exhaust emission control systems on your car, lead has been strongly linked to certain forms of cancer.
Many fuels contain benzene as a solvent. Unburned benzene has been strongly linked to certain forms of cancer. If you
live in an area where you must fill your own gas tank, take precautions. These may include:
standing upwind away from the filler nozzle while refueling
refueling only at gas stations with vapor recovery systems that fully seal the mouth of the filler neck during refueling
wear neoprene gloves while handling a fuel filler nozzle.
Use of Additives
With the exception of gas line antifreeze during winter months, do not add solvents, thickeners, or other store -bought
additives to your car's fuel, cooling, or lubricating systems. Overuse may damage your engine, and some of these
additives contain organically volatile chemicals. Do not needlessly expose yourself to these chemicals.
pg. 68 Refueling
Refueling
The fuel tank is designed to hold approximately 21.1 US gal. (80 liters) with sufficient volume left over to
accommodate possible expansion of the fuel in hot weather. Be aware that the "usable" tank capacity will be somewhat
less than the specified maximum. When the fuel level is low, such factors as ambient temperature, the fuel's "Reid
vapor pressure" characteristics, and terrain can affect the fuel pumps' ability to supply the engine with an adequate
supply 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.
Fuel filler door
Press the button on the light switch panel (see illustration on page 30
) when the car is at a standstill to unlock the fuel
filler door. Please note that the fuel filler door will remain unlocked until the car is driven again at a speed of over
approximately 5 mpg (8km/h). An audible click ill be heard when the fuel filler door relocks.
If you intend to leave your car while it is being refueled, this feature enables you to lock the doors/trunk while leaving
the fuel filler door unlocked.
You can also keep the car locked if you remain inside it during refueling. The central locking button does not lock the
fuel filler door. Be sure the fuel filler door is not obstructed and is completely closed after refueling.
Open the fuel filler cap slowly during hot weather conditions.
NOTE: During a transitional period, a small number of service stations may still have fuel nozzles that are not
compatible with the fuel filler neck on cars equipped with the evaporative control system. Please refer to page 111
for
additional information.
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CAUTION:
· Do not refuel with the engine running *. Turn the ignition off or to position I. If the ignition is on, an incorrect
reading could occur in the fuel gauge.
· After refueling, close the fuel filler cap by turning it clockwise until it clicks into place *.
· Allow for fuel expansion by not overfilling the tank. Overfilling could also cause damage to the emission control
systems.
· Avoid spilling gasoline during refueling. In addition to causing damage to the environment, gasolines containing
alcohol can cause damage to painted surfaces, which may not be covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
· Do not use gasolines 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.
* If the fuel filler cap is not closed tightly or if the engine is running when the car is refueled, the Check Engine
Light (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) may indicate a fault. However, your vehicle's performance will not be affected.
Use only Volvo original or approved fuel filler caps.
pg. 69 Starting the engine
Starting the engine
1. Fasten the seat belt.
WARNING!
Before starting, check that the seat, steering wheel and mirrors are adjusted properly. Make sure the brake pedal can
be depressed completely. Adjust the seat if necessary. See page 48
.
2. Apply the parking brake, if not already set. The gear selector is locked in the (P)ark position (SHIFTLOCK).
3. Without touching the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key* to the starting position. Allow the starter to operate
for up to 5 seconds (turbo: 10 seconds). Release the key as soon as the engine starts. If the engine fails to start, repeat
this step.
For cold starts at altitudes above 6000 ft (1800 meters), depress the accelerator pedal halfway and turn the key to the
starting position. Release the pedal slowly when the engine starts.
4. To release the gear selector from the (P)ark position, the engine must be running (or the ignition key must be in
position II) and the brake pedal must be depressed.
5. Select the desired gear. The gear engages after a very slight delay which is especially noticeable when selecting R.
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.
· When starting in cold weather, the transmission may shift up at slightly higher engine speeds than normal until the
automatic transmission fluid reaches normal operating temperature.
CAUTION :
· The engine should be idling when you move the gear selector. Never accelerate until after you feel the transmission
engage! Accelerating immediately after selecting a gear will cause harsh gear engagement and premature transmission
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wear.
· Selecting P or N when idling at a standstill for prolonged periods of time will help prevent overheating of the
automatic transmission fluid.
· Do not race a cold engine immediately after starting. Oil flow may not reach some lubrication points fast enough to
prevent engine damage.WARNING!
· Always place the gear selector in Park and apply the parking brake before leaving the vehicle. Never leave the car
unattended with the engine running.
