A couple of weeks ago, I dropped off my '93 240 at my local Volvo dealer for some work (it needed a new Cat to pass inspection), and I was given a new (i.e., 2,400 mile) S80, either an '09 or more likely a '08 leftover, as a loaner.

Well, that car is great, as you can imagine, but I couldn't figure out one thing! I'm used to setting a parking brake, along with putting the tranny in Park, when I park the car. But I couldn't find it. It obviously didn't have a handle between the seats, but I also looked high and low for some left-foot pedal to actuate. Nothing!!!

I planned to ask the dealer guys when I brought it back, but was distracted by getting my own car back, as I planned to rush to the inspection station to get it reinspected by the end of the day, and completely forgot to ask them. Now, thinking about it again, I'm left wondering.

So, anyone know where the actuator is? And, of course, how to release it afterwards? I did see a button that looked (by the symbol) to be the release, but it's crazy to not be able to apply the parking brake in the first place.

Thanks.

Hi, all. Finally found myself back at the dealer, so I asked them. It turns out that the parking brake is applied with the same button with which it's released. Push it to apply the brakes, push it again to release the brakes.

to a problem that almost no one previously considered a problem? Pull up on handle, brake applies. Push button, brake released.

This is somewhat like the expensive and hard-riding run-flat tires that come on all new BMWs. Only a few people, usually in the security business or military, asked for run-flats in the past, but now we're all stuck with them. Another doofy idea in new BMWs: electronic monitoring of engine oil level. No dipstick provided any more.

Did you ask if it also acts as an emergency brake? Like, what happens if you push the button while the car is moving?

My new car, non-Volvo, has a retro floor pedal. What a piece of junk! It is so sensitive that if I lean my leg to the left and touch it, the light comes on in the instrument panel along with a beeeep telling me to release the brake.
What a piece of junk!

Klaus
--
Volvoless. Sold the R. There is now a void...

No, I didn't. But frankly, I wouldn't think that anyone at the dealership would really have the engineering insight to know whether the brake should be applied at "speed".

I've read that application of the parking brake at speed could be dangerous, prone to causing fishtailing and a spinout if both rear wheels are made to lock up at the same time (by yanking up the parking brake handle) that the front brakes (actually, the "service" brakes at all four wheels) are applied -- this being the natural reaction of someone trying to stop the car.

I've "experimented" with this at times -- e.g., when I suddenly see a cop in my rear view mirror and want to slow down without letting him see brake lights reveal my guilty conscience! A slow, gradual application of the parking brake handle can be an effective adjunct to merely lifting off the gas pedal in such a situation -- but the application of the parking brake should be judicious, as you certainly don't want the cop to see a swerve and smoke from a locked rear wheel (a la the drama seen on unladen tractor trailers sometimes).
I have also experimented (on a deserted road at slower speeds) with stronger (yet still careful) application of the parking brake *without* application of the service brakes, and even this way have felt the onset of such fishtailing -- a little unnerving!
This should underscore that we have to have a lot of trust in the condition of our service brakes, and should maintain them properly :-).

But the bottom line, viz this topic, is that it's inconceivable that application of the "electronic" pushbutton system in the S80 could be moderated so delicately. So I wouldn't think of using it as such. And I wouldn't trust the answer/opinion of anyone at a dealership level. It would, however, be something worthwhile to ask of an engineer at Volvo headquarters.

Meanwhile, I would only consider it as a parking brake, to hold the car should the parking sprag in the tranny fail.

function
as a manual parking brake.
NOTE
• A faint sound from the parking brake's
electric motor can be heard when the
parking brake is being applied. This
sound can also be heard during the
automatic function check of the parking
brake.
• The brake pedal will move slightly when
the electric parking brake is applied or
released.
Low battery voltage
If the battery voltage is too low, the parking
brake cannot be applied or released. Connect
an auxiliary battery if the battery voltage is too
low, see page 107.
Applying the electric parking brake
G021354
Parking brake control
1. Press firmly on the brake pedal.
2. Push the control.
3. Release the brake pedal and ensure that
the vehicle is at a standstill.
4. When the vehicle is parked, the gear selector
must be in position P.
The symbol in the instrument panel
flashes while the parking bake is being applied,
and glows steadily when the parking brake has
been fully applied.
NOTE
• In an emergency the parking brake can
be applied when the vehicle is moving
by holding in the control. Braking will be
interrupted when the accelerator pedal
is depressed or the control is released.
• An audible signal will sound during this
procedure if the vehicle is moving at > 5mph.
--
Volvoless. Sold the R. There is now a void...

re:
NOTE
• In an emergency the parking brake can
be applied when the vehicle is moving
by holding in the control. Braking will be
interrupted when the accelerator pedal
is depressed or the control is released.
• An audible signal will sound during this
procedure if the vehicle is moving at > 5mph.


