2016 VOLVO XC90 T8 power steering

DRIVER SUPPORT
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* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.323
Adjustable steering force*
Steering force increases with the speed of the vehicle to give the driver an enhanced sense ofcontrol and stability. At low speed the vehicle iseasier to steer in order to facilitate parking, etc.
Changing the steering force levelTo change the level of steering force, see theinformation under the heading "individual" in arti-cle "Drive modes" for additional information.
NOTE
•This steering force level menu function cannot be accessed when the vehicle isin motion.
• In certain situations, the power steeringfunction may become too hot and mustbe temporarily cooled. During cooling,power steering effect will be reduced andmore force may be necessary to turn thesteering wheel and a message will bedisplayed in the instrument panel.
Related information
• Driver support systems (p. 252)
• Drive modes (p. 390)
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) helps reduce wheel spin, counteract skidding and to generallyhelp improve directional stability.
A pulsating sound will be audi- ble when the system is activelyoperating and is normal. Accel-eration may also be slightlyslower than normal.
WARNING
ESC is a supplementary aid and cannot deal with all situations or road conditions. The driver is always responsible for operating the vehicle in a safe manner in accordancewith current traffic regulations.
ESC consists of the following functions: • Traction control
• Spin control
• Active Yaw Control
• Engine Drag Control
• Trailer Stability Assist
Traction controlThis function is designed to help reduce wheel spin by transferring power from a drive wheel that begins to lose traction to the wheel on the oppo-site side of the vehicle (on the same axle).
Spin controlThis function is designed to help prevent thedrive wheels from spinning while the vehicle isaccelerating.
Active Yaw ControlAt low speeds, this function helps maintain direc-tional stability by braking one or more of thewheels if the vehicle shows a tendency to skid orslide laterally.
Engine Drag Control EDCEDC helps keep the engine running if the wheelsshow a tendency to lock, e.g., when shifting downin the manual shifting mode or while using theengine's braking function on a slippery surface. Ifthe wheels were to lock, the vehicle wouldbecome more difficult to steer.
Trailer Stability Assist
*4TSA helps stabilize a vehicle that is towing atrailer when the vehicle and trailer have begun tosway. This system is automatically deactivated if the driver selects
Sport mode.
Related information
•Detachable trailer hitch (p. 368)
• Driving with a trailer (p. 367)
4
This function is included if the vehicle is equipped with a Volvo original trailer hitch.

STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
346
Starting and driving
The vehicle is equipped with an automatic trans- mission that also makes it possible to shift gearsmanually. Certain functions can also be used when the engine is not running, depending on the ignitionmode being used.
Related information
• Starting the engine (p. 372)
• Ignition modes (p. 370)
• Automatic transmission (p. 395)
• Opening/closing the fuel filler door (p. 363)
• Parking brake (p. 352)
Brakes The brake system is a hydraulic system consist- ing of two separate brake circuits. If a problemshould occur in one of these circuits, it is stillpossible to stop the vehicle with the other brakecircuit.
Brake systemIf one of the brake circuits is not functioning, more pressure will be needed on the brake pedal(and the pedal will go down farther) for normalbraking effect. If the brake pedal must be depressed farther than normal and requires greater foot pressure,the stopping distance will be longer. Pressure on the brake pedal is enhanced by the power braking function.
WARNING
If vehicle does not have electrical current and both the electric motor and gasoline engineare switched off, the brakes cannot be usedto stop the vehicle.
When the Hill Start Assist function is being used, it will take slightly longer for the brake pedal toreturn to its normal position if the vehicle isparked on an incline or uneven surface. When driving in very hilly areas or if the vehicle is carrying a heavy load, using brake mode B to augment the brakes or the
Off Road* drive mode can also be used to increase the engine braking effect at low speeds.
Anti-lock Braking System
ABS
The ABS system helps to improve vehicle control (stopping and steering) during severe brakingconditions by limiting brake lockup. When ABS is operating, there may be some vibration in the brake pedal, which is normal. The system performs a brief self-diagnostic test when the engine has been started and driverreleases the brake pedal. Another automatic testmay be performed when the vehicle first reachesa speed of approximately 6 mph (10 km/h). Thebrake pedal will pulsate several times and asound may be audible from the ABS controlmodule, which is normal.
Function check when the engine is
started
A Plug-in Hybrid is equipped with a "brake bywire" brake system. A function check is per-formed each time the engine is started and thedriver depresses the brake pedal to move the gear selector from P.
In certain cases, a message may appear in the instrument panel saying that pressure on thebrake pedal is too low. Press harder on the pedal.
Light braking charges the hybrid batteryWhen the brakes are applied lightly, the electricmotor's braking function is used, which converts

