STARTING AND DRIVING
263
Hill Descent Control (HDC) – operation
Function
•HDC can be switched on and off with the button in the center console. An indicatorlight in the button illuminates when HDC isactivated.
• The indicator light
in the instrument
panel illuminates and a message is displayed when the system is controlling the vehicle'sspeed.
• HDC only functions when
first or reverse
gears are selected (
1 will be shown in the
instrument panel display when first gear is selected).
NOTE
HDC cannot be activated if the gear selector is the D position.
Using HDCHDC allows the car to roll forward at a maximum speed of 6 mph (10 km/h), and 4 mph (7 km/h)in reverse. However, the accelerator pedal can beused to select any speed that is possible in firstor reverse gears. When the accelerator pedal isreleased, speed is quickly reduced again to6 mph (10 km/h) or 4 mph (7 km/h), dependingon the gear selected, regardless of the hill's gra-dient. It is not necessary to apply the brakes.
• The brake lights illuminate automaticallywhen HDC is controlling the vehicle's speed.
• The driver can slow or stop the vehicle at anytime by applying the brakes.
HDC is deactivated when:
• The button on the center console is pressed
• A gear higher than first gear is selected
• D
is selected on vehicles with an automatic
transmission
HDC can be deactivated at any time. If this isdone while driving down a steep hill, the system'sbraking effect will decrease gradually.
NOTE
Engine response to pressure on the accelera- tor pedal may be slightly slower than normalwhen HDC is activated.
Related information
• Hill Descent Control (HDC) – introduction (p. 262)
• Brakes – general (p. 264)
STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
264
Brakes – general 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.
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 levelin 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 technician and have the brake system inspected.
Brake pad inspection
On vehicles equipped with a jack *, the condition
of the brake pads can be checked by raising the vehicle (see Changing a wheel – removing wheel(p. 291) for information about using the jack andremoving a wheel) and performing a visualinspection of the brake pads.
WARNING
• If the vehicle has been driven immediately prior to a brake pad inspection, the wheelhub, brake components, etc., will be veryhot. Allow time for these components tocool before carrying out the inspection.
• Apply the parking brake and put the gear selector in the Park (
P) position.
• Block the wheels standing on the ground, use rigid wooden blocks or large stones.
WARNING
• Use the jack intended for the vehicle when changing a tire. For any other job,use stands to support the vehicle.
• The jack should be kept well-greased andclean, and should not be damaged.
• Be sure the jack is on a firm, level, non-slippery surface.
• No objects should be placed between thebase of jack and the ground, or betweenthe jack and the attachment bar on thevehicle.
• The jack must correctly engage the jackattachment.
• Never allow any part of your body to beextended under a vehicle supported by ajack.
Power brakes function only when the engine is running
The power brakes utilize vacuum pressure which is only created when the engine is running. Neverlet the vehicle roll to a stop with the engineswitched off. If the power brakes are not working, considerably higher pressure will be required on the brakepedal to compensate for the lack of power assis-tance. This can happen for example when towingyour vehicle or if the engine is switched off whenthe vehicle is rolling. The brake pedal feels harderthan usual.
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266
Anti-lock braking system (ABS) The ABS system helps to improve vehicle con- trol (stopping and steering) during severe brak-ing conditions by limiting brake lockup.
When the system "senses" impending lockup, braking pressure is automatically modulated inorder to help prevent lockup that could lead to askid. 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.
Related information
•Parking brake – general information (p. 267)
• Emergency Brake Assistance (EBA) (p. 266)
• Brakes – general (p. 264)
Brake lights The brake lights come on automatically when the brakes are applied.
Adaptive brake lights
The adaptive brake lights activate in the event of sudden braking or if the ABS system is activated.This function causes an additional taillight oneach side of the vehicle to illuminate to help alertvehicles 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 thevehicle is moving at speeds above approxi-mately 6 mph (10 km/h).
When the vehicle has come to a stop, the brakelights and additional taillights remain on for aslong as the brake pedal is depressed or untilbraking force on the vehicle is reduced.
Related information
• Brakes – general (p. 264)
• Parking brake – general information (p. 267)
Emergency Brake Assistance (EBA)
EBA is designed to provide full brake effect immediately in the event of sudden, hard brak-ing.
Emergency Brake AssistanceThe EBA system is activated by the speed with which the brake pedal is depressed. When the EBA system is activated, the brake pedal will go down and pressure in the brake sys-tem immediately increases to the maximum level.Maintain full pressure on the brake pedal in orderto utilize the system completely. EBA is automati-cally deactivated when the brake pedal isreleased.
