Automatic Gearbox - Volvo V50 Owner's Manual

06 Starting and driving

Automatic gearbox

Cold start
When starting in low temperatures, the gear
changes can sometimes feel hard. This is
due to the gearbox oil's viscosity at low tem-
peratures. To minimise engine emissions, the
gearbox shifts up later than normal when the
engine is started at low temperatures.
NOTE
Depending on the engine temperature when
the engine is started, the idle speed after a
cold start may be higher than normal for
certain engine types.
Kick-down
When the accelerator pedal is pressed all the
way to the floor, beyond the position normal-
ly regarded as full acceleration, a lower gear
is immediately engaged. This is known as
06
kick-down.
If the accelerator is released from the kick-
down position, the gearbox automatically
changes up.
Kick-down is used when maximum accelera-
tion is needed, such as for overtaking.
To prevent overrevving, the gearbox control
program has a protective downshift inhibitor
which prevents the kick-down function.
The kick-down function cannot be used in
manual gear position (Geartronic).
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Safety systems
Cars with an automatic gearbox have special
safety systems:
Keylock
To remove the ignition key, the gear selector
must be in the P position. The key is locked
in all other positions.
Parking position (P)
Stationary car with engine running:
– Hold your foot on the brake pedal when
moving the gear selector to another posi-
tion.
Electric gear inhibitor – Shiftlock
Parking position (P position)
To be able to move the gear selector from the
P position to other gear positions, the ignition
key must be in position II and the brake ped-
al must be depressed.
Shiftlock – Neutral (N position)
If the gear selector is in the N position and
the car has been stationary for at least three
seconds (irrespective of whether the engine
is running) then the gear selector is locked in
the N position.
To be able to move the gear selector from the
N position to another gear position, the brake
pedal must be depressed and the ignition
key must be in position II.
Disengaging shiftlock
In certain cases, it may be necessary to
move the car when it is not driveable, for ex-
ample if the battery is flat. Proceed as follows
to move the car:
1. There is a small cover behind P-R-N-D
on the gear selector panel. Open the rear
edge.
2. Fully insert the key blade from the
remote control.
3. Hold the key blade down and at the
same time move the gear selector out
of the P position.