
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
characteristic and does not
indicate fire. area above the glove
compartment) or the area
affected by air bag
deployment (see
illustration).
l There should be no loose
articles, e.g. coffee cups,
on the floor, seat or dash
area.
l Never try to open the
SRS cover on the steering
wheel or the passenger
side SRS hatch. This
should only be done by
an authorized Volvo
service technician.
l Failure to follow these
instructions can result in
injury to the vehicle
occupants in an accident.
VOLVO SRS (cont.) pg. 7
NOTE:The information on this page does not pertain
to the Side Impact Protection System airbags.
When are the airbags deployed?
The SRS system is designed to deploy during certain
frontal or front-angular collisions, impacts, or
decelerations, depending in the crash severity, angle,
speed, and object impacted. The SRS sensor is
designed to react to both the impact of the collision
and the inertial forces generated by it and to
determine if the intensity of the collision is sufficient
for the airbags to be deployed.
WARNING! The SRS is designed to help prevent
serious injury. Deployment occurs very quickly
and with considerable force. During normal
deployment and depending on variables such as
seating position, one may experience abrasions,
bruises, swellings, or other injuries as a result of
airbag(s) deployment.
Seat belts - the heart of the Volvo safety
system
The heart of the Volvo safety system is the three-
point seat belt (a Volvo invention)! In order for the
SRS system to provide the protection intended, seat
belts must be worn at all times by everyone in the car.
The SRS system is a supplement to the seat belts.
WARNING! If your car has been subjected to
flood conditions (e.g. soaked carpeting/standing
water on the floor of the vehicle) or if your car has
become flood-damaged in any way, do not
attempt to start the vehicle or put the key in the
ignition before disconnecting the battery (see
below). This may cause airbag deployment which
could result in personal injury. Have the car towed
to an authorized Volvo retailer for repairs.
Automatic transmission only:
Before attempting to tow the car, use the
following procedure to override the shiftlock
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1998 Volvo S90
SIPS airbag decal*
SIPS airbag (front seats only)
As an enhancement to the structural Side
Impact Protection System built into your
car, your car is also equipped with Side
Impact Protection System (SIPS) airbags.
The SIPS airbag system consists of airbag
modules built into the sides of both front
seat backrests (1), cables (2) from these
modules to the mechanical sensor units (3)
and gas generators (4).
The SIPS airbag system is designed to help
increase occupant protection in the event of
certain side impact collisions. The SIPS
airbags are designed to deploy only during
certain side-impact collisions, depending on
the crash severity, angle, speed, and point of
impact. The airbags are not designed to
deploy in all side impact situations.
covers may be
used. The use of
non-approved
aftermarket seat
covers may impede
SIPS airbag
deployment.
l No objects,
accessory
equipment or
stickers may be
placed on, attached
to or installed near
the SIPS airbag
system or in the
area affected by
SIPS airbag
deployment (see
illustration to the
right above).
l Never try to open
or repair any
components of the
SIPS airbag system.
This should only be
done by an
authorized Volvo
service technician.
l For best protection
from the SIPS
airbag system, both
front seat occupants
should sit in an
upright position
with the seat belt
properly fastened.
NOTE: SIPS airbag
deployment (one airbag)
occurs only on the side of
the vehicle affected by the
impact.
WARNING!
l Never drive with the
airbags deployed. The
fact that they hang out
can impair the steering
of your car. Other
safety systems can
also be damaged. The
smoke and dust
formed when the
airbags are deployed
can cause skin and eye
irritation in the event
of prolonged
exposure.
l If your car has been
subjected to flood
conditions (e.g.
soaked carpeting/
standing water on the
floor of the vehicle) or
if your car has become
flood-damaged in any
way, do not attempt to
start the vehicle or put
the key in the ignition
before disconnecting
the battery. This may
cause airbag
deployment which
could result in
personal injury. Have
the car towed to an
authorized Volvo
retailer for repairs.
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1998 Volvo S90
lock, the cruise control will
disengage automatically.
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning pg. 25
ECC - Electronic Climate Control
This is an automatic system that also permits
manual operation. The in-car temperature is
automatically monitored by two sensors located in
the passenger compartment.
One sensor is located on the top of the dashboard
where it can sense sunlight. The second sensor is
located on the courtesy light fixture where it can
sense the temperature in the center of the car. The
following pages describe how ECC works and
how it can be used most effectively.
Refrigerant
Volvo cares about the environment. The air
conditioning system in your car contains a CFC-
free refrigerant - R134a. This substance will not
deplete the ozone layer. The system contains 2 lbs
(0.9 kg) R134a and uses Sanden SP-20 (type
PAG) oil.
