service VOLVO V50 2011 Owner´s Manual

02 Instruments and controls
Symbols – instrument panel
02

59 Symbols – right side
G026438
1. Turn signal indicator for trailer (certain
markets only)
If you are towing a trailer, this light
will flash simultaneously with the
turn signals on the trailer. If the
light does not flash when signaling,
one of the turn signals on the trailer
or on the car are not functioning properly.
2. Parking brake appliedThis light is on when the parking
brake (hand brake) is applied. The
parking brake lever is situated
between the front seats, see
page 155 for more information.
NOTE
Canadian models are equipped with the
second symbol.
3. SRS system warning lightIf this light comes on while the car
is being driven, or remains on for
longer than approximately 10 sec-
onds after the car has been
started, the SRS system's diag-
nostic functions have detected a fault in a seat
belt lock or pretensioner, a front airbag, side
impact airbag, and/or an inflatable curtain.
Have the system(s) inspected by a trained and
qualified Volvo service technician as soon as
possible.
4. Oil pressure warning light1
If the light comes on while driving,
the car, stop the engine immedi-
ately, and check the engine oil
level. If the oil level is normal and
the light stays on after restart, have
the car towed to the nearest trained and quali-
fied Volvo service technician. After hard driv-
ing, the light may come on occasionally when
the engine is idling. This is normal, provided it
goes off when the engine speed is increased.
5. Seat belt reminderThis symbol (and the seat belt
reminder light above the rear view
mirror) will light up if either front
seat occupant has not buckled his/
her seat belt. If the car is not mov-
ing, the symbols will go out after approximately
6 seconds.
6. Generator warning lightIf the light comes on while the
engine is running, have the charg-
ing system checked by an author-
ized Volvo workshop.
1On certain engines, this symbol is not used to indicate low oil pressure. Instead, a text warning is provided in the information display, see also page 217.

02 Instruments and controls
Symbols – instrument panel
02
60
7. Brake failure warning lightIf this light comes on while driving
or braking, stop the car as quickly
as possible in a safe place, open
the hood, and check the brake fluid
level in the reservoir, see
page 216 for the location of the
reservoir.
NOTE
Canadian models are equipped with the
second symbol.
WARNING
If the fluid level is below the MIN mark in the
reservoir or if a BRAKE FAILURE STOP
SAFELY message is displayed in the infor-
mation display: DO NOT DRIVE. Have the
car towed to a trained and qualified Volvo
service technician and have the brake sys-
tem inspected.
If the BRAKES and ABS warning lights come
on at the same time, this could indicate a fault
in the brake system.
In this case:
1. Stop the car in a suitable place and switch
off the engine.2. Restart the engine.
3. If both warning lights go off, no further
action is required and the car can be
driven.
4. If both lights remain on after the engine has
been restarted, switch off the engine again
and check the brake fluid level, see
page 216 for the location of the reservoir.
Door open warning
The driver will be alerted if one of the doors, the
hood or the tailgate are open or ajar.
At low speedsIf the car is moving at a speed of
less than approximately 3 mph
(5 km/h), the Information symbol in
the instrument panel will light up
and a message will be shown in the
information display indicating which door(s),
etc is not completely closed.
At higher speedsIf the car is moving at a speed
above approximately 6 mph
(10 km/h), the Warning symbol in
the instrument panel will light up
and a message will be shown in the
information display indicating which door(s),
etc is not completely closed.
Hood and tailgateIf the hood and/or tailgate is not
completely closed, the Information
symbol in the instrument panel will
light up and a message will be dis-
played, regardless of the vehicle's
speed.

