When BAS is activated, depress (hold) the brake pedal as long as necessary.
Braking on gritted roads
When driving on salted roads, a layer of salt may form on the brake discs and brake linings.
This may extend the braking distance. You should therefore maintain a greater safety distance to vehicles in front. In addition, make sure you do the following:
- Brake now and again 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 after finishing driving and before starting your next trip.
Braking on wet roads
Foot brake
The car is equipped with two brake circuits. If a brake circuit is damaged, the brake pedal may engage deeper. Higher pressure on the pedal will therefore be needed to produce the normal braking effect.
The driver’s brake pedal pressure is assisted by a brake servo.
The brake servo only works when the car is running.
If the foot brake is used when the engine is switched off then the pedal will feel stiff and a higher pedal pressure must be used to break the car. In very hilly terrain or when driving with a heavy load, the brakes should be relieved by using engine braking in manual gearshift mode. Engine braking is most efficiently used if the same gear is used downhill as up. Use drive mode Off-road (Option/accessory) for increased engine braking while driving on steep downhill gradients at low speeds.
Anti-lock braking system
The car has anti-lock brakes (ABS),(Anti-lock Braking System) which prevents the wheels from locking while braking and allows maintained steering control. Vibration may be felt in the brake pedal when this is engaging and this is normal. A short test of the ABS system is made automatically after the car has been started when the driver releases the brake pedal. A further automatic test of the system may be made at low speed. The test may be felt as pulses in the brake pedal.
Symbols in the driver display
| Symbol | Specification |
|---|---|
| | Check the brake fluid level. If the level is low, fill with brake fluid and check for the cause of the brake fluid loss. |
| | Fault in pedal sensor. |
| | Constant glow for 2 seconds when the car is started: Automatic function check. Constant glow for more than 2 seconds: ABS fault. The car’s regular brake system continues to work, but without ABS function. |
| | In the event of the message:Brake pedal characteristics changed Service required The brake pedal needs to be depressed past the normal braking position using a higher pressure to brake the car. |
- If the level in the brake fluid reservoir is normal at this stage, drive carefully to the nearest workshop and have the brake system checked – an authorized Volvo workshop is recommended.
- If the brake fluid is below the MIN level in the brake fluid reservoir, do not drive further before topping up the brake fluid. The reason for the loss of brake fluid must be investigated.
Brake system maintenance
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 authorized Volvo workshop is recommended.