
2 0 0 3 
VOLVO
S40 & V40
Chapter 2 - Instruments, switches and controls
pg. 17 Instruments, switches and controls
Instruments, switches and controls
Instruments, switches,  controls etc. are described on the following pages.  Instruments
18
Indicator and warning lights21
Headlights, Parking  lights, Instrument illumination, Fog lights24
Turn signals, Home Safe lighting, Wipers/washers25
Ignition switch/steering wheel  lock, Flashers, Heated rear window/mirrors26
Trip  Computer27
Dynamic Stability Assistance30
Cruise control31
Heated seats, Parking  brake32
Auxiliary socket, Cupholder33
Steering wheel  adjustment34
Heating, Ventilation and Air  Conditioning35
Electrically operated windows38
pg. 18 Instruments, switches and controls
ProCarManuals.com 

pg. 19 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 Adjustable door mirrors 50
2Air vents 35
3Headlight  switch 24
4Front foglight 24
5Instrument lighting 24
6Rear foglight 24
7Turn  signals, high/low beams, Home  Safe Lighting,  cruise control 25, 31
8Instruments, indicator and  warning lights 20-21
9Horn
10 Windshield wash/wipe, headlight wash/wipe 25
11Blower  control 36
12Air distribution control 36
13Hazard  warning flashers 26
14Passenger compartment temperature sensor 36
15Temperature control 36
16Glove  compartment 45
17Passenger airbag 4
18Sunlight sensor for electronic  climate  control and  LED  for immobilizer and  alarm 37, 44
19Fuse box 96-97
ProCarManuals.com 

If this  light comes on while driving, the coolant  temperature is too high. Stop the engine and  check the coolant  level  in
the expansion tank. See  page 117.
3 Odometer
4 Speedometer  
The longer the knob is turned, the faster the setting will change.
5 Trip  odometer  
This indicator measures shorter distances. The last digit indicates 1/10 mile/kilometer.
6 Button  for setting clock/resetting trip odometer  
In both cases, the ignition must  be  switched on
Clock:  Without pressing the button, turn it clockwise to advance the clock, or counterclockwise to set the clock back.
Trip  odometer:  Press the button to reset the trip odometer.
7 Tachometer  
Reads  thousands of engine rpm. The needle should never be  in the solid  red range.
8 Clock, Trip  Computer/Ambient temperature
NOTE:  See  page 27- 29 
for information on the trip computer.
9 Low fuel level  warning light  
When this  light comes on, there are approximately 1.9 US gal. (7 liters) of fuel remaining in the tank.
10 Fuel gauge 
Fuel tank capacity: 16 US gallons (60 liters). 
When refuelling the fuel gauge needle will not register until the volume of gasoline in the tank exceeds 3.2 US gal. (12
liters).
pg. 21 Indicator and warning lights
1 Turn  signal, left 
2 Turn  signal, right 
3 Low washer fluid level  
4 Brake light* failure warning 
5 Turn  signals - trailer (certain models) 
6 Front fog lights on 
7 Door open  
8 Rear fog light on 
9 Seat belt warning 
ProCarManuals.com 

The S40 and  V40 come from  the factory with daytime running lights activated. Carry out the following steps if you
will deactivate them (in the U.S. only *). These steps may be  carried out again to reactivate  and  deactivate the daytime
running lights as desired.
Programming for On or  OFF
Turn  the headlight switch to position 
.
Turn  the ignition key  in position II.
Pull the turn signal lever towards you and  hold it while turning the headlight switch to position 0.
WARNING!
Do not activate or deactivate the daytime running lights while driving. Laws in your area may mandate the use of
daytime running lights. Check your local  laws before deactivating daytime running lights.
* The use of daytime running lights is mandatory in Canada.
pg. 24 Headlights, Parking lights, Instrument illumination, Fog  lights
A Headlights and parking lights 0 Switch position
Ignition key in positions 0+I:  All lights switched off.
Ignition key in position II:
Low beam headlights on (+ front  and  rear parking lights, license plate  light and  instrument lighting).
Switch position
Parking  lights  front  and  rear.
Ignition key in positions 0, I and II
Parking lights should only be  used when the car is parked, never when the car is being driven.
It also switches  on the position lights in bumpers,  and  license plate  light (and the instrument lights in position II).
Switch position
Ignition key in positions 0 and I: All lights off.
Ignition key in position II: Headlights on (+ parking lights front  and  rear, license plate  light, position lights in
the bumpers  and  instrument lights).
Note: You have to turn the light switch to this  position in order to switch on high beams.
B Instrument lighting dimmer
ProCarManuals.com 

