Driver information

I-shift
Student booklet

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Contents
The gearbox I-shift is a fully automatic
mechanical gearbox. This information
package for drivers describes how the
gearbox is operated and any special
and characteristics that must be taken
into account.
The package is intended for use in
combination with other training
packages covering driver information.
Contents
1 Introduction ........................................................ 3
2 Gear ratio ........................................................... 4
3 Gear selector ..................................................... 5
4 Display ............................................................... 6
5 Starting instructions ........................................... 7
6 Driving program A .............................................. 8
7 Driving program R ............................................. 9
8 Driving program M ........................................... 10
9 Kickdown ......................................................... 11
10 Starting uphill ................................................... 12
11 Engine brake .................................................... 13
12 Auxiliary brake ................................................. 14
13 Limp home ....................................................... 15
14 Fold/program package .................................... 16
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1 Introduction
The I shift gearbox (VT2412B) is a fully automatic mechanical gearbox that is available as an
option on buses and trucks. The software that controls the gearbox varies between buses and
trucks and this training package will cover the bus version. The gearbox has split, base and
range sections, and has 12 forward gears plus four reverse gears. Clutch and gear changing
takes place fully automatically so that the driver can concentrate on the traffic. When changing
down, the gearbox is assisted by the engine auxiliary brake and VCB (Volvo Compression
Brake) so that the engine automatically increases rpm to synchronise with the gearbox speed.
The gearbox controls are fixed to the drivers seat so they follow with the seat when it is
adjusted and are always in the same position in relation to the driver. That controls do not
have any mechanical linkage and are connected electronically to the control unit located in the
gearbox cover.

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 14.9
11.73
EGSV I-shift
9.13

9.04
7.09
6.42

5.54
4.77

4.35
3.75

3.44
2.70
2.44

2.08
1.71

1.63
1.27

1.27
1.00

1.00

R4
R3
R2
R1
R

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7+ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
1 2 2+ 3 4 5 6 7

3.16
4.02
13.69

13.73
17.48
2 Gear ratios
The illustration shows the gear ratio of the EGS-V / EGS-VR in comparison to the one for I-
shift. The lowest gears of the I-shift gearbox are considerably lower than in the EGS gearbox
while there are more alternatives for selecting the right gear.
The lowest reverse gear ratio makes it possible to reverse at lower speeds than with earlier
gearboxes.

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 2

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3 Gear selector
1 Gear step button 3 Gear change inhibitor button 5 Economy/Power (E/P)
2 Lever fold button 4 Gear selector positions 6 Limp home button (L)

The gear changing unit is located inside the gear selector, which is fixed to the drivers seat
and can be folded to facilitate access for the driver. The gear lever can be folded forwards
using the button (2) marked FOLD. This can be done only when the lever is in neutral.
The toggle switch (1) the springloaded and has two positions, up and down. The button can
be used step up and down the gears. The gear change inhibitor (3) prevents inadvertent gear
engagement.
There are four different gear positions:
R = reverse gear
N = neutral position
A = automatic
M = manual
To engage a gear from neutral, the gear change inhibitor must be pressed in. The button need
not be pressed when switching between automatic and manual. The same applies when
engaging neutral from automatic/manual and reverse respectively.
The E/P button (5) is used in cases where higher engine speeds between gear changes are
needed. The system switches back to economy when power is no longer needed.
The L (limp home) button (6) is an emergency mode that can be engaged if a fault has
occurred in the gearbox that prevents the vehicle from being driven in automatic, manual or
reverse. Limp-home should only be used for short distances.

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1 2 3 4 5

4 Display
1 Driving programs E, P, B, L 3 Lever position 5 Selected gear
2 Available gears (down) 4 Available gears (up)

The display gives information on the current driving program,

E = Economy
P = Power
B = Brake
L = Limp home
Selected gear (5) shows the gear 1-12, N = Neutral, R = Reverse gear.
Available gears (2, 4) are shown with max 3 arrows by the side of the gear position symbols
on the display.
Gear selector position (3) shows the position of the lever:
R = Reverse
N = Neutral
A = Automatic
M = Manual
When the lever is folded, the display shows the programs that are installed in the control unit
(TECU).
Notes
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 R
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5 Starting instructions
Buses with I-shift gearboxes are equipped with a starter inhibitor. In order to start the engine,
the gear selector must be in neutral (N) or folded position (FOLD).
When the engine and has started and if the system pressure in the pneumatic system is low,
an icon will be shown on the display while the warning lamp comes on and a buzzer sounds.
The buzzer will stay on as long as the pressure in the parking brake circuit is below 500 kPa.
When this pressure has been attained the parking brake can be released.
More pressure is needed in the pneumatic system in order to drive the bus with an I-shift
gearbox, at least 650 kPa. When the pressure exceeds 650 kPa the icon in the display and
the warning lamp will go out and the bus can be driven off.

