Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid (2015 year). Instruction - part 16

parking brake (p. 278) when the car is

When starting the engine there is an auto-

matic function check of the brake system

when the driver depresses the brake pedal

to take the gear selector from the P-posi-

tion. During the function check the pedal

travel is slightly longer than during normal

braking.

The gearbox is mechanically blocked when

the P position is engaged. Also apply the

parked.

information in the section Towing (p. 310).

The gear selector must be in P position to

allow the car to be locked and alarmed.

IMPORTANT

The car must be stationary when posi-

tion P is selected.

WARNING

Always apply the parking brake when

parking on a slope - the automatic trans-

mission's P position is not sufficient to

hold the car in all situation.

Reverse position - R
The car must be stationary when R position is

selected.

Neutral position - N
No gear is engaged and the engine can be

started. Apply the parking brake if the car is

stationary with the gear selector in N position.
To be able to move the gear selector from N

to other gear positions, the brake pedal must

be depressed and the remote control key

must be in key position II.

Drive position - D
D is the normal driving position. Shifting up

and down takes place automatically based on

the level of acceleration and speed. The car

must be stationary when the gear selector is

moved to D position from R position.

Geartronic – Manual gear positions
(+S-)
With the gear selector in manual gear position

"+S-" the diesel engine is permanently in

operation. The driver must then change man-

The "Sport mode" function is not available in a V60 Plug-in Hybrid - only "+" and "-".

08 Starting and driving

271

ually and the car engine brakes when the

accelerator pedal is released.

The manual gear position is reached

by moving the lever to the side from

position D to the end position at

"+S-". The combined instrument

panel's symbol "+S-" changes colour from
WHITE to ORANGE and the digits

etc.

are displayed in a box, corresponding to the

gear that has just been selected.

•

Move the lever forwards towards "+"

(plus) to change up a gear and release the

lever, which returns to its rest position

between + and –.

•

Pull the lever back towards "–" (minus) to

change down a gear and release it.

The manual gearshift mode "+S–" can be

selected at any time while driving.
Geartronic automatically shifts down if the

driver allows the speed to decrease lower

than a level suitable for the selected gear, in

order to avoid jerking and stalling.
To return to automatic driving mode:

•

Move the lever to the side to the end

position at D.

Geartronic - Winter mode
It can be easier to pull away on slippery roads

if 3rd gear is engaged manually.

1. Depress the brake pedal and move the

gear selector from D position to the end

position at "+S–" - the combined instru-

ment panel changes indication from

the figure

2. Scroll up to gear 3 by pushing the lever

forward towards "+" (plus) twice - the dis-

play shifts the indication from

3. Release the brake and accelerate care-

fully.

The gearbox "winter mode" means that the

car moves off with a lower engine speed and

reduced engine power on the drive wheels.

Kick-down
When the accelerator pedal is pressed all the

way to the floor (beyond the position normally

regarded as full acceleration) a lower gear is

immediately engaged. This is known as kick-

down.
If the accelerator is released from the kick-

down position, the gearbox automatically

changes up.
Kick-down is used when maximum accelera-

tion is needed, such as for overtaking.
Safety function
To prevent overrevving the engine, the gear-

box control program has a protective down-

shift inhibitor which prevents the kick-down

function.

Geartronic does not permit downshifting/

kick-down which would result in an engine

speed high enough to damage the engine.

Nothing happens if the driver still tries to shift

down in this way at high engine speed – the

original gear remains engaged.
When kick-down is activated the car can

change one or more gears at a time depend-

ing on engine speed. The car changes up

when the engine reaches its maximum speed

in order to prevent damage to the engine.

Towing
If the car has to be towed - see important

Related information

•

Transmission fluid - grade and volume

(p. 404)

•

Gearboxes (p. 269)

08 Starting and driving

272

Gear selector inhibitor

There are two different types of gear selector

inhibitor - mechanical and automatic.

Mechanical gear selector inhibitor

G021351

M: Manual shifting

- "+/-" or "Sport" mode

The gear selector can be moved forward and

back freely between N and D. Other positions

are locked with a latch that is released with

the inhibitor button on the gear selector.
With the inhibitor button depressed the lever

can be moved forwards or backwards

between P, R, N and D.

