2017 VOLVO XC90 brake

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WARNING
If both symbols illuminate at the same time and the brake level is below the MIN mark in
the reservoir or if a brake system-related mes-sage is shown in the instrument panel: DO
NOT DRIVE . Have the vehicle towed to a
trained and qualified Volvo service technician and have the brake system inspected. If both symbols illuminate at the same time and the brake level is normal (not below the
MIN mark in the reservoir) or if a brake sys-
tem-related message is shown in the instru- ment panel: drive the vehicle carefully to anauthorized Volvo workshop and have thebrake system inspected by a trained andqualified Volvo service technician.
Related information
• Brake functions (p. 356)
• Brake assist system (p. 357)
• Emergency brake lights (p. 358)
Brake functions
The vehicle's standard braking features are aug- mented by a number of auxiliary help functions.
In addition to the wheel brakes and the parking brake, the vehicle is equipped with several auto-matic brake assist functions. These systems helpthe driver by e.g., keeping the vehicle stationarywhen the brake pedal is not depressed (at a traf-fic light or intersection), when starting up a hill orwhen driving down a hill. These systems include: • Auto-hold brakes
• Hill Start Assist
• Braking assist after a collision
• Hill Descent Control
*
Related information
•Brakes (p. 354)
• Parking brake (p. 360)
• Hill Descent Control (HDC) (p. 358)
• Auto-hold brake function (p. 356)
Auto-hold brake function
With the Auto-hold brake function, the driver can release the brake pedal and the brakes willremain applied, for example, when the vehiclehas stopped at a traffic light or intersection.
When the vehicle is no longer moving forward, Auto-hold applies the brakes automatically, eitherusing the normal brakes or the parking brake.The brakes will be released when the acceleratorpedal is depressed. If the driver's door is opened or the engine is turned off, the parking brake will be applied auto-matically. Auto-hold is deactivated when the transmission is in neutral or if the driver's door is open and theseat belt is unbuckled.
Auto-hold control
Auto-hold control and indicator light

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Turn Auto-hold on or off by pressing the control in the tunnel console. The indicator light illumi-nates when the function is on. When Auto-hold is off, Hill Start Assist (HSA) will be activated to help prevent the vehicle from roll-ing backwards when starting up a hill.
Instrument panel symbol
Symbol
Explanation
The symbol in the instrument panel illuminates when this func-tion is using the normal brakes tokeep the vehicle stationary.
A
BThis symbol in the instrument panel illuminates when Auto-holdis using the parking brake to keepthe vehicle stationary
A
US models
B Canadian models
Related information
• Hill Start Assist (p. 360)
• Brake functions (p. 356)
Brake assist system The Brake Assist System (BAS) increases brak- ing force, thereby helping reduce braking dis-tance.
The system monitors the driver's braking habits and increases braking force when necessary.Brake force can be increased up to the point atwhich the ABS system is activated. The functionis deactivated when pressure on the brake pedaldecreases.
Related information
•Brakes (p. 354)
Braking effect after a collision
In certain types of collisions, the vehicle's brakes are applied to help prevent or mitigate a secon-dary collision.
Maintaining control of the vehicle after a collision may be difficult. To help avoid or mitigate theeffect of a secondary collision, the brakes areapplied automatically to help bring the vehicle toa stop. The brake lights and hazard warning flashers will be activated and the flashers will remain on afterthe vehicle has come to a standstill. The parkingbrake will then be applied automatically. In a situation where stopping the vehicle may not be desirable, the driver can override this systemby pressing the accelerator pedal. This feature can only function if the brake system is intact after the collision.
Related information
• Brake functions (p. 356)
• Airbag system (p. 65)
• Rear Collision Warning (RCW) (p. 316)

