1996 VOLVO 850 maintenance

1996 Volvo 850
850 Owner's Manual VOLVO 850
1 9 9 6
This manual deals with the operation and care of your Volvo.

Welcome to the world-wide family of Volvo owners. We trust that you will\
enjoy many years of safe
driving in your Volvo, an automobile designed with your safety and comfo\
rt in mind. To help ensure
your satisfaction with this vehicle, we encourage you to familiarize you\
rself with the equipment
descriptions, operating instructions and maintenance requirements/recomm\
endations in this manual. We
also urge you and your passengers to wear seat belts at all times in thi\
s (or any other) automobile. And,
of course, please do not operate a vehicle if you may be affected by alc\
ohol, medication or any
impairment that could hinder your ability to drive.

Your Volvo is designed to meet all applicable safety and emission standa\
rds, as evidenced by the
certification labels attached to the driver's door opening and on the le\
ft wheel housing in the engine
compartment.

Contents
Instruments and controls ... 1
Body and interior .. 2
Occupant safety, Reporting safety defects ... 3
Starting and driving ... 4
Wheels and tires ... 5
In case of emergency ... 6
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1996 Volvo 850


Important
Before you operate your car for the first time, please familiarize yourself with the BREAK-IN
information on page 4:2. You should also be familiar with the information in the first three chapters of
this manual.

Information contained in the balance of the manual is extremely useful and should be studied after
operating the vehicle for the first time. This manual is structured so that it can be used for reference. It
should thus be kept in the car for ready access.

Do not export your Volvo to another country before investigating the country's applicable safety and
exhaust emission requirements. In some cases it may be difficult or impossible to comply with these
requirements. Modifications to the emission control system(s) may render your Volvo not certifiable for
legal operation in the U.S., Canada or other countries.

All information, illustrations and specifications contained in this manual are based on the latest product
information available at the time of publication. Volvo reserves the right to make model changes at any
time, or to change specifications or design, without notice and without incurring obligation.

CAUTION: The 850 R turbo models have reduced ground clearance due to the design of the front
spoiler. Please observe caution when e.g., driving onto garage hoists, through drifted snow or when
other road debris is encountered, or when parking near curbs.



Contents | Top of Page
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Car care ... 7
Service and routine maintenance ... 8
Specifications ... 9 Classic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org

1996 Volvo 850

There is no maintenance to perform on the SRS yourself. The only periodi\
c maintenance recommended
on the SRS is that the air bag modules and front seat belts (including \
tensioners) should be replaced
approximately every ten years and that the other components in the syste\
m (wiring, connectors, etc.)
should also be inspected at this time. The SRS decal on your car shows t\
he month and year servicing is
due. This service must be performed by an authorized Volvo retailer. Sho\
uld you have any questions
about the SRS system, please contact your authorized Volvo Retailer or V\
olvo Customer Support.
pg. 3:6 Volvo SRS
WARNING
This car is equipped with a full frontal Supplemental Restraint System (\
SRS) with AIRBAG in front of
the driver and front passenger.
*ALL OCCUPANTS MUST BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, ADULTS USING SEAT-BELTS
AND CHILDREN USING CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS.

*DO NOT INSTALL AND USE ANY CHILD RESTRAINTS IN THE FRONT SEAT.
We also recommend that children who have outgrown child restraint system\
s in the rear seat with the
seat-belt properly fastened. The safest place in the car for children is\
in the rear seat.
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAN RESULT IN INJURY TO THE VEHICLE\

OCCUPANTS IN AN ACCIDENT.
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1996 Volvo 850
size, a child should always be properly restrained in a car.

Restraint systems for children are designed to be secured in the vehicle\
by lap belts or the lap portion of a lap-shoulder belt. Such
child restraint systems can help protect children in cars in the event o\
f an accident only if they are used properly. However, children
could be endangered in a crash if the child restraints are not properly \
secured in the vehicle. Failure to follow the installation
instructions for your child restraint can result in your child striking \
the vehicle's interior in a sudden stop.

Holding a child in your arms is NOT a suitable substitute for a child re\
straint system. In an accident, a child held in a person's arms
can be crushed between the vehicle's interior and an unrestrained person\
. The child could also be injured by striking the interior, or
by being ejected from the vehicle during a sudden maneuver or impact. Th\
e same can also happen if the infant or child rides
unrestrained on the seat. Other occupants should also be properly restra\
ined to help reduce the chance of injuries or increasing the
injury of a child.

