2023 Volvo XC90 Exterior lighting
Active bending lights
Headlamp pattern without active bending lights (left) and with active bending lights (right).
Active bending lights follow steering wheel movements to provide additional illumination in bends and junctions and can thereby provide the driver with improved visibility.
In the event of a fault in the function, the 
symbol illuminates in the driver display at the same time as the driver display shows an explanatory text.
The active bending lights are only switched on in weak daylight or in darkness as well as when the stalk switch’s rotating ring is in 
position. The car also needs to be in motion with the dipped beam activated.
Active main beam
The symbol
represents active main beam.
The function can start while driving in the dark when the car’s speed is approx. 20 km/h (approx. 12 mph) or higher. The function can also take streetlights into account. When the camera sensor no longer detects any oncoming car or car in front, main beam is switched on again after about a second.
Active main beam is activated and deactivated by turning the left-hand stalk switch to position
. The rotating ring then returns to position . When active main beam is activated, the symbol illuminates with a white glow in the driver display. When main beam is activated, the symbol shines blue.If active main beam is deactivated while main beam is on, the lighting is immediately reset to dipped beam.Active main beam does not need to be reactivated every time the car is started.
The active main beam has adaptive functionality. In this case, unlike what happens during conventional dimming, the light beam continues to illuminate with main beam on both sides of oncoming traffic or vehicles ahead – only the part of the light beam that points directly to the vehicle is dimmed.
Adaptive functionality: Dipped beam directly towards oncoming vehicle, but continued main beam on both sides of the vehicle.
The main beam is partly dimmed, i.e. if the light beam shines with slightly more than dipped beam, the symbol in the driver display shines blue.
On motorways or at high speed, the system may change from adaptive to automatic functionality.
The camera sensor on which the function is based has limitations.
If this symbol is shown in the driver display, together with the message Active High Beam Temporarily unavailable, then switching between main and dipped beam must be performed manually.
The same applies if this symbol is shown together with the message Windscreen sensor blocked See Owner’s manual.
Active main beam may be temporarily unavailable e.g. in situations with dense fog or heavy rain. When active main beam becomes available again, or the windscreen sensors are no longer blocked, the message is extinguished and active main beam is reactivated.
Active main beam is an aid for using the optimum beam pattern when conditions are favourable.
The driver always bears responsibility for manually switching between main and dipped beam when traffic situations or weather conditions so require.
Using direction indicators
Direction indicators.
Short flash sequence
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Move the stalk switch up or down to the first position and release. The direction indicator lamps flash three times. |
This automatic flashing sequence can be stopped by moving the stalk switch immediately in the opposite direction.
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Move the stalk switch up or down to its end position. |
The stalk switch remains in its position and is moved back manually, or automatically by the steering wheel movement.
If the symbol for direction indicators in the driver display flashes more quickly than normal – see the message in the driver display.
Brake lights
The brake light is illuminated when the brake pedal is depressed and when the car is braked automatically by one of the driver support systems.
Rear fog lamp
Button for rear fog lamp.
The rear fog lamp is a lamp at the rear of the car, on the driver’s side.
The rear fog lamp can only be switched on when:
- ignition position II is active and the rotating ring on the stalk switch is in position or
- ignition position II is active and the stalk switch’s rotating ring is in
position and the front fog lamps are switched on.
Press the button to switch the lights on/off. The 
symbol in the driver display illuminates when the rear fog lamp is switched on.
The rear fog lamp is switched off automatically when:
- the car is switched off or when the rotating ring on the stalk switch is set to the
position - the stalk switch’s rotating ring is in position and the front fog lamps are switched off.
Regulations on the use of rear fog lamps vary from country to country.
Dipped beam
position, dipped beam is activated automatically in weak daylight or darkness or when the car’s electrical system is in ignition position II.
Stalk switch rotating ring in AUTO position.
With the stalk switch’s rotating ring in position, dipped beam is also activated automatically if:
- the front fog lamps are activated
- the rear fog lamp is activated
- the front and rear fog lamps are activated
With the stalk switch’s rotating ring in the position, dipped beam is always activated when the car’s electrical system is in ignition position II.
The car detects when it is driven into a tunnel and switches from daytime running lights to dipped beam.Note that the rotating ring in the left-hand stalk switch must be in
mode for tunnel detection to work.
Using main beam
Steering wheel stalk switch with rotating ring.
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Move the stalk switch backwards slightly to main beam flash position. Main beam comes on until the stalk switch is released. |
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Main beam can be activated when the steering wheel stalk switch’s rotating ring is in position or . Activate main beam by moving the stalk switch forwards. |
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Deactivate by moving the stalk switch backwards. |
Note
When main beam has been activated, it can be deactivated by moving the stalk switch backwards to either position or position.
When main beam has been activated the 
symbol illuminates in the driver display.Using the guidance light
To activate the function:
Make sure the car is switched off.
Move the left-hand stalk switch forward toward the instrument panel and release.
