2018 VOLVO XC90 TWIN ENGINE parking brake

STARTING AND DRIVING
436Auto-hold brakes
With the Auto-hold brake function, the driver can
release the brake pedal and the brakes will
remain applied, for example, when the vehicle
has stopped at a traffic light or intersection.
When the vehicle stops, the brakes are activated
automatically. The function can use either the
normal brakes or the parking brakes to keep the
vehicle stationary and works on flat surfaces or
hills. When driving off, the brakes will be automat-
ically released if the driver's seat belt is buckled.
NOTE When braking to a stop on an uphill or down-
hill gradient, depress the brake pedal with
slightly more force than usual before releas-
ing to ensure that the vehicle cannot move at
all.
The parking brake is activated if:
•
the vehicle is switched off
• the driver's door is opened
• the driver's seat belt is removed
• the vehicle has been stationary for a pro-
longed period of time (5-10 minutes)
Symbols in the instrument panel Symbol
Meaning This symbol illuminates when the
function is using the normal brakes
to keep the vehicle stationary.
A
B
This symbol illuminates when the
function is using the parking brake
to keep the vehicle stationary. A
Canadian models.
B US models.
Related information
• Activating and deactivating Auto-hold at a
standstill (p. 436)
• Brakes (p. 429)
• Parking brake (p. 432)
• Hill Start Assist (p. 437) Activating and deactivating Auto-
hold at a standstill
The Auto-hold brake function at a standstill is
activated with the button in the tunnel console.
–
Press the button in the tunnel console to
activate or deactivate the function.
>

The indicator light in the button will illumi-
nate when the function is activated. The
function will remain active the next time
the vehicle is started.

STARTING AND DRIVING
}}
437
When shutting offIf the function is active and holding the
vehicle stationary using the normal
brakes (A symbol lit), the brake pedal
must be depressed while pressing the
button in order to deactivate Auto-hold. •
The function will remain off until it is reactiva-
ted.
• When Auto-hold is switched off, Hill Start
Assist (HSA) will remain active to help pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling backward when
starting up a hill.
Related information
•Auto-hold brakes (p. 436) Hill Start Assist
The function for assisting when starting the vehi-
cle on inclines, Hill Start Assist (HSA), helps
prevent the vehicle from rolling backward when
starting on an uphill gradient. When backing up
a hill, HSA helps prevent the vehicle from rolling
forward.
The function retains pressure from the brake
pedal in the brake system for several seconds
after the brake pedal has been released.
This temporary braking effect is released after a
few seconds or when the driver begins driving.
Hill Start Assist is available even if the Auto-hold
brake function is switched off.
Related information
• Auto-hold brakes (p. 436)
• Brakes (p. 429) Braking assist after a collision
In a collision in which the activation level is
reached for the pyrotechnic seat belt tensioners
or airbags, or if a collision with a large animal is
detected, the vehicle's brakes will be automati-
cally activated. This function is intended to help
prevent or reduce the effects of any subsequent
collision.
After a serious collision, it may no longer be pos-
sible to control and steer the vehicle. In order to
avoid or mitigate a possible further collision with
a vehicle or an object in the vehicle's path, the
brake assist system is activated automatically to
help stop the vehicle safely.
The brake lights and hazard warning flashers are
activated during braking. When the vehicle has
stopped, the hazard warning flashers will con-
tinue to flash and the parking brake will be
applied.
If braking is not appropriate, e.g. if there is a risk
of being hit by passing traffic, the driver can over-
ride the system by depressing the accelerator
pedal.
This function assumes that the brake system is
intact after a collision.
Brake assist is part of the Rear Collision Warning
and Blind Spot Information safety systems.