Automatic gear selector inhibitor
The automatic gearbox has special safety

systems:

Parking position (P)
Stationary car with engine running:

•

Keep your foot on the brake pedal when

moving the gear selector to another posi-

tion.

Electric gear inhibitor – Shiftlock
Parking position (P)
To be able to move the gear selector from P

to other gear positions, the brake pedal must

be depressed and the remote control key

must be in key position II (p. 81).

Shiftlock – Neutral (N)
If the gear selector is in N position and the

car has been stationary for at least 3 seconds

(irrespective of whether the engine is running)

then the gear selector is locked.
To be able to move the gear selector from N

to other gear positions, the brake pedal must

be depressed and the remote control key

must be in key position II, see Key positions

(p. 80).

Deactivate automatic gear selector
inhibitor

If the car cannot be driven, e.g. due to a flat

starter battery, the gear selector must be

moved from the P position so that the car can

be moved.

Lift the rubber mat in the compartment

behind the centre console and locate a
hole

for the key blade (p. 167) in the bot-

tom of the compartment.
Search for a spring-loaded button down

in the hole with the key blade; depress

the button with the blade and hold.
Move the gear selector from the P posi-

tion and pull up the key blade.

4. Set the rubber mat back in place.

The illustration is schematic.

Not on the V60H.

There may be 2 holes - one for the key blade and one that fixes the rubber mat.

08 Starting and driving

Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.

273

Related information

•

Automatic gearbox -- Geartronic (p. 270)

Hill start assist (HSA)*

The foot brake can be released before setting

off or reversing uphill - the HSA (Hill Start

Assist) function means that the car does not

roll backwards.

The function means that the pedal pressure in

the brake system remains for several seconds

while the driver's foot is moved from brake

pedal to accelerator pedal.
The temporary braking effect releases after

several seconds or when the driver acceler-

ates.

Related information

•

Starting the engine (p. 259)

All Wheel Drive - AWD

Optimal traction is achieved with all-wheel

drive.

Use this button on the centre

console to activate all-wheel

drive (AWD – All Wheel

Drive), see Drive system -

drive modes (p. 263). The

mode is primarily intended

for use at low speed in slip-

pery driving conditions. All-wheel drive also

has a stabilising effect at higher speeds.
To achieve the best possible traction and pre-

vent wheel spin the motive force is distributed

automatically to the wheels with the best grip.

Under normal driving conditions, the majority

of power is transmitted to the front wheels.

08 Starting and driving

274

Foot brake

The foot brake is used to reduce the car's

speed while driving.

The car is equipped with two brake circuits. If

a brake circuit is damaged then the brake

pedal will engage deeper and a higher pres-

sure on the pedal is needed to produce the

normal braking effect.
The driver's brake pedal pressure is assisted

by a brake servo.

WARNING

The brake servo doesn't operate until after

the engine has been started, see Starting

the engine (p. 259).

If the foot brake is used in a de-energised car

with the electricity and diesel engine switched

off - e.g. if the car is being towed - then pedal

travel is slightly longer and a higher pedal

pressure must be used to brake the car.
In very hilly terrain or when driving with a

heavy load the brakes can be relieved by

using engine braking. Engine braking is most

efficiently used if the same gear is used

downhill as up.

For more general information on heavy loads

on the car, see Engine oil - adverse driving

conditions (p. 400).

Function check when the engine is
started
A V60 Plug-in Hybrid is equipped with a so-

called "brake by wire" brake system. After

each time the engine is started there is an

automatic function check of the brake system

when the driver depresses the brake pedal to

take the gear selector from the P position,

see Automatic gearbox -- Geartronic (p. 270).

In connection with the function check, in

some cases, the information display may

show a message and a symbol, see examples

in the table at the end of this section.

Battery charging with engine braking is indi-

During the function check the pedal travel

is slightly longer than during normal brak-

ing.

Light braking - hybrid battery charging
The electric motor's engine brake is used

during light braking. The car's kinetic energy

is then converted to electrical energy instead,

which is used to charge the hybrid battery.

cated in the combined instrument panel

(p. 67) with animation.
This function is active in the speed range

150-5 km/h - for harder braking, as well as

outside the speed range, the braking is com-

plemented by the hydraulic brake system.

