1998 VOLVO V90 maintenance

1998 Volvo S90
VOLVO
S90 & V90
1998
This manual deals with the operation and care of your Volvo
Welcome to the worldwide 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
comfort in mind. To help ensure your
satisfaction with this vehicle, we encourage
you to familiarize yourself with the equipment
descriptions, operating instructions and
maintenance requirements/recommendations
in this manual. We also urge you and your
passengers to wear seat belts at all times in this
(or any other) automobile. And, of course,
please do not operate a vehicle if you may be
affected by alcohol, medication or any
impairment that could hinder your ability to
drive. Your Volvo is designed to meet all applicable
safety and emission standards, as evidenced by
the certification labels attached to the driver's
door opening and on the left wheel housing in
the engine compartment.
For further information please contact your
retailer, or:
In the USA:
Volvo Cars of North America
Customer Support
P.O. Box 914
Rockleigh, New Jersey 07647-0914
800-458-1552
In Canada:
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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
WARNING!
As its name implies, SRS is designed to be a
SUPPLEMENT to - not a replacement for - the
three-point belt system. For maximum
protection, wear seat belts at all times. Be
aware that no system can prevent all possible
injuries that may occur in an accident.
VOLVO SRS (cont.) pg. 5
A self-diagnostic system incorporated in the sensor
monitors the SRS. This system does not, however,
monitor the SIPS airbags. If a fault is detected, the
"SRS" warning light will illuminate. The light is
included in the warning/indicator light cluster in the
instrument panel. Normally, the SRS warning lamp
should light up when the ignition is switched on
and should go out after 10 seconds or when the
engine is started. Check that this light is
functioning properly every time the car is started.

The following items are monitored by all the self-
diagnostic system:
l Sensor unit
l Cable harness
There is no maintenance to perform on the SRS
yourself. The only periodic 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 system
(wiring, connectors, etc.) should also be inspected
at this time. The SRS decal on your car shows the
month and year servicing is due. This service must
be performed by an authorized Volvo retailer.
Should you have any questions about the SRS
system, please contact your authorized Volvo
Retailer or Volvo Customer Support.
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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
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
(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
function) and the vehicle should
be driven to a Volvo retailer for
inspection.
The Anti-lock Braking System
(ABS) helps to improve vehicle
control (stopping and steering)
during severe braking conditions
by limiting brake lock-up. When
the system "senses" impending
lock-up, braking pressure is
automatically modulated in
order to help prevent lockup,
which could lead to a skid. brake application feels normal.
This should also be done after
washing or starting in very damp
or cold weather.
Trailer towing pg. 68
When preparing for
trailer towing, observe
the following:


l Volvo recommends the use of
Volvo trailer hitches which are
specially designed 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 transmission oil cooler as
standard equipment. This cooler
helps prevent overheating of the
transmission during 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" ball -
3300 lbs (1500 kg), 1 7/8" ball -
2000 lbs (908 kg).
WARNING! Never connect a
trailer's hydraulic brake
system directly to the vehicle
brake system, nor a trailer's
lighting system directly to the
vehicle lighting system.
Consult your nearest
authorized Volvo retailer for
correct installation.


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 take
into consideration:
l Recommended hitch tongue
load is 110 lbs (50 kgs) for
trailer weights below 2,650 lbs
(1,200 kgs) and 165 lbs (75 kgs)
for trailer weights above 2,650
lbs (1,200 kgs).
l For trailer weights between
2,650-3,300 lbs (1,200-1,500

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 brake 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 over long distances or in
mountainous areas.
l The trailer hitch tongue load
(110/165 lbs - 50/75 kg) is part
of the vehicle's capacity weight.
It may be necessary to reduce the
trunk/cargo area load when
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1998 Volvo S90
Chapter 8 - Volvo Service
pg. 103
Service - an investment
An investment which will pay dividends in the form of improved reliabili\
ty,
durability, and resale value.
Label information pg. 104
Maintenance service, Warranty pg. 105
Maintenance schedule pg. 106
Engine oil pg. 108
Servicing pg. 110
Fuel/emissions systems pg. 112
Engine compartment pg. 114
Lubrication, body pg. 115
Power steering fluid, brake fluid pg. 116
Drive belt pg. 117
Cooling system pg. 118
Washer fluid reservoir/nozzles pg. 119
Label information
pg. 104
1 Vehicle
Identification
Number
(VIN)*
VIN plate is
located on
top left
surface of
dashboard.
The VIN is
also stamped
on the right
hand door
pillar.

2 Vehicle
Emission
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