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6 Driving program A
The simplest way to drive the bus is to use the automatic program (position A). The gearbox
control unit selects a suitable starting gear based on vehicle weight and road gradient. The
driver is then able to concentrate on the actual driving. In automatic mode, gear changing is
performed automatically while driving without needing to release the accelerator pedal. The
E/P toggle switch is used to select economy (E) or Power (P).
The engine will always start in economy mode, which prioritises fuel consumption and will be
used in normal driving conditions.
The Power program is engaged and disengaged using the button marked E/P. The power
program is used when driving in hilly terrain when changing up and down is desired at higher
engine speeds than is normal with the economy programme. To save fuel, the economy
program will be engaged when the power program is no longer needed.
The toggle switch can be used to shift up or down manually when in automatic mode if the
accelerator pedal is released. The arrows specify how many steps it is possible to change up
or down.
You can change down a gear to increase the effect of the engine brake.
If rapid declutching is desired, e.g. in slippery conditions, move the gear lever to N, neutral.
A gear can also be locked when in automatic mode. This function can be used on all forward
gears.
Whenever gear changing is not desired move the lever from A to M. No further gear changes
will be carried out and the current gear will be kept engaged. The display shows an M. Move
the lever back to A to return to automatic mode.

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 E R4
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E R3
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E R2
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- E R1
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7 Driving program R
There are four reverse gears R1, R2, R3 and R4. The vehicle must be stationary before
reverse gear can be engaged. The gear change inhibitor must be pressed in before the lever
can be moved from N to R. The system will select gear R2 when the gear lever is moved to R.
Use the +/- button on the gear lever to change gear manually. Only gear R1 is available as an
alternative when starting in R2. When starting the bus in gear R3 or R4 it will only be possible
to change between these two gears. To change between the two lowest reverse gears and
the two highest, or vice versa, the bus must be stationary. Moving the lever to R position will
engage reverse gear R2 and R2 will be shown on the display.

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8 Driving program M
The bus can also be shown on fully manually or switched over from automatic at any time.
Change gear by moving the lever to M first. The desired gear can be selected with the +/-
button on the side of the lever. Press the +/- button once more for each gear step up or down
when selecting a new gear.
The accelerator pedal need not be released when changing gear in manual mode (M).

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9 Kick-down
Acceleration is in the area marked F for normal driving. The accelerator pedals wide open
throttle position can be felt through resistance in the pedal. If greater acceleration is required,
for example when overtaking, depress the accelerator pedal past this pressure point (C) to
engage kick-down. The kick-down programme optimises gear selection/throttle for maximum
acceleration.
This is possible in both economy and power programs E/P but not in manual position M.

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 R E 3
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10 Starting uphill
When starting on a hill, keep the bus still with the parking brake or the foot brake. Put the gear
selector in A. Then press the accelerator pedal until the bus rides on the clutch, release the
brake and drive off. The bus must not be kept still using the accelerator pedal as the clutch
that I-shift has a dry plate, i.e. the same sort of clutch that is used in a bus with manual
gearbox. Starting the bus in M-position will risk engaging a high gear and overheating the
clutch. The information lamp will come on and a symbol will appear on the display if the clutch
overheats.
Automatic gearboxes have a torque converter that makes it possible to hold the bus still with
the accelerator pedal; this cannot be done with the I-shift, which has a dry plate.
If the bus is kept still on uphill gradient with the accelerator pedal, the clutch will probably
overheat seriously and fail. Always use the brakes to keep the bus still.

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11 Engine brake
The engine brake is a complement to the service brakes. So that the engine brake is as
efficient as possible, the engine speed must be in the blue zone on the tachometer.
When activating with the bus in A-mode:
Release the accelerator
Change down with the toggle switch to a suitable gear while checking the tachometer so that
the engine does not overspeed, i.e. the pointer does not enter the red zone.
Alternatively the gear selector can be moved to manual and then a suitable gear selected.

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12 Auxiliary brakes
If the lever for the auxiliary brakes is moved to position A, the current bus speed can be
maintained by pressing the toggle switch on the auxiliary brake lever. The electronics will then
take over and engage the auxiliary brake to maintain this speed.
With the lever in position A and the cruise control engaged, the auxiliary brake will be applied
when the speed exceeds 7 km/h above the set speed. This excess speed can be adjusted
with plus and on the toggle switch to work from 4 to 10 km/h.
When descending steep hills and a higher braking force is required, the gearbox braking
program can be engaged by pulling the lever to B and then releasing it.
The display for the gearbox shows a B when the brake program is engaged. Meanwhile, a
three will be shown on the bottom row of the display. This means the highest auxiliary brake
power is engaged.

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13 Limp home
The L (limp home) button is an emergency mode that can be engaged if a fault has occurred
in the gearbox that prevents the vehicle from being driven in automatic, manual or reverse.
Limp-home should only be used for short distances. Activating and changing can only be
done while the vehicle is stationary.
The function is engaged by pressing the L button while moving the gear lever to A. In forward
position, first, third and fifth plus reverse R1 can be engaged. When driving with limp home
engaged, it is not possible to change gears. The L button need not be pressed when
changing from forward to reverse.

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14 Fold/program package
The lever can be folded forward when it is in neutral (N) and the FOLD button is pressed in.
The display will then show the program package the gearbox has. The display will show C for
comfort, F to show the lever is folded (FOLD) and N for neutral. The comfort package
includes:
- Standard shifting program
- Standard power program
- Kick-down
- Automatic starting gear selection
- System takes into account several variables when selecting gear.
- The braking program uses the auxiliary brakes more efficiently and is deactivated in low
gears and at low engine speeds.
- Information on oil temperature in the gearbox and when it is time to change clutch.
- Intelligent use of Volvo Compression Brake (VCB), countershaft brake and clutch cylinder
for changing up.
- Silenced range shifting.

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Copyright 2003.07 Volvo Bus Corporation

GT2020003eng