Cleaning the brake discs
Coatings of dirt and water on the brake discs

may result in delayed brake function. With

wet road surfaces, prior to long-stay parking

and after the car has been washed, it is there-

fore advisable to carry out cleaning by brak-

ing gently for a short period while driving.

Maintenance
To keep the car as safe and reliable as possi-

ble, follow the Volvo service intervals as

specified in the Service and Warranty Book-

let.

IMPORTANT

The wear on the brake system's compo-

nents must be checked regularly.
Contact a workshop for information about

the procedure or engage a workshop to

carry out the inspection - an authorised

Volvo workshop is recommended.

08 Starting and driving

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275

Symbols and messages

Symbol Message

Meaning/Action

Constant glow – Check the brake fluid level. If the level is low, fill with brake fluid and check for the

cause of the brake fluid loss.

Constant glow for 2 seconds when the engine is started - automatic function check.

Fully depress the brake

pedal in order to leave

the P-position

Foot pressure on the brake pedal is too low.

•

Depress the pedal further.

Brake pedal characte-

ristics changed Service

required

May be shown in very cold weather or if the gear selector has been moved from the P position with the

brake pedal insufficiently depressed.

•

Switch off the engine by pressing the START/STOP ENGINE button - start the engine again and

depress the brake pedal.

If the error message remains: Contact a workshop - an authorised Volvo workshop is recommended.

08 Starting and driving

276

WARNING

and

illuminate at the same

time, there may be a fault in the brake sys-

tem.
If the level in the brake fluid reservoir is

normal at this stage, drive carefully to the

nearest workshop and have the brake sys-

tem checked - an authorised Volvo work-

shop is recommended.
If the brake fluid is below the MIN level in

the brake fluid reservoir, do not drive fur-

ther before topping up the brake fluid.
The reason for the loss of brake fluid must

be investigated.

Related information

•

Foot brake - emergency brake lights and

•

automatic hazard warning flashers

Foot brake - emergency brake assistance

•

Foot brake - anti-lock braking system

•

08 Starting and driving

277

Foot brake - anti-lock braking system

The anti-lock braking system, ABS (Anti-lock

Braking System), prevents the wheels from

locking up during braking.

The function allows the steering ability to be

maintained, and it is easier to swerve to avoid

a hazard for example. Vibration may be felt in

the brake pedal when this is engaged and this

is normal.
A short test of the ABS system is made auto-

matically after the engine has been started

when the driver releases the brake pedal. A

further automatic test of the ABS system may

be made when the car reaches 10 km/h. The

test may be experienced as pulses in the

brake pedal.

Related information

•

•

Foot brake - emergency brake lights and

•

automatic hazard warning flashers

Foot brake - emergency brake assistance

•

while at the same time the hazard warning

Foot brake - emergency brake lights

and automatic hazard warning

flashers

Emergency brake lights are activated to alert

vehicles behind about sudden braking. The

function means that the brake light flashes

instead of - as in normal braking - shining with

a constant glow.

Emergency brake lights are activated at

speeds above 50 km/h in the event of sudden

braking. After the car's speed has been

slowed below 10 km/h the brake light returns

from flashing to the normal constant glow -

flashers (p. 97) are activated, and they flash

until the driver changes engine speed with the

accelerator pedal or they are deactivated with

their button.

Related information

•

•

Foot brake - emergency brake assistance

•

Foot brake - anti-lock braking system

•

Foot brake - emergency brake

assistance

Emergency brake assistance EBA (Emergency

Brake Assist) helps to increase the braking

force and so reduce the braking distance.

EBA detects the driver's braking style and

increases the braking force when necessary.

The brake force can be reinforced up to the

level when the ABS system is engaged. The

EBA function is interrupted when the pressure

on the brake pedal is reduced.

When EBA is activated the brake pedal

lowers slightly more than usual, depress

(hold) the brake pedal as long as neces-

sary. If the brake pedal is released then all

braking ceases.

Related information

•

•

Foot brake - emergency brake lights and

•

automatic hazard warning flashers

Foot brake - anti-lock braking system

•

is too low, see Jump starting with battery

08 Starting and driving

278

Parking brake

The parking brake holds the car stationary,

when the driver's seat is empty, by mechani-

cally locking/blocking two wheels.

