
10 High beams on 
11 Fault in SRS system 
12 Brake circuit not working (brake fluid level  too low) and  EBD 
13 Battery  charge failure 
14 Parking brake applied  
15 Low oil pressure 
16 ABS  (anti-lock brakes)  malfunction 
17 Automatic transmission: position W,  4 or 3 or L 
18 Malfunction  indicator light 
19 Immobilizer  on 
20 Service Reminder  Indicator 
21 DSA  (option) 
22 High coolant  temperature warning light 
23 Low fuel warning light
Starting check 
After a  few seconds, all lights except 16 and  19 will go out. Once the engine starts, these lights will also go out.
* Indicates failure of a  brake light, not failure of the braking system (see item 12).
pg. 22 Warning lights
The warning lights described on pages 22 and 23 should never stay on when driving
When the ignition key  is turned on and  before the engine starts, all of the warning lights should go on to test the
function of the bulbs. Should a  light not go off after the engine has started, the system indicated should be  inspected.
However, the parking brake reminder light will not go off until the parking brake has been fully released.
 Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
If the light comes on (or stays on after the vehicle has started), the SRS diagnostic system has detected a  fault. Drive to
an  authorized Volvo retailer for an  inspection of the system. See  the SRS section for more information. 
Oil pressure warning light
If the light  comes on while driving,  stop the car and then stop the engine immediately and check  the engine oil
level . See  page 114.
 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: 
WARNING!
If the fluid level  is below  the lowest MIN  mark in the brake fluid reservoir: DO  NOT DRIVE. Tow the car to a
Volvo retailer and  have the brake system checked and  any  leakage repaired.
Brake failure warning light
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2 0 0 3 
VOLVO
S40 & V40
Chapter 4 - Starting and driving
pg. 61 Starting and driving
Starting and driving
This section on starting and  driving contains items such as starting the engine, operating the gear selector, towing,
trailers, etc.  Fuel requirements, Refueling
62
Driving economy64
Starting the engine65
Automatic transmission66
Points to remember68
Emergency towing70
Vehicle towing information71
Jump  starting, Proposition  65 Battery Warning72
Brake system, ABS73
Electronic Brake-Force  Distribution (EBD)74
Winter driving, Before a long distance trip75
Detachable trailer hitch, installing/removing76
Trailer towing78
pg. 62 Fuel  requirements
Deposit control (detergent) gasoline  
Volvo recommends the use of detergent gasoline to control engine deposits. Detergent  gasoline is effective in keeping
injectors  and  intake  valves clean. Consistent use of deposit control gasolines will help ensure good driveability and
fuel economy. If you are not sure whether the gasoline contains deposit control additives, check with the service
station operator.
Unleaded fuel  
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 Note  that roof racks, ski racks, etc., increase air resistance  and  thereby fuel consumption.
 Avoid using automatic  transmission kick-down feature unless necessary.
 Avoid using the air conditioning when it is not required. When engaged, the air conditioner's compressor 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.
 Utilizing the fuel consumption modes in the Trip Computer can help you "learn"  how to drive more economically.
Other factors  which decrease gas mileage are:
 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 : The automatic  transmission's ( D)rive position should be  used as often as possible to help improve fuel
economy.
WARNING!
It is recommended that tires of the same make and  dimensions be  used on all four wheels (including the use of
snow tires). Do not use bias ply tires as this  will adversely alter vehicle handling characteristics. Maintain correct tire
pressure.
 Do not drive with trunk lid open! A warning light in the instrument panel will indicate that the trunk is open.
Poisonous exhaust gases may enter via the open  trunk lid. If the trunk lid/tailgate must  be  kept open  for any  reason,
proceed as follows:
 Close the windows.
 Set the ventilation system control to air flow to floor,  windshield and  side windows and  blower control to its
highest setting.
pg. 65 Starting the engine
Starting and stopping
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.  Move the seat closer if necessary.  Refer to section "front seats".
2. Make sure the gear selector is in the Park position.
3. Without touching the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key  to the starting position. Allow the starter to operate
for up to 5 seconds. Release the key  as soon as the engine starts. If the engine fails to start, repeat  step 3. 
