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
The warning lights described on pages 18 and 19 should never stay on whe\
n driving
When the ignition key is turned on, and before the engine starts, all of\
the warning lights should be on
to test the function of the bulbs. Should a light not go off after the e\
ngine has started, the system
indicated should be inspected. However, the parking brake reminder light\
will not go off until the
parking brake is fully released.
Generator warning
light
If the light comes on while the
engine is running, have the
charging system checked.
Malfunction
indicator lamp
If the lamp comes on (or stays
on after the vehicle has started),
the engine diagnostic system
has detected a possible fault in
the emission control system.
Although driveability may not
be affected, see an authorized
Volvo retailer as soon as
possible for inspection.
NOTE:If the fuel filler cap is
not closed tightly or if the
engine is running when the car
is refueled, the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp may indicate a
fault. Use only Volvo original
or approved fuel filler caps.
Oil pressure warning
light
If the light comes on while
driving, stop the car and then s
If the light stays on after restart,
have the car towed to the
nearest authorized Volvo
retailer. After hard driving, the
light may come on occasionally
when the engine is idling. This
is normal, provided it goes off
when the engine speed is
increased.
Parking brake
reminder light
This light will be on when the
parking brake (hand brake) is
applied. The parking brake
lever is situated between the
front seats. Canadian models
are equipped with this warning
light:
Brake failure
warning light
If the light comes on while
driving or braking, stop
immediately, open the hood and
check the brake fluid level in the
reservoir. See page 114 for
reservoir position.
Canadian models are equipped
with this warning light:
WARNING!
If the level is below the MIN
mark in either section of the
reservoir: DO NOT DRIVE.
Tow the car to a Volvo
retailer and have the brake
system checked and any
leakage repaired.
Warning lights (cont.) pg. 19
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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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1998 Volvo S90
Volvo allows the use of the
following "oxygenated fuels";
however, the octane ratings
listed on this page must still be
met. of fuel. Therefore, it is
advisable to refuel as soon as
possible when the needle nears
the red zone, or when the fuel
warning light comes on.
Driving economy pg. 56
Economical driving
conserves natural
resources
Better driving economy may be
obtained by thinking ahead,
avoiding rapid starts and stops
and adjusting the speed of your
vehicle to immediate traffic
conditions. Observe the
following rules:
l Bring the engine to normal
operating temperature as soon
as possible by driving with a
light foot on the accelerator
pedal for the first few minutes
of operation. A cold engine
uses more fuel and is subject to
increased wear.
l Whenever possible, avoid
using the car for driving short
distances. This does not allow
the engine to reach normal
operating temperature.
l Drive carefully and avoid
rapid acceleration and hard
braking.
l Do not exceed speed limit.
l Avoid carrying unnecessary
items (extra load) in the car.
l Check tire pressure regularly
l Remove snow tires when
threat of snow or ice has ended.
l Note that roof racks, ski
racks, etc., increase air
resistance and thereby fuel
consumption.
l Avoid using automatic
transmission kick-down feature
unless necessary.
l Avoid using the air
conditioning when it is not
required. When engaged, the
air conditioner's compressor
places places an additional load
on the engine. However, please
note that fuel consumption is
lower with the air conditioning
on than it is when driving with
the air conditioning switched
off and the windows down.
Other factors which decrease
gas mileage are:
l Worn or dirty spark plugs
l Incorrect spark plug gap
l Dirty air cleaner
l Dirty engine oil and clogged
oil filter
l Dragging brakes
l Incorrect front end alignment
Some of the above mentioned
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1998 Volvo S90
(check when tires are cold). items and others are checked at
the standard Maintenance
Service intervals.
NOTE: Since using (D)rive
improves fuel economy, it
should be used as often as
possible.
Starting the engine pg. 57
Starting and stopping a
car equipped with
automatic transmission
1 Fasten the seat belt.
WARNING! Before
starting, check that the seat
is adjusted properly. Make
sure the brake pedal can be
depressed completely. Move
the seat closer if necessary.
