2003 VOLVO XC70 engine overheat

2003 VOLVO XC70
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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2003 VOLVO XC70
engine speeds above 4500 rpm if you are towing a trailer in hilly terrai\
n.
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 followi\
ng precautions should be taken:
l Switch off the air conditioning system.
l Pull off the road, away from traffic, stop the car and put the gear sele\
ctor into neutral.
l Switch the heater to full (maximum) position. Increase the engine spee\
d to approx. 2000 rpm (twice
idling speed) until the temperature begins to drop.
WARNING!
Do not remove coolant expansion tank cap. The coolant will be extremely \
hot.
If necessary, see
page 129 and 132 for information on checking and topping-up the coolant
level.
CAUTION: Drive slowly and carefully if going through standing water (i.e. flood\
ed roadways, etc.).
Damage to the engine could result if excess water is drawn in through th\
e air intake system. Never drive
the vehicle in water deeper than 1 foot (300 mm). See the flood warnin\
g on
page 7.
WARNING!
l Driving with the tailgate open: Driving with the tailgate open could mean that poisonous exhaust
gases enter the passenger compartment.
If the tailgate must be kept open for any reason, proceed as follows:
- Close the windows.
- Set the ventilation system control to air flow to floor, windshield an\
d side windows and blower
control to its highest setting.
l Floor mats: An extra mat on the driver's floor can cause the accelerator pedal to \
catch. Check that
the movement of the accelerator pedal is not impeded. Not more than one \
protective floor covering
may be used at one time.
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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
Three-way catalytic converter cautions
l Keep your engine properly tuned. Certain engine malfunctions, particular\
ly involving the electrical,
fuel or distributor ignition systems, may cause unusually high three-way\
catalytic converter
temperatures. Do not continue to operate your vehicle if you detect engine misfire, no\
ticeable loss of
power or other unusual operating conditions, such as engine overheating \
or backfiring. A properly
tuned engine will help avoid malfunctions that could damage the three-wa\
y catalytic converters.
l Do not park your car over combustible materials, such as grass or leaves\
, which can come into contact
with the hot exhaust system and cause such materials to ignite under cer\
tain wind and weather
conditions.
l Excessive starter cranking (in excess of one minute), with an intermit\
tently firing or flooded engine,
can cause three-way catalytic converter or exhaust system overheating.
l Remember that tampering or unauthorized modifications to the engine or t\
he vehicle may be illegal
and can cause three-way catalytic converter or exhaust system overheatin\
g. This includes:
- Altering fuel injection setting or components.
- Altering emission system components or location or removing components\
.
- Repeated use of leaded fuel.
NOTE: Unleaded fuel is required for cars with three-way catalytic converters \



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