Get Starting and driving -> Transmission Guide for Volvo Xc90 SUV 2020

STARTING AND DRIVING

Hill Start Assist

Braking assist after a collision

Transmission

The function for assisting when starting the

vehicle on inclines (HSA⁴) 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.

In a collision in which the activation level is

reached for the pyrotechnic seat belt tension-

ers or airbags, or if a collision with a large ani-

mal is detected, the vehicle's brakes will be

automatically 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

possible to control and steer the vehicle. In

order to avoid or mitigate a possible further

collision with a vehicle or an object in the vehi-

cle's path, the brake assist system is activated

automatically to help stop the vehicle safely.

The transmission is part of the vehicle's drive-

line (power transmission) between the engine

and the drive wheels. The function of the

transmission is to change gears depending

on speed and power needs.

The vehicle has an 8-speed automatic trans-

mission. The number of gears allows the

engine's torque and power band to be effec-

tively utilized. Two of the gears are overdrive

gears that save fuel when driving at a constant

engine speed. Manual shifting is also possible.

The instrument panel shows the gear currently

in use.

This temporary braking effect is released after

a few seconds or when the driver begins driv-

ing.

Hill Start Assist is available even when the

Auto-hold brake function is switched off.

If braking is not appropriate, e.g. if there is a

risk of being hit by passing traffic, the driver

can override the system by depressing the

accelerator pedal.

Related information

Automatic transmission (p. 404)

•

Related information

Auto-hold brakes (p. 401)

•

This function assumes that the brake system

is intact after a collision.

Brakes (p. 395)

•

Related information

Rear Collision Warning* (p. 337)

•

BLIS* (p. 338)

Brake functions (p. 395)

Hill Start Assist

* Option/accessory. 403

STARTING AND DRIVING

Automatic transmission

Symbols in the instrument panel

If a problem should occur with the transmis-

sion, a symbol and a message will appear in

the instrument panel.

In vehicles with an automatic transmission,

the system selects the gear so that driving

will be as energy-efficient as possible. The

transmission also has a manual mode.

The transmission is available in different ver-

sions. The gear selector indicates which trans-

mission the vehicle has. The various gear

selectors have different functions.

Symbol Meaning

Information and messages rela-

ted to the transmission. Follow

the recommendations provided.

Hot or overheated transmission.

Follow the recommendations

provided.

Overview of small gear selector and gear shift pat-

tern in the instrument panel

The instrument panel shows which gear is cur-

rently in use:

Reduced performance/Accel-

eration performance reduced

P, R, N, D or M. For vehicles with the small

gear selector, P position is electric and the

gear shift pattern is instead R, N, D or M.

In the event of a temporary fault

in the driveline, the vehicle may

go into a "limp home" mode with

reduced power output to help

avoid damage to the driveline.

For manual shifting, the gear indicator in the

instrument panel displays the gear currently

being used.

Overview of large gear selector and gear shift pattern

in the instrument panel

Related information

CAUTION

Gear selector positions for automatic

•

transmissions (p. 405)

Check the operating temperature of the

transmission to help avoid damage to any

of the drive system components. If there is

a risk of overheating, a warning symbol will

appear in the instrument panel and a text

message will be displayed. Follow the rec-

ommendations given.

Using the steering wheel paddles * to shift

•

(p. 407)

Shiftlock (p. 409)

•

The kickdown function (p. 410)

404

* Option/accessory.

STARTING AND DRIVING

To move to another gear from Park, the brake

pedal must be depressed and the ignition in

mode II. For vehicles with the small gear

selector, the engine must be running.

Gear selector positions for

automatic transmissions

With an automatic transmission, a suitable

gear is selected automatically according to

current speed and power requirements.

When parking – apply the parking brake

before shifting to Park.

Selecting gears

The 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.

WARNING

Always apply the parking brake when park-

ing on an incline. Selecting a gear or put-

ting the automatic transmission in P may

not be sufficient to keep the vehicle sta-

tionary in all situations.

Small gear selector and gear selector positions over-

view.

For the small gear selector, change gear posi-

tion by pushing the spring-loaded gear selec-

tor forward or rearward, or to the side for

manual shifting.

NOTE

The gear selector must be in position P in

order to lock the vehicle and set the alarm.

Gear selector positions

Park - P

For the small gear selector, Park is activated

using the P button next to the gear selector.