Refer to section "Front
seats".
2 Apply the parking brake, if
not already set. The gear
selector is locked in the (P)ark
position (SHIFTLOCK).
3Without touching the
accelerator pedal ,turn the
ignition key to the starting
position. Allow the starter to
operate for 5-10 seconds.
Release the key as soon as the
engine starts. If the engine fails
to start, repeat step 3.
5 Select desired gear. The gear
engages after a slight delay,
especially noticeable when
selecting R.
CAUTION: Engine should
be idling; never accelerate
until after you feel the gear
engage! Too rapid
acceleration immediately
after selecting a gear will
cause harsh engagement and
premature transmission
wear.
NOTE:Your car is equipped
with a KEYLOCK system.
When the engine is switched
off, the gear selector must be in
the (P)ark position before the
key can be removed from the
ignition switch.
Engine warm-up - initial
driving procedure
Engines in vehicles driven short
distances are subject to
abnormally rapid wear because
the engine never reaches normal
operating temperature. It is
therefore beneficial to reach
normal operating temperature as
soon as possible. This is best
achieved by driving with a light
foot on the accelerator pedal for
a few minutes after starting,
rather than prolonged idling.
B6304 S Engine
This engine features hydraulic
valve lifters which means that
valve clearance is adjusted
automatically. It is possible that
the valve lifters will produce a
ticking sound for the first few
seconds after the engine is
started, while the oil pressure is
increasing.
If the car has not been used for a
long period of time, this ticking
sound may last for up to 15
minutes. This is entirely normal.
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1998 Volvo S90
obtained by depressing the
selector knob prior to moving
the selector.
Slightly depressing the selector
knob allows selection of
positions N, D, 3 and L. Fully
depressing the selector knob
allows selection of positions R
and P. This is also necessary
when initially bringing the
selector out of position P. Fully
depressing the selector knob
thus permits shifting freely
between all positions.Mode selector
The push-buttons to the left of
the gear lever are for selection of
modes E, S and W. Any mode
can be selected while the car is
on the move.
Winter/Wet mode
Enhanced Vehicle Traction
This mode may be selected for
starting/moving off on slippery
roads or to lower downshift
speeds if the transmission is in
"L".
In this mode:
l In position D*, the gearbox
starts in third gear and changes
up to fourth gear.
l In position 3*, second gear is
locked and there is no change up
to third gear.
l In position L, first gear is
locked.
*These positions always offer
the kick-down feature.
CAUTION: Driveability and
fuel economy will be
adversely affected by
prolonged driving in mode W .
Volvo recommends using this
mode only when starting in
extremely slippery conditions.
Sport Mode
This mode is adapted to "sporty"
driving characteristics. The
transmission upshifts at higher
engine speeds and less
accelerator pedal pressure is
required to initiate a downshift.
Economy Mode
This mode is used normally. The
gearbox changes gears at a
lower engine speed to achieve
the best possible fuel
consumption.
"Lock-up"
The automatic gearbox has a
"lock-up" function. It reduces
engine speed and saves fuel. The
"lock-up" function can
sometimes be felt as an
additional gear change.
Points to remember pg. 60
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1998 Volvo S90
disconnected, the code must
be re-entered before the radio
will function properly.
Points to remember pg. 62
Weight distribution affects
handling
At the specified curb weight
your car has a tendency to
understeer, which means that the
steering wheel has to be turned
more than might seem
appropriate for the curvature of
a bend. This ensures good
stability and reduces the risk of
rear wheel skid. Remember that
these properties can alter with
the vehicle load. The heavier the
load in the trunk, the less the
tendency to understeer.
Handling, roadholding
Vehicle load, tire design, and
inflation pressure, all affect
vehicle handling. Therefore,
check that the tires are inflated
to the recommended pressure
according to the vehicle load.
See "Tire pressure" section.
Loads should be distributed so
that capacity weight or
maximum permissible axle loads
are not exceeded.
WARNING!
