1999 VOLVO C70 Owners Manual

This manual deals with the operation and care of your Volvo.
Welcome to the world-wide 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.
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
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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 bringing us closer to our goal.
After Volvo cars and parts have fulfilled their use, recycling is the next critical step in completing the life cycle. The
metal content is about 75% of the total weight of the car, which makes the car among the most recycled industrial
products. In order to have efficient and well controlled recycling, many Volvo variants have printed dismantling
manuals indication the weight and material of individual components. For Volvo, all homogeneous plastic parts
weighing more than 1.7 oz. (50 grams)are marked with international symbols that indicate how the component is to be
sorted for recycling.
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:
Maintain proper air pressure in your tires. Tests have shown decreased fuel economy with improperly inflated
tires
Follow the recommended maintenance schedule
Drive at a constant speed
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
Properly dispose of any vehicle related waste such as used motor oil, used batteries, brake pads, etc.
When cleaning your car, use Volvo's own car care products, all of which have systematically been adapted to
the environment.
Contents
Important
Before you operate your car for the first time, please familiarize yourself with the BREAK-IN information on
page 56. You should also be familiar with the information in the first three chapters of this manual.
Information contained in the balance of the manual is extremely useful and should be studied after operating
the vehicle for the first time.
This manual is structured so that it can be used for reference. It should thus be kept in the car for ready access.
Do not export your Volvo to another country before investigating the country's applicable safety and exhaust
emission requirements. In some cases it may be difficult or impossible to comply with these requirements.
Modifications to the emission control system(s) may render your Volvo not certifiable for legal operation in the
U.S., Canada or other countries.
All information, illustrations and specifications contained in this manual are based on the latest product information
available at the time of publication. Volvo reserves the right to make model changes at any time, or to change
specifications or design, without notice and without incurring obligation.
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CAUTION: Certain models have reduced ground clearance due to the design of the front spoiler. Please observe
caution when e.g., driving onto garage hoists, through drifted snow or when other road debris is encountered, or
when parking near curbs
©1998 Volvo Cars of North America Inc.
Shiftlock (automatic transmission only)
When your car is parked, the gear selector is locked in the (P)ark position. To release the selector from this position,
turn the ignition key to position II (or start the engine), depress the brake pedal, press the button on the front side of the
gear selector and move the selector from (P)ark.
If it is necessary to manually override the shiftlock system:
Turn the starting (ignition) key to position I
Press firmly on the "SHIFTLOCK OVERRIDE" button located near the base of the gear selector.
While holding the override button down, press the button on the front of the gear selector.
Move the gear selector from the ( P)ark position.
Keylock (automatic transmission only)
This means that when you switch off the ignition, the gear selector must be in the (P)ark position before the starting
(ignition) key can be removed from the ignition switch.
Clutch interlock (manual transmission only)
The clutch must be fully depressed before you can start you car. If the clutch is not depressed, it will not be possible to
start the engine.
Anti -lock Brake System (ABS)
The ABS system in your car performs a self -diagnostic test when the vehicle first reaches the speed of approximately
12 mph (20 km/h). The brake pedal will pulsate several times and a sound may be audible from the ABS control
module. This is normal.
Fuel tank cover
The fuel tank cover is locked and must be popped open using the control on the driver's door.
Contents
Chapter 1 - Occupant safety1
Chapter 2 - Instruments, switches and controls15
Chapter 3 - Body and interior39
Chapter 4 - Starting and driving55
Chapter 5 - Wheels and tires75
Chapter 6 - In case of an emergency81
Chapter 7 - Car care99
Chapter 8 - Volvo Service105
Chapter 9 - Specifications123
Chapter 10 - Audio systems131
Index188
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Chapter 1 - Occupant safety
pg. 1 Occupant safety
Occupant safety
Despite our strongest recommendations, and your best intentions, not wearing a seat belt is like believing "It'll never
happen to me!". Volvo urges you and all adult occupants of your car to wear seat belts and ensure that children are
properly restrained, using an infant, car or booster seat determined by age, weight and height. Volvo also believes no
child should sit in the front seat of a car.
Fact: In every state and province, some type of child-restraint legislation has been passed. Additionally, most states
and provinces have already made it mandatory for occupants of a car to use seat belts.
So, urging you to "buckle up" is not just our recommendation - legislation in your state or province may mandate seat
belt usage. The few seconds it takes to buckle up may one day allow you to say, "It's a good thing I was wearing my
seat belt".
Seat belts2
Volvo SRS4
Side Impact Protection System - (SIPS) air bag8
Child safety9
Occupant safety12
Reporting Safety Defects12
pg. 2 Seat belts
Seat belts