For the large gear selector, Park is activated

by moving the gear selector to position P.

Large gear selector and gear selector positions over-

view.

For the large gear selector, change gear selec-

tor position by pressing the gear selector for-

ward or rearward, or to the left for manual

shifting.

In P mode, the transmission is mechanically

locked.

Select P when the vehicle is parked or when

starting the engine. The vehicle must be sta-

tionary when Park is selected.

}}

405

STARTING AND DRIVING

Help functions⁵

small gear selector, the engine must be run-

ning.

rent gear will be displayed in the instrument

panel.

For vehicles with the small gear selector, the

system will shift to P automatically

D drive mode

Push the gear selector forward toward +

•

D is the normal driving gear position. The

transmission shifts up or down automatically

depending on acceleration and speed.

(plus) and release to shift up one gear.

if the ignition is switched off while D or R

is selected.

•

Pull the gear selector backward toward –

(minus) and release to shift down one

gear.

•

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.

•

The vehicle must be stationary when the gear

selector is moved from R to D.

Push the gear selector to the side to the

end position at D to return to D mode.

•

Manual shifting mode - M

To park a vehicle with an unbuckled seat belt

and open door – end P mode by shifting to R

or D again.

The system will not automatically shift to P if

the ignition is switched off while the gear

selector is in the neutral position (N). This is to

make it possible to wash the vehicle in an

automatic car wash in which the vehicle is

pulled forward on rolling wheels.

Reverse - R

Select R when backing up. The vehicle must

be stationary when Reverse is selected.

Overview of gear shift pattern in the instrument

panel for large gear selector.

Overview of gear shift pattern in the instrument

panel for small gear selector.

Neutral - N

Manual shifting mode can be selected at any

time during a drive. Engine braking will occur

when the accelerator pedal is released.

Manual shifting mode can be selected at any

time during a drive. Engine braking will occur

when the accelerator pedal is released.

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.

Select manual shifting mode by moving the

gear selector sideways from D to ±. The cur-

Select manual shifting mode by moving the

gear selector rearward from the D position.

To move the gear selector from N to another

gear, the brake pedal must be depressed and

the ignition in mode II. For vehicles with the

Does not apply to vehicles with the large gear selector.

406

STARTING AND DRIVING

The currently selected gear will be displayed in

the instrument panel.

Using the steering wheel paddles*

to shift

The steering wheel paddles are a supplement

to the gear selector and make it possible to

shift manually without removing your hands

from the steering wheel.

Push the gear selector to the right toward

"+" (plus) and release to shift up one gear.

•

Push the gear selector to the left toward

"–" (minus) and release to shift down one

gear.

•

Push the gear selector rearward 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.

Instrument panel when shifting gears using steering

wheel paddles, large gear selector.

Related information

Automatic transmission (p. 404)

•

Shiftlock (p. 409)

Using the steering wheel paddles * to shift

"-": Shift down one gear.

"+": Shift up one gear.

(p. 407)

The kickdown function (p. 410)

•

Activating the steering wheel paddles

In order to shift gears using the paddles, they

must first be activated:

–

Pull one of the paddles toward the steer-

ing wheel.

Instrument panel when shifting gears using steering

wheel paddles, small gear selector.

> A number in the instrument panel indi-

cates the current gear being used.

}}

* Option/accessory. 407

STARTING AND DRIVING

|| In shift mode M, the paddles are automatically

In gear position M, the paddles will not acti-

vate automatically.

Change

To shift one gear:

activated.

–

Pull one of the paddles toward the steer-

ing wheel and then release.

Related information

Automatic transmission (p. 404)

•

As long as the engine speed (rpm) is within

the permissible range for the selected gear, a

gear shift will take place each time a paddle is

pulled. After each gear shift, a number indicat-

ing the current gear will be displayed in the

instrument panel.

Gear selector positions for automatic

transmissions (p. 405)

•

Turning off Start/Stop

Manual deactivation in gear D and M

–

Deactivate the paddles by pulling the right

paddle (+) toward the steering wheel and

holding it until the number of the current

gear is no longer displayed in the instru-

ment panel.

Instrument panel when the paddles are activated for

shifting in manual mode, large gear selector.

> The transmission will return to gear

selector position D.

On vehicles with the large gear selector, the

function can only be switched off in gear

selector position D.