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Emergency brake lights
The emergency brake lights activate in the event of hard braking/rapid deceleration at most nor-mal driving speeds or if the ABS system is acti-vated. This function causes an additional taillighton each side of the vehicle to illuminate to helpalert vehicles traveling behind.
Once the emergency brake lights have been acti- vated, if the driver releases the brake pedal, thebrake lights will return to their normal function.
Related information
• Brakes (p. 354)
• Hazard warning flashers (p. 146)
• Brake lights (p. 146)
Hill Descent Control (HDC) HDC is a type of low-speed automatic engine brake and makes it possible to increase ordecrease the vehicle's speed on steep downhillgradients using only the accelerator pedal, with-out applying the brakes.
HDC is particularly useful when driving down steep hills with rough surfaces, and where theroad may have slippery patches.
WARNING
HDC does not function in all situations, and is a supplementary braking aid. The driver hasfull responsibility for driving in a safe manner.
FunctionHDC allows the vehicle to roll forward or in reverse at very low speed with enhanced enginebraking. However, speed can be adjusted to ahigher level with the accelerator pedal. When theaccelerator pedal is released, the vehicle willreturn to very low speed regardless of the steep-ness of the hill and without applying the brakes.The brake lights illuminate when HDC is func-tioning. The driver can use the brakes to slow or stop the vehicle at any time. HDC is activated along with Low Speed Control (LSC), which together make driving on slipperysurfaces at low speeds easier. When HDC and LSC are activated, this changesthe response from the accelerator pedal andengine.
Activating HDCThis function can be activated in different ways,depending on how the vehicle is equipped.
Using the drive mode control
*
Select the Off Road drive mode to activate the
function. Select a different drive mode to turn HDC off. If this is done while the vehicle is on a steep down-grade, engine braking will decrease gradually.

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* Option/accessory.359
From the center display's Function view
Models without the drive mode control have a button for Hill
Descent Control in the center
display's Function view.
• Tap the button to activate. A light in the but- ton illuminates when the function is acti-vated.
NOTE
HDC can be used:
• Automatic gear shifting:
in Drive or
R everse.
• Manual gear shifting:
in gears 1 or 2. It
is not possible to manually shift to a higher gear when HDC is active.
NOTE
The function is deactivated when driving at higher speeds and must be reactivated atlower speeds if so desired.
Related information
• Brake functions (p. 356)
• Low Speed Control (LSC)
* (p. 359)
• Drive modes
* (p. 384)
Low Speed Control (LSC) *
Low Speed Control (LSC) helps make off-road driving easier on slippery surfaces when towinga trailer on grass, etc. This feature is part of the
Off Road drive mode.
When driving at low speeds, LSC prioritizes low gears and all wheel drive to help avoid wheelspin and to improve traction on slippery surfa-ces. The accelerator pedal and engine react dif-ferently to make low-speed driving easier.
In models equipped with the drive mode control *,
LSC is part of the Off Road drive mode.
It is activated along with Hill Descent Control (HDC), which increases engine braking to helpkeep vehicle speed low and smooth, even drivingdown steep hills.
Activating LSCThis function can be activated in different ways,depending on how the vehicle is equipped.
Using the drive mode control *
Select the Off Road drive mode to activate the
function. Select any other drive mode to turn it off.

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From the center display's Function view
Models without the drive mode control have a button for Hill
Descent Control in the center
display's Function view.
–Tap the button to activate.
> A light in the button illuminates when the function is activated.
NOTE
The function is deactivated when driving at higher speeds and must be reactivated atlower speeds if so desired.
Related information
• Brake functions (p. 356)
• Hill Descent Control (HDC) (p. 358)
• Drive modes
* (p. 384)
Hill Start Assist
Hill Start Assist (HSA) helps prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards when starting up a hill. Ifyou are backing up a hill, HSA helps prevent thevehicle from rolling forward.
HSA makes it easier to start or back up on a hill by retaining pressure on the brake pedal for sev-eral seconds after the pedal has been released inorder to keep the vehicle at a standstill. The brakes will be released after several seconds or when the driver presses the accelerator pedal. HSA is available even if the Auto-hold braking function is turned off.
Related information
• Brake functions (p. 356)
• Auto-hold brake function (p. 356)
Parking brake The electric parking brake helps to keep the vehicle stationary when it is parked.
Parking brake control in the tunnel console between the front seats
NOTE
•A faint sound from the parking brake's electric motor can be heard when theparking brake is being applied. Thissound can also be heard during the auto-matic function check of the parkingbrake.
• The brake pedal will move slightly whenthe electric parking brake is applied orreleased.
If the vehicle is not moving when the parking brake is applied, only the rear wheels are affec-