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268
Parking brake – applying
Applying the electric parking brake
Parking brake control
1. Press firmly on the brake pedal. 2.Push the control. >
The
symbol in the instrument
panel flashes while the parking brake is being applied and glows steadily when theparking brake has been fully applied.
3. Release the brake pedal and ensure that the vehicle is at a standstill.
4. When the vehicle is parked, the gear selector must be in position P.
NOTE
• In an emergency the parking brake can be applied when the vehicle is moving byholding in the control. Braking will beinterrupted when the accelerator pedal isdepressed or the control is released.
• An audible signal will sound during thisprocedure if the vehicle is moving atspeeds above 6 mph (10 km/h).
Related information
•Parking brake – general information (p. 267)
• Parking brake – releasing (p. 268)
• Parking brake – symbols and messages (p. 270)
• Brakes – general (p. 264)
Parking brake – releasing
Releasing the electric parking brake
Parking brake control
Manual release
1. Fasten the seat belt.
2. Insert the remote key in the ignition slot and
press the START/STOP ENGINE button (or
press the START/STOP ENGINE button
with a valid remote key in the passenger compartment on vehicles with the optionalkeyless drive).
3. Press firmly on the brake pedal.
4. Pull the parking brake control.
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271
Driving through water
The vehicle should be driven with extreme cau- tion if it is necessary to drive through standingwater.
The vehicle can be driven through water up to a depth of approximately 13 in. (35 cm) at walkingspeed to help prevent water from entering thedifferential and the transmission. Water reducesthe oil's lubricating capacity and may shorten theservice life of these components.
• Take particular care when driving throughflowing 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 dangerous and itmay also be difficult to determine theactual depth of the water.
• If water cannot be avoided, after drivingthrough the water, press lightly on thebrake pedal to ensure that the brakes arefunctioning normally. Water or mud canmake the brake linings slippery, resultingin delayed braking effect.
CAUTION
•Engine damage will occur if water is drawn into the air cleaner.
• If the vehicle is driven through waterdeeper than approximately 13 in.(35 cm), water may enter the differentialand the transmission. This reduces theoil's lubricating capacity and may shortenthe service life of these components.
• Damage to any components, the engine,transmission, turbo-charger, differential orits internal components caused by flood-ing, vapor lock or insufficient oil is notcovered under warranty.
• Do not allow the vehicle to stand in waterup to the door sills longer than absolutelynecessary. This could result in electricalmalfunctions.
• If the engine has been stopped while thevehicle is in water, do not attempt torestart it. Have the vehicle towed out ofthe water.
Related information
•Towing the vehicle (p. 282)
• Towing by tow truck (p. 284)
Engine and cooling system
Under special conditions, for example when driv- ing in hilly terrain, extreme heat or with heavyloads, there is a risk that the engine and coolingsystem will overheat.
Proceed as follows to avoid overheating the engine.
• Maintain a low speed when driving with atrailer up long, steep hills. For information,see Towing a trailer (p. 279)
• Do not turn the engine off immediately whenstopping after a hard drive.
WARNING
The cooling fan may start or continue to oper- ate (for up to 6 minutes) after the engine hasbeen switched off.
• Remove any auxiliary lights from in front of the grille when driving in hot weather condi-tions.
• Do not exceed engine speeds of 4500 rpm ifdriving with a trailer in hilly terrain. The oiltemperature could become too high.
||
STARTING AND DRIVING
278nents, altering emission system components or location or removing components, and/orrepeated use of leaded fuel.
NOTE
Unleaded fuel is required for vehicles with three-way catalytic converters.
Heated oxygen sensorsThe heated oxygen sensors monitor the oxygen content of the exhaust gases. Readings are fedinto a control module that continuously monitorsengine functions and controls fuel injection. Theratio of fuel to air into the engine is continuouslyadjusted for efficient combustion to help reduceharmful emissions.
Related information
•
Information displays – warning symbols(p. 75)
• Engine and cooling system (p. 271)
Economical driving
Better driving economy may be obtained by thinking ahead, avoiding rapid starts and stopsand adjusting the speed of your vehicle to imme-diate traffic conditions.
Economical driving conserves natural
resources
Observe the following rules: • Bring the engine to normal operating tem- perature as soon as possible by driving witha light foot on the accelerator pedal for thefirst few minutes of operation. A cold engineuses more fuel and is subject to increasedwear.
• Whenever possible, avoid using the vehiclefor driving short distances. This does notallow the engine to reach normal operatingtemperature.
• Drive carefully and avoid rapid accelerationand hard braking.
• Use the transmission's Drive (
D) position as
often as possible and avoid using kick-down.
