2003 VOLVO XC90 warning

2003 VOLVO XC90
pg. 86 Starting and driving
Fuel filler door
Press the button on the light switch panel (see illustration on
page 31) when the vehicle is at a standstill
to unlock the fuel filler door. Please note that the fuel filler door wi\
ll remain unlocked until the vehicle
begins to move forward. An audible click will be heard when the fuel fil\
ler door relocks.
If you intend to leave your vehicle while it is being refueled, this fea\
ture enables you to lock the doors/
tailgate while leaving the fuel filler door unlocked.
You can also keep the vehicle locked if you remain inside it during refu\
eling. The central locking button
does not lock the fuel filler door. Be sure the fuel filler door is not \
obstructed and is completely closed
after refueling. Open the fuel filler cap slowly during hot weather.
NOTE: During a transitional period, a small number of service stations may st\
ill have fuel nozzles that
are not compatible with the fuel filler neck on vehicles equipped with t\
he evaporative control system.
Refueling
The fuel tank is designed to hold approximately 19 US gals (72 liters)\
, with sufficient volume left over
to accommodate possible expansion of the fuel in hot weather. Be aware t\
hat the"usable" tank capacity
will be somewhat less than the specified maximum. When the fuel level is\
low, such factors as ambient
temperature, the fuel's "Reid vapor pressure" characteristics, and terra\
in can affect the fuel pump's
ability to supply the engine with an adequate supply of fuel. Therefore,\
it is advisable to refuel as soon
as possible when the needle nears the red zone, or when the fuel warning\
light comes on.
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2003 VOLVO XC90
CAUTION
- Do not refuel with the engine running *. Turn the ignition off or to p\
osition I. If the ignition is on,
an incorrect reading could occur in the fuel gauge
- After refueling, close the fuel filler cap by turning it clockwise unt\
il it clicks into place*.
- Allow for fuel expansion by not overfilling the tank. Overfilling coul\
d also cause damage to the
emission control systems.
- Avoid spilling gasoline during refueling. In addition to causing damag\
e to the environment,
gasolines containing alcohol can cause damage to painted surfaces, which\
may not be covered under
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
- Do not use gasolines containing methanol (methyl alcohol, wood alcoho\
l). This practice can result
in vehicle performance deterioration and can damage critical parts in th\
e fuel 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 vehicle is refueled, the
Check Engine Light (malfunction indicator lamp) may indicate a fault. \
However, your vehicle's
performance will not be affected. Use only Volvo original or approved fu\
el filler caps.
pg. 87 Starting and driving
Starting the engine
1. Fasten the seat belt.
WARNING!
Before starting, check that the seat, steering wheel and mirrors are adj\
usted properly. Make sure the
brake pedal can be depressed completely. Adjust the seat if necessary. S\
ee
pages 54, 56.
2. Apply the parking brake if not already set. The gear selector is lock\
ed in the (P)ark position
(Shiftlock).
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.
NOTE:
- On certain models, when the vehicle is started, idle speed may be noti\
ceably 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.
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2003 VOLVO XC90
- For cold starts at altitudes above 6000 ft (1800 meters), depress th\
e accelerator pedal halfway and turn
the key to the starting position. Release the pedal slowly when the engi\
ne starts.
4. To release the gear selector from the (P)ark position, the engine must 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: Your vehicle is equipped with a Keylock system. When the engine is switc\
hed off, the gear
selector must be in the (P)ark position before the key can be removed \
from the ignition switch.
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.
Do not race a cold engine immediately after starting. Oil flow may not r\
each some lubrication points fast
enough to prevent engine damage.
* If two of the keys to your vehicle are close together, e.g., on the sa\
me key ring, when you try to start
the vehicle, this could cause interference in the immobilizer system and\
result in the vehicle not starting.
If this should occur, remove one of the keys from the key ring before tr\
ying to start the vehicle again. CAUTION
Automatic transmission
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\
will cause harsh engagement
and premature transmission wear.
Selecting P or N when idling at a standstill for prolonged periods of time will help pre\
vent
overheating of the automatic transmission fluid.
WARNING!
Always place the gear selector in Park and apply the parking brake befor\
e leaving the vehicle. Never
leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running.
Always open garage doors fully before starting the engine inside a garag\
e to ensure adequate
ventilation. The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, which is invisib\
le and odorless but very
poisonous.
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2003 VOLVO XC90
WARNING!
Never switch off the ignition (turn the ignition key to position 0) or\
remove the key from the ignition
switch while the vehicle is in motion. This could cause the steering whe\
el to lock, which would make
the vehicle impossible to steer.
* The gear selector must be in the (P)ark position (automatic transmission).
** Please be aware that leaving the key in this position will increase b\
attery drain.
pg. 89 Starting and driving
General information
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 vehicle 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 Use the transmission's (D)rive position as often as possible and avoid using "kickdown" to help
improve fuel economy.
l Do not exceed posted speed limits.
l Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra load) in the vehicle.
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 f\
uel consumption.
l At highway driving speeds, fuel consumption will be lower with the air c\
onditioning 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 others are checked at the standard\
Maintenance intervals.
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2003 VOLVO XC90
Weight distribution affects handling
At the specified curb weight your vehicle has a tendency to understeer, \
which means that the steering
wheel has to be turned more than might seem appropriate for the curvatur\
e 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 in the cargo area, the less the tende\
ncy to understeer.
