2003 VOLVO XC70
Winter driving 104
Long distance trips 105
Three-way catalytic converter 106
pg. 84 Fuel requirements
Fuel requirements
Octane rating: Volvo engines are designed for optimum performance on unleaded premium\
gasoline
with an octane rating AKI of 91, or above. AKI (ANTI KNOCK INDEX) is a\
n average of the Research
Octane Number, RON, and the Motor Octane Number, MON. (RON + MON/2). T\
he minimum octane
requirement is AKI 87 (RON 91).
Deposit control gasoline (detergent additives)
Volvo recommends the use of gasoline containing deposit control additive\
s. These additives have shown
to be 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
Each Volvo has a three-way catalytic converter and must use only unleade\
d gasoline. U.S. and Canadian
regulations require that pumps delivering unleaded gasoline be labelled \
"UNLEADED". Only these
pumps have nozzles which fit your car's filler inlet. It is unlawful to \
dispense leaded fuel into a vehicle
labelled "unleaded gasoline only". Leaded gasoline damages the three-way\
catalytic converter and the
heated oxygen sensor system. Repeated use of leaded gasoline will lessen\
the effectiveness of the
emission control system and could result in loss of emission warranty co\
verage. State and local vehicle
inspection programs will make detection of misfueling easier, possibly r\
esulting in emission test failure
for misfueled vehicles.
NOTE: Some U.S. and Canadian gasolines contain an octane enhancing additive ca\
lled methyl-
cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT). If such fuels are used, \
your Emission Control System
performance may be affected, and the Check Engine light (malfunction in\
dicator lamp) located on your
instrument panel may light. If this occurs, please return your vehicle t\
o an authorized Volvo retailer for
service.
Gasoline containing alcohol and ethers
"Oxygenated fuels"
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2003 VOLVO XC70
NOTE: During a transitional period, a small number of service stations may sti\
ll have fuel nozzles that
are not compatible with the fuel filler neck on cars equipped with the e\
vaporative control system. Please
refer to
page 130 for additional information.
CAUTION:
l Do not refuel with the engine running *. Turn the ignition off or to pos\
ition I. If the ignition is on, an
incorrect reading could occur in the fuel gauge.
l After refueling, close the fuel filler cap by turning it clockwise until\
it clicks into place *.
l Allow for fuel expansion by not overfilling the tank. Overfilling could \
also cause damage to the
emission control systems.
l Avoid spilling gasoline when refueling. In addition to causing damage to\
the environment, gasolines
containing alcohol can cause damage to painted surfaces, which may not b\
e covered under the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
l 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 f\
uel 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 runni\
ng when the car is refueled, the Check
Engine light (malfunction indicator lamp) may indicate a fault. Howeve\
r, your vehicle's performance
will not be affected. Use only Volvo original or approved fuel filler ca\
ps.
pg. 87 Starting the engine
Starting the engine
1. Fasten the seat belt.
WARNING!
Before starting, check that the seat, steering wheel and mirrors adjuste\
d properly. Make sure the brake
pedal can be depressed completely. Adjust the seat if necessary. See
page 56.
2. Apply the parking brake, if not already set. The gear selector (automatic transmission) is locked in
the (P)ark position (SHIFT-LOCK). Manual transmission: the clutch must be fully depressed.
3. Without touching the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key* to the starting position. Allow the
starter to operate for up to 10 seconds. Release the key as soon as the \
engine starts. If the engine fails to
start, repeat this step.
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pattern, load-, speed-, traction-, temperature-, and treadwear rating. N\
ever drive on mixed tires, except
for brief periods when the temporary spare tire is in use.
Always use properly inflated tires of correct dimensions. Tire size and \
inflation pressures are shown on
the tire pressure label located inside the fuel filler door.
Tire Rotation
Volvo recommends rotating the tires every 7,500 miles (12,000 km). Tir\
es should be rotated front-to-
back/back-to-front only. Tires must maintain the same direction of rotat\
ion throughout their lifetime, and
should never be rotated from one side of the vehicle to the other.
Temporary Spare
The temporary spare tire is for temporary, low-speed, short-distance use\
only. Replace it with a full-
sized tire as soon as possible, in accordance with "Tire Rotation" above\
. Do not drive on the temporary
spare at speeds above 50 m.p.h. (80km/h) or for distances greater than\
50 miles (80 km).