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. Depress the brake pedal and  release the parking
brake.
4. To release the gear selector from  the (P)ark position, the ignition key  must  be  in position II and  the brake pedal
must  be  depressed.
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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 starting key  can be  removed from  the ignition switch.
5. Select  the desired gear. The gear engages after a  slight delay which  is especially noticeable when selecting R.
CAUTION :
The 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 : Selecting P or N when idling at a  standstill for prolonged periods  of time will help prevent overheating of
transmission oil.
Ignition sleep mode
If the key  is turned to "drive" position (see page 26
) for several minutes without the engine running, the car's starting
system will power down to "sleep" mode. To start the car, momentarily turn the key  back to the "locked" position.
Then start the car as you would normally do.
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.
CAUTION:  
Never  race the engine immediately after starting.  Oil flow may not reach some lubricating points  fast  enough  to
prevent engine damage. 
Do not race the engine just prior to switching off!
pg. 66 Automatic transmission
Gear selector positions
P Park
The transmission must  be  in Park position to start the engine, and  to allow removal of the key  from  the ignition when
you leave the car. The car should be  stationary  when you select P! In the position P the transmission is mechanically
locked. Always apply the parking brake when parking!
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Shift lock 
In order to move the gear selector from  P position to the other gear positions the key  must  be  in driving position
(position II) and  the brake pedal must  be  depressed.  See  page 99
 for information on how to move the gear selector
manually in case of a  dead battery.
R Reverse
The car must  be  at a  standstill before you select Reverse gear.
N Neutral position
The N position is the neutral position. The engine can be  started, but no gear is selected. Apply the parking brake when
the car is stationary  with the gear selector in position N.
D Driving position
D is the normal driving position. The gear se-lector automatically  shifts up and  down between the transmission gears,
based on the level  of acceleration and  the speed. The car should be  stationary  when you select D from  position R.
4 Low gear position
Shifting up and  down between the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and  4th occurs automatically.
Shifting up to Drive does not occur.
Position 4 can be  used:
 for mountain driving
 for driving with trailer
 to increase the engine braking
3 Low gear position
Shifting up and  down between the 1st, 2nd, and  3rd occurs automatically.
The 4th and  Drive gears will not be  engaged.
Position 3 can be  used:
 for mountain driving
 for driving with trailer
 to increase the engine braking
L Low gear position
Choose position L if you want  to drive with the 1st or 2nd gear engaged. Position L gives the best possible engine
braking effect when, for example, mountain driving.
Shifting up to 5th does not occur.
Position 4 can be  used:
 for mountain driving
 for driving with trailer
 to increase the engine braking
Downshifting protection
There is a  built in protection in the transmission which  prevents over revving in the engine when you select one  of the
low gear positions.
pg. 67 Automatic transmission
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W - Winter/Wet Weather
Use the W  button to turn the Winter/Wet Weather  function on or off.
The Winter/Wet Weather  function limits downshifting during acceleration, helping to reduce wheel spin. Because
downshifting is limited in W  mode, performance may seem sluggish and  fuel economy may be  reduced.
W  mode is recommended for acceleration from  a  standstill on rain-slicked roads.
Automatic transmission  -shift gate positions
The gear selector can be  moved freely between N and  D. Selections of other positions are obtained  by depressing the
selector knob prior  to moving the selector.
Slightly depressing the selector knob allows selection of positions R, N, D, 4, 3 and  L. Fully depressing the selector
knob allows selection of position P. This is also necessary  when initially bringing the selector out of position P. Fully
depressing the selector knob permits shifting freely between all positions.
Kick-down
Automatic shift to a  lower gear (kick-down) is achieved by depressing the accelerator  pedal fully and  briskly. An
upshift will be  achieved when approaching  the top speed for a  particular gear or by releasing the accelerator  pedal
slightly.  Kick -down can be  used for maximum acceleration or when passing at highway  speeds. Avoid using the kick-
down function during the break-in period (first  1,200 miles of vehicle operation).
Transmission Lamp
If the indicator lamp (see page 21 item 18
) begins to flash,  this  is an  indication of a  fault in the automatic  transmission.