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STARTING AND DRIVING
356
Preconditioning
•If possible, precondition the vehicle with the charging cable before driving.
• Avoid parking the vehicle so that the passen-ger compartment becomes too hot or cold.Park, if possible, in a climate controlled park-ing garage.
• For short drives after using the precondition-ing function, turn off the climate systemblower if possible.
• If preconditioning is not possible in coldweather, use the seat and steering wheelheating primarily. Avoid heating the entirepassenger compartment, which reduces thehybrid battery's charge level.
Driving
•
Choose the Pure drive mode to help mini-
mize electric power consumption.
• Maintain a constant speed and an adequate distance to the vehicle ahead to minimizeuse of the brakes.
• Brake as gently as possible; doing socharges the hybrid battery using the inte-grated regenerative braking function.
• Balance energy requirements using theaccelerator pedal and utilize the gauge onthe instrument panel to see the amount ofpower available from the electric motor. Thishelps avoid starting the gasoline engineunnecessarily. The electric motor is moreenergy-efficient than the gasoline engine,especially at lower speeds. •
In hilly terrain, put the gear selector in mode B
to utilize the electric motor's braking func-
tion when the accelerator pedal is released. This helps charge the hybrid battery.
• Higher speeds increase energy consumptionand the vehicle's wind resistance increasesalong with speed. Do not exceed postedspeed limits.
• Select the
Save drive mode for higher
speeds when driving farther than is possible using the electric motor only.
• Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra load)in the vehicle.
• Maintain correct tire pressure. Check tirepressure regularly (when the tires are cold).
• Remove snow tires when threat of snow orice has ended.
• Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc, increaseair resistance and also energy consumption.
• Avoid driving with open windows.
Handling and roadholding
•
Vehicle load, tire design and inflation pres-sure all affect vehicle handling. Therefore,check that the tires are inflated to the rec-ommended pressure according to the vehicleload. Loads should be distributed so thatcapacity weight or maximum permissible axleloads are not exceeded.
• At the specified curb weight your vehicle hasa tendency to understeer, which means thatthe steering wheel has to be turned more than might seem appropriate for the curva-ture of a bend. This ensures good stabilityand reduces the risk of rear wheel skid.Remember that these properties can alterwith the vehicle load. The heavier the load inthe cargo compartment, the less the ten-dency to understeer.
Related information
•
Hybrid-related information in the instrumentpanel (p. 130)
• Parking climate (preconditioning) (p. 179)

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STARTING AND DRIVING
392
SAVE
This mode makes it possible to save electrical energy (hybrid battery charge) for times whenusing the electric motor is more suitable (e.g., citydriving). Using the electric motor only saves more fuel at low speeds than at high ones. Therefore, use theSAVE mode primarily when the hybrid battery'scharge level is high and driving will initially be athighway speeds but will end with city drivingwhen electric driving is preferable. If the hybrid battery's charge level is low when this mode is selected, the gasoline engine willstart and charge the hybrid battery up to approx.33%. If the battery's charge level is already above33%, this level will be maintained by the enginemanagement system, which will start/stop the gasoline engine in the same way as in
Hybriddrive mode. This mode increases fuel consumption because the gasoline engine is used to conserve batterycharge for later use.
OFF ROAD
This mode helps maximize the vehicle's capacity to traverse difficult terrain or poor roads. In OFF ROAD, ground clearance is maximized, the steering is light, All Wheel Drive and HillDescent Control are activated and a compassand altimeter will be displayed in the instrumentpanel.This drive mode can only be activated at lowspeeds (the permissible speed range will beshown on the speedometer). At higher speeds,OFF ROAD mode will be cancelled and AWD willbe activated. This mode is not intended for normal street driv- ing.
CAUTION
OFF ROAD drive mode may not be used if the vehicle is towing a trailer without an elec-trical connection. This could result in damageto the pneumatic suspension system's bel-lows.
Due to the increased ground clearance, if the OFF ROAD mode was selected when the enginewas switched off, it will also restart in this mode.
AWD
This mode offers improved traction using four- wheel drive and is intended primarily for low-speed driving on slippery surfaces. However, italso helps increase directional stability at higherspeeds. In this mode, both the electric motor and the gas- oline engine are used continuously, which resultsin higher fuel consumption.
POWER
Power mode is intended for sportier, more active
driving. This mode maximizes the combined effects of the electric motor and the gasoline engine andprovides power to all four wheels. Response topressure on the accelerator pedal is more imme-diate and the transmission shifts up at higherspeeds. Steering response is also more immedi-ate, the suspension is stiffer and lower groundclearance reduces body roll when cornering. In this mode, both the electric motor and the gas- oline engine are used continuously, which resultsin higher fuel consumption.

STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.393
INDIVIDUAL
This setting allows you to adapt a driving mode to your personal preferences. Select one of the other driving modes as a basis and change the settings to provide the drivingcharacteristics that you prefer. This driving modeis only available if it has been activated in thecenter display. INDIVIDUAL is only available if it has been acti- vated in the center display.
Settings view5
for INDIVIDUAL driving mode
1. Tap Settings in the center display's Top
view.
2. Tap
My CarIndividual Drive Mode and
tap Individual Drive Mode. 3.
Select:
Eco, Comfort or Dynamic.
The following settings can be modified: •
Driver Display
•Steering force
•Powertrain Characteristics
•Brake Characteristics
•Pneumatic suspension and shock absorbers
Related information
• Adjustable steering force
* (p. 323)
• Loading (p. 215)
• General information about the XC90 T8 Twin Engine Plug-in Hybrid (p. 16)
• ECO drive mode (p. 394)
• All Wheel Drive (AWD) (p. 400)
• Hill Descent Control (HDC) (p. 350)
• Brakes (p. 346)
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Generic illustration.

STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.395
The ECO gauge in the instrument panel helps improve driving economy.
• A low reading in the green area indicates economical driving.
• A higher reading indicates higher fuel con-sumption.
The ECO gauge also has an indicator showing how a "reference" driver would drive in the samesituation. This is indicated by a diamond in thegauge.
Related information
• Driving economically (p. 355)
• Drive modes (p. 390)
Automatic transmission
The automatic transmission has 8 forward gears and an electric motor that powers the rear wheels. Steering wheel paddles * make it possi-
ble to shift manually. The gear indicator in the instrument panel shows the gear currently beingused or gear shift mode.
CAUTION
The transmission

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INFOTAINMENT
410
Selecting sub-channels
To listen to a station's sub-channel(s), tap the station on the screen or press the forward/backarrow keys on the right-side steering wheel key-pad or below the screen. Sub-channels can also be stored as favorites, see the article "Changing and searching for radio sta-tions". If you tap a sub-channel favorite, it may take up to 6 seconds before the channel becomes audi-
ble. If you tap a station while you are out of digital range of the transmitter,
No reception will be
displayed.
Related information
• HD Radio
™reception (p. 407)
• Switching HD Radio on and off (p. 409)
• Changing and searching for radio stations (p. 406)
HD Radio limitations
Limitations
•
Main channel vs. sub-channels (FM only)
:
The main channel is the only channel that can receive in hybrid mode (both digital andanalogue). If a frequency has sub-channels,they are broadcast in digital mode only. Themain FM channel will be displayed as, forexample, "WRIF-FM HD1". The sub-FMchannels will be displayed as"WRIF-FMHD2", "WRIF-FM HD3", etc.
• Reception coverage area
: Due to current
IBOC transmitter power limitations, thereception coverage area in digital mode issomewhat more limited than the station'sanalogue coverage area. Please be awarethat as with any radio broadcast technology,terrain, time of day, foliage level and buildinglocation can have positive or negative effectson radio reception.
• Analogue to digital/digital to analogueblending
: Analogue to digital blending will
occur as the signal strength reaches a presetthreshold in the receiver. This will be noticea-ble in fringe areas (areas with weak recep-tion) and is normal.
NOTE
There may be a noticeable difference in sound quality when a change from analogueto digital or digital to analogue occurs, suchas:
• Volume increase or decrease
• Equalizer settings, i.e., Bass/ Midrange/ Treble cut or boost
• Time alignment (Digital program materialin extreme cases can be as much as 8seconds behind the analogue). This willnoticeable as a "stuttering" effect.
The above items are dependant on the broadcaster's equipment settings and donot indicate a fault in the vehicle's radioreceiver or antenna systems .
Related information
•HD Radio sub-channels (p. 409)
• HD Radio
™reception (p. 407)

MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING
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* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.487
Function[A]
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Horn20
Alarm siren*5
Brake system control module (valves, parking brake)40
Windshield wipers30
Tailgate window washer25
Heated windshield *, passenger
side40
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Brake system control module (ABS pump)40
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Heated windshield *, passenger
sideShunt
Feed when ignition is switched on to: engine control module,transmission components, elec-trical power steering, centralelectrical module5
Exterior vehicle sound (certain markets)5
Function[A]
Passenger side headlight7,5
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Air bags; Occupant Weight Sen- sor (OWS)5
Driver side headlight7,5
Accelerator pedal sensor5
Transmission control module; Gear selector control module15
Engine control module5
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Engine control module; Turbo- charger valve20
Solenoids; Valves; Engine cool- ing system thermostat10
Function[A]
Vacuum regulators; Valve7,5
Spoiler shutter control module; Radiator shutter control module;Fuel leakage detection5
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Heated oxygen sensors (front and rear)15
Oil pump solenoid; A/C mag- netic coupling; heated oxygensensor (center)15
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Engine control module20
Ignition coil; Spark plugs15
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Transmission oil pump control module30
Vacuum pump control module40
Transmission actuator25
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