02 Instruments and controls
Information display
02

61 Messages
G019617
When an indicator or warning light in the instru-
ment panel comes on, a message is also
shown in the information display. To read a
message:
1.
Press the READ button (1).
2.
Pressing READ repeatedly enables you to
scroll to any other messages that may be
stored.
NOTE
If a message is displayed when e.g. you are
using the trip computer, this message must
be read before you can access the trip com-
puter.
MessageMeaning
.....STOP
SAFELYAStop the vehicle in a
safe place and switch
off the engine to help
prevent the risk of seri-
ous damage.
HIGH ENGINE
TEMP STOP
SAFELYStop the vehicle in a
safe place and switch
off the engine to help
prevent the risk of seri-
ous damage.
......SERVICE
URGENTATake your car to a
trained and qualified
Volvo service techni-
cian for inspection
immediately.
......SEE MAN-
UALARefer to your owner's
manual. For additional
information, please
contact your Volvo
retailer.
MessageMeaning
.....SERVICE
REQUIREDATake your car to a
trained and qualified
Volvo service techni-
cian for inspection as
soon as possible (but
preferably before the
next scheduled mainte-
nance service).
BOOK TIME
FOR MAINTE-
NANCEBook time for service at
an authorized Volvo
workshop.
TIME FOR
REGULAR
MAINTE-
NANCEThis message is affec-
ted by the number of
miles/km driven, by the
number of months, or
by the number of engine
hours since the service
reminder was reset at
the most recent regu-
larly scheduled service.
MAINTE-
NANCE OVER-
DUEIf the vehicle is not serv-
iced according to
schedule, the warranty
may not apply to dam-
aged parts, etc.

02 Instruments and controls
Information display
02
62
MessageMeaning
TIME FOR
REGULAR
MAINTE-
NANCEThis message is affec-
ted by the number of
miles/km driven, by the
number of months, or
by the number of engine
hours since the service
reminder was reset at
the most recent regu-
larly scheduled service.
REMINDER
CHECK OIL
LEVELStop as soon as possi-
ble and switch off the
engine, check the oil
level and top up if nec-
essary, see page 217.
AThis is part of the message. Additional information will also
be displayed.

03 Climate
General information
03
92
Air conditioning – A/C
Your car is equipped with a climate control
system that includes either manually adjusta-
ble air conditioning or optional Electronic Cli-
mate Control (ECC).
The air conditioning system can be switched
off, but for optimal air quality in the passenger
compartment and to prevent the windows from
fogging, the air conditioning should be left on
– even in cool weather.
NOTE
In warm weather, a small amount of water
may accumulate under the car when it has
been parked. This water is condensation
from the A/C system and is normal.
Ice and snow
Always keep the air intake grille at the base of
the windshield free of snow.
Fog on the inside of the windows
The defroster function should be used to
remove fog or mist from the inside of the win-
dows. Keeping the windows clean with a com-
mercially available window washing spray will
also help prevent fogging or misting
Climate control maintenance
Special tools and equipment are required to
maintain and carry out repairs on the climate
system. Work of this type should only be done
by a trained and qualified Volvo service tech-
nician.
Refrigerant
Volvo cares about the environment. The air
conditioning system in your car contains a
CFC-free refrigerant – R134a. This substance
will not deplete the ozone layer. The system
contains 1.2 lbs (530 g) R134a (HFC 134a), and
uses PAG oil.
Passenger compartment filter
Replace the cabin air filter with a new one at
the recommended intervals. Please refer to
your Warranty and Service Records Informa-
tion booklet, or consult a trained and qualified
Volvo service technician for these intervals.
The filter should be replaced more often when
driving under dirty and dusty conditions. The
filter cannot be cleaned and therefore should
always be replaced with a new one.
NOTE
There are different types of cabin air filters.
Ensure that the correct type is installed.
Display
The display above the climate control panel
shows the climate settings that have been
made.
Personal settings
There are two functions in the climate system
that can be set to your preferences:
•Blower speed to Auto mode (models with
ECC only).
•Timer controlled recirculation of the air in
the passenger compartment.

05 Locks and alarm
Remote key and key blade
05
124
Panic alarm – This button can be used to
attract attention during emergency situa-
tions. To activate the panic alarm, press
and hold the red button for at least 3 sec-
onds or press it twice within 3 seconds.
The turn signals and horn will be activated.
The panic alarm will stop automatically
after 30 seconds. To deactivate, wait
approximately 5 seconds and press the red
button again.
NOTE
This button will NOT unlock the car.
Weak battery in the remote key
G019406
When the battery begins to lose its charge, the
Information symbol in the instrument panel
(see page 56) lights up and
KEY BATTERY
LOW VOLTAGE is shown in the information
display.
Replacing the battery in the remote key
If the range of the transmitter is noticeably
reduced, this indicates that the battery (type
CR 2450, 3V) is weak and should be replaced.
To replace the battery:
1. Place the remote key with the keypad
downward. Pry open the cover with a small
slotted screwdriver.
2. Remove the cover.
CAUTION
When replacing the battery, avoid touching
the electrical circuitry in the other half of the
remote key.
3. Note how the + and – sides of the battery
are positioned on the inside of the cover
(see the underside of the cover).
4. Pry out and replace the battery. Avoid
touching the battery and its contact surfa-
ces with your fingers.
5. Press the cover back into place.The old battery should be disposed of properly
at a recycling center or by a trained and quali-
fied Volvo service technician.
Key blade
G019403
Removing the key blade
The key blade can be removed from the remote
key. When removed, it can be used as follows:
•To lock/unlock the driver’s door
•To lock/unlock the glove compartment,
see page 131.
Removing the key bladeSlide the spring loaded catch to the side.