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ted. If it is applied while the vehicle is moving, the normal brakes are used on all four wheels. Thebrakes will only be applied on the rear wheelsonce the vehicle has stopped.
Related information
•
Brake functions (p. 356)
• Using the parking brake (p. 361)
• Parking brake malfunctions (p. 363)
Using the parking brake
The electric parking brake helps to keep the vehicle stationary when it is parked.
Applying the parking brake
1. Put the gear selector in P.
2. Press firmly on the brake pedal.
3. Pull up the control. > The symbol in the instrument panel willilluminate when the parking brake has been fully applied.
4. Release the brake pedal and ensure that the vehicle is stationary.
Symbol in the instrument panel
Symbol Explanation
A
BThe symbol flashes while the park- ing brake is being applied. If the symbol flashes at any other time, this indicates a fault. See themessage in the instrument panel.
A
US models
B Canadian models
Automatic function
The parking brake is applied automatically:
• If the Auto Hold function is activated and the vehicle has been stationary for approx.5 minutes.
• If the gear selector is moved to
P on a steep
hill.
• When the engine is turned off (this functioncan be selected, see "Parking brake set-tings" below).
Emergency braking
In an emergency, the parking brake can be applied when the vehicle is moving by pressing and holding up the control. Braking will be inter-rupted when the control is released. An audible signal will sound during this proce- dure if the vehicle is moving at higher speeds.

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Releasing the parking brake
Releasing manually
1. Press firmly on the brake pedal.
2. Press the control.> This releases the parking brake and thesymbol in the instrument panel will go out.
Releasing automatically
1. The driver must fasten his/her seat belt.
2. Start the engine.
3. Press firmly on the brake pedal.4. Move the gear selector to D or R and press
the accelerator pedal.
> This releases the parking brake and the symbol in the instrument panel will go out.
NOTE
• For safety reasons, the parking brake is only released automatically if the engineis running and the driver is wearing a seatbelt.
• The electric parking brake will bereleased immediately when the accelera-tor pedal is pressed and the gear selector is in position
D or R.
Parking on a hillPut the gear selector in P.
• If the vehicle is pointing
uphill, turn the front
wheels so that they point away from the curb.
• If the vehicle is pointing
downhill, turn the
front wheels so that they point toward the curb.
The parking brake should also be applied.
WARNING
Always apply the parking brake when parking on hills or uneven surfaces.
Heavy load uphill
A heavy load, such as a trailer, can cause the vehicle to roll backward when the parking brakeis released automatically on a steep incline. Tohelp avoid this: 1. Keep the electric parking brake control
pushed in.
2. While pressing the accelerator pedal to pull away, release the parking brake control onlyafter the vehicle begins to move.
Parking brake settingsAutomatically setting the parking brake can beturned on or off in the center display's Top view. 1.Tap
Settings in Top view.
2. Tap
My CarParking Brake and
Suspension and deselect Auto Activate
Parking Brake.
Related information
• Parking brake (p. 360)
• Parking brake malfunctions (p. 363)
• Auto-hold brake function (p. 356)

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Parking brake malfunctions
If it has not been possible to apply or release the parking brake after several attempts, consult atrained and authorized Volvo service technicianor retailer.
An audible signal will sound if the parking brake is applied when the vehicle is being driven. If thevehicle must be parked while the parking brake isnot functioning properly: • Put the gear selector in
P.
• If the vehicle is pointing
uphill, turn the front
wheels so that they point away from the curb.
• If the vehicle is pointing
downhill, turn the
front wheels so that they point toward the curb.
• Put the gear selector in
P.
Low battery charge levelIf the battery is discharged, the parking brakecannot be operated. Connect an auxiliary batteryto the vehicle.
Replacing brake padsThe rear brake pads have to be replaced by atrained and authorized Volvo service techniciandue to the design of the electric parking brake.
Symbols in the instrument panel
Symbol Explanation
A
BIf the symbol flashes, a parking brake fault has been detected.See the message in the instru-ment panel.
A
B
Fault in the brake system.
A
US models
B Canadian models
Related information
• Using the parking brake (p. 361)
• Using the parking brake (p. 361)
• Brake functions (p. 356)
• Jump starting (p. 374)
Before a long distance trip
It is always worthwhile to have your vehicle checked by a trained and qualified Volvo servicetechnician before driving long distances. Yourretailer will also be able to supply you with bulbs,fuses, spark plugs and wiper blades for your usein the event that problems occur.
As a minimum, the following items should be checked before any long trip:
• Check that engine runs smoothly and thatfuel consumption and the oil level are normal.
• Check for fuel, oil, and fluid leakage.
• Check condition of drive belts.
• Check state of the battery's charge.
• Examine tires carefully (including the sparetire where applicable), and replace those thatare worn. Also, check tire inflation pressure.
• The brakes, front wheel alignment, and steer-ing gear should be checked by a trained andqualified Volvo service technician 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 drive