Volvo B10M Release note

Driver’s Manual

Keep this manual in the bus!
Read it thoroughly. It contains important information for the driver.

Foreword and contents
This driver’s manual deals with driving and maintenance of
your B10M. Service reliability, long service life and good
environmental properties characterize this bus – properties
that undoubtedly agree with your own demands and expec-
tations. To achieve what you expect from this bus, we ad-
vise you to read this manual carefully. We strongly recom-
mend that you follow our advice regarding driving and
maintenance.
The manual is intended to be used as both an instruction
manual and a reference book. Therefore, the manual con-
tains some numerical data which is useful to know when
searching for specific data. If there is anything else you
wonder over regarding service and maintenance of your
B10M, you are welcome to contact your dealer.
Due to the fact that much of the equipment in the bus is fitted
by different body manufacturers, this manual will deal main-
ly with the chassis.
The body manufacturer is responsible for information on
e.g. radio/loudspeaker system, heating system or air-condi-
tioning.
Technical data, construction details, descriptions and illus-
trations were up to date when this manual was published.
Volvo Bussar AB reserve the right to make changes to the
bus specifications without prior notification.
Driver’s responsibility 2
Instruments and controls 5
Driving 35
If anything happens 65
Service and maintenance 97
Technical data 129
Index 138
Volvo Bus Corporation
March 1999

2
– As the driver of the vehicle, you are responsible for the safety and comfort of
the passengers during the journey. Therefore, please do not drive the vehicle
until you are familiar with and understand what the indicator lights, warning
lights and instruments indicate and warn for. You should also be familiar with
how controls and safety equipment should be used.
– As the driver of the vehicle you should be aware of the vehicles weight and
loading capacity. See instructions on warning stickers, the vehicle’s registra-
tion book and on the identification plate.
– As the driver of the vehicle you should foresee risks to your passengers.
– As the driver of the vehicle you are responsible for making sure that the safety
equipment is used and is in working order. Check regularly therefore the work-
ing order of safety belts, emergency door opening, clamping strips, fire extin-
guishers and first aid equipment.
– The vehicles braking system works on compressed air. Never drive if the air
pressure is too low or if you discover other problems with the brakes.
– Be observant of faults in the steering. The vehicle can be steered even if the
power steering is not working, although this will result in heavy steering.
– Follow the recommended service and maintenance program to ensure the
bus’s condition and safety. Instructions can be found in the Service Manual;
”Service and Maintenance”.
Driver’s responsibility – safety

3
– Remember it requires special knowledge, access to information and special
tools to be able to carry out reliable repairs.
–Never crawl under the bus if it is only supported by a jack. Use approved vehi-
cle supports or a solid pallet in case of punctures or wheel changes. Lifting
device should stand on a horizontal surface. The wheels which are not to be
lifted should be blocked so as to ensure that vehicle will not begin to roll.
– Retighten the wheel nuts after approximately 200 km if the wheel has been re-
moved.
– Tighten the wheel nuts every 6 months regardless of whether the wheels have
been removed or not.
– Observe that the bus tyres and rims should be approved for the intended load
and speed in accordance with the current laws.
– Be observant of exhaust and fuel smells. Possible leaks should be immediate-
ly taken care of at the garage.
–Besides on these pages, information of special importance to safety can
also be found in other places in this manual. Such information is marked
in the following way:
This warning stresses that an accident will occur or may occur
if the instructions are not followed. An accident can cause personal
injuries, possible deaths or serious damage to property.
Warning!