WARNING!
Driving with the tailgate open: Driving with the tailgate open could lead to poisonous exhaust gases
entering the passenger compartment. If the tailgate must be kept open fo\
r 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.
CAUTION
Drive slowly and carefully if going through standing water (i.e. floode\
d roadways, etc.). Damage to
the engine could result if excess water is drawn in through the air inta\
ke system. Never drive the
vehicle in water deeper than 18 inches (48 cm).
pg. 90 Starting and driving
General information (contd)
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.
Driving on rough/unpaved surfaces
The Volvo XC90 is designed primarily for onroad driving, and it has exce\
llent handling characteristics
on very rough or unpaved roads.
When driving on poorly maintained or unpaved roads, please keep the foll\
owing in mind:
l Reduce speed on rough surfaces to minimize possible damage to the vehicl\
e's underbody.
l When driving on soft surfaces such as dry sand or snow, try to avoid sto\
pping if at all possible.
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2003 VOLVO XC90
WARNING!
Avoid driving diagonally across steep inclines as this could increase th\
e risk of a roll-over. Try to
drive straight up or down the slope.
If the road is very steep, avoid turning the vehicle around to help avoi\
d the risk of rolling over. Back
the vehicle up or down the incline instead.
NOTE: Avoid driving on steep inclines if the fuel tank is nearly empty. If the\
flow of fuel to the engine
is interrupted due to the vehicle's angle of inclination, this could res\
ult in damage to the three-way
catalytic converter. We recommend keeping the fuel tank at least half fu\
ll when driving on steep inclines.
Driving through water
l The vehicle should not be driven through water that is deeper than 18 in\
ches (48 cm). Driving through
deeper water could result in damage to transmission components or the di\
fferential, or to the engine if
excess water is drawn in through the air intake system.
l Drive slowly and avoid stopping when driving through water.
l After having driven through water, apply the brakes lightly several time\
s to remove water, mud, etc
from the brake discs.
l Never allow the vehicle to stand in water above the door sills. This cou\
ld result in damage to the
electrical system.
Conserving electrical current
Keep the following in mind to help minimize battery drain:
l When the engine is not running, avoid turning the ignition key to positi\
on II (see page 88). Many
electrical systems (the audio system, the optional infotainment/navigat\
ion systems, power windows, etc)
will function with the ignition key in position I. This position reduces\
drain on the battery.
l Please keep in mind that using systems, accessories, etc that consume a \
great deal of current when the
engine is not running could result in the battery being completely drain\
ed.
NOTE: A warning message will be displayed in the text window in the instrument\
panel when the
battery charge is low.
pg. 91 Starting and driving
Automatic transmission with Geartronic
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2003 VOLVO XC90
WARNING!
Never leave the vehicle unattended when the engine is running. If, by mi\
stake, the gear selector is
moved from P, the vehicle may start moving.
R (Reverse)
Never engage R while the vehicle is moving forward.
D (Drive)
D is the normal driving position and should be used as often as possible\
to help improve fuel economy.
The vehicle should not be moving when shifting from R to the D position.

Shiftgate positions
NOTE:
l 5-cylinder turbo engine: 5 forward speeds.
l 6-cylinder turbo engine: 4 forward speeds.
Automatic transmission - shift gate positions
You can move the gear selector freely between the (MAN)ual and (D)rive positions while driving.
Depress the button on the front of the gear selector knob to move betwee\
n the R, N, D, and P positions.
pg. 92 Starting and driving
Automatic transmission with Geartronic (contd)
Manual shifting - Geartronic
You can move the gear selector freely between the (MAN)ual and (D)rive positions while driving.
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2003 VOLVO XC90
pg. 95 Starting and driving
Brake system
BRAKE Brake circuit malfunction
The brake system is a hydraulic system consisting of two master cylinder\
s and two separate brake
circuits. If a problem should occur in one of these circuits, it is stil\
l possible to stop the vehicle with the
other brake circuit.
If the brake pedal must be depressed farther than normal and requires gr\
eater foot pressure, the stopping
distance will be longer.
A warning light in the instrument panel will light up to warn the driver\
that a fault has occurred.
If this light comes on while driving or braking, stop immediately and ch\
eck the brake fluid level in the
reservoir.
NOTE: Press the brake pedal hard and maintain pressure on the pedal - do not p\
ump the brakes.
WARNING!
If the fluid level is below the MIN mark in the reservoir or if a "Brake\
failure - Service urgent"
message is displayed in the text window: DO NOT DRIVE. Have the vehicle \
towed to a Volvo
retailer and have the brake system inspected.
NOTE: When the vehicle is at a standstill and the engine is idling, e.g. at a \
traffic light and the brake
pedal is depressed, the pedal may go down slightly. This is a normal fun\
ction of the power-assisted
brake system.
Power brakes function only when the engine is running
The power brakes utilize vacuum pressure which is only created when the \
engine is running. Never let
the vehicle roll to a stop with the engine switched off.
If the power brakes are not working, the brake pedal must be pressed app\
roximately four times harder
than usual to make up for the lack of power assistance. This can happen \
for example when towing your
vehicle or if the engine is switched off when the vehicle is rolling. Th\
e brake pedal feels harder than
usual.
Water on brake discs and brake pads affects braking
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