Never install snow chains on a temporary spare.
pg. 95 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. Obs\
erve the following rules:
l 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 eng\
ine uses more fuel and is subject
to increased wear.
l Whenever possible, avoid using the car for driving short distances. This\
does not allow the engine to
reach normal operating temperature.
l Drive carefully and avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking.
l Do not exceed posted speed limits.
l Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra load) in the car.
l Maintain correct tire pressure. Check tire pressure regularly (when tir\
es are cold).
l Remove snow tires when threat of snow or ice has ended.
l Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc., increase air resistance and also \
fuel consumption.
l Avoid using automatic transmission kickdown feature unless necessary.
l Avoid using the air conditioning when it is not required. When engaged, \
the conditioner's compressor
places an additional load on the engine. However, at higher driving spee\
ds, fuel consumption will be
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Rear towing eyelet
Precautions when the car is in tow
l The steering wheel must be unlocked. Turn the ignition key to position I\
or II.
l The gear selector must be in position N.
l Maximum speed: 50 mph (80 km/h)
l Maximum distance with front wheels on ground: 50 miles (80 km).
l While the car is being towed, try to keep the tow rope taut at all times\
.
l Cars with an automatic transmission should only be towed in forward dire\
ction.
CAUTION:
l Please check with state and local authorities before attempting this typ\
e of towing, as vehicles being
towed are subject to regulations regarding maximum towing speed, length \
and type of towing device,
lighting, etc.
l If the car's battery is dead, do not attempt to start the vehicle by pus\
hing or pulling it as this will
damage the three-way catalytic converter(s). The engine must be jump s\
tarted using an auxiliary battery
(see
page 103).
l If the car is being towed on a flat bed truck, the towing eyelets must n\
ot be used to secure the car on
the flat bed. Consult the tow truck operator.
WARNING!
l Remember that the power brakes and power steering will not function when\
engine is not running.
The braking and steering systems will function but the brake pedal press\
ure required is 3 - 4 times
above normal and greater steering effort must be exerted.
l The towing eyelets must not be used for pulling another vehicle out of a\
ditch or for any similar
purpose involving severe strain.
l Do not use the towing eyelets to pull the car up onto a flat bed tow tru\
ck.
pg. 100 Vehicle towing information
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2003 VOLVO XC70
Cold weather precautions
If you wish to check your car before the approach of cold weather, the f\
ollowing advice is worth noting:
l Make sure that the engine coolant contains 50 percent antifreeze. Any ot\
her mixture will reduce
freeze protection. This gives protection against freezing down to -31°\
F (-35°C). See section "Coolant".
The use of "recycled" antifreeze is not approved by Volvo. Different typ\
es of antifreeze must not
be mixed.
l Volvo recommends using only genuine Volvo antifreeze in your car's radia\
tor. Your local Volvo
retailer stocks plenty of Volvo engine coolant to protect your car durin\
g cold weather.
l Try to keep the fuel tank well filled - this prevents the formation of condensation in the tank. \
In
addition, in extremely cold weather conditions it is worthwhile to add f\
uel line de-icer before refueling.
l The viscosity of the engine oil is important. Oil with low viscosity (thinner oil) improves cold-
weather starting as well as decreasing fuel consumption while the engine\
is warming up. For winter use,
5W-30 oil, particularly the synthetic type *, is recommended. Be sure to\
use good quality oil but do not
use this cold-weather oil for hard driving or in warm weather. See section "Engine oil" for more
information.
l The load placed on the battery is greater during the winter since the windshield wipers, lighting, etc\
.
are used more often. Moreover, the capacity of the battery decreases as \
the temperature drops. In very
cold weather, a poorly charged battery can freeze and be damaged. It is \
therefore advisable to check the
state of charge more frequently and spray an anti-rust oil on the batter\
y posts.
l Volvo recommends the use of snow tires on all four wheels for winter dri\
ving - see section "Wheels
and tires".
l To prevent the washer fluid reservoir from freezing, add washer solvents\
containing antifreeze (see
page 130 for the location of the washer fluid reservoir). This is important sin\
ce dirt is often splashed on
the windshield during winter driving, requiring the frequent use of the \
washers and wipers. The Volvo
Washer Solvent should be diluted as follows:
Down to 14° F (-10° C): 1 part washer solvent and 4 parts water \
Down to 5° F (-15° C): 1 part washer solvent and 3 parts water
Down to 0° F (-18° C): 1 part washer solvent and 2 parts water
Down to -18° F (-28° C): 1 part washer solvent and 1 part water \
l Use Volvo Teflon Lock Spray in the locks.
