
2 0 0 3 
VOLVO
S40 & V40
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 Relations 
P.O. Box 914 
Rockleigh, New Jersey 07647-0914 
800-458-1552 
In  the Canada: 
Volvo Cars of Canada. Ltd. 
175 Gordon Baker Road 
Willowdale, Ontario M2H 2N7 
800-663-8255 
We also invite you to visit our home page on the Internet at:
http://www.volvocars.com
Contents
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Contents
Chapter 1 - Occupant safety
Chapter 2 - Instruments, switches and controls
Chapter 3 - Body and interior
Chapter 4 - Starting and driving
Chapter 5 - Wheels and tires
Chapter 6 - In  case of an emergency
Chapter 7 - Car care
Chapter 8 - Volvo Service
Chapter 9 - Specifications
Chapter 10 - Audio systems
Index
Back Cover
General information
Important
Before you operate your car for the first time please familiarize yourself  with the engine oil consumption
information and refueling recommendations on pages 62 and 63
. You should also be familiar  with the
information in the first four chapters of this manual.
Information contained in the balance of the manual is extremely useful and should be read  after operating the
vehicle  for the first time.
The manual is structured so that it can be used  for reference. For this reason, it should be kept in the car for
ready  access.
Do not export your Volvo to another country before investigating  that 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 and other countries.
All information, illustrations and specifications contained in this manual are based  on the latest product
information available at the time of publication. Please note that some vehicles may be equipped  differently,
depending  on special legal requirements and that optional  equipment described in this manual may not be
available in all markets.
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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The rear head restraints can be  adjusted according  to the passenger's  height. The restraint should be  carefully adjusted
to support the occupant's head. 
The head restraint can be  raised by pulling straight up or lowered  by pressing the catch (1) at the base of the left head
restraint support and  pushing down.
Removing/replacing the head restraints
When folding the rear seats  flat for carrying cargo ( see page 55), head restraints should be  fully removed by pulling all
the way up, pressing the catch at base of the left support and  pulling the head restraint all the way out. Be sure to
reinstall and  adjust head restraints to their proper position before allowing passengers to occupy the seats.  
pg. 4 Volvo SRS
Passenger side SRS hatch
As an  enhancement to the three-point seat belt system, your Volvo is equipped with a  Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS).  The Volvo SRS consists of an  airbag (2) on both the driver's and  passenger's  sides and  seat belt tensioners in
both front  door pillars (4). The system is designed to supplement the protection provided by the three-point seat belt
system.
The SRS system is indicated by the "SRS" embossed  on the steering wheel pad  and  above the glove compartment, and
by decals on both sun visors and  on the far right side of the dash.
The airbags are folded and  located in the steering wheel hub and  above the glove compartment. They are designed to
deploy during certain frontal or front -angular collisions, impacts, or decelerations, depending on the crash severity,
angle, speed and  object  impacted. The airbags may also deploy in certain non-frontal collisions where  rapid
deceleration  occurs.
The airbag system includes inflators (1) surrounded by the airbags (2) and  front  seat belt tensioners for both of the
front  seats  (4). To deploy the system, the sensor (3) activates the gas generators causing the airbags to be  inflated with
nitrogen gas. As the movement of the seats' occupants compresses the airbags, some of the gas is expelled at a
controlled rate to provide better cushioning. Both  seat belt tensioners also deploy, minimizing any  seat belt slack.
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The entire process, including inflation and  deflation of the airbags, takes approximately two-tenths of a  second.
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.
 When installing any  optional equipment, make sure that the SRS system is not damaged. Do not attempt to service
any  component  of the SRS yourself. Attempting to do so may result in serious personal injury. If a  problem arises,
take your car to the nearest authorized Volvo retailer for inspection as soon as possible.
pg. 5 Volvo SRS
A self -diagnostic system incorporated into the sensor monitors the SRS, SIPS  and  IC-system. 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 5 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 the self -diagnostic system:
 Sensor unit
 SRS wiring
 Inflators
WARNING!
Never  drive an  SRS equipped car with your hands on the steering wheel pad  / airbag housing.
No objects, accessory  equipment or stickers may be  placed on, attached to or installed near the SRS cover in the
center  of the steering wheel, the SRS cover above the glove compartment or the area affected by airbag deployment.
If the SRS warning light stays on after the engine has started or if it comes on while you are driving, drive the car to
the nearest authorized Volvo retailer for inspection as soon as possible.
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WARNING!
 Children must  never be  allowed in the front  passenger  seat. Volvo recommends that ALL  occupants (adults and
children) shorter than 4 feet 7 inches (140 cm) be  seated in the back seat of any  vehicle with a  front  passenger  side
airbag.
 Occupants in the front  passenger's  seat must  never sit  on the edge of the seat, sit  leaning  toward the instrument
panel or otherwise sit  out of position. The occupant's back must  be  as upright as comfort allows and  be  against the
seat back with the seat belt properly fastened.
 Feet must  be  on the floor,  e.g.  not on the dash, seat or out of the window.
 No objects or accessory  equipment, e.g.  dash covers, may be  placed on, attached to or installed near the SRS
hatch (the area above the glove compartment) or the area affected by airbag deployment (see illustration on page 4
).