Instrument lighting can be  dimmed to 6% of maximum lighting.
C Rear fog light  * 
The rear fog light (located in the driver's side tail light cluster) is considerably brighter than the normal tail lights and
should be  used only when the atmospheric conditions, such as fog, rain, snow, smoke or dust reduce the daytime or
night-time visibility of other vehicles to less than 500 ft (150 meters).
- Rear fog light: press 
- headlights or front  fog lights must  be  activated 
D Front  Fog lights
Ignition key must always be in position II.  
Headlight  or parking lights must  be  activated 
- Front fog lights (option): press 
Switching fog lights off  
To switch the fog lights off, press the appropriate fog light switch again. 
If headlights or parking lights are switched off, the fog lights will also go out. The fog lights are also switched off
when the ignition is switched off and  must  be  switched back on manually if required when the ignition is switched on
again. 
The front fog lights switch off automatically when the high beams are switched on.
* By design, there is one  rear fog light only, located in the driver's side tail light cluster.
pg. 25 Turn signals, Home Safe lighting, Wipers/washers
Turn  signalsWipers/washers
Turn signals
1 Lane change position.  In maneuvers such as lane changing, the driver can flash  the turn signals by moving the turn
signal lever to the first stop and  holding it there. The lever will return to the neutral position when released.
2 Signal lever engaged for normal turns.
3 High beam/low beam switch (headlights on).  
Move the lever towards the steering wheel and  release it.
4 Headlight flasher  (headlights off).  
Move the lever towards the steering wheel. The headlight high beam will be  on until the lever is released.
ProCarManuals.com 

NOTE: A defective turn signal bulb will cause the turn signal indicator and  remaining signal lights to flash  more
rapidly than normal.
Home Safe lighting  
When you leave your car at night, you can make use of the exterior courtesy lighting function:
 Remove the key  from  the ignition switch.
 Pull the turn signal lever towards the steering wheel (as when using the headlight flasher function).
The low beam headlights will now remain on for 30 seconds to light your way. 
Repeat the above measures if you want  to switch off the Home  Safe Lighting.  
Wipers/washers
1 "Single sweep" position:  
The switch returns automatically  when released.
2 Intermittent wiper  
The wipers will sweep approximately every 5 seconds (car speed depending).
3 Wipers, normal speed
4 Wipers, high speed
5 Windshield wiper/washer, headlight  wiper/washer. 
The wipers will make 2-3 sweeps across the windshield and  headlights and  1 additional sweep after 3 seconds.
6 Tailgate window wiper  (V40)
The tailgate  wiper switch has three positions:
 : Intermittent
O : Off
 : Continuous
Tip  function When pressing switch 7 briefly the wiper will make one  sweep, independent of the interval
Backing  up When the vehicle is put into reverse  with the windshield wipers on and  tailgate  wiper off, the rear window
wiper will come on for two sweeps.
7 Tailgate window washer (V40)  
The washer keeps working for as long as you keep the button depressed.  
The wiper will make 2-3 sweeps after the lever is released and  1 sweep after 3 seconds.
   