NOTE: Avoid the use of de-icing sprays as they can cause damage to the locks.
W Winter/Wet driving mode - enhanced vehicle traction
l Mode W will only function if the gear selector is in the (D)rive posit\
ion.
l Press the button at the base of the gear selector to engage/disengage th\
is driving mode (see
illustration).
l 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 27).
l This mode may be selected for starting/moving off on slippery roads.
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pg. 105 Long distance trips
Before a long distance trip
It is always worthwhile to have your car checked at a Volvo retailer bef\
ore driving long distances. Your
retailer will also be able to supply you with bulbs, fuses, spark plugs \
and wiper blades for your use in the
event that problems occur.
As a minimum, the following items should be checked before any long trip\
:
l Check that engine runs smoothly and that fuel consumption is normal.
l Check for fuel, oil, and fluid leakage.
l Check condition of accessory drive belts.
l Check transmission oil level*.
l Check state of the battery's charge.
l Examine tires carefully (the spare tire as well), and replace those th\
at are worn. Check tire pressures.
l The brakes, front wheel alignment, and steering gear should be checked b\
y your Volvo retailer only.
l Check all lights, including high beams.
l Reflective warning triangles are legal requirement in some countries.
l Have a word with your Volvo retailer if you intend to drive in countries\
where it may be difficult to
obtain the correct fuel.
l Consider your destination. If you will be driving through an area where \
snow or ice are likely to
occur, consider snow tires.
* To prevent injury from contact with hot surfaces, do not inspect your \
car's transmission fluid yourself.
Have your car's transmission fluid level inspected by a qualified Volvo \
service technician.
pg. 106 Three-way catalytic converters
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Volvo retailer replace these bulbs if necessary.
pg. 125 Replacing bulbs
Rear reading lights
These bulbs may be difficult for you to replace yourself. We recommend t\
hat you let an authorized
Volvo retailer replace these bulbs if necessary.
NOTE: Other bulbs may be difficult for you to replace yourself. Let an author\
ized Volvo retailer
replace these bulbs if necessary.
pg. 126 Paint touch up
Paint touch-up
Paint damage requires immediate attention to avoid rusting. Make it a ha\
bit to check the finish regularly
- when washing the car for instance. Touch-up if necessary.
Paint repairs require special equipment and skill. Contact your Volvo re\
tailer for any extensive damage.
Minor scratches can be repaired by using Volvo touch-up paint.
NOTE: When ordering touch-up paint from your Volvo retailer, use the paint cod\
e indicated on the
model plate. The plate is located in the engine compartment.
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more often when the vehicle is driven under dirty and dusty conditions. \
The cartridge cannot be cleaned,
and should always be replaced with a new one.
Fuel filter
The fuel filter should be replaced at 105,000 miles (168,000 km) or at\
120,000 miles (193,000 km) for
the 2.5T engine on AWD models. The filter is replaced as a complete unit\
. Replace more frequently if
contaminated fuel is introduced into the tank, or if there is reason to \
suspect that this has occurred.
Fuel system, including filler cap, tank and lines and
connections
The ability of the fuel system to contain hydrocarbons depends upon a le\
ak-free system. Inspect fuel
lines every 30,000 miles (48,000 km).Check for proper sealing of the f\
uel filler cap which contains "O"
ring seals.
NOTE: 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) may indicate a fault. Howev\
er, your vehicle's performance
will not be affected. Use only Volvo original or approved fuel filler ca\
ps.
Timing belt
For proper functioning of the vehicle and its emission control systems, \
the timing belt and belt tensioner
must be replaced every 105,000 miles (168,000 km) or at 120,000 miles \
(193,000 km) for the 2.5T
engine on AWD models. Engine damage will occur if the belt fails.
PCV system
(on turbocharged models)
The nipple in the intake manifold and the filter at the end of the PCV h\
ose in the air cleaner should be
inspected and cleaned at 105,000 miles (168,000 km) and thereafter, ag\
ain at 150,000 mile (240,000 km)
intervals.
Spark plugs
The spark plugs should be replaced every 60,000 miles (96,000 km) unde\
r normal driving conditions.
City driving or fast highway driving may necessitate replacement sooner.\
Under normal driving conditions, spark plugs require no maintenance betw\
een replacement intervals.
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