1996 VOLVO 850 Owners Manual

1996 Volvo 850
8:15 for the location of the washer fluid reservoir). This is important sin\
ce the dirt is often splashed on
the windshield during winter driving, thus requiring frequent use of the\
washers and wipers. The Volvo
Washer Solvent should be diluted as follows:
Down to 14°F (-10°C): 1 part anti-freeze and 4 parts water
Down to 5°F (-15°C): 1 part anti-freeze and 3 parts water
Down to 0°F (-18°C): 1 part anti-freeze and 2 parts water
Down to -18°F (-28°): 1 part anti-freeze and 1 part water
l When driving in temperatures below 15 F (-10 C), we recommend the use \
of Volvo's radiator guard to
help the engine reach normal operating temperature as quickly as possibl\
e. This guard should not be
used when towing a trailer.
l Use Volvo Teflon Lock Spray in the locks.

NOTE: Avoid the use of de-icing spray as they can cause damage to the lo\
cks.

Winter/Wet mode

Enhanced Vehicle Traction

This mode may be selected for starting/moving off on slippery roads. In \
this mode:
* In position D, the gearbox starts in 3rd gear and changes up to 4th ge\
ar.
* In position 3, 2nd gear is locked and there is no change up to 3rd gea\
r.
In position L, first gear is locked.
* These positions always offer the kick-down feature.
pg. 4:19 Long distance trips, City driving
Before a long distance trip

It is always worthwhile to have your car checked at a Volvo retailer bef\
ore driving long distances. Your
retailer will also be able to supply you with bulbs, fuses, spark plugs \
and wiper blades for your use in the
event that problems occur.
If you prefer to check the car yourself, please note the following:
l Check that the engine runs smoothly and that fuel consumption is normal.\

l Check engine oil, coolant levels, and for possible fuel leakage.
l Check transmission oil level.
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1996 Volvo 850
l Check condition of drive belts.
l Check state of charge of battery.
l Examine tires carefully (the spare tire as well), and replace those th\
at are worn. Check tire pressures.
l The brakes, front wheel alignment, and steering gear should be checked b\
y your Volvo retailer only.
l Check all lights, including high beams.
l Reflective warning triangles are legal requirement in some countries.
l Have a word with your Volvo retailer concerning engine adjustments if yo\
u intend to drive in
countries where it may be difficult to obtain correct fuel.
l Consider your destination. If you will be driving through an area where \
snow or ice are likely to
occur, consider snow tires.




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1996 Volvo 850
Wheels and tires
pg. 5:1 Wheels and tires
Wheels and tires

The handling and riding comfort of the vehicle is dependent on the infla\
tion pressure and the type of
tires fitted. Read the following pages carefully.

5:2 General information, Wear indicator, Tire economy, Flat spots
5:3Snow chains, Winter tires
5:4Inflation pressure
pg. 5:2 Wheels and tires
General information

Your vehicle is equipped with tires according to the tire information la\
bel located on the rear facing side
of the right front door.

The following is an example of a tire designation code:
195 = tire width in mm.
60 = tire profile. This is the relationship (in percent) between the s\
ection height and the width of the tire.
R = radial tires.
15 = diameter in inches on all four wheels.

The tires have good road holding characteristics and offer good handling\
on dry and wet surfaces. It
should be noted however that the tires have been developed to give these\
features on snow/ice-free
surfaces. Certain models are equipped with "all-season" tires, which pro\
vide a somewhat higher degree
of winter roadholding on slippery surfaces than tires without the "all-s\
eason" rating. However, for
optimum road holding on icy or snow covered roads - we recommend suitabl\
e winter tires on all four
wheels. When replacing tires, be sure that the new tires are the same si\
ze designation, type (radial) and
preferably from the same manufacturer, on all four wheels. Otherwise the\
re is a risk of altering the car's
road-holding and handling characteristics.
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1996 Volvo 850

NOTE: When storing wheel/tire assemblies (e.g. winter tires and wheels)\
, either stand the assemblies
upright or suspend them off the ground. Laying wheel/tire assemblies on \
their sides for prolonged
periods can cause wheel and/or tire damage.

Wear indicator

The tires have a so-called "wear indicator" in the form of a number of n\
arrow strips running across or
parallel to the tread. When approx. 1/16" (1.6 mm) is left on the trea\
d, these strips show up and indicate
that the tire should be replaced.
Tires with less than 1/16" (1.6 mm) tread have a very poor grip in rai\
n or snow.
When replacing worn tires, it is recommended that the tire be identical \
in type (radial) and size as the
one being replaced. Using a tire of the same make (manufacturer) will \
prevent alteration of the driving
characteristics of the vehicle.