05 Locks and alarm
Remote key and key blade
05
126
Locking points
G019450
Locking/unlocking points for the remote
key with the key blade
Locking/unlocking points for the remote
key without the key blade
By utilizing the remote key with the key blade
removed, you can block access to the glove
compartment for e.g. valet parking or when the
car is brought to the retailer for service.

06 Starting and driving
General information
06

139 Handling, roadholding
Vehicle load, tire design and inflation pressure
all affect vehicle handling. Therefore, check
that the tires are inflated to the recommended
pressure according to the vehicle load. See the
"Tire pressure" section. Loads should be dis-
tributed so that capacity weight or maximum
permissible axle loads are not exceeded.
Driving through water
The vehicle can be driven through water up to
a depth of approximately 9 in. (25 cm), at a
maximum speed of 6 mph (10 km/h).
•Take particular care when driving through
flowing water.
•Clean the electrical connections for trailer
wiring after driving in mud or water
•When driving through water, maintain low
speed and do not stop in the water.
WARNING
After driving through water, press lightly on
the brake pedal to ensure that the brakes
are functioning normally. Water or mud can
make the brake linings slippery, resulting in
delayed braking effect.
CAUTION
•Engine damage will occur if water is
drawn into the air cleaner.
•If the vehicle is driven through water
deeper than 9 in. (25 cm), water may
enter the differential and the transmis-
sion. This reduces the oil's lubricating
capacity and may shorten the service
life of these components.
•Do not allow the vehicle to stand in
water up to the door sills longer than
absolutely necessary. This could result
in electrical malfunctions.
•If the engine has been stopped while the
car is in water, do not attempt to restart
the engine. Have the car towed out of
the water.
Cold weather precautions
If you wish to check your vehicle before the
approach of cold weather, the following advice
is worth noting:
•Make sure that the engine coolant contains
50 percent antifreeze. Any other mixture
will reduce freeze protection. This gives
protection against freezing down to –31 °F
(–35 °C). See section "Coolant". The use of
"recycled" antifreeze is not approved byVolvo. Different types of antifreeze must
not be mixed.
•Volvo recommends using only genuine
Volvo antifreeze in your vehicle's radiator.
Your Volvo retailer stocks plenty of Volvo
engine coolant to help protect your vehicle
during cold weather.
•Try to keep the fuel tank well filled – this
prevents the formation of condensation in
the tank. In addition, in extremely cold
weather conditions it is worthwhile to add
fuel line de-icer before refueling.
•The viscosity of the engine oil is important.
Oil with low viscosity (thinner oil) improves
cold-weather starting as well as decreas-
ing fuel consumption while the engine is
warming up. For winter use, 5W-30 oil, par-
ticularly the synthetic type
1, is recom-
mended. Be sure to use good quality oil but
do not use cold-weather oil for hard driving
or in warm weather, see page 272 for more
information.
•The load placed on the battery is greater
during the winter since the windshield wip-
ers, lighting, etc. are used more often.
Moreover, the capacity of the battery
decreases as the temperature drops. In
very cold weather, a poorly charged bat-
tery can freeze and be damaged. It is there-
fore advisable to check the state of charge
1Synthetic oil is not used when the oil is changed at the normal maintenance intervals except at owner request and at additional charge. Please consult your Volvo retailer.