 There should be  no loose articles, e.g.  coffee cups, on the floor,  seat or dash area.
 Never  try to open  the SRS cover on the steering wheel or the passenger  side SRS seam. This should only be  done
by an  authorized Volvo service technician.
 Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury to the vehicle occupants in an  accident.
pg. 7 Volvo SRS
NOTE : The information on this  page does not pertain to the Side Impact Protection System  airbags.
When are the airbags deployed?
The SRS system is designed to deploy during certain frontal or front -angular collisions, impacts, or decelerations,
depending on the crash severity, angle, speed and  object  impacted. The SRS sensor is designed to react  to both the
impact of the collision  and  the inertial forces  generated  by it and  to determine if the intensity  of the collision  is
sufficient for the airbags to be  deployed.
WARNING!
The SRS is designed to help prevent serious injury. Deployment  occurs very quickly and  with considerable force.
During normal deployment and  depending on variables such as seating position, one  may experience abrasions,
bruises, swellings, or other injuries as a  result of airbag deployment.
If the airbags have been deployed, we recommend the following:
 Have the car towed  to an  authorized Volvo retailer. Never  drive with the airbags deployed.
 Have an  authorized Volvo retailer replace  the SRS system components.
 Use only new, Genuine Volvo Parts when replacing SRS components (airbags, seat belts, tensioners, etc.).
When are the airbags NOT deployed?
Not all frontal collisions activate the SRS system. If the collision  involves a  non-rigid object  (e.g., a  snow drift or
bush), or a  rigid, fixed object  at a  low speed, the SRS system will not necessarily  deploy. Front airbags do not
normally deploy in a  side impact collision,  in a  collision  from  the rear or in a  rollover situation.  The amount of
damage to the bodywork does not reliably indicate if the airbags should have deployed or not.
Seat belts - the heart of the Volvo safety system
The heart of the Volvo safety system is the three-point seat belt (a Volvo invention)!  In order for the SRS system to
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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
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20Hood latch 53
21Steering wheel height adjustment 34
2212-volt electrical outlet 33
23AC on and  off 36
24Trip Computer 27
25Coin  holder 33
26Recirculation 36-37
27Cupholder 33
28Defroster - door mirrors/rear window 26
29Not in use -
30 Dynamic Stability Assistance (DSA) 30
31Controls  for heated front  seats 32
32Switch for selecting door mirror left and  right 50
33Control for adjusting door mirrors 50
34Door lock switch 42
35Window  left and  right front 38
36Window  left and  right rear 38
37Cut -out switch windows rear 38
Some of the items listed on this page are available on certain models only.
pg. 20 Instruments
1 Coolant temperature gauge 
Do not drive the car with the pointer in the red  range. The pointer should be  approximately midway on the gauge
face when driving. If the pointer approaches the red range repeatedly, check coolant  level.  See  page 117
.
2 Coolant temperature warning light  
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If the light  comes on while driving or  braking, stop immediately, open the hood and check  the brake fluid  level
in the reservoir. See  page 116 for reservoir position. 
If the control lamp still  stays on, the EBD (Electronic  Brakeforce  Distribution) is not working. 
Drive to your Volvo retailer. See  ABS  control lamp and  also page 73.
 
Canadian models are equipped with this  warning light: 
Bulb failure warning light
The light will come on if one  of the brake light bulbs are defective when the brake pedal is pressed. 
Check the fuse and  bulb. See  sections "Replacing bulbs" and  "fuses".
pg. 23 Warning lights, Daytime Running  Lights
 DSA  (option) 
Dynamic Stability Assistance
This is a  system which  helps keep the drive wheels from  spinning.  The light flashes  if the road surface  is slippery, the
wheels are spinning  and  the system is working. 
The control light comes on if a  fault occurs in the DSA  system. It also comes on if the system is switched off via the
switch. 
For more information see page 30.
 Service Reminder Light
This light will come on according  to preset service intervals  or after 750 hours of driving or after 12 months,
whichever occurs first. It is a  reminder to the driver that the service interval has been exceeded. The light will stay on
for 2 minutes after start until reset by the servicing retailer.
Anti-lock Brake system (ABS)
If the warning lamp lights up there is a  malfunction of the ABS  system (the standard braking system will however
function). The vehicle should be  driven to a  Volvo retailer for inspection. 
See  page 73
 for additional information.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp  
On-Board Diagnostics II (OBDII):  As you drive, a  computer called "OBDII" monitors your car's engine,
transmission, electrical and  emission systems. The CHECK ENGINE light will light up if the computer senses a
condition that potentially may need correcting. When this  happens, please have your car checked by a  Volvo retailer as
soon as possible.
A CHECK ENGINE light may have many causes. Sometimes,  you may not notice  a  change in your car's behavior.
Even so, an  uncorrected condition could hurt fuel economy, emission cleanliness, and  driveability. Extended driving
without correcting the cause could even damage other components in your car.
Canadian models are equipped with this  warning light: 
NOTE : If the fuel filler  cap is not closed tightly or if the engine is running when the car is refueled, the Check Engine
Lamp may indicate a  fault. However, your vehicle's performance will not be  affected. Use only Volvo original or
approved fuel filler  caps.
Daytime Running Lights:
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