1998 Volvo S90
Volvo Canada Ltd.
175 Gordon Baker Road
Willowdale, Ontario M2H 2N7
800-663-8255
Volvo and the environment
Volvo is committed to the well being of our
customers. As a natural part of this
commitment, we care about the environment in
which we all live. Caring for the environment
means an everyday involvement in reducing
our environmental impact.
Volvo's environmental activities are based on a
holistic view, which means we consider the
overall environmental impact of a product
throughout its complete life cycle. In this
context, design, production, product use, and
recycling are all important considerations.
In production, Volvo has partly or completely
phased out several chemicals including freons,
lead chromates, naphtanates, asbestos, mercury
and cadmium; and reduced the amount of
chemicals used in our plants 50% since 1991.
In use, Volvo was the first in the world to
introduce into production a three-way catalytic
converter with a Lambda sond, now called
oxygen sensor, in 1976. The current version of
this highly efficient system reduces emissions
of harmful substances (CO, HC, NOx) from
the exhaust pipe by approximately 95% and
the search to eliminate the remaining
emissions continues. Volvo is the only
automobile manufacturer to offer CFC-free
retrofit kits for the air conditioning system for
all models back to the M/Y 1975 240.
Advanced electronic engine controls, refined
purification systems and cleaner fuels are
In addition to continuous environmental
refinement of conventional gasoline-powered
internal combustion engines, Volvo is actively
looking at advanced technology alternative-
fuel vehicles.
When you drive a Volvo, you become our
partner in the work to lessen the car's impact
on the environment.
To reduce your vehicle's environmental
impact, you can:
l Maintain proper air pressure in your
tires. Tests have shown decreased fuel
economy with improperly inflated tires
l Follow the recommended maintenance
schedule
l Drive at a constant speed
l See an authorized Volvo retailer as
soon as possible for inspection if the
check engine (malfunction indicator)
lamp illuminates, or stays on after the
vehicle has started
l Properly dispose of any vehicle related
waste such as used motor oil, used
batteries, brake pads, etc.
l When cleaning your car, use Volvo's
own car care products, all of which
have systematically been adapted to the
environment
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1998 Volvo S90
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 restraint
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. The same can also
happen if the infant or child rides
unrestrained on the seat. Other
occupants should also be properly
restrained to help reduce the chance of
injuring or increasing the injury of a
child. All states and provinces have
legislation governing how and where
children should be carried in a car. Find
out the regulations existing in your state
or province. 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 vehicle. A misused child
restraint system can result in
increased injuries for both the
infant or child and other
occupants in the vehicle.
l If your child restraint requires a
top tether strap, consult your
authorized Volvo retailer for top
tether anchorage and installation
information.
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 lbs.) and up to 150 cm (59 inches) in
height.
WARNING!
l When using the auxiliary seat
for children, both sections of
the rear seat backrest must be
secured in the upright position
l Do not use a booster cushion or
child seat in conjunction with
the auxiliary seat.
Occupant Safety pg. 13
Seat belt maintenance
Check periodically that the anchor bolts
are secure and that the belts are in good
condition. Use water and a mild
detergent for cleaning. Check seat belt
mechanism function as follows: Attach
the seat belt and pull rapidly on the strap.
Volvo Concern for Safety
Safety is the cornerstone for Volvo. Our
concern dates back to 1927 when the
first Volvo rolled off the production line.
Three-point seat belts (a Volvo
invention), safety cages, and energy-
absorbing impact zones were designed
into Volvo cars long before it was
fashionable or required by government
regulation. We will not compromise our
commitment to safety. We continue to
seek out new safety features and to refine
those already in our cars. You can help.
We would appreciate hearing your
suggestions about improving automobile
Occupant safety
How safely you drive doesn't depend on
how old you are but rather on:
l how well you see
l your ability to concentrate
l how quickly you make decisions
under stress to avoid an accident.
The tips listed below are
suggestions to help you cope with
the ever changing traffic
environment.
l Never drink and drive.
l If you are taking any medication,
consult your physician about its
potential effects on your driving
abilities.
l Take a driver-retraining course
l Have your eyes checked regularly
l Keep your windshield and
headlamps clean.
l Replace wiper blades when they
start to leave streaks.
l Take into account the traffic,
Reporting Safety Defects in
the U.S.
If you believe that your vehicle has a
defect which could cause a crash or
could cause injury or death, you
should immediately inform the
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) in
addition to notifying Volvo Cars of
North America. If NHTSA receives
similar complaints, it may open an
investigation, and if it finds that a
safety defect exists in a group of
vehicles, it may order a recall and
remedy campaign. However,
NHTSA cannot become involved in
individual problems between you,
your retailer, or Volvo Cars of North
America. To contact NHTSA, you
may either call the Auto Safety
Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393
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1998 Volvo S90
position and switch A is in this position.
