor- mal operating temperature.
Atmospheric pressure is below a level equivalent to an altitude of approx. 4,900–8,200 ft (1500–2500 m) above sea level.The actual pressure is also affected by cur-rent weather conditions.
The Adaptive Cruise Control's* Queue Assist feature is activated.
The gear selector is in the SB
or " +/–" posi-
tion.
A Certain engines only
B Sport mode (where applicable)
Related information
• Start/Stop – introduction (p. 243)
• Start/Stop – function (p. 243)
• Start/Stop – settings (p. 246)
• Start/Stop – Auto-start exceptions (p. 245) •
Start/Stop – Hill Start Assist (HSA)(p. 243)
• Start/Stop – symbols and messages(p. 247)
Start/Stop – Auto-start exceptions
In certain situations or conditions, the engine may auto-start
even though the driver is still
pressing the brake pedal, such as if:
Condition/situation
Condensation forms on the windows.
The climate system cannot keep the desired settings in the passenger compart-ment.
Electrical current consumption is tempo- rarily high or the main battery's charge isbelow the minimum level.
The brake pedal is pumped repeatedly.
The hood has been opened A
.
The vehicle begins to move or increases speed slightly (if the engine auto-stoppedbefore the vehicle was at a standstill (seeECO* (p. 248))).
The driver unbuckles his/her seat belt while the gear selector is in the D or N positions.
The steering wheel is turned A
.

08 Starting and driving
08
248* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
ECO*
Eco is a function 10
developed by Volvo to give
the driver the opportunity to actively drive more economically and to help reduce fuelconsumption.
IntroductionWhen Eco is activated, thefollowing functions are modi-fied:
• The automatic transmission's shifting points
• The engine management system andaccelerator pedal response
• Stop/stop function (Start/Stop – introduc-tion (p. 243)): the engine can auto-stopbefore the vehicle has come to a full stop
• Eco Coast functionality is activated:engine braking is disabled
• Climate system settings: certain functions(e.g., air conditioning) will be temporarilyreduced or deactivated
NOTE
When Eco is activated, several climate system parameters are changed and thefunction of certain current-consuming sys-tems will be reduced. Some of these functions can be restarted manually but full functionality will not berestored until Eco is deactivated.
Function
ECO On/Off button in the center console
ECO symbol in the instrument panel
When the engine is switched off, ECO is deactivated and must be reactivated eachtime the engine is started (with the exceptionof certain engines). The
ECO symbol will be displayed in the
instrument panel and the indicator light in the ECO button will be on when Eco is activated.
Eco on or offWhen ECO is deactivated, the ECO symbol will not be
displayed in the instrument panel and the indicator lightin the ECO button will be off.
The function will remaindeactivated until the buttonis pressed again.
Eco CoastEco Coast is an integral part of the Eco func- tion and essentially deactivates engine brak-ing, allowing the vehicle to roll freely.
NOTE
To function optimally, Eco Coast should primarily be used when the vehicle cancoast as far as possible.
When the driver releases the accelerator pedal, the transmission is automatically dis-engaged from the engine and engine rpm willbe reduced to the idle level(approx. 700-800 rpm), which helps reducefuel consumption.
10 Option on models equipped with certain 4-cylinder engines

08 Starting and driving
08
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.249
This feature is primarily intended to be used in driving situations where a decrease inspeed is expected, such as when approach-ing an intersection or a traffic light.
Eco Coast enables proactive driving with as little braking as possible.
Combinations of On and OffDepending on the driving situation, Eco can be used in different ways to help reduce fuelconsumption:
• With Eco activated
: this enables Eco
Coast, which allows the vehicle to roll
freely for as far as possible when the
driver releases the accelerator pedal (e.g., when approaching a traffic light or inter-section).
or
• With Eco deactivated
: engine braking
can be used when the vehicle will only
roll for a short distance (in heavy traffic,
etc.) or when driving down hills .
To help keep fuel consumption as low as possible, Eco Coast should not be used intraffic situations where the brakes have to beused frequently.
Activating Eco CoastEco Coast is activated when the accelerator pedal is released completely if:
• Eco is activated
• The gear selector is in
D •
The vehicle's speed is between approxi- mately 40–85 mph (65–140 km/h). Alwaysobserve posted speed limits
• The gradient of a down-slope is less thanapproximately 6%
Deactivating Eco CoastIn certain situations, it may be advisable to switch off the Eco Coast function, such as:
• When driving down steep hills, in order to utilize engine braking
• Prior to passing another vehicle, in orderto do so as safely as possible
Deactivating Eco Coast (and reactivating engine braking) can be done in the followingways:
• Press the
ECO button on the center con-
sole
• Move the gear selector to the manual "
S
+/– " position
• Change gears using the steering wheel paddles*
• Press the brake or accelerator pedal
Eco Coast limitationsThis function will not be available if:
• Cruise control is activated
• The gradient of a down-slope is morethan approximately 6%
• The steering wheel paddles* are used tomanually change gears •
The engine and/or transmission have notreached their normal operating tempera-ture
• The gear selector is moved from
D to the
manual " S+/–" position
• The vehicle's speed is not within the40–85 mph (65–140 km/h). interval
Additional information and settings
Other ECO-related settings can be made in the vehicle's
MY CAR menu. See My Car –
introduction (p. 70) for more information.
Related information
• Climate – general information (p. 118)
• Transmission – general information (p. 238)

