Volvo Powertronic User manual

Operating Instructions
Powertronic
T0008277

Contents
Introduction .......................................................................................... 1
Powertronic, general ........................................................................... 1
Instruments and controls .................................................................... 2
Info Display ......................................................................................... 2
Gear selector ....................................................................................... 4
Driving .................................................................................................. 5
Automatic gear change ....................................................................... 5
Manual gear change ............................................................................ 5
Kick-down. .......................................................................................... 5
Driving programme ............................................................................. 6
Reversing with a laden vehicle ........................................................... 7
If the vehicle gets stuck ...................................................................... 7
Auxiliary brakes .................................................................................. 7
Parking ................................................................................................. 7
Parking ................................................................................................. 7
In case of gearbox malfunction .......................................................... 8
Oil .......................................................................................................... 9
Oil Temperature .................................................................................. 9
Checking the oil level ....................................................................... 10
Index .................................................................................................... 11

Introduction 1
Powertronic, general
Powertronic is a fully automatic gearbox
which changes gear without loss of power.
The gearbox is available with five gears or
with six gears. It has a torque converter
with direct engagement, lock-up, effective
with all the gears. The gearbox can be
equipped with a retarder and with a power
take-off which can be engaged and which
can remain engaged while driving. A con-
trol unit takes care of changes between the
different change steps of the gearbox.

2 Instruments and controls
Info Display
Select the GAUGES menu from the display
to view information on Powertronic (ap-
plies to both a stationary vehicle and one in
motion). The display provides information
on current gear position and which gears
that are available.
”The Powertronic display” is divided into
smaller sections showing:
1 Driving programme
2 Current gear
3 Available gears (down/up)
4 Lever position T3014303
1. Driving programme
The section to the far left of the display
shows the driving programme. The follow-
ing modes are available:
E = economy
P = power
B = auxiliary brake1
K = kick-down
L = limp-home mode
1 = start with 1st gear forward and 1st
gear in reverse (in vehicles with a 6-
gear gearbox)
Z = Engine speed too high to move
from neutral
E1 A
1
C1
1Only on vehicles with VEB or Retarder.

Instruments and controls 3
2. Current gear
The section furthest to the right in the win-
dow shows the current gear and shows
whether the torque converter is engaged.
1st - 6th gear forward (1 - 5)2
1st - 2nd gear reverse (1)2
C = converter (torque converter)
EN = Emergency Neutral
When ”EN” is shown in the display an
electronic fault has been indicated on the
solenoid valves, which can result in dam-
age to the gearbox. The electronic system
will then engage neutral.
∇
E A C2
3. Available gears
To the left of the lever position section the
number of lower gears which are available
are shown with the help of arrows. To the
right of the lever position section is a sec-
tion showing the number of higher gears
that are available in the same way.
In order to be able to use the available
gears, the gearbox must be in manual posi-
tion.
∇
∇
E A
1
4
4. Lever position
The section in the middle of the display
shows the selector lever position.
A = automatic
M = manual gear changing
N = neutral
R = reverse gear E N 0
25 speed version

4 Instruments and controls
Gear selector
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On the gear selector lever is a spring-
loaded three-way switch the positions (
1 )
and (∇) plus a zero-position in the middle.
There is also a gear selector lock to prevent
inadvertent engagement of a gear. The lock
must be pressed in during the following
gear changes:
•From N to R.
•From N to any one of the forward
gears.
The lock does not need to be pressed when
the gear selector lever is moved from A to
M.
Gear selector positions
Two different programmes for driving for-
ward plus neutral or reverse can be selected
with the gear selector lever.
Note! The engine can be started only when
the gear selector lever is in position N.
AAutomatic programme. This position
is the normal drive position.
MManual programme. Changing gear up
and down is done with the toggle
switch. (If the engine speed is too high
or too low, the control unit will change
gear automatically.)
NNeutral, no gear engaged. The engine
can only be started with the gear se-
lector lever in position N.
RReverse gear. The vehicle should be at
a standstill when selecting gear posi-
tion R.

Driving 5
Automatic gear change
Gear changing is fully automatic.
If the selector lever is moved to (M) - when
driving with the automatic programme en-
gaged (A) - gear change will be inhibited
and the current gear will remain engaged
through the entire engine operating range.
Manual gear change
Gear change is done manually in 5 or 6
stages depending on the type of gearbox
using the three-way button on the gear se-
lector lever.
1 Change up.
∇Change down.
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Kick-down.
Pressing down the accelerator pedal all the
way, past the normal full throttle position
and providing the engine speed allows it,
will activate ”Kick-down”. When ”Kick-
down” is operated an automatic change
down to a lower gear occurs. A higher gear
will be engaged automatically once the
maximum speed for the current gear is at-
tained or the accelerator pedal is released
slightly. ”Kick-down” is used to obtain
maximum engine power when overtaking
or driving up steep hills, for example.
T2012347
Position A = full throttle
Position B = kick down

6 Driving
Driving programme
Pressure switch E/P is only used during au-
tomatic gear change and this switch is used
to select the economy programme or the
performance programme. The 2/1 switch is
available for 6 speed variants only. Push-
button 2/1 changes between 1st and 2nd
gear as starting gear.
EThe economy programme gives lower
fuel consumption.
PThe power programme is used when
time has priority over fuel. Gears are
changed at high engine speeds.
2Indicates starting in 2nd gear when
driving forward and in R2 when re-
versing. The latest selected starting
gear is saved when the ignition is
turned off and is used for the next
start.
1Indicates starting in 1st gear when
driving forward and in R1 when re-
versing. The latest selected starting
gear is saved when the ignition is
turned off and is used for the next
start.
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Changing manually between reverse gears
1 and 2 is performed with the three-way
switch on the gear selector lever.
When ranging, on steep hills and with a
high laden weight, start in 1st gear. Do not
drive with the torque converter engaged for
too long, instead select a lower gear.
1st gear must be selected in good time be-
fore driving up a steep hill. The automatic
system will then change to 1st gear at the
right time if it becomes necessary.
Changing starting gear from 1st to 2nd
while the vehicle is at a standstill is done
by pressing the pushbutton switch and
moving the gear selector lever temporarily
to neutral.