Okay, I guess it can work in an emergency, too. I wouldn't like to have to try it, but maybe it can cope.

You must come from a long tradition with manual transmission cars to want to set the hand brake when you park. Among my many coworkers with auto transmission, absolutely none of them set the hand brake when they stop. Most of them are still moving slowly when they smash the shift linkage to P, open the door and hop out. No wonder auto transmissions fail so regularly...

Has anyone seen any recent drivers do safety things like turn the front wheels into the curb when parking on a hill?

Thanks for the kind words, but it isn't a history of manual transmissions. Yes, I have had a couple of them in the past, but I started out with, and am so far ending my driving years, with automatics. I think that much of this practice is just empathy for things mechanical -- the thought of holding back the weight of the car on just a spur of metal jammed between some gear teeth is a little unnerving.

I, and my wife and daughter (taught by me) all step on the service brake, pull up the parking brake, and only engage Park after the car settles (stops rocking, if at all).

But yes, I see it in virtually everyone else -- pull into a parking space and hear the Parking sprag jam into place as the car bounces back and forth against that little tang of metal (and not a sound of the parking brake cables being pulled taught) -- isn't it a bit scary?

Best regards, and thanks.

http://www.swedespeed.com/news/publish/Volvo_News/printer_771.html

Cheers, Don

Great. I hope Volvo did a better job on the design and programming for this (EPB?) than they did on the Electronic Throttle Body. We'll soon hear about S80's suddenly stopping in the middle of an intersection due erroneous actuation of the EPB.
I think I'll stick with my 1800's
--
Tom 69-1800S, 72-1800ES, 96-850T,2000-S70 GLT-SE

Hi, Don -- and Thank You for responding.

But I don't know whether this applies -- quoting (cut/paste) from the article you cited, it reads, "...V8 versions of the all new Volvo S80 (and all right-hand-drive models) are equipped with an intelligent electronically operated parking brake – Power Parking Brake.... S80 cars without Power Parking Brake have a pedal-operated parking brake...."

The car I was loaned had the lower-powered (base) I-6 engine -- yet there clearly wasn't any pedal -- so even if they expanded application of this feature to all the S80 models, do you happen to know how to apply this brake? I couldn't see any button or switch -- only what looked like the release button.

But again, Thank You for responding.
Have a great day.

Did you try pushing the brake peddle with the car in park and ignition off?
--
Tom 69-1800S, 72-1800ES, 96-850T,2000-S70 GLT-SE

re: "...Did you try pushing the brake peddle with the car in park and ignition off?..."

No, I didn't. It never occurred to me to do that -- usually I step on the (service) brake, put it in park, take my foot off the (service) brake to see that the Park (and the parking brake, when I have one :-) holds the car properly. Then I shut off the ignition.

So is that the "secret"? Ha, ha, Thanks!

I wish I had time to read the owners manual in the glovebox, but they gave me the car and I had to drive to work (a bit late), and then after work I just jumped in the car and drove the dealer to pick up my own car. Just no time for casual reading.

Well, anyway, thanks for clearing that up. Can't wait to be loaned the car again.

Ken,
I'm not sure that's how it works, just a guess on my part. It is how I would go about programming it if I were doing so. You should be able to go to the Volvo home site and read a copy of the owners manual for the S80.

--
Tom 69-1800S, 72-1800ES, 96-850T,2000-S70 GLT-SE

It seems you just push the button to apply the brake. I found this at http://www.southsidevolvo.com.au/brochures/S80_Quick_Guide_MY08_EN_tp9628web.pdf
See the last page of the Quick Guide.

Interesting. They are making things so electronic these days. They probably use the ABS pump to lock all the wheels. Maybe it eliminates the parking brake drums on the rear rotors. It can no longer be considered an "Emergency Brake". I wonder why they called it PPB? Also interesting is that the seat belt is only required to release the PPB only with automatic. Why not manual? How do they handle locking the steering wheel since there is no key? I guess I'll have to take a test drive next time I have to pick up some parts for my 9 1nd 13 year old relics.
--
Tom 69-1800S, 72-1800ES, 96-850T,2000-S70 GLT-SE

The wiring diagram shows a brake actuation motor at each rear wheel. Each motor is fused at 30A so can probably apply considerable force via a worm gear type of drive. I don't have any mechanical information, so don't know if the motor drives a shoe, wedge, or disc clamp.

I now have a Japanese car with keyless starting, and the steering wheel lock is operated by a small motor. I can hear it operate when a door is opened, and release when I push the start button.