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439
Gear selector positions for
automatic transmissions
In vehicles with an automatic transmission, the
system selects the optimal gear for the current
driving conditions. The transmission also has a
manual mode.
The instrument panel shows which gear is cur-
rently in use:
P
, R, N, D or B.
For manual shifting, the gear indicator in the
instrument panel displays the gear currently
being used (1-8).
Selecting gearsThe gear selector is a shift-by-wire selector,
where shifting is done electronically instead of
mechanically. This makes shifting easier and the
gear positions more distinct. Select gears by moving the spring-loaded, non-
locking gear selector forward or backward.
Gear selector positions
Park - P
Park is activated using the P button located next
to the gear selector. Select P when the vehicle is parked or when star-
ting the engine. The vehicle must be stationary
when Park is selected.
To move to another gear from Park, the brake
pedal must be depressed and the ignition in
mode II.
When parking – apply the parking brake before
shifting to Park.
WARNING Always apply the parking brake when parking
on an incline. Selecting a gear or putting the
automatic transmission in P may not be suffi-
cient to keep the vehicle stationary in all sit-
uations.
NOTE The gear selector must be in the P position
before the vehicle can be locked and the
alarm set.

||STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.
440 Help functions
The system will automatically shift to P:
• if the ignition is switched off while D or R is
selected.
• if the driver unbuckles the seat belt and
opens the driver's door while the vehicle is
running with the gear selector in a gear other
than P.
To park a vehicle with an unbuckled seat belt and
open door – end P mode by shifting to R or D
again.
Reverse - R
Select R when backing up. The vehicle must be
stationary when Reverse is selected.
Neutral - N
No gear is selected and the engine can be
started. Apply the parking brake if the vehicle is
stationary with the gear selector in N.
To move the gear selector from Neutral to
another gear, the brake pedal must be depressed
and the ignition in mode II.
D drive mode
D is the normal driving gear position. The trans-
mission shifts up or down automatically depend-
ing on acceleration and speed. The vehicle must
be stationary when the gear selector is moved
from R to D.
Brake - B
B can be selected at any time during a drive. In B
mode, the engine braking function is activated
when the accelerator pedal is released, which
helps charge the hybrid battery. This offers addi-
tional opportunities to recharge the hybrid bat-
tery, since the battery is charged even when the
brake pedal is not depressed. B mode in the instrument panel.
From B mode, it is possible to manually shift to
lower gears. The currently selected gear (1-8) will
be displayed in the instrument panel.
• Pull the gear selector backward once to shift
down one gear.
• Pull the gear selector backward again to shift
down to lower gears.
To shift manually to a higher gear, the vehicle
must be equipped with steering wheel paddles*. •
Push the gear selector forward to return to D
mode.
For smooth shifting and engine performance, the
transmission will shift down automatically if the
vehicle's speed becomes too low for the selected
gear.
Related information
• Shiftlock (p. 442)
• Using the steering wheel paddles* to shift
(p. 441)
• The kickdown function (p. 442)
• Gear indicator* (p. 442)