Function
A faint electric motor noise can be heard

when the electrical parking brake is being

applied. The noise can also be heard during

the automatic function checking of the park-

ing brake.
If the car is stationary when the parking brake

is applied then it only acts on the rear wheels.

If it is applied when the car is moving then the

normal foot brake is used, i.e. the brake acts

on all four wheels. Brake function changes

over to the rear wheels when the car is almost

stationary.

Low battery voltage
If the battery voltage is too low then the park-

ing brake can neither be released nor applied.

Connect a donor battery if the battery voltage

(p. 261).

Applying the parking brake

Parking brake control - apply.

1. Depress the foot brake pedal firmly.
2. Press the control PUSH LOCK/PULL

RELEASE.
>

The combined instrument pan-

el's symbol starts flashing - once there

is a constant glow the parking brake is

applied.

3. Release the foot brake pedal and make

sure that the car is at a standstill position.

•

When parking the vehicle put the gear

selector in the P position.

Emergency brake
In an emergency the parking brake can be

applied when the vehicle is in motion by

pressing and holding the control for PUSH

LOCK/PULL RELEASE. The braking proce-

dure is stopped when the control is released.

In the event of emergency braking at

speeds above 10 km/h a signal sounds

during the braking procedure.

Parking on a hill
If the car is parked facing uphill:

•

Turn the wheels away from the kerb.

If the car is parked facing downhill:

•

Turn the wheels towards the kerb.

WARNING

Always apply the parking brake when

parking on a slope - leaving the car in

gear, or in P if it has automatic transmis-

sion, is not sufficient to hold the car in all

situation.

08 Starting and driving

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279

Disengaging the parking brake

Parking brake control - release.

Releasing manually
1. Insert the remote control key in the igni-

tion switch

2. Depress the foot brake pedal firmly.
3. Pull the control.

The parking brake releases and

the combined instrument panel's sym-

bol extinguishes.

Releasing automatically
1. Put the seatbelt on.
2. Start the engine.
3. Depress the foot brake pedal firmly.
4. Move the gear selector to position D or R

and depress the accelerator.
>

The parking brake releases and

the combined instrument panel's sym-

bol extinguishes.

and deleted, see Messages - handling

For safety reasons, the parking brake is

only released automatically if the engine is

running and the driver is wearing a seat-

belt. The parking brake is released imme-

diately on cars with automatic gearbox

when the accelerator pedal is depressed

and the gear selector is in position D or R.

Heavy load uphill
A heavy load, such as a trailer, can cause the

car to roll backward when the parking brake

is released automatically on a steep incline.

Avoid this by depressing the control while

driving off. Release the control when the

engine achieves traction.

Replacing the brake linings
The rear brake linings must be replaced at a

workshop due to the design of the electric

parking brake - an authorised Volvo work-

shop is recommended.

Symbols and messages
For information on how the combined instru-

ment panel's text messages can be shown

(p. 112).

For a car with the Keyless system: Press START/STOP ENGINE.

08 Starting and driving

280

Symbol Message

Meaning/Action

Message

•

Read the combined instrument panel's message.

A flashing symbol indicates that the parking brake is applied.
If the symbol flashes in any other situation then this means that a fault has arisen.

•

Read the combined instrument panel's message.

Handbrake not

fully released

A fault is preventing the parking brake from being released:

•

Try to apply and release the brake.

If the fault persists after a few attempts:

•

Visit a workshop - an authorised Volvo workshop is recommended.

Note: A warning signal sounds if the journey is continued with this error message.

Handbrake not

applied

A fault is preventing the parking brake from being applied:

•

Try to release and apply the brake.

If the fault persists after a few attempts:

•

Visit a workshop - an authorised Volvo workshop is recommended.

The message is also illuminated on cars with manual gearbox when the car is driven at low speed with the door

open in order to alert the driver that the parking brake may have been unintentionally disengaged.

Handbrake

Service

required

A fault has arisen:

•

Try to apply and release the brake.

If the fault persists after a few attempts:

•

Visit a workshop - an authorised Volvo workshop is recommended.

If the car has to be parked before a possible

fault is rectified then the wheels must be

turned as if parking on a hill and the gear

selector must be set in position P.

A text message can be acknowledged by

briefly pressing the OK button on the direc-

tion indicator stalk.

08 Starting and driving

281

Related information

•