4
Pay attention to warning and indicator lights!
Their purpose is to warn of danger.

5
Instruments and controls
Dashboard
– Left hand drive bus ..................................................... 6
– Right hand drive bus .................................................. 7
Warning and indicator lights ........................................... 8
Controls on steering column
– Direction indicators
Light switch ...................................................................... 10
– Cruise control ............................................................. 10
– Hazard flashers .......................................................... 10
– Windscreen wipe/wash, Headlamp wipe/wash ........ 11
Fire safety
– Fire alarm system ....................................................... 12
– Emergency cut-out ..................................................... 12
Start- and lighting controls
– Starting switch, Light switch ....................................... 13
– Supply current switch and start and stop buttons ..... 14
– Starting heater ............................................................ 14
Other electrics and lights
– Charging ..................................................................... 15
– voltmeter ..................................................................... 15
– Instrument lighting, rheostat ....................................... 15
Engine
– Engine speed ............................................................. 16
– Turbo pressure ........................................................... 16
– Fuel level .................................................................... 16
– Lubricating oil, pressure/level .................................... 17
– Coolant, temp/level .................................................... 18
Transmission
– Transmission oil, temp ............................................... 19
Tachograph/Speedometer .............................................. 20
Handbrake
– Controls ...................................................................... 22
– Blocking valve, Warning light..................................... 23
Footbrake
– Air-pressure gauge, Warning light ............................. 24
– Anti-lock brakes, Anti-spin control ............................. 25
Brakes, others
– Anti-slewing system.................................................... 26
– Door brake .................................................................. 27
– Exhaust brake ............................................................. 27
– Retarder ...................................................................... 28
Suspension
– Suspension system .................................................... 29
– Levelling control, Kneel .............................................. 30
Other instruments and indicator lights
– Temperature gauge, clock, and tripmeter ................. 31
– Bogie ........................................................................... 32
– Differential lock ........................................................... 32
– Open door, Open hatch Stop ..................................... 33
– Rear fog lights, Pram .................................................. 33

6
Instruments and controls
Dashboard
The illustrations show the most common switch loca-
tions, but there can be variations. Symbols and explana-
tions of functions are, however, always accurate.
6. Engine speed .......................................................... 16
7. Tachograph/speedometer ...................................... 20
8. Temperature, ext./int. .............................................. 31
8. alt. compressed air (articulated bus) ...................... 24
9. Lubricant pressure, engine ..................................... 17
10. Voltmeter ................................................................. 15
11. Oil temperature, automatic gearbox ....................... 19
or
11. Turbo pressure ........................................................ 16
12. Gear selector, automatic gearbox .......................... 42
123456 7891011 12
13 14 15 16 17 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
18 19
page
1. Compressed air, front circuit .................................... 24
2. Coolant temperature ............................................... 18
3. Compressed air, rear circuit ................................... 24
4. Fuel level ................................................................. 16
5. Clock and tripmeter ................................................. 31
Left hand drive
bus

7
Instruments and controls
13. Levelling control ...................................................... 30
14. Fire alarm system .................................................... 12
15. Kneeling .................................................................. 30
16. Bogie lift ................................................................... 32
17. Handbrake control .................................................. 22
18. Exhaust brake ......................................................... 27
19. Blocking valve ......................................................... 23
20. Light switch .............................................................. 13
or
20. Feed switch with start and stop buttons ................. 14
21. Starting heater ......................................................... 14
22. Emergency cut-out .................................................. 12
23. Instrument lighting, rheostat ................................... 15
24. EDC engine control system ......................... 39, 82, 85
25. Differential lock ....................................................... 32
26. Retarder switch ....................................................... 28
27. Hand control, retarder ............................................. 28
Warning and indicator lights, see next page
14
12 1234 5 6 7891011
27 25 26 20 21 22 23 24 17 13 15
BROMS
BRAK
TILL FA
ON OFF
18 19
Right hand drive
bus

8
Instruments and controls
Door- Low Fire- Slewing Low
brake pressure, alarm, risk pressure,
hand footbrake
brake
Warning and indicator lights
Description on page
Door brake ...................................................................... 26
Low air-pressure, handbrake ......................................... 23
Fire alarm ........................................................................ 12
slewing warning (articulated bus) .................................. 26
Low air pressure, footbrake ............................................ 24
Charging, generator 1 .................................................... 15
Low pressure, engine oil ................................................ 17
High temperature, engine compartment ........................ 12
Low level, coolant ........................................................... 18
Low level, engine oil ....................................................... 17
Door open ....................................................................... 33
Hatch open ...................................................................... 33
* Oil temperature, automatic gearbox ............................ 19
or
* Diagnose, EGS system ................................................. 90
High temperature, coolant .............................................. 18
Charging, generator 2 .................................................... 15
Anti-lock brakes ............................................................... 25
Starting heater ................................................................. 14
Rear fog lights ................................................................. 33
Pram ................................................................................ 33
Diagnose and warning, suspension system .................. 29
Anti- Starting- Rear- Pram Diagnosis,
lock heater Foglights suspension
brakes
Charg- Low High Low Low
ing, pressure, temp level level,
gen1 engine engine cool- engine
oil house ant oil
Open Open See High Charg-
door hatch adja- temp ing,
cent cool- gen2
table ant