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* Option/accessory. 445
Drive modes
Drive modes affect the vehicle's driving charac-
teristics in different ways to enhance and sim-
plify the driving experience in certain types of sit-
uations. Drive modes enable easy access to the vehicle's
many functions and settings in different driving
situations. The following systems are adapted to
help optimize driving characteristics in each drive
mode:
• Steering
• Engine/transmission/all-wheel drive
• Brakes
• Pneumatic suspension* and shock absorbers
• Instrument panel
• Climate control settings
Select the drive mode that is best suited to the
current driving conditions. Keep in mind that not
all drive modes are available in all situations.
Available drive modes
WARNING Keep in mind that the vehicle does not emit
any engine noise when using the electric
motor and may therefore be difficult to detect
for children, pedestrians, cyclists or animals.
This is particularly true at low speeds, e.g. in
parking lots.
WARNING
Do not leave the vehicle in an unventilated
area with a drive mode activated and the com-
bustion engine switched off. The engine will
start automatically if the charge level in the
hybrid battery is low and the resulting exhaust
gases can be very harmful to people and ani-
mals.
HYBRID
•
This is the default mode in which the electric
motor and combustion engine work together.
The vehicle starts in Hybrid mode. The control
system uses both the electric motor and the gas-
oline engine - separately or in tandem - and cal-
culates optimal utilization with regard to perform-
ance, fuel consumption and comfort. At high
speeds, ground clearance is automatically low-
ered 4
to reduce air resistance. Driving capacity on
the electric motor alone is determined by factors such as the hybrid battery's charge level, the
need for heat/cooling in the passenger compart-
ment, etc.
If there is sufficient charge in the battery, it is
possible to drive solely on electric power. When
the accelerator pedal is pressed, only the electric
motor will be activated until the battery reaches a
certain charge level. Above this level, the current
in the battery cannot supply the power requested
by the accelerator pedal and the combustion
engine will start.
When the hybrid battery's charge level is low, the
combustion engine will start more frequently to
save the remaining current in the battery. Charge
the hybrid battery from a 120-240 volt outlet
using a charging cable, or activate
Charge in
Function view to reset the option of only using
the electric motor.
This drive mode is designed for low energy con-
sumption with an optimized mix between the
electric motor and gasoline engine, without com-
promising on climate comfort or driving experi-
ence. When faster acceleration is requested by
the driver, the electric driveline will be utilized to
help provide maximum additional power. The
vehicle also monitors the driving conditions and
automatically engages all-wheel drive if neces-
sary. All-wheel drive and extra electric power are
always available regardless of the battery's
charging status. 4
For vehicles with pneumatic suspension.

STARTING AND DRIVING
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* Option/accessory. 453
Leveling control settings*
The vehicle can be lowered or raised to make it
easier to load or for passengers to get in and
out.
Turn off leveling control before lifting the vehicle
with a jack to help avoid problems with the
pneumatic suspension.
Adjusting loading mode Use the buttons in the cargo compartment to
raise or lower the rear section of the vehicle to
facilitate loading or unloading the vehicle or con-
necting or disconnecting a trailer.
Center display settings
Easy Entry and Exit Suspension Control
The vehicle can be lowered to make it easier to
get in and out.
Activating easy entry in the center display: 1.
Tap Settings in the Top view.
2.

Tap My Car Mirrors and Convenience
.
3. Select Easy Entry and Exit Suspension
Control.
>

When the vehicle is parked and the
engine is turned off, the level is lowered.
(Level adjustment will stop if a side door
is opened and will resume after a slight
delay when the door has been closed.)
When the engine is started and the vehi-
cle begins to move, the level will be raised
to the height set by the selected drive
mode.
Disable Leveling Control
In certain situations, this function must be turned
off, e.g. before the vehicle is raised using a jack*.
The level difference caused by raising the vehicle
with a jack could cause problems with the pneu-
matic suspension.
Turning off the function in the center display:
1. Tap Settings in the Top view.
2.

Tap My Car Parking Brake and
Suspension .
3. Select Disable Leveling Control.
Related information
•Leveling control* and suspension (p. 450)
• Loading recommendations (p. 586) Low Speed Control
The low-speed function, Low Speed Control
(LSC), facilitates and improves control and trac-
tion on rough roads and slippery surfaces, e.g.
when towing a trailer on grass or up boat ramps.
The function is included in the Off Road drive
mode.
Low Speed Control is designed for driving on
rough roads and when towing trailers at low
speeds, up to approximately 40 km/h (25 mph).
When driving at low speeds, LSC prioritizes low
gears and all-wheel drive to help avoid wheel spin
and improve traction on all wheels. The accelera-
tor pedal will be less responsive to improve trac-
tion and speed control at low speeds.
The function is activated together with Hill
Descent Control (HDC), which makes it possible
to control speed going down steep hills using the
accelerator pedal and reduces the need to use
the brake pedal. The system makes it possible to
maintain a low and uniform speed when driving
down steep hills.