Get out of the car and lock the door.
The 
symbol illuminates in the driver display to indicate that the function is activated and outer lighting is switched on: Position lamps, headlamp beams, number plate lighting and lighting in outer handles.
The guidance light is illuminated for approximately 60 seconds.
Adapting the headlamp pattern from the headlamps
Emergency brake lights
The function means that the brake light flashes instead of – as in normal braking – shining with a constant glow.
The emergency brake lights are activated during heavy braking or if the ABS system is activated at high speeds.
After the driver brakes to a low speed and then releases the brake, the brake light returns to normal function and is extinguished.
The car’s hazard warning flashers are activated at the same time. These flash until the driver accelerates the car to a higher speed again or switches off the car’s hazard warning flashers.
Position lamps
Stalk switch rotating ring in position lamps position.
Turn the rotating ring to the position – the position lamps are switched on (number plate lighting is switched on at the same time).
If the car’s electrical system is in ignition position II then the daytime running lights are switched on instead of the front position lamps. When the rotating ring is in this position, the rear position lamps are switched on regardless of the ignition position of the car’s electrical system.
If the car is stationary but running, the rotating ring can be moved to the position lamp position from another position to switch on only the position lamps instead of other lighting.
When driving for more than 30 seconds at max. 10 km/h (approx. 6 mph), or if the speed exceeds 10 km/h (approx. 6 mph), the daytime running lights are switched on. The driver should turn to a position other than .
If the tailgate is opened when it is dark outside, the rear position lamps come on (if not already switched on) to warn road users approaching from behind. This takes place irrespective of the position of the rotating ring or the ignition position of the car’s electrical system.
Welcome light
The function is activated when the car is unlocked. In daylight, position lamps, interior roof lamps, floor lights and cargo area lighting are activated. In weak daylight or darkness, number plate lighting and lighting in the outer handles are also activated with their light source aimed towards the ground.
The lighting stays on for approx. 2 minutes if no doors are opened. If a door is opened within the activation time, the time for the interior lighting and lighting in the outer handles will be extended.
The function can be activated and deactivated via the centre display.
Hazard warning flashers
Button for hazard warning flashers.
Press the button to activate the hazard warning flashers.
The hazard warning flashers are automatically activated when the car brakes so powerfully that the emergency brake lights are activated and the speed is low. The hazard warning flashers start to flash after the emergency brake lights have stopped flashing and are then deactivated automatically when the car drives away again or are deactivated if the button is depressed.
The hazard warning flashers are automatically activated in the event of a collision.
Regulations for the use of hazard warning flashers may vary between countries.
Daytime running lights
, or as well as when the car’s electrical system is in ignition position II. In position , the headlamps change automatically to dipped beam in weak daylight or darkness.Stalk switch rotating ring in AUTO position.
If the stalk switch rotating ring is in the position, the daytime running lights (DRL) are switched on when the car is driven in daylight. The car automatically changes lighting from daytime running light to dipped beam in weak daylight or darkness. Changing to dipped beam also takes place if the front fog lamp and/or rear fog lamp are activated.
Warning
This system help to save energy – it cannot determine in all situations when daylight is too weak or sufficiently strong, e.g. in mist and rain.
The driver is always responsible for ensuring that the car is driven with the correct beam pattern for the traffic situation and in accordance with applicable traffic regulations.
Exterior lamp positions
The front lighting is only equipped with LED lamps.
- Brake light (LED)
- Position lamps (LED)
- Reversing lam
- Position lamps (LED
- Direction indicator (LED)
- Fog lamp (LED)
- Brake light – central, high-level (LED)
Checking trailer lamps
After a trailer is connected electrically, it is possible to ensure that the trailer lamps are working via an automatic lamp activation. The function helps the driver check that the trailer lamps are working before starting off.
- When a trailer is connected to the towbar, the Perform a trailer lamp check? message is shown in the driver display.
- Confirm the message by pressing the right-hand steering wheel keypad’s O button.
>The lamp check starts. - Exit the car to check lamp functionality.
>All trailer lamps start to flash – then the lamps are switched on one at a time. - Visually check that all lamps available on the trailer are operational.
- After a moment, all lamps on the trailer flash again.
>The check is complete.
When connecting a trailer, there may be instances when the rear fog lamp on the car does not illuminate. In theses cases, rear fog lamp functionality is transferred to only the trailer. Therefore, in these cases, check when the rear fog lamp is activated that the trailer is equipped with rear fog lamp in order to drive the vehicle combination in a safe manner.
If one or more of the trailer’s direction indicators or brake light bulbs is broken, the driver display shows a symbol and a message. Other lights on the trailer must be checked manually by the driver before setting off.
| Symbol | Message |
|---|---|
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Right trailer turn indicator malfunction
Left trailer turn indicator malfunction |
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Trailer brake light malfunction |
If any lamp for the trailer’s direction indicators is broken, the driver display symbol for direction indicators will also flash more quickly than normal.