• Using the transmission's Sport mode mayincrease fuel consumption somewhat. Use the transmission's Drive (
D) position as often
as possible. For additional information about Sport mode, see Transmission – Geartronic(p. 254).
• Do not exceed posted speed limits. •
Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra load)in the vehicle.
• Maintain correct tire pressure. Check tirepressure regularly (when tires are cold).
• Remove snow tires when threat of snow orice has ended.
• Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc, increaseair resistance and also fuel consumption.
• At highway driving speeds, fuel consumptionwill be lower with the air conditioning on andthe windows closed than with the air condi-tioning off and the windows open.
• Using the onboard trip computer's fuel con-sumption modes can help you learn how todrive more economically.
Other factors that decrease gas mileage are:
• Dirty air cleaner
• Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter
• Dragging brakes
• Incorrect front end alignment
Some of the above mentioned items and othersare checked at the standard maintenance inter-vals.
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STARTING AND DRIVING
280•
If the automatic transmission begins to over- heat, a message will be displayed in the textwindow.
• Avoid overload and other abusive operation.
• Hauling a trailer affects handling, durability,and economy.
• It is necessary to balance trailer brakes withthe towing vehicle brakes to provide a safestop (check and observe state/local regula-tions).
• 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 is notbeing used.
NOTE
• When parking the vehicle with a trailer on a hill, apply the parking brake before put- ting the gear selector in
P. Always follow
the trailer manufacturer's recommenda- tions for wheel chocking.
• When starting on a hill, put the gear selector in
D before releasing the parking
brake.
• If you use the manual (Geartronic) shift positions while towing a trailer, make surethe gear you select does not put toomuch strain on the engine (using toohigh a gear).
• The drawbar assembly/trailer hitch maybe rated for trailers heavier than the vehi-cle is designed to tow. Please adhere toVolvo's recommended trailer weights.
• Avoid driving with a trailer on inclines ofmore than 15%.
CAUTION
The maximum trailer weights listed are only applicable for altitudes up to 3,280 ft(1000 m) above sea level. With increasingaltitude the engine power and therefore thecar's climbing ability are impaired because ofthe reduced air density, so the maximumtrailer weight has to be reduced accordingly.The weight of the vehicle and trailer must bereduced by 10% for every further 3,280 ft(1,000 m) (or part thereof). When towing5,000 lbs (2,250 kg) hill inclination is restric-ted to 14%.
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282
Trailer Stability Assist (TSA)
Trailer Stability Assist is a system designed to help stabilize a vehicle that is towing a trailerwhen the vehicle and trailer have begun to swayand is part of the stability system. For informationon the stability system, see Stability system –introduction (p. 174)
FunctionA vehicle towing a trailer may begin to sway for various reasons. Normally this only occurs at highspeeds but, for example, if the trailer is overloa-ded or if the load is unevenly distributed in thetrailer, there is risk of swaying at speeds betweenapproximately 45-55 mph (70-90 km/h). Swaying may be caused by factors such as:
• The vehicle and trailer are hit by a sudden, strong crosswind
• The vehicle and trailer are traveling on anuneven road surface or drive over a bump
• Sudden movements of the steering wheel
Facts about TSA
• TSA intervenes at speeds above approxi-mately 40 mph (60 km/h)
• The stability system symbol in the instrumentpanel will flash when TSA is working
• If the driver switches off the stability system'sSpin Control function, TSA will also beswitched off (but will be on again the nexttime the engine is started) •
TSA may not intervene when the vehicle andtrailer begin to sway if the driver tries to com-pensate for the swaying motion by movingthe steering wheel rapidly
How TSA worksOnce swaying has begun, it can be very difficultto stop, which makes it difficult to control thevehicle and trailer. The TSA system continuously monitors the vehi- cle's movements, particularly lateral movement. Ifthe system detects a tendency to sway, thebrakes are applied individually on the frontwheels, which has a stabilizing effect on the vehi-cle and trailer. This is often enough to enable thedriver to regain control of the vehicle. If this is not adequate to stop the swaying motion, the brakes are applied to all of the wheels on thevehicle and on the trailer if it is equipped withbrakes, and engine power is temporarily reduced.As the swaying motion begins to decrease andthe vehicle-trailer have once again become sta-ble, TSA will now stop regulating the brakes/engine power and the driver regains control ofthe vehicle.
Related information
•
Towing a trailer (p. 279)
• Loading – general (p. 144)
Towing the vehicle Always check with state and local authorities before attempting to tow another vehiclebecause this type of towing is subject to regula-tions regarding maximum towing speed, lengthand type of towing device, lighting, etc.