STARTING AND DRIVING
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* Option/accessory. 291
Foot brake
The foot brake is part of the brake system.
The car is equipped with two brake circuits. If a
brake circuit is damaged then the brake pedal will
engage deeper and a higher pressure 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 only works when the engine
is running.
If the brake is used when the engine is switched
off then the pedal will feel stiff and more force
must be used to brake the car.
For cars with the Hill start assist (HSA)* (p. 278)*
function, the pedal returns more slowly than
usual to normal position if the car is parked on a
gradient or on an uneven surface.
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, Engine oil - adverse driving conditions
(p. 390).
Braking on wet roads
When driving for a long time in heavy rain without
braking, the braking effect may be delayed
slightly when next using the brakes. This may
also be the case after a car wash. It is then nec-
essary to depress the brake harder. For this rea-
son, maintain a greater distance to the traffic
ahead.
Brake the car firmly after driving on wet roads
and after a car wash. The brake discs are then
warmed up, dry more quickly and are protected
against corrosion. Take the prevailing traffic sit-
uation into account when braking.
Braking on salted roads
When driving on salted roads a layer of salt may
form on the brake discs and brake linings. This
may extend braking distance. For this reason,
keep an extra-large safety distance to the vehicle
ahead. Also make sure of the following:
•Brake occasionally to remove any layer of
salt. Make sure that other road users are not
put at risk by the braking.
•Gently depress the brake pedal when driving
is finished and before the next journey starts.
Maintenance
To keep the car as safe and reliable as possible,
follow the Volvo service intervals as specified in
the Service and Warranty Booklet.
New and replaced brake linings and brake discs
do not provide optimal braking effect until they
have been "worn in" a few hundred kilometres.
Compensate for the reduced braking effect by
depressing the brake pedal harder. Volvo recom-
mends only fitting brake linings that are approved
for your Volvo.
IMPORTANT
The wear on the brake system's components
must be checked regularly.
Contact a workshop for information about the
procedure or engage a workshop to carry out
the inspection - an authorised Volvo work-
shop is recommended.
Symbols in the combined instrument
panel
Symbol Specification
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.
