
2003 VOLVO XC70
WARNING!
Never leave the car unattended when the engine is running. If, by mistak\
e, the gear selector is moved
from P, the car may start moving.
R (Reverse)
Never engage R while the car is moving forward.
N (Neutral)
Neutral - no gear engaged. Use the parking brake.
D (Drive)
D is the normal driving position and should be used as often as possible\
to help improve fuel economy.
The car should not be moving when shifting from R to the D position.
Kickdown
Automatic shift to a lower gear (kickdown) is achieved by depressing t\
he accelerator pedal fully and
briskly. An upshift will occur when approaching the top speed for a part\
icular gear or by releasing the
accelerator pedal slightly. Kickdown can be used for maximum acceleratio\
n or when passing at highway
speeds. Kickdown does not function when the transmission is in the manual shift\
(geartronic)
mode (see next page).
Automatic transmission - adaptive system
The automatic transmission is controlled by an adaptive control system t\
hat constantly monitors the way
in which the transmission functions. It senses and adapts each gear shif\
t for optimal performance. The
system also monitors your particular driving style and adapts gear shift\
ing accordingly.
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2003 VOLVO XC70
lower with the air conditioning on and the windows closed than with the \
air conditioning off and the
windows open.
l Using the onboard trip computer's fuel consumption modes can help you le\
arn how to drive more
economically.
Other factors that decrease gas mileage are:
l Dirty air cleaner
l Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter
l Dragging brakes
l Incorrect front end alignment Some of the above mentioned items and othe\
rs are checked at the
standard Maintenance Service intervals.
NOTE: Vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions should use (D)rive as o\
ften as possible and
avoid using "kick-down" to help improve fuel economy. Vehicles equipped \
with manual transmissions
should use fifth gear at highway speeds. At other times, choose the high\
est gear that still allows smooth
acceleration.
Weight distribution affects handling
At the specified curb weight your car has a tendency to understeer, whic\
h means that the steering wheel
has to be turned more than might seem appropriate for the curvature of a\
bend. This ensures good
stability and reduces the risk of rear wheel skid. Remember that these p\
roperties can alter with the
vehicle load. The heavier the load on the rear of the vehicle (e.g., he\
avily loaded (max. 220 lbs, 100 kg)
cargo area or when towing a trailer, the less the tendency to understeer\
.
Handling, roadholding
Vehicle load, tire design and inflation pressure all affect vehicle hand\
ling. Therefore, check that the tires
are inflated to the recommended pressure according to the vehicle load. \
See "Tire pressure" section.
Loads should be distributed so that capacity weight or maximum permissib\
le axle loads are not
exceeded.
pg. 96 Points to remember
Cooling system
The risk for engine overheating is greatest, especially in hot weather, \
when:
l Towing a trailer up steep inclines for prolonged periods at wide open th\
rottle and low engine rpm.
l Stopping the engine suddenly after high speed driving (so-called "after\
-boiling" can occur).
l To avoid overheating, the following rules should be followed: Do not dri\
ve for prolonged periods at
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2003 VOLVO XC70
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
pg. 101 Towing a trailer
When preparing for trailer towing, observe the following:
Volvo recommends the use of Volvo trailer hitches which are specially de\
signed for the car.
l Maximum trailer weight recommended by Volvo is:
Trailers without brakes: 1100 lbs (500 kg)
Trailers with brakes: 3300 lbs* (1,500 kg),
Observe the legal requirements of the state/province in which the vehicl\
es are registered.
l All Volvo models are equipped with energy-absorbing shock-mounted bumper\
s. Trailer hitch
installation should not interfere with the proper operation of this bump\
er system.
Trailer towing does not normally present any particular problems, but ta\
ke into consideration:
l Increase tire pressure to recommended full. See section "Wheels and tire\
s".
l When your car is new, avoid towing heavy trailers during the first 620 m\
iles (1000 km).
l Recommended hitch tongue load is:
Trailer weights below 2,650 lbs (1,200 kg) - 110 lbs (50 kg)
Trailer weights above 2,650 lbs (1,200 kg) - 165 lbs (75 kg)
l Maximum speed when towing a trailer: 50 mph (80 km/h).
l Engine and transmission are subject to increased loads. Therefore, engin\
e coolant temperature should
be closely watched when driving in hot climates or hilly terrain. Use a \
lower gear and turn off the air
conditioner if the temperature gauge needle enters the red range.
l If the automatic transmission begins to overheat, a message will be disp\
layed in the text window.
l Avoid overload and other abusive operation.
l Hauling a trailer affects handling, durability, and economy.
l It is necessary to balance trailer brakes with the towing vehicle brakes\
to provide a safe stop (check
and observe state/local regulations).
l Do not connect the trailer's brake system directly to the vehicle's brak\
e system.
l More frequent vehicle maintenance is required.
l Remove the ball and drawbar assembly when the hitch is not being used.
l Volvo recommends the use of synthetic engine oil when towing a trailer o\
ver long distances or in
mountainous areas.
