Emergency Brake Assistance - Volvo XC 70 Owner's Manual

03 Your driving environment
Brakes
The adaptive brake lights activate if:
•
The ABS system activates for more than
approximately a half second
•
In the event of sudden braking while the
vehicle is moving at speeds above
approximately 6 mph (10 km/h)
03
When the vehicle has come to a stop, the
brake lights and additional taillights remain on
for as long as the brake pedal is depressed or
until braking force on the vehicle is reduced.
Power brakes function only when the
engine is running
The power brakes utilize vacuum pressure
which is only created when the engine is run-
ning. Never let the vehicle roll to a stop with
the engine switched off.
If the power brakes are not working, consid-
erably higher pressure will be required on the
brake pedal to compensate for the lack of
power assistance. This can happen for exam-
ple when towing your vehicle or if the engine
is switched off when the vehicle is rolling. The
brake pedal feels harder than usual.
Water on brake discs and brake pads
affects braking
Driving in rain and slush or passing through
an automatic car wash can cause water to
collect on the brake discs and pads. This will
cause a delay in braking effect when the
142
pedal is depressed. To avoid such a delay
when the brakes are needed, depress the
pedal occasionally when driving through rain,
slush, etc. This will remove the water from the
brakes. Check that brake application feels
normal. This should also be done after wash-
ing or starting in very damp or cold weather.
Severe strain on the brake system
The brakes will be subject to severe strain
when driving in mountains or hilly areas, or
when towing a trailer. Vehicle speed is usually
slower, which means that the cooling of the
brakes is less efficient than when driving on
level roads. To reduce the strain on the
brakes, shift into a lower gear and let the
engine help with the braking. Do not forget
that if you are towing a trailer, the brakes will
be subjected to a greater than normal load.
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) helps to
improve vehicle control (stopping and steer-
ing) during severe braking conditions by limit-
ing brake lockup. When the system "senses"
impending lockup, braking pressure is auto-
matically modulated in order to help prevent
lockup that could lead to a skid.
The system performs a brief self-diagnostic
test when the engine has been started and
driver releases the brake pedal. Another auto-
matic test may be performed when the vehi-
cle first reaches a speed of approximately
6 mph (10 km/h). The brake pedal will pulsate
several times and a sound may be audible
from the ABS control module, which is nor-
mal.
Cleaning the brake discs
Coatings of dirt and water on the brake discs
may result in delayed brake function. This
delay is minimized by cleaning the brake lin-
ings.
Cleaning the brake pads is advisable in wet
weather, prior to long-term parking, and after
the vehicle has been washed. Do this by
braking gently for a short period while the
vehicle is moving.

Emergency Brake Assistance

EBA is designed to provide full brake effect
immediately in the event of sudden, hard
braking. The system is activated by the speed
with which the brake pedal is depressed.
When the EBA system is activated, the brake
pedal will go down and pressure in the brake
system immediately increases to the maxi-
mum level. Maintain full pressure on the
brake pedal in order to utilize the system
completely. EBA is automatically deactivated
when the brake pedal is released.