08 Starting and driving
08
250
All Wheel Drive (AWD)
Your Volvo can be equipped with permanent All Wheel Drive, which means that power isdistributed automatically between the frontand rear wheels.
Under normal driving conditions, most of the engine's power is directed to the frontwheels. However, if there is any tendency forthe front wheels to spin, an electronicallycontrolled coupling distributes power to thewheels that have the best traction.
NOTE
The message AWD disabled Service
required will be appear in the information
display if an electrical fault should occur in the AWD system. A warning light will alsoilluminate in the instrument panel. If thisoccurs, have the system checked by atrained and qualified Volvo service techni-cian.
Related information
• Transmission – general information (p. 238)
Brakes – general
The brake system is a hydraulic system con- sisting of two separate brake circuits. If aproblem should occur in one of these circuits,it is still possible to stop the vehicle with theother brake circuit. If the brake pedal must be depressed farther than normal and requires greater foot pres-sure, the stopping distance will be longer. A warning light in the instrument panel will light up to warn the driver that a fault hasoccurred. If this light comes on while driving or braking, stop immediately and check the brake fluidlevel in the reservoir.
NOTE
Press the brake pedal hard and maintain pressure on the pedal – do not pump thebrakes.
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 techni-cian and have the brake system inspected.

08 Starting and driving
08
258
Driving through water
The vehicle should be driven with extreme caution if it is necessary to drive throughstanding water. The vehicle can be driven through water up to a depth of approximately 10 in. (25 cm) atwalking speed to help prevent water fromentering the differential and the transmission.This reduces the oil's lubricating capacity andmay shorten the service life of these compo-nents.
• Take particular care when driving through flowing water.
• Clean the electrical connections for trailerwiring after driving in mud or water.
• When driving through water, maintain lowspeed and do not stop in the water.WARNING
• Avoid driving through standing or rushing water. Doing so can be dan-gerous and it may also be difficult todetermine the actual depth of thewater.
• If water cannot be avoided, after driv-ing through the water, press lightly onthe brake pedal to ensure that thebrakes are functioning normally. Wateror mud can make the brake liningsslippery, resulting in delayed brakingeffect.
CAUTION
•
Engine damage will occur if water is drawn into the air cleaner.
• If the vehicle is driven through waterdeeper than 10 in (25 cm), water mayenter the differential and the transmis-sion. This reduces the oil's lubricatingcapacity and may shorten the servicelife of these components.
• Damage to any components, theengine, transmission, turbo-charger,differential or its internal componentscaused by flooding, vapor lock orinsufficient oil is not covered underwarranty.
• Do not allow the vehicle to stand inwater up to the door sills longer thanabsolutely necessary. This could resultin electrical malfunctions.
• If the engine has been stopped whilethe vehicle is in water, do not attemptto restart it. Have the vehicle towedout of the water.
Related information
•
Towing the vehicle (p. 269)
• Towing by tow truck (p. 271)

08 Starting and driving
08
}}
259
Engine and cooling system
Under special conditions, for example when driving in hilly terrain, extreme heat or withheavy loads, there is a risk that the engine andcooling system will overheat. Proceed as follows to avoid overheating the engine. •Maintain a low speed when driving with a trailer up long, steep hills. For informa-tion, see Towing a trailer (p. 267)
• Do not turn the engine off immediatelywhen stopping after a hard drive.
WARNING
The cooling fan may start or continue to operate (for up to 6 minutes) after theengine has been switched off.
•
Remove any auxiliary lights from in front of the grille when driving in hot weatherconditions.
• Do not exceed engine speeds of4500 rpm if driving with a trailer in hillyterrain. The oil temperature could becometoo high.
Conserving electrical current
Keep the following in mind to help minimize battery drain:
• When the engine is not running, avoid using ignition mode
II. Many electrical
systems (the audio system, the optionalnavigation system, power windows, etc)will function in ignition modes 0 and I.
These modes reduce drain on the battery.
• Please keep in mind that using systems,accessories, etc., that consume a greatdeal of current when the engine is notrunning could result in the battery beingcompletely drained. Driving or having theengine running for approximately15 minutes will help keep the batterycharged.
• The optional 12-volt socket in thetrunk (p. 135) area provides electrical cur-rent even with the ignition switched off,which drains the battery.
Before a long distance trip
It is always worthwhile to have your vehicle checked by a trained and qualified Volvo serv-ice technician before driving long distances.Your retailer will also be able to supply youwith bulbs, fuses, spark plugs and wiperblades for your use in the event that problemsoccur. As a minimum, the following items should be checked before any long trip:
• Check that engine runs smoothly and that fuel consumption is normal.
• Check for fuel, oil, and fluid leakage.
• Have the transmission oil level (p. 362)checked.
• Check condition of drive belts.
• Check state of the battery's charge.
• Examine tires carefully (the spare tire aswell), and replace those that areworn (p. 275). Check tire pres-sure (p. 282).
• The brakes, front wheel alignment, andsteering gear should be checked by atrained and qualified Volvo service techni-cian only.
• Check all lights, including high beams.
• Reflective warning triangles are legallyrequired in some states/provinces.
• Have a word with a trained and qualifiedVolvo service technician if you intend to

