
2003 VOLVO XC90
WARNING!
Bumper-attached trailer hitches must not be used on Volvos, nor should s\
afety chains be attached to
the bumper.
Trailer hitches attaching to the vehicle rear axle must not be used.
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.
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 vehicle. The safety wire should never be fas\
tened to or wound around the
drawbar ball.
pg. 104 Starting and driving
Towing a trailer (contd)
NOTE!
- When parking the vehicle with a trailer on a hill, apply the parking b\
rake 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.
- If you use the manual (Geartronic) shift positions while towing a tr\
ailer, make sure the gear you select
does not put too much strain on the engine (using too high a gear).
- The drawbar assembly/trailer hitch may be rated for trailers heavier t\
han the vehicle is designed to tow.
Please adhere to Volvo's recommended trailer weights.
Leveling
If your vehicle is equipped with automatic levelling, the rear suspensio\
n always retains the correct ride
height regardless of the load. When the vehicle is stationary, the rear \
suspension lowers, which is
normal.
pg. 105 Starting and driving
Detachable trailer hitch - installing/removing
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page 128 for the location of the washer fluid reservoir).
This is important since dirt is often splashed on the windshield during \
winter driving, requiring the
frequent use of the washers and wipers. Volvo Washer Solvent should be d\
iluted 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 modeÐenhanced vehicle traction
l Mode W will only function if the gear selector is in the (D)rive position.
l Press the button at the base of the gear selector to engage/disengage th\
is driving mode.
l An LED in the button will light up to indicate that W is engaged and thi\
s will also be displayed in the
instrument panel (see
page 24).
l This mode may be selected for starting/moving off on slippery roads.
* Synthetic oil is not used when the oil is changed at the normal mainte\
nance intervals except at owner
request and at additional charge. Please consult your Volvo retailer.
pg. 108 Starting and driving
Before a long distance trip
It is always worthwhile to have your vehicle checked at a Volvo retailer\
before driving long distances.
Your retailer will also be able to supply you with bulbs, fuses, spark p\
lugs 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 transmission oil level*.
l Check condition of drive belts.
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 legally required in some states/provinc\
es.
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.
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2003 VOLVO XC90
fl. oz. (8.5 cl) of detergent to 2.6 US gal. (10 liters) of warm wat\
er. After washing with a detergent the
vehicle should be well rinsed with clean water.
Bumpers: Wash the bumpers with the same cleaning agent used on the rest of the v\
ehicle. Never clean
the bumpers with gasoline or paint thinner. Difficult spots can be remov\
ed with denatured alcohol. To
avoid scratches, do not dry the bumpers with paper.
NOTE: When washing the vehicle, remember to remove dirt from the drain holes i\
n the doors and sills. CAUTION
- During high pressure washing, the spray mouthpiece must never be close\
r to the vehicle than
13" (30 cm). Do not spray into the locks.
- When washing or steam cleaning the engine, avoid spraying water or ste\
am directly on the electrical
components or toward the rear side of the engine.
Special moonroof cautions:
- Always close the moonroof and visor before washing your vehicle.
- Never use abrasive cleaning agents on the moonroof.
- Never use wax on the rubber seals around the moonroof.
WARNING!
When the vehicle is driven immediately after being washed, apply the bra\
kes several times in order to
remove any moisture from the brake linings.
Engine cleaning agents should not be used when the engine is warm. This \
constitutes a fire risk.
pg. 111 Vehicle care
Automatic washing - simple and quick
l We do NOT recommend washing your vehicle in an automatic wash during the\
first six months
(because the paint will not have hardened sufficiently).
l An automatic wash is a simple and quick way to clean your vehicle, but i\
t is worth remembering that
it may not be as thorough as when you yourself go over the vehicle with \
sponge and water. Keeping the
underbody clean is most important, especially in the winter. Some automa\
tic washers do not have
facilities for washing the underbody.
l Before driving into an automatic car wash, make sure that side view mirr\
ors, auxiliary lamps, etc, are
secure, and that any antenna(s) are retracted or removed. Otherwise th\
ere is risk of the machine
dislodging them.
Polishing and Waxing
l Normally, polishing is not required during the first year after delivery\
, however, waxing may be
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l With warm tires, correct only when the pressure is too low. The tire tem\
perature rises after driving
just a few miles.
Vehicle loading
The tires on your Volvo will perform to specifications at all normal loa\
ds when inflated as
recommended on the tire information label located on the inside of the f\
uel filler door. This label lists
both tire and vehicle design limits. Do not load your vehicle beyond the\
load limits indicated.
WARNING!
Improperly inflated tires will reduce tire life, adversely affect vehicl\
e handling and can possibly lead
to failure resulting in loss of vehicle control without prior warning.
Temporary Spare
The spare tire in your vehicle is called a "Temporary Spare".
Recommended tire pressure (see decal on Fuel filler door) should be ma\
intained irrespective which
position on the vehicle the Temporary Spare tire is used on. In the even\
t of damage this tire, a new one
can be purchased from your Volvo retailer.
WARNING!
