Brake System - Volvo XC90 Owner's Manual

Brake servo
If the car is rolling or is being towed with the
engine turned off, the brake pedal must be
pressed about five times harder than when
the engine is running. If the brake pedal is
depressed when the engine is started, you
will feel the pedal drop. This is normal and
due to the brake servo becoming active. This
may be more noticeable if the car has Emer-
gency Brake Assistance (EBA).
WARNING
The brake servo only works when the
engine is running.
NOTE
If braking with the engine switched off,
press the brake pedal sharply once, not
repeatedly.
Brake circuits
This symbol illuminates if a brake
circuit is not working.
If a fault should occur in one of the circuits, it
is still possible to brake the car. The brake
pedal will travel further and may feel softer
than normal. Harder pressure on the pedal is
needed to produce the normal braking effect.
Dampness can affect braking
characteristics
Brake components become wet when the car
is driven in heavy rain, through pools of water
or when the car is washed. This may alter
brake pad friction characteristics so that
there is a delay before braking effect is
noticed.
Press the brake pedal lightly from time to
time if driving for long stretches in rain or slu-
shy snow, as well as after setting off in very
damp or cold weather. This warms up the
brake pads and dries off any water. This pre-
caution is also recommended before parking
the car for a long period in such weather con-
ditions.
Maintenance
To keep the car as safe and reliable as possi-
ble, follow the Volvo service intervals as
specified in the Service and Warranty Book-
let, see page 210.
06 Starting and driving

Brake system

IMPORTANT
The wear on the brake system's compo-
nents must be checked regularly.
Contact a workshop for information about
the procedure or engage a workshop to
carry out the inspection - an authorised
Volvo workshop is recommended.
If the brakes are used heavily
When driving in the Alps or other roads with
similar characteristics, the car's brakes are
heavily loaded even if the brake pedal is not
being depressed especially hard.
Because speed is often low, the brakes are
not cooled as effectively as when driving on
flat roads at higher speed.
So as not to overload the brakes, shift down
when driving downhill instead of using the
foot brake. Use the same gear driving down-
hill as you would use driving uphill. This uses
engine braking more efficiently so the foot
brake is only required for brief periods.
Bear in mind that driving with a trailer puts an
additional load on the car's brakes.
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