An extra mat on the driver's
floor can cause the
accelerator pedal to catch.
Check that the movement of
the accelerator pedal is not
impeded. Not more than one
protective floor covering may
be used at one time.
CAUTION: Drive slowly and
carefully if going through
standing water (i.e. flooded
roadways, etc.). Damage to
engine could result if excess
water is ingested through the air
intake system. Never drive the
vehicle in water deeper than 1
foot (300 mm). See the flood
warning on page 7.
WARNING! Do not drive
with trunk lid or tailgate
open!
Poisonous exhaust gases may
enter via the trunk lid or
tailgate.
If the trunk lid/tailgate must
be kept open for any reason,
proceed as follows:
l Close the windows.
l Set the ventilation system
Roof rails/racks
Roof rails are standard
equipment on wagon models.
Load bars are available as a
retailer installed option on the
sedan models. Observe the
following points when is use:
l Avoid single-point loads.
Distribute the load evenly.
l Place heavier cargo at bottom
of load.
l Observe that center of gravity
and handling are influenced by
load weight.
l Increasing load size increases
wind resistance and, thus,
adversely affects fuel economy.
l Anchor the cargo correctly
with appropriate tie-down
equipment.
l Drive carefully. Avoid rapid
starts, fast cornering and hard
braking.
l Max. roof load is 220 lbs.
(100 kg) for removable racks.
For permanent roof racks, check
the manufacturers weight
specifications.
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1998 Volvo S90
Observe legal requirements of
the state in which the vehicles
are registered.
WARNING! Bumper-
attached trailer hitches must
not be used on Volvos, nor
should safety chains be
attached to the bumper.
Trailer hitches attaching to
the vehicle rear axle must
not be used. kgs) a top speed of 50 mph (80
km/h) should never be
exceeded.
l Increase tire pressure to
recommended full-load
pressure. See section "Wheels
and tires".
l Engine and transmission are
subject to increased loads.
Therefore, engine coolant
temperature should be closely
watched when driving in hot
climates or hilly terrain. Use
lower gear and turn off air
conditioner if temperature gauge
pointer enters the red range.
towing a trailer to ensure that the
max. permissible axle load or
gross vehicle weight are not
exceeded.
NOTE: Refer to section
"Automatic transmission" for
additional trailer hauling tips.
Winter driving pg. 69
Cold weather precautions
l If you wish to check your car before the
approach of cold weather, the following advice is
worth noting:
Make sure that the engine coolant contains at least
50 percent antifreeze: that is, 5.3 qts. (5 liters)
Volvo Genuine Coolant/Antifreeze. This gives
protection against freezing down to -31°F (-35°
C). See section "Coolant".
The use of "recycled" antifreeze is not approved
by Volvo. Different types of antifreeze may not be
mixed.
l Try to keep the fuel tank well filled - this
prevents the formation of condensation in the
tank.
In addition in extremely cold weather conditions it
is worthwhile to add fuel line de-icer before
refueling.
l The viscosity of the engine oil is important. Oil
with low viscosity (thinner oil) improves cold-
weather starting as well as decreasing fuel
consumption while the engine is warming up. For
winter use, 5W-30 oil, particularly the synthetic
type, is recommended.
Be sure to use good quality oil but do not use this
l The Volvo Washer Solvent should be diluted as
follows:
Down to 14°F (-10°C): 1 part anti-freeze and 4
parts water
Down to 5°F (-15°C): 1 part anti-freeze and 3
parts water
Down to 0°F (-18°C): 1 part anti-freeze and 2
parts water
Down to -18°F (-28°): 1 part anti-freeze and 1
part water
l Use lock spray or grease in the locks.
NOTE: Avoid the use of de-icing spray as they
can cause damage to the locks.
Automatic differential lock (certain
models)
The differential automatically locks at speed
between 3 - 25 mph (5 - 40 km/h) if either of the
drive wheels begins to lose traction. The
differential lock improves power distribution to
the drive wheels in slippery conditions, shifting
power to the wheel with best traction. It also
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