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1998 Volvo S90
Idle air control system
Your Volvo is equipped with an
electronically-controlled idle air
control system that requires no
checking or adjustment.
Volvo recommends that the
timing belt be replaced every
70,000 miles (112,000 km).
PCV system
The orifice nipple in the intake
manifold and the filter at the
end of the PCV hose in the
aircleaner should be inspected
every 60,000 miles (96,000 km).
Check/replace rubber hoses at
the same time.
and use correct torque, see
Specifications. When changing
the plugs, check that the
suppressor connectors are in
good condition. Cracked or
damaged connectors should be
replaced.
When changing the spark plugs,
clean the terminals and the
rubber seals.
Battery maintenance pg. 111
Battery maintenance
Driving habits and conditions, climate, the
number of starts, etc. all affect the service life and
function of the battery. In order for your battery to
perform satisfactorily, keep the following in mind:
l Check the fluid level in the battery every 6
months or every 10,000 * miles (16,000 km).
The fluid level in each battery cell should be
checked - use a screw driver to open the caps and
a flashlight to inspect the level.
*More frequently in warm climates.
l If necessary, add distilled water to
approximately 0.4 in. (10 mm) above the plates in
the cell or to the level indicator. See the
illustrations above.
l Check that the battery cables are correctly
connected and properly tightened.
l Never disconnect the battery when the engine is
running, for example when changing the battery.
l The battery should be disconnected when a
boost charger is used.
l Switch off the radio before disconnecting the
battery. If your radio has an antitheft code and the
battery is disconnected, the radio code has to be
reentered in order for the radio to function.
Fuel/emissions systems pg. 112
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1998 Volvo S90
Check, without removing the cap, that the level is above
the "MIN" mark of the fluid reservoir.
Always entrust brake fluid changing to an authorized
Volvo retailer.
Drive belt pg. 117
Belt check
Check the belt regularly to make sure it is in good
condition and is clean. A worn or dirty belt can cause poor
cooling and low generator output as well as impair the
operation of the power steering and the air conditioning
unit.
WARNING! The engine must not be running when
this check is performed. NOTE: The belt is equipped with a self-questioning
mechanism and requires no adjustment between changes.
Cooling system pg. 118
Changing coolant
Normally, the coolant does not
need to be changed. If the system
must be drained, use the following
procedure:
Remove the expansion tank cap.
Open the drain cock on the right
side of the engine block and
disconnect the lower radiator
hose.
Fill coolant through the expansion
tank. The heater controls should
be fully open when draining and
WARNING: If the engine is
warm and you are going to top
up coolant, unscrew the cap
slowly in order to allow any
excess pressure to escape.
NOTE: Do not top up with water
only. Water by itself reduces the
rust-protective and anti-freeze
qualities of the coolant and has a
lower boiling point. It can also
cause damage to the cooling system
if it should freeze.
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Check coolant level
The cooling system must be filled with
coolant and not leak to operate at maximum
efficiency. Check the coolant level regularly.
The level should be between the "Max" and
"Min" marks on the expansion tank. The
check should be made with particular
thoroughness when the engine is new or
when the cooling system has been drained.
Do not remove the filler cap other than for
topping-up with coolant. Frequent removal
may prevent coolant circulations between the
engine tank during engine warm-up and
cooling.
filling.
Add coolant until the level is up to
the MAX mark or slightly above.
Start the engine and run until hot.
Check the cooling system
connections for tightness. Also re-
check the coolant level.
Capacity: See "Specifications"
coolant: Volvo Genuine Coolant/
Antifreeze only
CAUTION
The cooling system must
always be kept filled to correct
level.
If it is not kept filled, there can
be high local temperatures in
the engine which could result
in damage.
Different types of anti-freeze/
coolant may not be mixed.
Adjusting washer nozzles, Washer fluid reservoir pg. 119
Adjusting washer nozzles
The washer jets should spray the windshield as shown. Use
the edge of a small screwdriver to adjust the nozzles, if
necessary. Please use caution to avoid damaging the
paintwork.
Washer fluid reservoir
The washer fluid reservoir is located in the engine
compartments and holds approx. 0.5 US gal. (2 liters) -
sedans and 0.8 US gal (3.2 liters) - wagons. During cold
weather, the reservoir should be filled with windshield
washer solvent containing anti-freeze.
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The following should be
checked regularly:
Coolant level should be
between the expansion tank
marks. Mixture: 50% anti-
freeze and 50% water. See
page 118.
Power steering - When
cold, the level must not be
above the COLD mark and
when hot it must not be
above the HOT mark. Top
up if the level drops to the
ADD mark with ATF fluid.
See page 116.
Engine oil - level should be
between the dipstick marks.
The distance between the
marks represents approx. 1
US qts. (1 liter). See page
108.
Brake fluid - check,
without removing the cap,
that the level is above the
MIN mark. Use brake fluid
DOT 4+. See page 116.
Washer fluid - reservoir
should be filled with water
and solvent (wintertime:
windshield washer anti-
freeze). See page 119.
Octane rating, see page 55.
Tire pressure, see label located on
the rear edge of the right front
door.
Bulbs Power Socket US Bulb
No.
1 70 W HB3/9005
2 60 W HB4/90006
3 5W BA 15
s 67
4 21 W BA 15
s 1156
5 21/5
W BAY
15 d
1157
6 21 W BAU
15 s –
7 21/5
W BAY
15d
1157NA
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