08 Starting and driving
08
}}
265
Emission controls
Three-way catalytic converter
•Keep your engine properly tuned. Certain engine malfunctions, particularly involvingthe electrical, fuel or distributor ignitionsystems, may cause unusually high three-way catalytic converter temperatures. Donot continue to operate your vehicle ifyou detect engine misfire, noticeable lossof power or other unusual operating con-ditions, such as engine overheating orbackfiring. A properly tuned engine willhelp avoid malfunctions that could dam-age the three-way catalytic converter.
• Do not park your vehicle over combusti-ble materials, such as grass or leaves,which can come into contact with the hotexhaust system and cause such materialsto ignite under certain wind and weatherconditions.
• Excessive starter cranking (in excess ofone minute), or an intermittently firing orflooded engine can cause three-way cat-alytic converter or exhaust system over-heating.
• Remember that tampering or unauthor-ized modifications to the engine, theEngine Control Module, or the vehiclemay be illegal and can cause three-waycatalytic converter or exhaust systemoverheating. This includes: altering fuelinjection settings or components, alteringemission system components or location or removing components, and/or repea-ted use of leaded fuel.NOTE
Unleaded fuel is required for vehicles with three-way catalytic converters.
Heated oxygen sensorsThe heated oxygen sensors monitor the oxy- gen content of the exhaust gases. Readingsare fed into a control module that continu-ously monitors engine functions and controlsfuel injection. The ratio of fuel to air into theengine is continuously adjusted for efficientcombustion to help reduce harmful emis-sions.
Related information
•
Information displays – warning symbols (p. 68)
• Engine and cooling system (p. 259)
Economical driving
Better driving economy may be obtained by thinking ahead, avoiding rapid starts andstops and adjusting the speed of your vehicleto immediate traffic conditions.
Economical driving conserves natural resources
Observe the following rules:
• Bring the engine to normal operating tem- perature as soon as possible by drivingwith a light foot on the accelerator pedalfor the first few minutes of operation. Acold engine uses more fuel and is subjectto increased wear.
• Whenever possible, avoid using the vehi-cle for driving short distances. This doesnot allow the engine to reach normaloperating temperature.
• Drive carefully and avoid rapid accelera-tion and hard braking.
• Use the transmission's Drive (
D) position
as often as possible and avoid using kick-down.

08 Starting and driving
08
}}
267
Towing a trailer
When towing a trailer, always observe the legal requirements of the state/province.
NOTE
For the maximum trailer and tongue weights recommended by Volvo, seeWeights (p. 357).
•All Volvo models are equipped with energy-absorbing shock-mounted bump-ers. Trailer hitch installation should notinterfere with the proper operation of thisbumper system.
Trailer towing does not normally present any particular problems, but take into considera-tion: • Increase tire pressure to recommended full pressure, see Tire inflation – pressuretable (p. 285).
• When your vehicle is new, avoid towingheavy trailers during the first 620 miles(1,000 km).
• Maximum speed when towing a trailer:50 mph (80 km/h).
• Engine and transmission are subject toincreased loads. Therefore, engine cool-ant temperature should be closelywatched when driving in hot climates orhilly terrain. Use a lower gear and turn offthe air conditioner if the temperaturegauge needle enters the red range. •
If the automatic transmission begins tooverheat, a message will be displayed inthe text window.
• Avoid overload and other abusive opera-tion.
• Hauling a trailer affects handling, durabil-ity, and economy.
• It is necessary to balance trailer brakeswith the towing vehicle brakes to providea safe stop (check and observe state/local regulations).
• Do not connect the trailer's brake systemdirectly to the vehicle's brake system.
• More frequent vehicle maintenance isrequired.
• Remove the ball holder when the hitch isnot being used.
NOTE
• When parking the vehicle with a trailer on a hill, apply the parking brakebefore putting the gear selector in
P.
Always follow the trailer manufactur-er's recommendations for wheelchocking.
• When starting on a hill, put the gearselector in
D before releasing the park-
ing brake.
• If you use the manual (Geartronic) shiftpositions while towing a trailer, makesure the gear you select does not puttoo much strain on the engine (usingtoo high a gear).
• The drawbar assembly/trailer hitchmay be rated for trailers heavier thanthe vehicle is designed to tow. Pleaseadhere to Volvo's recommended trailerweights.
• Avoid driving with a trailer on inclinesof more than 15%.