Current legislation prohibits the use of the Temporary Spare" tire other\
than as a temporary
replacement for a punctured tire. It must be replaced as soon as possibl\
e by a standard tire. Road
holding and handling may be affected with the "Temporary Spare" in use. \
Do not exceed 50 mph (80
km/h). Do not drive farther than 50 miles (80 km) on a temporary spar\
e tire.
CAUTION
The vehicle must not be driven with wheels of different dimensions or wi\
th a spare tire other than the
one that came with the vehicle. The use of different size wheels can ser\
iously damage your vehicle's
transmission.
The temporary spare tire is for temporary, low-speed, short-distance use\
only. Replace it with a full-
sized tire as soon as possible, in accordance with "Tire Rotation" in th\
e previous paragraph. Do not drive
on the temporary spare at speeds above 50 m.p.h. (80km/h) or for dista\
nces greater than 50 miles (80
km). Never install snow chains on a temporary spare.
NOTE: Certain models may be equipped with a full-size spare tire. When used, i\
t should be inflated to
the same pressure as the tire it is replacing.
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2003 VOLVO XC90
TREADWEAR
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of th\
e tire when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified government test course. For example\
, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and one half (1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a t\
ire graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their use, ho\
wever, and many depart
significantly from the norm due to variation in driving habits, maintena\
nce practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
TRACTION
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C, as mea\
sured under controlled
conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete\
. A tire marked C may have
poor traction performance.
WARNING!
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking (straight-\
ahead) traction tests and is not a
measure of cornering (turning) traction.
TEMPERATURE
The temperature grades are AA (the highest), A, B, and C, representing\
the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under c\
ontrolled conditions on specified
indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the m\
aterial of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire \
failure. The grade C corresponds
to minimum level of performance that all passenger vehicle tires must me\
et under the Federal Motor
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of perfo\
rmance on the laboratory test
wheel than the minimum required by law.
WARNING!
The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that is pr\
operly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive loading, either separately\
or in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible tire failure.
pg. 119 Wheels and tires
Changing wheels
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Lowering the spare wheel
Changing wheels - lowering the spare wheel
The spare wheel is located under the floor of the rear cargo compartment\
. It can be lowered using the
crank that is stored in the tool bag.
WARNING!
When raising or lowering the spare wheel, please keep in mind that compo\
nents in the exhaust system
may be very hot.
Lowering the spare wheel:
1. Fold down the lower section of the tailgate.
2. Fold up the rear section of the floor in the cargo compartment.
3. Take the two sections of the crank from the tool bag and connect them\
to each other.
4. Insert the hooked end of the crank in the spare wheel retaining attac\
hment (see the illustration above).
5. Lower the spare wheel under the vehicle by turning the crank counterc\
lockwise until it is not possible
to turn it further.
6. Pivot the toggle at the end of the cable 90 degrees to release it fro\
m the spare wheel.
7. Crank up the cable again by turning the crank clockwise.
8. Place the wheel with the flat tire in the vehicle's cargo compartment\
. There is a plastic storage bag for
this purpose in the tool bag. CAUTION
When the spare wheel is mounted on the vehicle, the retaining cable coul\
d damage the underside of
the vehicle if it is not retracted.
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2003 VOLVO XC90
Changing a wheel
There are two attachment points for the jack on each side of the vehicle\
. These attachment points are
under the center of each door.The jack is located in the storage compart\
ment under the cargo area floor
(to the right in five-seat models and in the center in seven-seat model\
s), and the crank is stored in the
tool bag.
WARNING!
- There is an attachment point on each side of the vehicle located under\
the pillars between the front
and rear doors. This point is used during the production process only, a\
nd is NOT intended for
attaching the jack.
-The undersides of accessory running boards are not intended for attachi\
ng the jack.
To change a wheel:
1. Park the vehicle on a firm, level, nonslippery surface.
2. Engage the parking brake and put the gear selector in the Park positi\
on.
3. Loosen the wheel bolts by exerting downward pressure on the lug wrenc\
h.
4. Remove the wheel cap (where applicable) using the lug wrench in the\
tool kit.
5. With the wheels still on the ground, use the lug wrench to loosen the\
wheel bolts 1/2 - 1 turn. Turn the
bolts counterclockwise to loosen the bolts.
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l Lift the wheel and place it on the hub.
l Install the wheel bolts and tighten handtight. Using the lug wrench, tig\
hten crosswise until all bolts
are snug.
l Lower the vehicle to the ground and alternately tighten the bolts crossw\
ise to 102 ft. lbs. (140 Nm).
l Install the wheel cap (where applicable).
WARNING!
- The jack must correctly engage the bar in the jack attachment. The veh\
icle's weight must not rest on
the jack attachment. See illustration "Attaching the jack" above. Be sure the jack is on a firm, level,
non-slippery surface.
- Never allow any part of your body to be extended under a vehicle suppo\
rted by a jack.
- Use the jack intended for the vehicle when replacing a wheel. For any \
other job, use stands to
support the side of the vehicle being worked on.
- Apply the parking brake and put the gear selector in the (P)ark position (or reverse on manual
transmissions).
- Block the wheels standing on the ground, use rigid wooden blocks or la\
rge stones. The jack should
be kept well-greased.
pg. 122 Wheels and tires
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