9
Instruments and controls
Description on page
Retarder ................................................ 28
Gear indication G8 EGS,
G8 MGS ............................................ 44, 48
Direction indicators ............................... 10
Main beam ............................................ 10
Stop ........................................................ 33
Buzzer
Sounds when one of these warning
lights comes on.
Central warning lights
Light up to indicate a warning
light has come on in lamp pan-
el row 1–3.
Retarder Direction Stop
Indicator
Gear indication Main beam

10
Instruments and controls
Controls on steering column
Direction indicators
Dipswitch and main beam
flash
Push the direction indicator lever until
resistance can be felt (1). The lever will
spring back from this position when it is
released. Used when changing lanes
and when making other small changes
in direction.
When the lever is pushed past the ”pres-
sure point” to position 2, the direction
indicators will be active until the steer-
ing wheel is turned back to a neutral po-
sition or when manually reset.
When the light switch is on, the main/
dipped beams can be selected by pull-
ing the lever towards the steering wheel
(3).
When the light switch is not on, the func-
tion for main beam can be utilized
(”main beam flash”) by pulling the lever
in the same direction.
Cruise control
Buses with the EDC electronic engine
control system are also equipped with
cruise control and the possibility to reg-
ulate idling speed.
Read more about this in the chapter
”Driving”.
Indicator lamp,
main beam/main beam
flash
Indicator lamp,
direction
Lever for hazard flashers
The hazard flashers are activated when the lever is
pulled back/down. The hazard flashers are to be
used for forced stops or when parking the bus where
it might be a danger or hindrance to traffic.
Remember: Laws and regulations concerning the
use of hazard flashers can vary from country to coun-
try.

11
Instruments and controls
Windscreen wiper/washer
Headlight cleaner
Position (1) is intended for intermittent
wiping.
Used when driving in mist or fog for ex-
ample. Intermittent wiping is fitted by
the coach-builder and included in most
bus models.
Like the direction indicators, the wind-
screen wipers have a spring loaded
pressure point (2), in which position the
wipers operate for as long as the lever
is held there.
When the lever is moved past the pres-
sure point (to position 3), the wind-
screen wipers will operate at normal
speed.
In position (4), the windscreen wipers
operate at an increased rate.
When the lever is pulled towards the
steering wheel (5), the windscreen
washers + headlight cleaners will be
activated. The windscreen wipers are
also activated and continue to wipe 2–
3 times after the lever has been re-
leased.

12
Instruments and controls
Fire safety
Fire alarm
High engine
compartment
temperature
Fire alarm system
When the spring-loaded switch for the alarm system is acti-
vated, the warning lights for fire, high engine compartment
temperature and the central warning light will come on and
the buzzer will sound. This procedure will check that the fire
alarm system is working.
If any of these warning lights come on while driving:
Stop the bus and break the current using the emergency
cut-off switch (or the battery master switch if there is no
emergency cut-off switch).
At the slightest hint of danger – ensure passenger safety!
Switch for
checking fire
alarm system.
Emergency cut-out (option)
When the emergency cut-out is activated everything electri-
cal is cut off with the exception of the hazard flashers and
communication radio if fitted. On certain models the fuel
supply is also cut off.
Warning!

13
Instruments and controls
Starting switch
Starting switch controls start/stop, voltage feed, indicator
and warning lights. If there is a steering lock, this will be
activated when the key is removed from the starting switch.
0 Neutral position (steering lock and stop position)
R Radio position
1 Drive position
2 Check position for indicator and warning lights
3 Starting position
Lights off
(alt. day running
lights)
Parking light
Main/dipped beam
Light switch
Switches for parking lights and main/dipped beam for buses
with starting switch. Located on the left-hand side of the
steering wheel on the dashboard.
With the light switch in the 0-position the day running lights,
if fitted, will come on when the starter key is turned to the
drive position. With the switch in the parking light position
the day running lights are not activated (only used when
parking). In the position main/dipped beam, all external
lights will be functional.
P
O
P
O
Start and light controls

