Starting The Car; Starting The Engine; Before Starting The Engine - Volvo V50 Owner's Manual

Starting and driving

Starting the car

Depending on the engine temperature when
the engine is started, the idling speed after a
cold start may be higher than normal for
certain engine types. Volvo strives to
minimise exhaust emissions by having the
engine exhaust system reach the correct
operating temperature as quickly as possible.
NOTE! Never rev the engine hard immedi-
ately after a cold start.
WARNING!
Never remove the ignition key from the
steering lock while driving or when the car
is being towed. The ignition key must be in
position (II) when the car is towed. The
steering lock could otherwise be
activated, making it impossible to steer
the car.

Before starting the engine

– Apply the parking brake (handbrake).
Automatic gearbox:
– The ignition key must be in position II,
depress the brake pedal and move the
gear selector to position P or N.
Manual gearbox:
– Put the gear lever in neutral and hold the
clutch pedal fully depressed. This is
106
particularly important in very cold condi-
tions.

Starting the engine

Petrol engine:
– Turn the ignition key to position III.
If the engine does not start within
5-10 seconds, release the key and try
again.
Diesel engine:
– Turn the ignition key to position II. A lamp
on the combined instrument panel will
come on indicating that the engine
preheater is activated. Turn the key to
position III when the lamp extinguishes.
Diesel particle filter (certain
models)
Certain diesel cars are equipped with a
particle filter which results in additionally
effective exhaust purification. When the
engine is at its normal operating temperature
(the engine is warm) a "regeneration" of the
filter takes place automatically, which means
that the particles collected in the filter are
burned away and the filter is emptied.
Regeneration takes between five and ten
minutes. During this time fuel consumption
may increase slightly.
Winter driving
If the car is frequently driven short distances
in cold weather then the engine does not
reach normal operating temperature. This
means that regeneration of the diesel particle
filter does not take place and the filter is not
emptied.
When the filter has become approx. 80% full
of particles then the warning text ENGINE
SERVICE REQUIRED is shown in the
dashboard display.
Regeneration should be carried out regularly
if the car is frequently driven short distances
in cold weather in order to avoid impaired
function of the filter.
• Start regeneration of the filter by driving
the car until the engine reaches normal
operating temperature, preferably on a
main road or motorway. The car should
then be driven for approximately
20 minutes more.
• To clear the warning text when regener-
ation is complete, switch off the ignition,
remove the key, wait for at least three
minutes and switch the ignition on again.
• Use the parking heater (option) in cold
weather so that the engine reaches
normal operating temperature more
quickly.
Important!
If the filter fills up with particles then it can
be difficult to start the engine and the filter
will be incapable of functioning and must
then be replaced.