All lights off (daytime running light function
disabled)
Winshield wipers/washers, Ignition switch pg. 21
Windshield wipers/washers
1 Intermittent wiper.
With switch in this position, the wipers will
sweep approximately every seventh second.
2 "Single sweep" position.
Switch returns automatically when released
3 Wipers, low speed.
4 Wipers, high speed
5 Windshield wiper/washer, headlight
wiper/washer (certain models)
The wiper will make 2-3 complete sweeps
across the windshield and headlights after
lever is released.
Starting
(ignition)
switch/
steering
wheel lock
The steering
wheel lock
might be under
tension when
the car is
parked. Turn
the steering
wheel slightly
to free the ignition key.
In order to reduce car
theft, make sure the
steering wheel lock is
engaged before leaving
the car.
Achime will sound if the
starting key is left in the
ignition lock and the
front door on the driver's
side is opened. 0 Locked position:
remove the key to lock the
steering wheel.
WARNING:
Never turn the key to
position 0 while driving or
when the car is being
towed.
I Intermediate position:
Certain accessories/radio,
etc. on, daytime running
lights off.
II Drive position:
Key position when engine is
running.
III Starting position:
Release the key when the
engine start.
The key returns
automatically to the Drive
position.
*The gear selector must be
in the (P)ark position before
the key can be removed
from the ignition switch.
Fog lights, Instruments illumination, Steering wheel adjustment, Power antenna
pg. 22
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1998 Volvo S90
Chapter 2 - (cont.)
Sun roof, Hazard warning flasher, Tailgate wiper/washer, heated rear window
pg. 23
C- Heated rear window,
heated side-door mirrors
(certain models)
Depress the switch to start
heating of rear window and side
mirrors. Both orange control
lights in the switch will
illuminate. A timer switches off
the side mirror heating after
approx. 6 minutes and the rear
window demister after 12
minutes. The control lights go
out correspondingly.
D- Hazard warning flasher
The four-way flasher should be
used to indicate that the vehicle
has become a traffic hazard.
NOTE:Regulations regarding the
use of the hazard warning flasher
may vary from state to state.
E-Central lock switch
Press the switch to lock/unlock
the doors and trunk/tailgate.
Lock: press the lower section of
the switch
Unlock: press the upper section
of the switch.
NOTE: The lock function only
operates if the doors are closed.
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1998 Volvo S90
A- Tailgate window wiper/
washer (wagon)
The tailgate window wiper/
washer is operated by a switch
at the end of the wiper level.
1. The wiper operates
continuously.
2. Intermittent position: the
wiper strokes approximately
every 10 seconds.
3. Tailgate washer (note that the
wiper also operates when this
button is depressed): after the
button is released the wiper
strokes 2-3 additional times
before stopping.
The electrical circuit is
protected by fuse 19, located in
the central electrical unit. See
the section entitled "Fuses". B- Electrically operated
sun roof (certain models)
The sun roof can be operated in
two ways; as a conventional
sliding roof; or the rear edge can
be raised to provide increased
ventilation. On models equipped
with the power glass sun roof, a
manually operated sun shade is
also provided.
See page 49 for operating
instructions.
NOTE:In case of sun roof
malfunction, see page 49.
Cruise control pg. 24
NOTE:
When driving in hilly terrain,
the gearbox may tend to jump
between different gears. This
can be avoided by selecting
gear selector position 3
(intermediate position).
Normally, the (E)conomy
mode should be used when
the cruise control is engaged.
Acceleration
Momentary acceleration, such
as for passing, does not
interrupt cruise control
operation. The previously
selected speed will be
maintained without having to
set the switch to RESUME.
To disengage the cruise
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1998 Volvo S90
*When the function selector is in the
mode, the air conditioning
system is ON and recirculation is OFF, regardless
of button position. The light surrounding the "Snowflake" button will be\
OFF and the light surrounding the recirculation button will be OFF.
NOTE: If your windows begin to fog or mist, check that the
recirculation function is not engaged.
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (cont.) pg. 27
Automatic setting
The ECC system will automatically
maintain a comfortable in-car
temperature regardless of the outdoor
temperature.
Select the desired temperature
The blower will run at its maximum
speed in either the max cooling or max
Operating Tips
Recirculation: When the
outside air is contaminated
with exhaust gases, smoke
etc. (as when driving
through a tunnel) or to cool
the car quickly, push the
recirculation button. In this
position, no air is drawn into
the passenger compartment
from outside. However, do
not leave the system in this
mode for more than 10-15
minutes, since the air inside
the car will become stale
and the windows may fog.