14
Instruments and controls
Feed switch and start/stop buttons
Certain buses have pushbuttons for start/stop and a feed
switch for the power supply instead of a starter switch and a
light switch. The feed switch and start/stop buttons are locat-
ed with the light switch at the bottom of the dashboard on the
left-hand side of the steering column.
The feed switch is a knob with 6 different positions:
Destination sign lighting
Neutral position
Check position for indicator and warning lights
Drive Day running lights on
Parking light on
Main/dipped beam on
P
O
C
1
P
Start button Feed switch Stop button
Activate Indicator lamp
Starting heater
When the button is pressed in, only one impulse is needed,
the starting heater (pre-heating) will be connected and the
indicator lamp comes on.
The amount of time that the starting heater is connected is
controlled by the coolant temperature.
See the chapter on start of engine for information on the
starting procedure,

15
Instruments and controls
Charging
The warning light is on when the generator is not charging.
If the light comes on while driving this means that there is a
fault in the electrical system or that the generator belts are
slipping.
To avoid damage to the bus’s electronics, the charging sys-
tem is equipped with a guard that ”shuts down” the genera-
tor if it supplies overvoltage (transients). The warning light
will also go in this instance. The transient guard is reset
when the engine is turned off and restarted.
The warning light should light up when the starter key is in
the drive position and the engine is not running. When the
engine starts, the light should go out .
Buses with two generators have two warning lights; one for
each generator.
Voltmeter (option)
Indicates the battery’s electrical system voltage. If the indi-
cator goes into the lower red zone, the generator and
charge regulator should be checked. If the indicator goes
into the upper red zone, the charge regulator should be
checked.
Instrument lighting, rheostat
Turning clockwise gives stronger instrument lighting, turn-
ing anti-clockwise gives weaker.
The light is on:
generator
not charging!
+
22 24 26 28 30 32
Other electrical components and lights

16
Instruments and controls
Engine speed
To achieve better performance with increased engine serv-
ice life, it is wise to maintain correct engine speed.
1. The engine has less pulling power in the engine speed
areas below the green zone. High load at low engine
speeds increases fuel consumption and the risk of over-
heating.
2. Inside the green zone, optimum pulling power and fuel
economy will be obtained. When driving, the engine
speed should be kept in this zone as much as possible.
Inside the green-striped engine speed zone the pulling
power is also high, but the fuel economy somewhat low-
er.
3. Never let the needle go into the red.
Turbo pressure ”econometer” (option)
Indicates overpressure in the engine intake manifold. When
driving on level roads the pointer should remain on a low
level (wide green zone) for best fuel economy.
Fuel level
States the relative amount of fuel in the fuel tank. Fuel tank
volume and the fuel tank location may vary between differ-
ent models.
r / min x 100
turbo
Engine

17
Lubricant pressure
– Warm engine .............................................. 300–500 kPa
3–5 kp/cm2
– Idling, minimum ........................................... 50 kPa
0.5 kp/cm2
Lubricating oil pressure gauge is optional.
Low oil pressure
The warning light comes on when the oil pressure in the
engine goes below 50 kPa (0.5 kp/cm2). If it comes on while
driving: stop the engine immediately and investigate the
cause. The warning light should light up when the starter
key is in the drive position and the engine is not running.
When the engine starts the warning light should go out.
Low oil level
The warning light comes on if the oil level in the engine oil
tank gets too low. Stop the engine and check the oil level in
the level glass on the oil tank. Check for possible leaks.
When filling oil, be sure to use the right grade. Read more
about changing/topping up oil in the chapter ”Service and
Maintenance”.
Instruments and controls
If the light
comes on:
stop immediately!
If the light
comes on:
stop immediately!
01234567
OIL
If either or both of the lamps go on while driving:
Stop and turn off the engine immediately!
There will otherwise be a great risk of
serious engine damage!
Warning!

18
Coolant temperature
Indicates the temperature in the engine coolant system and
thereby the engine operating temperature. Under very hot
conditions, the indicator may reach up to the edge of the red
zone.
The bus must not be driven with the indicator in the red
zone. When the warning light comes on, see below.
High coolant temperature
The light comes on when the maximum permitted coolant
temperature is exceeded.
If the light comes on while driving: Stop the engine and
check the temperature gauge reading. If the indicator is in
the red zone, the coolant temperature is so high that the bus
should not be driven.
If the cause can not be found: Contact a garage.
Low coolant level
If this light comes on while driving: Stop and check the level
in the coolant system expansion tank. Check the coolant
system for leaks before topping up.
Instruments and controls
If the light
comes on:
stop
immediately!
If the light
comes on:
stop
immediately!