Automatic deactivation

In gear position D, the steering wheel paddles

are deactivated after a short period of time if

they are not used. The number of the current

gear will no longer be displayed in the instru-

ment panel. If engine braking is currently

being used, the paddles will remain active

until engine braking stops.

Instrument panel when the paddles are activated for

shifting in manual mode, small gear selector.

408

STARTING AND DRIVING

Shiftlock

Automatic shiftlock

The automatic shiftlock has a separate safety

system.

Related information

Automatic transmission (p. 404)

•

The automatic transmission's shiftlock func-

tion helps prevent inadvertently moving the

gear selector between different positions.

There are two types of shiftlocks: mechanical

and automatic.

Gear selector positions for automatic

transmissions (p. 405)

•

From Park - P

To move the gear selector from P to another

gear, the brake pedal must be depressed and

the ignition in mode II. For vehicles with the

small gear selector, the engine must be run-

ning.

Mechanical shiftlock

From Neutral - N

If the gear selector is in N and the vehicle has

been stationary for at least 3 seconds (with or

without the engine running), the gear selector

will be locked in that position.

To move the gear selector from N to another

gear, the brake pedal must be depressed and

the ignition in mode II. For vehicles with the

small gear selector, the engine must be run-

ning.

Shiftlock for vehicles with large gear selectors.

Messages in the instrument panel

If the gear selector is locked in position, a

message will appear in the instrument panel,

e.g. Gear lever Press brake pedal to

activate gear lever.

The gear selector can be moved back and

forth between N and D. The other positions

have a shiftlock that is operated using the lock

button on the gear selector.

Press and hold the shiftlock button and move

the gear selector forward or backward

between P, R, N and D.

There is no mechanical shiftlock function.⁶

Applies for vehicles with the small gear selector

409

STARTING AND DRIVING

The kickdown function

All Wheel Drive (AWD)*

Drive modes*

All-wheel drive (AWD⁷), also called four-

wheel drive, means that power is distributed

to all four wheels, which improves traction.

To achieve the best traction, power is auto-

matically directed to the wheels that have the

best grip. The system continuously calculates

the need for torque to the rear wheels, and

can immediately redistribute up to half of the

engine's torque to the rear wheels.

Kickdown can be used when maximum

acceleration is needed, e.g. when passing.

When the accelerator pedal is depressed all

the way to the floor (past the normal full accel-

erator position), the transmission will auto-

matically engage kickdown, i.e. immediately

shift down to a lower gear.

Drive modes affect the vehicle's driving cha-

racteristics in different ways to enhance and

simplify the driving experience in certain

types of situations.

Drive modes enable easy access to the vehi-

cle's many functions and settings in different

driving situations. The following systems are

adapted to help optimize driving characteris-

tics in each drive mode:

If the accelerator pedal is released from the

kickdown position, the transmission will auto-

matically shift up again.

Steering

•

All-wheel drive also has a stabilizing effect at

higher speeds. In normal driving conditions,

most of the engine's power is directed to the

front wheels. When the vehicle is stationary,

all-wheel drive is always activated in prepara-

tion for maximum traction during acceleration.

Engine/transmission/all-wheel drive*

Safety function

The transmission control module is equipped

with a downshift protection feature to help

prevent the engine from overheating.

Brakes

Pneumatic suspension* and shock absorb-

ers

In some conditions, the transmission will pre-

vent downshifting/kickdown if this would lead

to such high engine speed (rpm) that the

engine could be damaged. If the driver still

attempts downshifting or kickdown at a high

rpm, nothing will happen and the original gear

will remain selected.

Instrument panel

•

All-wheel drive reacts differently depending on

which drive mode is selected.

Start/Stop function

Climate control settings

Related information

Drive modes * (p. 410)

•

Select the drive mode that is adapted to the

current driving conditions. Keep in mind that

not all drive modes are available in all situa-

tions.

Low Speed Control* (p. 423)

Transmission (p. 403)

With kickdown, the vehicle can downshift one

or more steps at a time depending on the

engine speed. The vehicle upshifts when the

engine reaches its maximum rpm to prevent

engine damage.

Available drive modes

When the engine is started, the vehicle will be

in Comfort mode and the start/stop function

will be activated. Drive mode can be changed

once the vehicle is started, e.g. to Individual

Related information

Automatic transmission (p. 404)

•

All Wheel Drive

410

* Option/accessory.

Starting and driving -> Transmission for Your Volvo Xc90 SUV 2020

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