· Always open the garage doors fully before starting the engine inside a garage to ensure adequate ventilation. The
exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, which is invisible and odorless but very
poisonous.
* Your car is equipped with an electronic start inhibitor (immobilizer). The keys you received with your car are
specially coded. The code in the key is transmitted to an antenna in the ignition switch where it is compared to the
code stored in the start inhibitor module. The car can only be started if a properly coded key is used.
If two of the keys to your car are close together, e.g., on the same key ring, when you try to start the car, this could
cause interference in the immobilizer system and result in the car not starting. If this should occur, remove one of the
keys from the key ring before trying to start the car again.
pg. 70 Automatic transmission
P (Park)
Use this position when starting the engine or parking the car.
Never use P while the car is in motion.
The parking brake should also be set whenever the car is parked.
The gear selector is mechanically locked in the P position (SHIFTLOCK). To release the gear selector from this
position, the engine must be running (or the ignition key must be in position II) and the brake pedal must be
depressed. WARNING!
Never leave the car unattended when the engine is running. If, by mistake, the gear selector is moved from P, the car
may start moving.
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R (Reverse)
Never engage R while the car is moving forward.
N (Neutral)
Neutral - no gear engaged. Use the parking brake.
D (Drive)
D is the normal driving position and should be used as often as possible to help improve fuel economy. The car should
not be moving when shifting from R to the D position.
3 (Intermediate gear)
The transmission will shift automatically between gears 3, 2 or 1 from this position. The transmission cannot shift up
to (D)rive (D) from third gear.
2 (Intermediate gear)
The transmission will shift automatically between gears 2 and 1 from this position. The transmission cannot shift up
to third gear from second gear.
1 (Low gear)
If you select this gear at speeds above 30 mph (50 km/h), the transmission will first shift to second gear and then to
first gear at lower speeds.
NOTE: The intermediate and low gears can be used for:
· Driving in a mountainous area
· Towing a trailer
· Increasing the braking effect of the engine.
· The transmission has a built-in limiter designed to help prevent excessive engine speeds (high rpm) when gears 3,2 or
1 are selected.
Kickdown
Automatic shift to a lower gear (kickdown) is achieved by depressing the accelerator pedal fully and briskly. An
upshift will occur when approaching the top speed for a particular gear or by releasing the accelerator pedal slightly.
Kickdown can be used for maximum accelera-tion or when passing at highway speeds.
Automatic transmission - adaptive system
The automatic transmission is controlled by an adaptive guidance system that constantly monitors the way in which the
transmission functions. It senses and adapts each gear shift for optimal performance. The system also monitors your
particular driving style and adapts gear shifting accordingly.
pg. 71 Automatic transmission
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Automatic transmission - shift gate positions
The gear selector can be moved freely between N and D.
Depressing the selector knob enables you to move the gear selector to positions P, R, N, D, 3, 2 and 1.
W Winter/Wet driving mode - enhanced vehicle traction
· Mode W will only function if the gear selector is in the (D)rive position.
· Press the button at the base of the gear selector to engage/disengage this driving mode (see illustration).
· An LED in the button will light up to indicate that W is engaged and this will also be displayed in the instrument
panel (see page 23
).
· This mode may be selected for starting/moving off on slippery roads.
pg. 72 Automatic transmission (Geartronic)
P (Park)
Use this position when starting the engine or parking the car.
Never use P while the car is in motion.
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The parking brake should also be used when parking on grades.
The gear selector is mechanically locked in the P position (SHIFTLOCK). To release the gear selector from this
position, the engine must be running (or the ignition key must be in position II) and the brake pedal must be
depressed.WARNING!
Never leave the car unattended when the engine is running. If, by mistake, the gear selector is moved from P, the car
may start moving.
R (Reverse)
Never engage R while the car is moving forward.
N (Neutral)
Neutral - no gear engaged. Use the parking brake.
D (Drive)
D is the normal driving position and should be used as often as possible to help improve fuel economy. The car should
not be moving when shifting from R to the D position.
Kickdown
Automatic shift to a lower gear (kickdown) is achieved by depressing the accelerator pedal fully and briskly. An
upshift will occur when approaching the top speed for a particular gear or by releasing the accelerator pedal slightly.
Kickdown can be used for maximum acceleration or when passing at highway speeds. Kickdown does not function
when the transmission is in the manual shift (geartronic) mode (see next page).