The Check Engine Lamp will also light up if a  fault is detected. If the transmission does not shift properly, place the
gear selector in position L. Please contact your Volvo retailer if this  occurs.
   
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Engine  oilQuality:
 Meeting minimum ILSAC specification GF-2, including
ACEA A1, API SJ,  SJ/CF  and  SJ/Energy Conserving. Capacity (incl. filter)
: 5.7
US qts (5.4 liters). 
Capacity (excl. filter) : 5.3
US qts (5.0 liters)
Automatic
transmission
fluid Quality:
 JWS-3309 P/N 1161540 Capacity:
 8 US qts. (7.6
liters)
Power steering
fluid Quality:
 ATF oil Capacity:
 1.05 US qts. (1
liters)
Brake fluid Quality: DOT 4+  boiling point >536°F (280°C), P/N 9437433 Capacity:
 0.42 US qts.
(0.4 liters)
All specifications are subject to change without notice.
pg. 123 Engine
Engine
Liquid-cooled, gasoline, inline, 4-cylinder, turbocharged engine. Aluminum alloy cylinder block with cast-iron
cylinder liners cast directly into the block. Aluminum alloy cylinder head with double overhead camshafts and  separate
intake  and  outlet channels.
Engine lubrication is provided by an  eccentric pump driven from  the crankshaft. Full-flow type oil filter.  Exhaust
emission control is accomplished by multiport fuel injection, a  heated oxygen  sensor and  a  three-way catalytic
converter. Designation: Volvo B 4204 T4
Output 170 hp at 5500 rpm (127 kW  at 92 rps)
Max torque 177 ft. lbs. at 1800-5000 rpm (240 Nm at 30-75 rps)
Number of cylinders 4
Bore 3.27" (83 mm)
Stroke 3.54" (90 mm)
Displacement 1.95 liters (118.9 cu.  in.)
Compression ratio 9.0:1
Number of valves 16
Valve clearance mechanical
All specifications are subject to change without notice.
pg. 124 Specifications
Cooling system  
Type: Positive pressure, closed system 
Thermostat begins to open  at 186° F (90° C) 
Coolant:  Volvo original coolant/antifreeze (50/50 water-antifreeze  mix). 
Capacity: 6 US qts. (5.7 liters)
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Fuel system 
The engine is equipped with a  multipoint fuel injection system.
Distributor ignition system  
Firing  order: 1-3-4-2 
Distributor ignition setting:  Not adjustable 
Spark plugs:  Champion RC8PYP or equivalent 
Spark plug gap: 0.0315" (0.80 mm) 
Tightening torque: 18.4 ft. lbs. (25 Nm)
WARNING!
The distributor ignition system operates at very high voltages. Special  safety precautions must  be  followed to
prevent injury. Always turn the ignition off when:
 Replacing distributor ignition components e.g.  plugs, coil, etc.
 Do not touch any  part of the distributor ignition system while the engine is running. This may result in unintended
movements and  body injury.
All specifications are subject to change without notice.
Front  suspension  
Spring strut suspension with integrated shock absorbers and  control arms  linked to the support frame. Power assisted
rack and  pinion steering. Safety type steering column. 
The alignment specifications apply to a  car at curb weight (without passengers or cargo). 
Toe-in measured on the wheel rims: 1.4 mm +/- 0.2 mm 
Toe-in measured on tire sides: 2.0 mm +/- 0.4 mm
Rear suspension  
Multilink individual rear wheel suspension with longitudinal support arms,  double link arms  and  track rods.
Toe-in measured on the tire sides: 2.6 mm +/- 0.8 mm
pg. 125 Specifications
Power transmission  
Automatic transmission: AW 55-50 
5-speed automatic  electronically  controlled gearbox comprising a  hydraulic torque converter with a  lockup function;
planetary gear, integrated final drive. Operation via a  floor  mounted gear selector lever. Drive shafts with symmetrical
joint location. Overdrive.
Final drive ratio  2.44:1 
Reduction ratios  
1st gear 4.77:1 
2nd gear 3.00:1 
3rd gear 1.96:1 
4th gear 1.32:1 
5th gear 1.02:1 
Reverse 3.23:1
Capacities  
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