06 Starting and driving
General information
06
140
more frequently and spray an anti-rust oil
on the battery posts.
•Volvo recommends the use of snow tires
on all four wheels for winter driving – see
the chapter "Wheels and tires."
•To prevent the washer fluid reservoir from
freezing, add washer solvents containing
antifreeze (see page 216 for the location of
the washer fluid reservoir). This is impor-
tant since dirt is often splashed on the
windshield during winter driving, requiring
the frequent use of the washers and wip-
ers. Volvo Washer Solvent should be dilu-
ted as follows: Down to 14 °F (–10 °C):
1 part washer solvent and 4 parts water
Down to 5 °F (–15 °C): 1 part washer sol-
vent and 3 parts water Down to 0 °F
(–18 °C): 1 part washer solvent and 2 parts
water Down to –18 °F (–28 °C): 1 part
washer solvent and 1 part water.
•Use Volvo Teflon Lock Spray in the locks.
NOTE
Avoid using de-icing sprays as they can
cause damage to the locks.
Conserving electrical current
Keep the following in mind to help minimize
battery drain:
•When the engine is not running, avoid turn-
ing the ignition key to position II. Many
electrical systems (the audio system, the
optional navigation system, power win-
dows, etc) will function with the ignition key
in position I. This position reduces drain on
the battery.
•Please keep in mind that using systems,
accessories, etc that consume a great deal
of current when the engine is not running
could result in the battery being completely
drained. Driving or having the engine run-
ning for approximately 15 minutes will help
keep the battery charged.
•The optional 12 volt socket in the cargo
area (certain models only) provides electri-
cal current even with the ignition switched
off, which drains the battery.
NOTE
•If the ignition is switched on, a warning
message will be displayed in the text
window in the instrument panel when
the battery charge is low.
•An energy conserving function
designed into the vehicle's electrical
system will switch off certain functions
or reduce the load on the battery by,
e.g., reducing the audio system's vol-
ume.
Before a long distance trip
It is always worthwhile to have your vehicle
checked at a trained and qualified Volvo serv-
ice technician before driving long distances.
Your trained and qualified Volvo service tech-
nician will also be able to supply you with
bulbs, fuses, spark plugs and wiper blades for
your use in the event that problems occur.
As a minimum, the following items should be
checked before any long trip:
•Check that engine runs smoothly and that
fuel consumption is normal.
•Check for fuel, oil, and fluid leakage
•Have the transmission oil level checked2.
•Check condition of drive belts.
2To prevent injury from contact with hot surfaces, do not inspect your vehicle's transmission fluid yourself. Have your vehicle's transmission fluid level inspected by a qualified Volvo service technician.

06 Starting and driving
Fuel requirements
06
142
Octane rating
Minimum octane
G028920
Typical pump octane label
Volvo recommends premium fuel for best per-
formance, but using 87 octane1 or above will
not affect engine reliability.
Volvo engines are designed to achieve rated
horsepower, torque, and fuel economy per-
formance using premium 91 octane fuel.
Demanding drivingIn demanding driving conditions, such as oper-
ating the vehicle in hot weather, towing a trailer,
or driving for extended periods at higher alti-
tudes than normal, it may be advisable to
switch to higher octane fuel (91 or higher) or tochange gasoline brands to fully utilize your
engine's capacity, and for the smoothest pos-
sible operation.
NOTE
When switching to higher octane fuel or
changing gasoline brands, it may be neces-
sary to fill the tank more than once before a
difference in engine operation is noticeable.
Fuel FormulationsDo not use gasoline that contains lead as a
knock inhibitor, and do not use lead additives.
Besides damaging the exhaust emission con-
trol systems on your vehicle, lead has been
strongly linked to certain forms of cancer.
Many fuels contain benzene as a solvent.
Unburned benzene has been strongly linked to
certain forms of cancer. If you live in an area
where you must fill your own gas tank, take
precautions. These may include:
•standing upwind away from the filler nozzle
while refueling
•refueling only at gas stations with vapor
recovery systems that fully seal the mouth
of the filler neck during refueling
•wearing neoprene gloves while handling a
fuel filler nozzle.
Use of AdditivesWith the exception of gas line antifreeze during
winter months, do not add solvents, thicken-
ers, or other store-bought additives to your
vehicle's fuel, cooling, or lubricating systems.
Overuse may damage your engine, and some
of these additives contain organically volatile
chemicals. Do not needlessly expose yourself
to these chemicals.
WARNING
Never carry a cell phone that is switched
on while refueling your vehicle. If the phone
rings, this may cause a spark that could
ignite gasoline fumes, resulting in fire and
injury.
WARNING
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, colorless,
and odorless gas. It is present in all exhaust
gases. If you ever smell exhaust fumes
inside the vehicle, make sure the passenger
compartment is ventilated, and immediately
return the vehicle to a trained and qualified
Volvo service technician for correction.
1AKI (ANTI KNOCK INDEX) is an average of the Research Octane Number (RON) and the Motor Octane Number (MON), MON+RON/2.