Gear-Changing; Points Worth Noting - Volvo 120 Operating & Service Manual

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Starting a warm engine
1. Check that the handbrake is on and the gear lever is in neutral.
2. Depress the clutch pedal.
3. Lightly depress the accelerator pedal and turn the ignition key to the
starting position. Release the key as soon as the engine has started.
I f the engine does not start immediately, depress the accelerator
pedal fully and hold it there until the engine has started.
Warming up the engine
Experience has shown that engines in vehicles which are frequently
stopped and started are subject to abnormally rapid wear. The reason
for this is that the engine is not given a chance to reach its normal
working temperature. When the engine is cold, it should be taken up to
i ts normal working temperature as quickly as possible. Do not therefore
i dle the engine too long but start driving with a light load on the engine
as soon as the oil pressure warning light goes out.

Gear-changing

The gearbox has synchromesh on all for-
ward gears. It gear-changing is to func-
tion satisfactorily, the clutch pedal must
be fully depressed.
To obtain good acceleration, it is impor-
tant that gear-change timing is adapt-
ed to the speed in such a way that the
engine speed is within suitable limits,
neither too high nor too low.
The gear positions are shown in the pic-
ture opposite.
2 4
Gear positions for 4-speed gearbox
Recommended speed ranges, km.p.h. (m.p.h.)
for the different gears
Engine Gearbox 1st gear
B 20 A M 40 0-45
(0-28)
M 40
B 20 B 0-50
(0-30)

Points Worth Noting

Starting in a garage
If you start your car in a garage, always open the garage doors before
starting the engine. The exhaust gases from the engine contain poison-
ous carbon monoxide gas which is particularly dangerous since it is
both invisible and odourless.
Driving with the boot lid open
While driving with the boot lid partly or fully open, exhaust gases (and
consequently also carbon monoxide) can be sucked into the car through
the boot, particularly if a window is open. Normally this involves no risk
to the passengers. However, on such occasions, the following advice
should be followed:
1. Keep all windows closed.
2. Set the fresh air and defroster levers to fully open and the fan control
to full speed.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
2nd gear 3rd gear 4th gear
1 5-70 25-100 35-
(10-45) (15-50) (22-
)
20-80 30-115 40-
(15-50) (20-70) (25- )
25