Contents | Top of Page
ProCarManuals.com 

"keyless"  entry into the passenger  compartment or the trunk. You will be  supplied with two coded key  ring
transmitters, which  will enable you to lock/unlock all doors and  the trunk/tailgate and  fuel filler  door from  a  distance
of 10-15 feet (3-5 meters). 
The Remote also activates/deactivates the alarm system that comes standard with this  car. 
The car can also be locked/unlocked  with the key.
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules.  Operation is subject to the following condition: (1) This device
may not cause harmful interference, and  (2) this  device must  accept any  interference received,  including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
Using  the remote control
Press the LOCK button once to lock all doors and  trunk/tailgate.
Press the UNLOCK button once  to unlock the driver's door and  the fuel filler  door only. Press this  button again
(within 10 seconds) to unlock other doors, trunk/tailgate.
 Press the OPEN trunk/tailgate  button to unlock the tailgate/trunk.
NOTE : If only the driver's door is unlocked, the lock will automatically  reengage (re-lock) and  the alarm will be  set
after 2 minutes unless the door has been opened. 
The lock/unlock and  alarm features can also be  utilized by using the keys. See  the following page.
Remote control not functioning.  
If the remote control is not functioning, the car can be  opened using the master or service key  in the driver's door.
Note: The remote control will not function if a  key  is left in the ignition switch.
WARNING!
Volvo does not recommend using the transmitter to lock the doors from  inside the car. The alarm would be  activated
and  would sound when one  of the doors is opened. The doors must  not be  locked using the remote transmitter while
the vehicle is occupied. In case of an  accident, this  may hinder rapid access to the occupants of the vehicle.
*Panic function  
In an  emergency  situation,  this  feature can be  used to attract attention, if you are within 10-15 feet (3-5) meters of the
car. 
Activate the "panic" function by pressing the red panic button on the remote control for at least 3 seconds or by
pressing this  button twice within 3 seconds. The turn signals will flash,  the interior  lights will go on and  the alarm will
sound. 
The "panic"  alarm can be turned off after 5 seconds by pressing any of the buttons on the remote control or  it
will stop automatically after 25 seconds.
NOTE:  The panic button will NOT  unlock the car.
pg. 42 Doors and locks
Doors and locks 
Your car is equipped with a  central locking system. 
The key  (used on the driver's door) the remote control, or central locking button, will lock/unlock all doors,
trunk/tailgate.
Turn the key once  to unlock the driver's door and  the fuel filler  door. 
ProCarManuals.com 

Turn the key again within 10 seconds to unlock other doors, trunk/tailgate.
One turn with the key  towards "lock" in the driver's door locks all doors, trunk/tailgate and  fuel filler  door with a  10
minutes delay in the fuel filler  door.
WARNING!
If the doors are locked while driving, this  may hinder rapid access to the occupants of the car in the event of an
accident. (Also see information on "Child  safety locks").
Central locking  button
Central locking switch
You can use the button to lock or unlock all doors (unlock only for 25 seconds after locking by remote).
LEFT side of button: lock
RIGHT side of button: unlock
Note:  If the key  is in the ignition switch and  you close the driver's door, the driver's door will be  immediately
unlocked again in order to prevent accidentally locking the car with the keys left inside the car.
pg. 43 Alarm
Alarm 
The radio signal emitted from  the transmitter, which  is used to set/unset the alarm, is a  "rolling code" signal. This
means that the signal is changed randomly for each transmission and  is intended  to help prevent unauthorized
recording of the code. 
When armed (set), the alarm continuously monitors a  number of points  on the car. The following conditions will set off
the alarm:
 The hood is opened
 The trunk/tailgate is opened
 A door is opened
 The ignition switch is tampered with 
The alarm will sound for 30 second intervals,  with a  10 second pause between intervals.  This function cannot be
interrupted.
 If the battery or the siren  are disconnected, the alarm will sound for five minutes
Arming (setting) the alarm  
The alarm can be  armed in the following ways:
ProCarManuals.com