Air vents (dash)
A Open
B Closed
C Directing air flow horizontally
D Directing air flow vertically
NOTE:All maintenance on the climate control
systems should be carried out by an authorized
Volvo service technician only.
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (cont.) pg. 26
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1998 Volvo S90
ECC - Electronic Climate Control panelBlower
0= off
5= max speed
aut = blower speed
automatically
regulated Function
selector
Set desired
function
aut = normal
settingTemperature dial
Set desired
temperature
Function selector
AUT =Air distribution
automatically regulated
Air through panel
vents
Defrost. Air to
windshield and side
windows.
Air to floor,
windshield and side
windows.
Air through floor
vents.
Bi-level. Air through
floor and panel vents. Air
supplied from panel vents is
slightly colder than air
released at foot level.
Air in the passenger
compartment recirculates with
this button depressed. Will not
function in defrost setting. Light
is on when recirculation is
active* The air conditioning
system is ON when this button is
depressed (the light will be on). The
light has two functions:
l air conditioning *
l fault in system (see next page)
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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
heating positions.
Water under the vehicle in hot weather
can be the result of condensation from
the air conditioning system.
Optimum defrosting
Set the function dial to
.
The air conditioning light will NOT go
on.
When the windows have cleared, set the
blower control to position 2.
conditions, heavy rain, sleet,
etc., it may be better to use
the manual rather than the
automatic setting to defrost
the windows. Set the mode
selector to "Defrost" or
"Defrost/floor" and the fan
speed to 3 or higher. Also
shut the middle air vents. NOTE:
l Do not place any
objects over the
sensor in the
passenger side
speaker grille as
this will cause the
ECC system to
respond incorrectly
to ambient
conditions.
l To help maintain
stable passenger
compartment
temperature when
driving with the sun
roof or windows
open, place the
blower control in
position "0" and
adjust the desired
temperature
manually.
l The air
conditioning
compressor only
engages at
temperatures above
41°F (5°C).
l Always keep the air
intake grille at the
base of the
windshield free of
snow.
Contents | Top of Page
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1998 Volvo S90
NOTE: Do not add additives yourself to the
gasoline, unless you are recommended to do so
by an authorized Volvo retailer.
Fuel requirements, Refueling pg. 55
Octane Rating
Volvo engines are designed for
optimum performance on
unleaded premium gasoline
with an octane rating, AKI of
91, or above. AKI (ANTI
KNOCK INDEX) is an average
of the Research Octane
Number, RON, and the Motor
Octane Number, MON, (RON
+ MON/ 2).
The minimum octane
requirement is AKI 87 (RON
91).
Gasoline Containing
Alcohol and Ethers
"Oxygenated fuels"
Some fuel suppliers sell
gasoline containing
"oxygenates" which are usually
alcohols or ethers. In some
areas, state or local laws
require that the service pump
be marked indicating use of
alcohol or ethers. However,
there are areas in which the
pumps are unmarked. If you are
not sure whether there is
alcohol or ethers in the gasoline
you buy, check with the service
station operator. To meet
seasonal air quality restrictions,
some states require the use of
"oxygenated" fuel in certain
areas.
Alcohol -- Ethanol
Fuels containing up to 10%
ethanol by volume may be
used.
Ethanol may also be referred to
as Ethyl alcohol, or "Gasohol".
Ethers -- MTBE
Fuels containing up to 15%
MTBE may be used.
Refueling
The fuel tank filler cap is
located behind the door on the
left rear fender. Open cap
slowly during hot weather
conditions.
When filling, position the cap
in the special bracket on the
door.
After filling the tank, install the
cap and turn until a "click" is
heard.
The fuel tank is designed to
hold approximately 21.1 US
gals (80 liters) with sufficient
volume left over to
accommodate possible
expansion of the fuel in hot
weather. The "usable" capacity
is 20.3 US gallons (77 liters).
When the fuel level is low,
such factors as ambient
temperature, the fuel's "vapor
pressure" characteristics, and
terrain can affect the fuel
pumps' ability to supply the
engine with an adequate supply CAUTION:
l Avoid spilling gasoline during
refueling. Gasolines containing
alcohol can cause damage to
painted surfaces, which may not
be covered under the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
l Do not use gasoline
containing methanol (methyl
alcohol, wood alcohol). This
practice can result in vehicle
performance deterioration and
can damage critical parts in the
fuel system. Such damage may
not be covered under the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
l Allow for fuel expansion by
not overfilling the tank.
Overfilling could also cause
damage to the emission control
systems.
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