All states and provinces have legislation governing how and where childr\
en should be carried in car. Find out the regulations
existing in your state or province. Recent accident statistics have show\
n that children are safer in rear seating positions than front
seating positions when properly restrained. A child restraint system can\
help protect a child in a vehicle. Here's what to look for
when selecting a child restraint system:
l It should have a label certifying that it meets applicable Federal Motor\
Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS 213-80) - or in Canada,
CMVSS 213.
l Make sure the child restraint system is approved for the child's height,\
weight and development - the label required by the
standard or regulation, or instructions for infant restraints, typically\
provide this information.
l In using any child restraint system, we urge you to look carefully over \
the instructions that are provided with the restraint. Be sure
you understand them and can use the device properly and safely in this v\
ehicle. A misused child restraint system can result in
increased injuries for both the infant or child and other occupants in t\
he vehicle.
l If your child restraint requires a top tether strap, consult your author\
ized Volvo retailer for top tether anchorage and installation
information.

When a child has outgrown the child safety seat, you should use the rear\
seat with the standard seat belt fastened. The best way to
help protect the child here is to place the child on a cushion (not ava\
ilable in Canada) so that the seat belt is properly located on the
hips (
see page 3:10).
A specially designed and tested booster cushion for children between 22.\
7 - 36 kg (50 - 80 lbs) and 117 - 137 cm (46 - 54") can be
obtained from your Volvo retailer.
If necessary, an auxiliary seat for children is available for use in the\
luggage compartment of station wagon models. This seat is
designed for two children, each weighing between 23 - 40 kg (50 - 88 lb\
s.) and up to 150 cm (59 inches) in height.

WARNING!
l When using the auxiliary seat for children, both sections of the rear se\
at backrest must be secured in the upright
position
l Do not use a booster cushion or child seat in conjunction with the auxil\
iary seat.
pg. 3:13 Occupant safety
Seat belt maintenance

Check periodically that the anchor bolts are secure and that the belts a\
re in good condition. Use water and a mild detergent for
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1996 Volvo 850

Some of the above mentioned items and others are checked at the standard\
Maintenance Service
intervals.

NOTE: ( D )rive or 5th gear (manual transmissions) should be used as\
often as possible to help improve
fuel economy. pg. 4:5 Starting the engine
Starting and stopping

1. Fasten the seat belt.
WARNING! Before starting, check that the seat and steering wheel are adj\
usted properly. Make sure
the brake pedal can be depressed completely. Move the seat closer if nec\
essary. Refer to section "front
seats".

2. Apply the parking brake, if not already set. The gear selector ( aut\
omatic transmission ) is locked in
the ( P )ark position ( SHIFT LOCK ).

3. Without touching the accelerator pedal , turn the ignition key to the\
starting position. Allow the starter
to operate for 5-10 seconds (turbo: 10 seconds). Release the key as so\
on as the engine starts. If the
engine fails to start, repeat step 3.
For cold starts at altitudes above 6000 ft (1800 m), depress the accel\
erator pedal halfway and turn the
key to the starting position. Release the accelerator pedal slowly when \
the engine starts.

4. To release the gear selector from the (P)ark position (automatic t\
ransmission), the ignition key must
be in position II and the brake pedal must be depressed.
See page 6:18 for instructions on manually
overriding the SHIFTLOCK system.

Do not race a cold engine immediately after starting. Oil flow may not r\
each some lubricating points fast
enough to prevent engine damage.

NOTE: (Automatic transmission only)
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1996 Volvo 850
pg. 4:17 Trailer towing
When preparing for trailer towing, observe the following:

l Volvo recommends the use of Volvo trailer hitches which are specially de\
signed for the car. For
trailer weights exceeding 2000 lbs. (908 kg), use only a trailer hitch\
offered as a Genuine Volvo
accessory.

NOTE: Models with automatic transmission are equipped with a transmissio\
n oil cooler as standard
equipment. This cooler helps prevent overheating of the transmission dur\
ing times of increased load, as
when towing a trailer.

l Maximum trailer weight recommended by Volvo is:
Trailers without brakes : 1100 lbs (500kg)
Trailers with brakes: 2" (50 mm) ball - 3300 lbs (1500 kg), 1 7/8" (\
47 mm) ball - 2000 lbs (908 kg).

