2003 VOLVO XC70
("Check Engine" light) may indicate a fault.
Important
Before you operate your car for the first time, please familiarize yours\
elf with the new-engine oil
consumption information on
page 135. You should also be familiar with the information in the
chapters one, two and four of this manual.
Information contained in the balance of the manual is extremely useful a\
nd 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 co\
untry'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) ma\
y render your Volvo not
certifiable for legal operation in the U.S., Canada and other countries.\
All information, illustrations and specifications contained in this manu\
al are based on the latest
product information available at the time of publication. Please note th\
at some vehicles may be
equipped differently, depending on special legal requirements and that o\
ptional 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.
CALIFORNIA Proposition 65 Warning
WARNING! Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle c\
omponents contain or
emit chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer, and bir\
th defects or other
reproductive harm. In addition, certain fluids contained in vehicles an\
d certain products of
component wear contain or emit chemicals known to the State of Californi\
a to cause cancer, and birth
defects or other reproductive harm.
Volvo and the environment
Volvo is committed to the well being of our customers. As a natural part\
of this commitment, we care
about the environment in which we all live. Caring for the environment m\
eans an everyday involvement
in reducing our environmental impact.
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2003 VOLVO XC70
Volvo's environmental activities are based on a holistic view, which mea\
ns we consider the overall
environmental impact of a product throughout its complete life cycle. In\
this context, design, production,
product use, and recycling are all important considerations.
In production, Volvo has partly or completely phased out several chemica\
ls including freons, lead
chromates, naphtanates, asbestos, mercury and cadmium; and reduced the a\
mount of chemicals used in
our plants 50% since 1991.
In use, Volvo was the first in the world to introduce into production a \
three-way catalytic converter with
a Lambda sond, now called oxygen sensor, in 1976. The current version of\
this highly efficient system
reduces emissions of harmful substances (CO, HC, NOx) from the exhaust\
pipe by approximately 95%
and the search to eliminate the remaining emissions continues. Volvo is \
the only automobile
manufacturer to offer CFC-free retrofit kits for the air conditioning sy\
stem for all models as far back as
the M/Y 1975 240. Advanced electronic engine controls, refined purificat\
ion systems and cleaner fuels
are bringing us closer to our goal.
After Volvo cars and parts have fulfilled their use, recycling is the ne\
xt critical step in completing the
life cycle. The metal content is about 75% of the total weight of a car,\
which makes the car among the
most recycled industrial products. In order to have efficient and well c\
ontrolled recycling, many Volvo
variants have printed dismantling manuals, indicating the weight and mat\
erial of individual components.
For Volvo, all homogeneous plastic parts weighing more than 1.7 oz. (50\
grams) are marked with
international symbols that indicate how the component is to be sorted fo\
r recycling.
In addition to continuous environmental refinement of conventional gasol\
ine-powered internal
combustion engines, Volvo is actively looking at advanced technology alt\
ernative-fuel vehicles.
When you drive a Volvo, you become our partner in the work to lessen the\
car's impact on the
environment.
To reduce your vehicle's environmental impact, you can:
l Maintain proper air pressure in your tires. Tests have shown decreased f\
uel economy with improperly
inflated tires
l Follow the recommended maintenance schedule
l Drive at a constant speed
l See an authorized Volvo retailer as soon as possible for inspection if t\
he check engine (malfunction
indicator) lamp illuminates, or stays on after the vehicle has started \
l Properly dispose of any vehicle related waste such as used motor oil, us\
ed batteries, brake pads, etc.
l When cleaning your car, use Volvo's own car care products, all of which \
have systematically been
adapted to the environment
PremAir®
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2003 VOLVO XC70
Brake failure warning light
If the light comes on while driving or braking, stop immediately, open t\
he hood and check the brake
fluid level in the reservoir. See
page 134 for reservoir position and page 137 for instructions.
Canadian models are equipped with this warning light:
Oil pressure warning light
If the light comes on while driving, stop the car and then stop the engi\
ne immediately and check the
engine oil level. See
page 135. If the light stays on after restart, have the car towed to the nearest\
authorized
Volvo retailer. After hard driving, the light may come on occasionally w\
hen the engine is idling. This is
normal, provided it goes off when the engine speed is increased.
Parking brake reminder light
This light will be on when the parking brake (hand brake) is applied. \
The parking brake lever is situated
between the front seats.
Canadian models are equipped with this warning light:
Generator warning light
If the light comes on while the engine is running, have the charging sys\
tem checked.
* Rear fog light, if used, and trailer turn signal, if towing a trailer,\
will go on while driving.
pg. 29 Indicator and warning lights
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several minutes before driving will help release the warm air from the p\
assenger compartment. When
the engine is running, close the windows and sun roof and use the recirc\
ulation function for several
minutes to enable the air conditioning to cool the compartment as quickl\
y as possible.
Windows and optional sun roof
The ECC system will function best if the windows and optional sun roof a\
re closed. If you drive with the
sun roof open, we recommend that you manually adjust the temperature and\
blower control (the LED in
the AUTO switch should be off).
Acceleration
The air conditioning is momentarily disengaged during full-throttle acce\
leration.
ECC maintenance
All maintenance on the climate control systems should be carried out by \
an authorized Volvo service
technician only.
Refrigerant
Volvo cares about the environment. The air conditioning system in your c\
ar contains a CFC-free
refrigerant - R134a. This substance will not deplete the ozone layer. Th\
e system contains 2.2 lbs (1000
g) R134a and uses PAG oil.
Passenger compartment blower
Approximately 50 minutes after the ignition is turned off, the blower ma\
y come on automatically, and
run for five minutes, to remove condensation in the A/C evaporator.
pg. 48 Electronic Climate Control (ECC)
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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 engi\
ne starts.
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 syst\
em to their normal operating
temperature as quickly as possible, which enables them to function norma\
lly.
4. To release the gear selector from the (P)ark position, the engine m\
ust be running (or the ignition key
must be in position II) and the brake pedal must be depressed.
5. Select the desired gear. The gear engages after a very slight delay w\
hich is especially noticeable when
selecting R.
NOTE:
l 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.
l 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 t\
emperature.
* Your car is equipped with an electronic start inhibitor (immobilizer)\
. The keys you received with your
car are specially coded. The code in the key is transmitted to an antenn\
a in the ignition switch where it is
compared to the code stored in the start inhibitor module. The car can o\
nly be started if a properly coded
key is used.
If two of the keys to your car are close together, e.g., on the same key\
ring, when you try to start the car,
this could cause interference in the immobilizer system and result in th\
e car not starting. If this should
occur, remove one of the keys from the key ring before trying to start t\
he car again.
pg. 88 Starting the engine
CAUTION:
l The engine should be idling when you move the gear selector. Never accel\
erate until after you feel the
transmission engage! Accelerating immediately after selecting a gear wil\
l cause harsh engagement and
premature transmission wear.
l Selecting P or N when idling at a standstill for prolonged periods time \
will help prevent overheating
of the automatic transmission fluid.
l Do not race a cold engine immediately after starting. Oil flow may not r\
each some lubrication points
fast enough to prevent engine damage.
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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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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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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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