To improve tire economy:

l Maintain correct tire pressure.
l Drive smoothly: avoid fast starts, hard braking and tire screeching.
l Tire wear increases with speed.
l Do not change wheel location unless necessary.
l Correct front wheel alignment is very important.
l Unbalanced wheels impair tire economy and driving comfort.
l If the wheels are rotated, they should be kept on the same side of the c\
ar so that they revolve in the
same direction as prior to rotation.
l Hitting curbs or potholes can damage the tires and/or wheels permanently\
.

Flat spots

All tires become warm during use. After cooling, when the vehicle is par\
ked, the tires have a tendency to
distort slightly, forming flat spots. These flat spots can cause vibrati\
ons similar to the vibrations caused
by imbalanced wheels. They do, however, disappear when the tire warms up\
. The degree to which the
flat spots form depends on the type of cord used in the tire. Remember t\
hat, in cold weather, it takes
longer for the tire to warm up and consequently longer for the flat spot\
to disappear.
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1996 Volvo 850
pg. 5:3 Wheels and tires
Snow chains

Snow tire chains can be used on your Volvo with the following restrictio\
ns:
l Snow chains should be installed on your front wheels only.
l Snow chains may be mounted on tire dimension 185/65R15 and 195/60R15. Ti\
re dimension
205/55R15 and 205/50R16 require a special type of snow chain. Consult yo\
ur Volvo retailer. Snow
chains may not be used on 205/55R16
If accessory, aftermarket or "custom" tires and wheels are installed and\
are of a size different than the
original tires and wheels, chains in some cases CANNOT be used. Snow cha\
ins cannot be used on those
turbo models fitted with all-season tires 205/55 R16 or 205/45 R17. Mode\
ls equipped with 205/55 R15
or 205/50 R16 need specially designed snow chains. Sufficient clearances\
between chains and brakes,
suspension and body components must be maintained.
l Some strap-on type chains will interfere with brake components and there\
fore CANNOT be used.
CAUTION:
l Check local regulations regarding the use of snow chains before installi\
ng.
l Always follow the chains manufacturer's installation instructions carefu\
lly. Install chains as tightly
as possible and re-tighten periodically.
l Never exceed the chain manufacture's specified maximum speed limit. (Un\
der no circumstances
should that limit be higher than 30 mph (45 km/h).
l Avoid bumps, holes or sharp turns when driving with snow chains.
l The handling of the vehicle can be adversely affected when driving with \
chains. Avoid fast or sharp
turns as well as locked wheel braking.

Snow tires, studded tires *

Tires for winter use:
Owners who live in or regularly commute through areas with sustained per\
iods of snow or icy driving
conditions are strongly advised to fit suitable winter tires to help ret\
ain the highest degree of traction.
It is important to install winter tires on all four wheels to help retai\
n traction during cornering, braking
and accelerating. Failure to do so could reduce traction to an unsafe le\
vel or adversely affect handling.
Do not mix tires of different design as this could also negatively affec\
t overall tire road grip. Volvo
recommends 185/65 R15 winter tires on 15" wheels on all 850 models inclu\
ding models equipped with
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1996 Volvo 850
16" or 17" wheels.

Winter tires wear more quickly on dry roads in warm weather. They should\
be removed when the winter
driving season has ended.

Studded tires should be run-in 300-600 miles (500-1000 km) during whic\
h the car should be driven as
smoothly as possible to give the studs the opportunity to seat properly \
in the tires. The car tires should
have the same rotational direction throughout their entire lifetime. In \
other words, if you wish to rotate
the wheels, make sure that the same wheels are always on the same side o\
f the car.

NOTE: Please consult state or local regulations restricting the use of s\
tudded winter tires before
installing such tires.

*Where permitted pg. 5:4 Wheels and tires
Checking and correcting tire pressure

l Check the tire pressure when refueling.
l The tire pressure should be corrected only when the tires are cold.
l With warm tires, correct only when the pressure is too low. The tire tem\
perature rises after driving
just a few miles.

Vehicle Loading

The tires on your Volvo will perform to specifications at all normal loa\
ds when inflated as
recommended on the tire information label* located on the inside of the \
fuel filler flap. This label lists
both the tire and vehicle design limits.
Do not load your car beyond the load limits indicated.

* Please note that the tire information label indicates pressures for bo\
th comfort and fuel economy.
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1996 Volvo 850





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1996 Volvo 850
In case of emergency
pg. 6:1 In case of an emergency
In case of emergency

Even if you maintain your car in good running condition, there is always\
the possibility that something
might go wrong and prevent you from driving, such as a punctured tire, b\
lown fuse or bulb, etc. For
additional information, see section "ON CALL Road Assistance".

6:2 Wheel changing
6:4Spare tire
6:5Replacing bulbs
6:13Replacing fuses
6:15Installation of accessories
6:16Replacing wiper blades
6:18In case of emergency
pg. 6:2 Wheel changing

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