
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. 73 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 52
.
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.
NOTE: On certain models, when the car is started, idle speed may be  noticeably higher than normal for a  short period,
depending on the temperature of the engine. 
This has been done  to help bring components in the emission control system to their normal operating temperature as
quickly as possible, which  enables them to function normally.
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. o 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.  While  keeping firm pressure on the brake pedal, release the parking
brake.
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
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 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 , 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. The gear selector must  be  in D (Drive)  position.
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 25
).
 This mode may be  selected for starting/moving off on slippery roads.
pg. 78 Driving economy
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.
 Maintain 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.
 Avoid using the air conditioning when it is not required. When engaged, the A/C compressor places an  additional
load on the engine. 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.
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Other factors that 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 : 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 overheating 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 continually in, the red section), the following precautions 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.
WARNING!
Do not remove coolant  expansion tank cap. The coolant  will be  extremely hot.
If necessary,  see page 116
 for information on checking and  topping-up the coolant  level.
   
Contents | Top of Page
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the vehicle and  others  sharing  the roadway.  Avoiding distractions is part of that responsibility.  
The following should be checked regularly: *
1 Washer fluid  reservoir should be  filled with water and  solvent (wintertime:  windshield washer anti-freeze). See
page 118.
2 Power steering - When cold, the level  must  not be  above the COLD mark and  when hot it must  not be  above the
HOT mark. Top up if the level  drops to the ADD mark with ATF fluid. See  page 122.
3 Coolant  level  should be  between the expansion tank marks.  Mixture: 50% anti-freeze  and  50% water. See  page 116.
4 Engine  oil level  should be  between the dipstick marks.  The distance between the marks  represents approx. 
1.6 US qts (1.5 liters). See  page 120.
5 Brake fluid  - check, without removing the cap, that the level  is above the MIN  mark. Use brake fluid DOT 4+.  See
page 122.
* Engine oil should be  checked each time the car is refuelled.
Octane rating, see page 70.
Tire pressure, see label  located on the rear edge of the right front  door.
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