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* Option/accessory.473
CAUTION•
Bumper-attached trailer hitches must not
be used on Volvos, nor should safety
chains be attached to the bumper.
• Trailer hitches attaching to the vehicle
rear axle must not be used.
• Never connect a trailer's hydraulic brake
system directly to the vehicle brake sys-
tem, nor a trailer's lighting system directly
to the vehicle lighting system. Consult
your nearest authorized Volvo retailer for
correct installation.
• When towing a trailer, the trailer's safety
chains or wire must be correctly fastened
to the attachment points provided in the
trailer hitch on the vehicle. The safety
chain or wire must never be fastened to
or wound around the towing ball.
NOTE The optional detachable trailer hitch may not
be available in all markets or on all models.
Consult your Volvo retailer.
NOTE
Extreme weather conditions, towing a trailer,
driving at high altitudes and fuel quality are
factors that significantly increase a vehicle's
fuel consumption.
Trailer weights
WARNING Please adhere to the recommendations provi-
ded for trailer weight. If the recommendations
are not followed, the vehicle and trailer may
be difficult to control during evasive maneu-
vers and braking.
NOTE
The specified maximum trailer weights are
those permitted by Volvo. National vehicle
regulations may set additional restrictions on
trailer weight and speed. The trailer hitches
may be certified for higher towing weights
than the vehicle is permitted to tow.
Self-leveling suspension*The vehicle's self-leveling system attempts to
keep the vehicle at a constant level, regardless of
load (up to the maximum permitted weight).
When the vehicle is stationary, the rear end of the
vehicle will be slightly lowered, which is normal.
Driving in hilly terrain or hot weatherIn certain conditions, there is a risk of overheat-
ing when driving with a trailer. If overheating of
the engine and drive system is detected, a warn-
ing symbol will illuminate in the instrument panel
along with a message.The automatic transmission selects the optimal
gear for the current load and engine speed.
Steep inclines
Do not lock the automatic transmission into a
higher gear than what the engine can handle ‒ it
is not always preferable to drive in high gears at
low rpm.
Parking on a hill
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Put the gear selector in P.
4. Release the brake pedal.
Put chocks behind the wheels when the vehicle
is parked on a hill with a trailer attached.
Starting on a hill
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Put the gear selector in D.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Release the brake pedal and start driving.
Related information
• Trailer Stability Assist* (p. 474)
• Checking trailer lights (p. 475)
• Towing capacity and tongue weight (p. 660)
• Overheating of engine and transmission
(p. 468)

STARTING AND DRIVING
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* Option/accessory. 477Remove the cover - press the marker with
your finger while prying open the opposite
side/corner open with a coin or similar.
>

The cover turns along its center line and
can then be removed. 3. Screw in the towing eyelet until it reaches its
stop. Fasten the eyelet securing by, for exam-
ple, inserting a lug wrench* through it and
using this as a lever.
CAUTION It is important that the towing eye is screwed
in securely as far as possible.
Removing the towing eyelet:
–
After use, unscrew the towing eyelet and
return it to its storage location.
Replace the cover on the bumper.
Related information
• Towing using a towline (p. 476)
• Recovery (p. 477)
• Tool kit (p. 564) Recovery
This section refers to transporting the vehicle
with a tow truck or similar vehicle. Call a professional towing service for assistance.
In certain conditions, the towing eyelet can be
used to pull the vehicle onto a flatbed tow truck.
CAUTION Note that vehicles with Twin Engine must
always be towed raised with all wheels on the
tow truck.
For vehicles equipped with leveling control*:
If the vehicle is equipped with pneumatic suspen-
sion, this feature must be turned off before the
vehicle is lifted onto a tow truck. Turning off the
function in the center display.
1. Tap Settings in the Top view.
2.

Tap My Car Parking Brake and
Suspension .
3. Select Disable Leveling Control.
The vehicle's location and ground clearance
determine if it can be lifted onto a tow truck. If
the incline of the tow truck is too steep or if the
ground clearance under the vehicle is insufficient,
attempting to pull it up may result in damage. In
this case, the vehicle should only be lifted with
the tow truck's lifting equipment.