Observe the legal requirements of the state/province in which the vehicl\
es are registered. All Volvo
models are equipped with energy-absorbing shock-mounted bumpers. Trailer\
hitch installation should
not interfere with the proper operation of this bumper system.

Trailer towing does not normally present any particular problems, but ta\
ke into consideration:
l Increase tire pressure to recommended full. See section "Wheels and tire\
s".
l Recommended hitch tongue load is 110 (50 kgs) for trailer weights belo\
w 2,650 lbs (1,200 kgs) and
165 lbs (75 kgs) for trailer weights above 2,650 lbs (1,200 kgs). Fo\
r trailer weights between 2,650-3,300
lbs (1,200-1,500 kgs) a top speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) should never b\
e exceeded.
l Engine and transmission are subject to increased loads. Therefore, engin\
e coolant temperature should
be closely watched when driving in hot climates or hilly terrain. Use lo\
wer gear and turn off air
conditioner if temperature gauge pointer enters the red range.
l Avoid overload and other abusive operation.
l Hauling a trailer affects handling, durability, and economy.
l It is necessary to balance trailer brakes with the towing vehicle brakes\
to provide a safe stop (check
and observe State/Local regulations).
l Do not connect the trailer's brake system directly to the vehicle's brak\
e system.
l More frequent vehicle maintenance is required.
l Remove the ball and drawbar assembly when the hitch is not being used.
l Volvo recommends the use of synthetic engine oil when towing a trailer o\
ver long distances or in
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1996 Volvo 850
Volvo service
pg. 8:1 Volvo Service
Service - an investment!

An investment which will pay dividends in the form of improved reliabili\
ty, durability, and resale value.

8:2 Label Information
8:3Maintenance service, Warranty
8:4Maintenance schedule
8:6Servicing
8:9Lubrication
8:10Engine oil
8:12Power steering fluid, Brake/clutch system fluid reservoir
8:13Automatic transmission fluid
8:14Drive belt, Air pump system
8:15Windshield washer nozzle, Washer fluid reservoir
8:16Coolant
8:17Engine compartment
pg. 8:2 Label information
1 Vehicle Emission Control Information
Your Volvo is designed to meet all applicable emission standards, as evi\
denced by the certification label
on the underside of the hood. For further information regarding these re\
gulations, please consult your
Volvo retailer.
2 Vacuum hose routing
(underside of hood)
3 Loads and Tire Pressures
(on inside of fuel tank cover)
4 Model plate
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Codes for color and upholstery et\
c. This plate is located on panel
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1996 Volvo 850
above right headlight.
5 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) *
The VIN plate is located on the top left surface of the dashboard. The V\
IN is also stamped on the right
hand door pillar.
6 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) specifications (USA)\
and Ministry of Transport
(CMVSS) Standards (Canada)
Your Volvo is designed to meet all applicable safety standards, as evide\
nced by the certification label on
the facing side of the driver's door. For further information regarding \
these regulations, please consult
your Volvo retailer.
7 Child safety latch label

* The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) should always be quoted in a\
ll correspondence concerning
your vehicle with the retailer and when ordering parts.
** These decals are located on the underside of the hood.

All specifications are subject to change without notice. pg. 8:3 Maintenance service, Warranty
Maintenance service

Volvo advises you to follow the service program which is outlined in the\
"Maintenance Records
Manual". This maintenance program contains inspections and services nece\
ssary for the proper function
of your car. The maintenance services contain several checks which requi\
re special instruments and
tools and therefore must be performed by a qualified technician. To keep\
your Volvo in top condition,
specify time tested and proven Genuine Volvo Parts and Accessories.

The Federal Clean Air Act - U.S.

The Clean Air Act requires vehicle manufacturers to furnish written inst\
ructions to the ultimate
purchaser to assure the proper functioning of those components that cont\
rol emissions. The maintenance
instructions listed in the "Servicing" section of this Manual represent \
the minimum maintenance
required. These services are not covered by the warranty. You will be re\
quired to pay for labor and
material used. Refer to your Warranty booklet for further details.

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