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2003 VOLVO XC70
WARNING!
l Bumper-attached trailer hitches must not be used on Volvo's, nor should \
safety chains be attached
to the bumper.
l Trailer hitches attaching to the vehicle rear axle must not be used.
l Never connect a trailer's hydraulic brake system directly to the vehicle\
brake system, nor a trailer's
lighting system directly to the vehicle lighting system. Consult your ne\
arest authorized Volvo retailer
for correct installation.
l When towing a trailer, the trailer's safety wire must be correctly faste\
ned to the hole or hook
provided in the trailer hitch on the car. The safety wire should never b\
e fastened to or wound around
the drawbar ball.
NOTE:
l When parking the car with a trailer on a hill, apply the parking brake before putting the gear selector
in (P)ark. When starting on a hill, put the gear selector in (D)rive\
before releasing the parking brake.
l If you use the manual (Geartronic) shift positions while towing a trai\
ler, make sure the gear you select
does not put too much strain on the engine (using too high a gear).
l The drawbar assembly/trailer hitch may be certified for trailers that ar\
e heavier than the car is
designed to tow. Please adhere to Volvo's recommended trailer weights.
* When driving for prolonged periods at temperatures above 86° F (30\
° C), the maximum recommended
weight is 2000 lbs (900 kg).
pg. 102 Detachable trailer hitch (accessory) - installing/removing
A - ball holder, B - locking bolt, C - cotter pin, D - hitch assembly
Installing the ball holder
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2003 VOLVO XC70
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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2003 VOLVO XC70
Snow chains
Snow chains can be used on your Volvo with the following restrictions:
l Snow chains should be installed on front wheels only. Use only Volvo app\
roved snow chains.
l Special snow chains must be mounted on 215/55 R16. Consult your Volvo re\
tailer.
l If accessory, aftermarket or "custom" tires and wheels are installed and\
are of a size different than the
original tires and wheels, chains in some cases CANNOT be used. Sufficie\
nt clearances between chains
and brakes, suspension and body components must be maintained. Snow chai\
ns cannot be used on 17"
wheels.
l Some strap-on type chains will interfere with brake components and there\
fore CANNOT be used.
l All Wheel Drive models:Snow chains should only be installed on the front wheels. Only chains
adapted for AWD models should be used.
Consult your Volvo retailer for additional snow chain information.
CAUTION:
l Check local regulations regarding the use of snow chains before installi\
ng.
l Always follow the chain manufacturer's installation instructions careful\
ly. Install chains as tightly as
possible and retighten periodically.
l Never exceed the chain manufacturer's specified maximum speed limit. In \
no case should you exceed
31 mph (50 km/h).
l Avoid bumps, holes or sharp turns when driving with snow chains.
l Vehicle handling can be adversely affected when driving with chains. Avo\
id fast maneuvering and
hard braking. Never allow the wheels to lock up during braking.
Snow tires, studded tires *
Tires for winter use:
Owners who live in or regularly travel through areas with sustained peri\
ods of snow or icy driving
conditions are strongly advised to fit suitable winter tires to help ret\
ain the highest degree of
traction. It is important to install winter tires on all four wheels to help retain traction during cornering,
braking, and accelerating. Failure to do so could reduce traction to an \
unsafe level or adversely affect
handling. Volvo does not recommend tire rotation. However, as with any o\
ther radial tires, if rotated, the
tires must be kept on the same side of the car so that they revolve in t\
he same direction as before
rotation.
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2003 VOLVO XC70
WARNING!
The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that is pr\
operly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, under-inflation, or excessive loading, either separatel\
y or in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible tire failure.
pg. 112 Changing wheels
Insert flat end of lug wrench and turn/pull straight out
Changing wheels
The spare wheel is located under the carpet on the cargo area floor. The\
jack and crank are secured in the
wheel recess. There are two jack attachment points on each side of the c\
ar.
To change a wheel:
l Engage the parking brake.
l Put the gear selector in (P)ark.
l Remove the wheel cap (where applicable) using the lug wrench in the to\
ol kit.
l With the car still on the ground, use the lug wrench to loosen the wheel\
bolts 1/2 - 1 turn by exerting
downward pressure. Turn the bolts counterclockwise to loosen.
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