1996 VOLVO 850 Owners Manual

1996 Volvo 850
Remove the right floor cover (the center storage compartment must be op\
ened first) and the cover panel
on the right lower tail light. Pull on the hook and the fuel tank cover \
can then be opened.




Contents | Top of Page
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1996 Volvo 850
Car care
pg. 7:1 Car care
Car care

Car care includes not only maintaining the appearance of the car, but al\
so protecting the car exterior
from the effects of air pollution, rain, mud or road salt. The rustproof\
ing compound under the car should
be checked regularly and, if necessary, damaged areas should be repaired\
. The paintwork should also be
touched up immediately, if damaged, to prevent rust formation.

7:2 Paint touch-up
7:4Washing
7:5Automatic car washing, Polishing and waxing
7:6Cleaning the upholstery
pg. 7:2 Paint touch-up
Paint touch-up

Paint damage requires immediate attention to avoid rusting. Make it a ha\
bit to check the finish regularly
- when washing the car for instance. Touch up if necessary.

Paint repairs require special equipment and skill. Contact your Volvo re\
tailer for any extensive damage.

Minor scratches can be repaired by using Volvo touch-up paint.

NOTE: When ordering touch-up paint from your Volvo retailer, use the pai\
nt code indicated on the
model plate. The plate is located on the panel above the right-side head\
lights.
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1996 Volvo 850

Minor stone chips and scratches

Material:
Primer - can
Paint - touch-up bottle
Brush
Masking tape

NOTE: When touching up the car, it should be clean and dry. The surface \
temperature should be above
60° F (15° C).

Scars on the surface

If the stone chip has not penetrated down to the metal and undamaged lay\
er of paint remains, the touch-
up paint can be applied as soon as the spot has been cleaned.

Deep scars

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1996 Volvo 850

1. Place a strip of masking tape over the damaged surface. Pull the tape\
off so that any loose flakes of
paint adhere to it. pg. 7:3 Paint touch-up (cont.)

2. Thoroughly mix the primer and apply it with a small brush.
When the primer surface is dry, the paint can be applied using a brush. \
Mix the paint thoroughly; apply
several thin paint coats and let dry after each application.

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1996 Volvo 850

3 If there is a longer scratch, you may want to protect surrounding pain\
t by masking it off. pg. 7:4 Washing
Washing the car

l The car should be washed at regular intervals since dirt, dust, insects \
and tar spots adhere to the paint
and may cause damage.

NOTE: It is particularly important to wash the car frequently in the win\
tertime to prevent corrosion,
when salt has been used on the roads.

l When washing the car, do not expose it to direct sunlight. Use lukewarm \
water to soften the dirt
before you wash with a sponge, and plenty of water, to avoid scratching.\

l A detergent can be used to facilitate the softening of dirt and oil.
l A water-soluble grease solvent may be used in cases of sticky dirt. Howe\
ver, use a washplace
equipped with a drainage separator.
l Dry the car with a clean chamois and remember to clean the drain holes i\
n the doors and rocker
panels.
l The power radio antenna (sedans) must be dried after washing.
l Tar spots can be removed with kerosene or tar remover after the car has \
been washed.
l A stiff-bristle brush and lukewarm soapy water can be used to clean the \
wiper blades. Frequent
cleaning improves visibility considerably.
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1996 Volvo 850
l Wash off the dirt from the underside (wheel housings fenders, etc.).
l In areas of high industrial fallout, more frequent washing is recommende\
d.
CAUTION: During high pressure washing the spray mouth piece must never b\
e closer to the vehicle
than 13" (30 cm). Do not spray into the locks.

l When washing or steam cleaning the engine, avoid spraying water or steam\
directly on the electrical
components or toward the rear side of the engine.
l After cleaning the engine, the spark plug wells should be inspected for \
water and blown dry if
necessary.

Suitable detergents

Special car washing detergents or liquid dishwashing detergent can be us\
ed. A suitable mixture is about
2.5 fl. oz. (8.5 cl) of detergent to 2.6 US gal. (10 liters) of warm\
water. After washing with a detergent
the car should be well rinsed with clean water.

Bird droppings

Remove from paintwork as soon as possible. Otherwise the finish may be p\
ermanently damaged.

WARNING!
l When the car is driven immediately after being washed, apply the brake s\
everal times in order to
remove any moisture from the brake linings.
l Engine cleaning agents should not be used when the engine is warm. This \
constitutes a fire risk.


NOTE: When washing the car, remember to remove dirt from the drain holes\
in the doors and sills.
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1996 Volvo 850
Bumpers: Wash the bumpers with the same cleaning agent used on the rest \
of the car. Never clean the
bumpers with gasoline or paint thinner. Difficult spots can be removed w\
ith denatured alcohol. To avoid
scratches, do not dry the bumpers with paper. pg. 7:5 Automatic car washing, Polishing and waxing
Automatic washing - simple and quick

An automatic wash is a simple and quick way to clean your car, but it is\
worth remembering that it may
not be as thorough as when you yourself go over the car with sponge and \
water. Keeping the underbody
clean is most important, especially in the winter. Some automatic washer\
s do not have facilities for
washing the underbody.

Before driving into an automatic wash, make sure that the side view mirr\
ors, auxiliary lamps, etc., are
secure, otherwise there is risk of the machine dislodging them. You shou\
ld also lower the antenna
(sedans).

We do NOT recommend washing your car in an automatic wash during the fir\
st six months (because the
paint will not have hardened sufficiently).

Polishing and waxing

Normally, polishing is not required during the first year after delivery\
, however, waxing may be
beneficial.

Before applying polish or wax the car must be washed and dried. Tar spot\
s can be removed with
kerosene or tar remover. Difficult spots may require a fine rubbing comp\
ound.

After polishing use liquid or paste wax.

Several commercially available products contain both polish and wax.

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1996 Volvo 850
Waxing alone does not substitute for polishing of a dull surface.

A wide range of polymer-based car waxes can be purchased today. The waxe\
s are easy to use and
produce a long-lasting, high-gloss finish that protects the bodywork aga\
inst oxidation, road dirt and
fading. pg. 7:6 Cleaning the upholstery
Cleaning the upholstery

The fabric can be cleaned with soapy water or a detergent. For more diff\
icult spots caused by oil, ice
cream, shoe polish, grease, etc., use a clothing/clothing fabric stain r\
emover.

The plastic in the upholstery can be cleaned with a soft cloth and mild \
soap solution.

Leather upholstery can be cleaned with a soft cloth and mild soap soluti\
on. For more different spots,
Volvo offers a leather care kit.

On no account must gasoline, naphtha or similar cleaning agents be used \
on the plastic or the leather
since these can cause damage.

Cleaning the seat belts

Clean only with lukewarm water and mild soap solution.

Cleaning floor mats

The floor mats should be vacuumed or brushed clean regularly, especially\
during winter when they
should be taken out for drying. Spots on textile mats can be removed wit\
h a mild detergent.

Bear in mind
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