Always fasten the seat belts before you drive or ride.
Two lights above the rear view mirror will be illuminated for 4-8 seconds after the starting (ignition) key is turned to
the driving position. A chime will sound at the same time if the driver has not fastened his seat belt. The rear seats are
provided with self -retracting inertia reel belts. The front seats are provided with single roller belts with tensioners.
Adjusting the shoulder belt
Lap portion of the seat belt should sit low
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To buckle:
Pull the belt out far enough to insert the latch plate into the receptacle (buckle for rear seats) until a distinct snapping
sound is heard. The seat belt retractor is normally "unlocked" and you can move freely, provided that the shoulder belt
is not pulled out too far. The retractor will lock up as follows:
if the belt is pulled out rapidly
during braking and acceleration
if the vehicle is leaning excessively
when driving in turns
For the seat belt to provide maximum protection in the event of an accident, it must be worn correctly. When wearing
the seat belt remember:
The belt should not be twisted or turned.
The lap belt must be positioned low on the hips (not pressing against the abdomen).
The shoulder section of the front seat belts adjusts automatically to the driver's height.
Make sure that the shoulder belt is rolled up into its retractor and that the shoulder and lap belts are taut.
Before exiting the car, check that the seat belt retracts fully after being unbuckled.
If necessary, guide the belt back into the retractor slot.
NOTE: Legislation in your state or province may mandate seat belt usage.
For information on securing child seats, please refer to page 10.

WARNING!
Any device used to induce slack into the shoulder belt portion of the three-point belt system will have a
detrimental effect on the amount of protection available to you in the event of a collision. The seat back should not
be tilted too far back. The shoulder belt must be taut in order to function properly.
Do not use child safety seats or child booster cushions/backrests in the front passenger's seat. We also recommend
that children who have outgrown these devices sit in the rear with the seat belt properly fastened.
The rear seat of the Volvo C70 is intended for two occupants only. Only two three-point seat belts are provided.
The center position should never be used to seat a passenger.
pg. 3 Seat belts
During pregnancy
Pregnant women should always wear seat belts. Remember that the belt should always be positioned in such a way as
to avoid any possible pressure on the abdomen. The lap portion of the belt should be located low, as shown in the
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above illustration.
WARNING!
The rear seat of the Volvo C70 is intended for two occupants only. Only two three-point seat belts are provided.
The center position should never be used to seat a passenger.
Never use a seat belt for more than one occupant.
Never wear the shoulder portion of the belt under the arm, behind the back or otherwise out of position. Such use
could cause injury in event of accident.
As the seat belts lose much of their strength when exposed to violent stretching, they should be replaced after any
collision, even if they may appear to be undamaged.
Never repair the belt on your own; have this done by an authorized Volvo retailer only.
Any device used to induce slack into the shoulder belt portion of the three-point belt system will have a
detrimental effect on the amount of protection available to you in the event of a collision.
The seat back should not be tilted too far back. The shoulder belt must be taut in order to function properly.

Contents | Top of Page
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Chapter 2 - Instruments, switches and controls
pg. 14 Instruments, switches and controlsClick on numbered item below for more information
pg. 15 Instruments, switches and controls
The pages in this section provide detailed descriptions of the vehicle's instruments and controls. Note that vehicles may
be equipped differently, depending on special legal requirements. Page
1 Air vents
33
2 Headlights, parking lights
20
3 Instrument illumination
22
4 Rear fog light
22
5 Front fog lights (optional)
22
6 Space for additional equipment
7 Space for additional equipment
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