Recirculation (and the
indicator light) will also
come on when the interior of
the car is hot and a low
temperature is selected with
the temperature dial. This
helps speed cooling of the
passenger compartment. It
will switch off automatically
after several minutes.
Difficult weather
conditions
When driving in very humid ECC system fault
indication
If the light in the air
conditioning push button
begins to flash when the
ignition is switched on, a
simple fault is indicated.
The system will compensate
by substituting a standard
value stored in the memory.
System performance loss
will be slight.
If the light continues to flash
more than 20 seconds, a
more serious fault is
indicated. While the system
will again attempt to
substitute a standard value,
some reduction in system
performance will become
apparent. Contact your
authorized Volvo retailer for
service.
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1998 Volvo S90
Remote keyless entry
system
As an option, your car can be
equipped with a remote
control transmitter. This
transmitter uses a radio
frequency which will allow
"keyless" entry into the
passenger compartment or the
trunk. You will be supplied
with two coded key ring
transmitters, which will
enable you to lock/unlock all
doors and the trunk/tailgate
from a distance of 10-15 feet
(3-5 meters).
To lock :
Press the lock button once to
lock all doors and trunk/
tailgate.
To unlock :
Press the unlock button once
to unlock the driver's door
only.
Press the unlock button again
(within 10 seconds) to unlock
all doors and trunk/tailgate.
Aim the base of the remote control unit at
the car to get the best range.
On vehicles equipped with an alarm, the
alarm will also be activated/deactivated by
this system.
As an extra security precaution in certain
situations (valet parking, etc.), Volvo
recommends that the transmitter not be
included when the keys are given to
anyone. The service key can be used
instead. If one of the transmitters is
misplaced, contact the nearest authorized
Volvo retailer for assistance.
Batteries
The remote transmitter is powered by 2
three-volt batteries, type CR 1220. If three
short signals are audible from the
transmitter each time you lock/unlock the
car, this indicates that the batteries are
weak.
Replacement: Remove the battery cover
on the back of the transmitter with a coin.
Replace the batteries. Reinstall the cover,
making sure it is secured tightly to help
protect the transmitter. New transmitters
If you purchase additional
transmitters, they must be
programmed to function with
your remote keyless entry
system. Please refer to page 49
for instructions.
This device complies with
FCC rules Part 15.
Operations is subject to the
following two conditions:
(1) This device may not
cause harmful interference
and (2) this device must
accept any interference that
may be received, including
interference that may cause
undesired operation.
WARNING! Volvo does
not recommend using the
transmitter to lock the doors
from inside the car. On cars
equipped with an alarm, the
alarm would be activated
and would sound when one
of the doors is opened. The
doors must not be locked
using the remote transmitter
while the vehicle is
occupied. In case of an
accident, this may hinder
rapid access to the
occupants of the vehicle.
The alarm will also sound
on models equipped with
this feature.
Front seats pg. 33
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1998 Volvo S90
Chapter 4 (cont)
Automatic transmission
pg. 58
P(Park)
Use this position when
starting the engine or parking
the car.
Never use P while car is in
motion.
The transmission is
mechanically locked when in
position P. Also use the
parking brake when parking
on grades.
The gear selector is locked in
the P position (Shift lock). To
release the selector, start the
engine and depress the brake
pedal. See page 61 for
instructions on manually
releasing the gear selector. WARNING!
Never leave the car when
the engine is running. If, by
mistake, the gear selector is
moved from P the car may
start moving.
R(Reverse)
Never engage R while car is
moving forward.
N(Neutral)
Neutral position = no gear is
engaged.
Use parking brake. The
engine can be started with
the gear selector in this
position.
D(Drive)
D is the normal driving
position and should be used
as often as possible to help
improve fuel economy.
When modes E or S are
selected, upshift and
downshift of the forward
gears occur automatically
and are governed by
accelerator pedal position
and vehicle speed.
3 (Intermediate position)
Automatically shifts up and
down between first second
L (Low gear)
The gearbox does not upshift in
position L! Select position L if you
wish to drive in first or second gear
and you do not wish to shift up (when
driving in hilly terrain, for example, as
position L provides the best engine
braking power). The transmission will
conspicuously shift down from second
to first if road speed drops to below 25
or 20 mph (40 km/h or 30 km/h)
(engines B6304 and B6254
respectively) when driving in
Economy mode. When driving in
Sport mode, the same very noticeable
shift takes place if the speed drops to
below 6 mph (10 km/h).
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