Shift gate positions
Automatic transmission - adaptive system
The automatic transmission is controlled by an adaptive control system that constantly monitors the way in which the
transmission functions. It senses and adapts each gear shift for optimal performance. The system also monitors your
particular driving style and adapts gear shifting accordingly.
Automatic transmission - shift gate positions
You can move the gear selector freely between the (MAN) ual and (D)rive positions while driving.
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Depress the selector knob on the front side of the gear selector to move between the R, N, D and P positions.
Please see the following page for information on using the Geartronic manual shift mode.
pg. 73 Automatic transmission (Geartronic)
Manual shifting - Geartronic
You can move the gear selector freely between the (MAN)ual and (D)rive positions while driving. Gears 2, 3, and 4
have a "lock -up" function which reduces engine speed and helps save fuel.
The currently selected gear will be displayed in the instrument panel (see page 23
).
· To access the (MAN)ual shifting position from (D)rive, pull the gear selector back slightly from D and move it to the
left to MAN.
· To return to the (D)rive position from MAN, move the gear selector to the right and push it forward to the (D)rive
position.
While driving
If you select the (MAN)ual position while driving, the gear that was being used in the (D)rive position will also
initially be selected in (MAN)ual position.
· Move the gear selector forward (toward "+") to shift to a higher gear or rearward (toward "-") to shift to a lower gear.
· If you hold the gear selector toward "-", the transmission will downshift, one gear at a time, and will utilize the
braking power of the engine. If the current speed is too high for using a lower gear, the downshift will not occur until
the speed has decreased enough to allow the lower gear to be used.
· If you slow down to a very low speed, the transmission will automatically shift down.
· When starting in the (MAN)ual position, 3rd gear is the highest gear that may be selected.
NOTE: Kickdown (see previous page) does not function when the transmission is in the manual shift (geartronic)
mode.
W Winter/Wet driving mode - enhanced vehicle traction
· Mode W will only function if the gear selector is in the (D)rive position.
· Press the button at the base of the gear selector to engage/disengage this driving mode (see illustration).
· An LED in the button will light up to indicate that W is engaged and this will also be displayed in the instrument
panel (see page 23
).
· This mode may be selected for starting/moving off on slippery roads.
pg. 74 Driving economy
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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:
· 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.
· Whenever possible, avoid using the car for driving short distances. This does not allow the engine to reach normal
operating temperature.
· Drive carefully and avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking.
· Do not exceed posted speed limits.
· Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra load) in the car.
· Maintan correct tire pressure. Check tire pressure regularly (when tires are cold).
· Remove snow tires when threat of snow or ice has ended.
· Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc., increase air resistance and also fuel consumption.
· Avoid using automatic transmission kickdown feature unless necessary.
· However, at higher driving speeds, fuel consumption will be lower with the air conditioning on and the windows
closed than with the air conditioning off and the windows open.
· Using the onboard trip computer's fuel consumption modes can help you learn how to drive more economically.
Other factors which decrease gas mileage are:
· Worn or dirty spark plugs
· Incorrect spark plug gap
· Dirty air cleaner
· Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter
· Dragging brakes
· Incorrect front end alignment
Some of the above mentioned items and others are checked at the standard Maintenance Service intervals.
NOTE: Vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions should use (D)rive as often as possible and avoid using
"kickdown" to help improve fuel economy.
Cooling system
The risk for engine overheating is greatest, especially in hot weather, when:
· Towing a trailer up steep inclines for prolonged periods at wide open throttle and low engine rpm.
· Stopping the engine suddenly after high speed driving (so-called "after-boiling" can occur).
· To avoid overheating, the following rules should be followed: Do not drive for prolonged periods at engine speeds
above 4500 rpm if you are towing a trailer in hilly terrain.
· Reduce speed when towing a trailer up long, steep inclines. The risk of overheat -ing can be reduced by switching off
the air conditioning system for a short time.
· Do not let the engine idle unnecessarily for prolonged periods.
· Do not mount auxiliary lamps in front of the grill. When the risk of overheating is imminent, or in the event of
overheating (the temperature gauge goes repeatedly into, or stays continual-ly in, the red section), the following
precau-tions should be taken:
· Switch off the air conditioning system.
· Pull off the road, away from traffic, stop the car and put the gear selector into Park. Do not stop the engine!
· Switch the heater to full (maximum) position. Increase the engine speed to approx. 2000 rpm (twice idling speed)
until the temperature begins to drop.
· If the warning light in the center of the instrument panel is red, and the message "Coolant level lo stop engine" is
displayed, switch off the engine as soon as possible.
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