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
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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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
several thin paint coats and let dry after each application.
3. If there is a longer scratch, you may want to protect surrounding pai\
nt by masking it off.
pg. 127 Washing the car
Washing the car
l The car should be washed at regular intervals since dirt, dust, insects \
and tar spots adhere to the paint
and may cause damage. It is particularly important to wash the car frequ\
ently in the wintertime to
prevent corrosion, when salt has been used on the roads.
l When washing the car, do not expose it to direct sunlight. Use lukewarm \
water to soften the dirt
before you wash with a sponge and plenty of water, to avoid scratching. \
l Bird droppings: Remove from paintwork as soon as possible. Otherwise the finish may be\
permanently damaged.
l A detergent can be used to facilitate the softening of dirt and oil.
l A water-soluble grease solvent may be used in cases of sticky dirt. Howe\
ver, use a wash place
equipped with a drainage separator.
l Remove dirt from the drain holes in the doors and rocker panels.
l Dry the car with a clean chamois.
l Tar spots can be removed with kerosene or tar remover after the car has \
been washed.
l A stiff-bristle brush and lukewarm soapy water can be used to clean the \
wiper blades. Frequent
cleaning improves visibility considerably.
l Wash off the dirt from the underside (wheel housings, fenders, etc.). \
l In areas of high industrial fallout, more frequent washing is recommende\
d.
CAUTION:
During high pressure washing, the spray mouthpiece must never be closer \
to the vehicle than 13" (30
cm). Do not spray into the locks.
Special sun roof cautions:
- Always close the sun roof and sun shade before washing your vehicle. \
- Never use abrasive cleaning agents on the sun roof.
- Never use wax on the rubber seals around the sun roof.
l When washing or steam cleaning the engine, avoid spraying water or steam\
directly on the electrical
components or toward the rear side of the engine.
l After cleaning the engine, the spark plug wells should be inspected for \
water and blown dry if
necessary.
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