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2004 VOLVO XC90
state of charge more frequently and spray an antirust oil on the battery\
posts.
l Volvo recommends the use of snow tires on all four wheels for winter driving - see section "Wheels
and tires."
l To prevent the washer fluid reservoir from freezing, add washer solvents containing antifreeze (see
page 126 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 mode-enhanced 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. 106 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.
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2004 VOLVO XC90
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.
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 \
vehicle's transmission fluid
yourself. Have your vehicle's transmission fluid level inspected by a qu\
alified Volvo service technician.
Contents | Top of Page
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2004 VOLVO XC90
2 0 0 4
VOLVO XC90
Vehicle care
pg. 117 Vehicle care
Washing and cleaning the vehicle118
Paint touch up120
pg. 118 Vehicle care
Washing and cleaning the vehicle
l The vehicle should be washed at regular intervals since dirt, dust, inse\
cts and tar spots adhere to the
paint and may cause damage. It is particularly important to wash the veh\
icle frequently in the wintertime
to prevent corrosion, when salt has been used on the roads.
l When washing the vehicle, do not expose it to direct sunlight. Use lukew\
arm 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 Dry the vehicle with a clean chamois and remember to clean the drain hol\
es in the doors and rocker
panels.
l Tar spots can be removed with kerosene or tar remover after the vehicle \
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.
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2004 VOLVO XC90
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.
l After cleaning the engine, the spark plug wells should be inspected for \
water and blown dry if
necessary.
Suitable detergents: Special vehicle washing detergents should be used. A suitable mixture i\
s about 2.5
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.
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. 119 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
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2004 VOLVO XC90
dislodging them.
Polishing and Waxing
l Normally, polishing is not required during the first year after delivery\
, however, waxing may be
beneficial.
l Before applying polish or wax the vehicle must be washed and dried. Tar \
spots can be removed with
kerosene or tar remover. Difficult spots may require a fine rubbing comp\
ound.
l After polishing use liquid or paste wax.
l Several commercially available products contain both polish and wax.
l Waxing alone does not substitute for polishing a dull surface.
l A wide range of polymer-based waxes can be purchased today. These waxes \
are easy to use and
produce a long-lasting, high-gloss finish that protects the bodywork aga\
inst oxidation, road dirt and
fading.
l Do not polish or wax your vehicle in direct sunlight (the surface of th\
e vehicle should not be warmer
than 113° F (45° C).
Cleaning the upholstery
l The fabric can be cleaned with soapy water or a detergent. For more diff\
icult spots caused by oil, ice
cream, shoe polish, grease, etc., use a clothing/fabric stain remover.
l The plastic in the upholstery can be cleaned with a soft cloth and mild \
soap solution.
l Leather upholstery/suede-like upholstery (alcanteraTM) can be cleaned with a soft cloth and mild soap
solution. For more difficult spots, Volvo offers a leather care kit.
l Under no circumstances should gasoline, naphtha or similar cleaning agen\
ts be used on the plastic or
the leather since these can cause damage.
Cleaning the seat belts
Clean only with lukewarm water and a mild soap solution.
Cleaning floor mats
The floor mats should be vacuumed or brushed clean regularly, especially\
during winter when they
should be taken out for drying. Spots on textile mats can be removed wit\
h a mild detergent.
Bear in mind
l Take extra care when removing stains such as ink or lipstick since the c\
oloring can spread.
l Use solvents sparingly. Too much solvent can damage the seat padding.
l Start from the outside of the stain and work toward the center.
pg. 120 Vehicle care
Paint touch up
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2004 VOLVO XC90
Paint damage requires immediate attention to avoid rusting. Make it a ha\
bit to check the finish regularly
- when washing the vehicle for instance. Touch-up if necessary.
Paint repairs require special equipment and skill. Contact your Volvo re\
tailer for any extensive damage.
Minor scratches can be repaired by using Volvo touch-up paint.
NOTE: When ordering touch-up paint from your Volvo retailer, use the paint cod\
e indicated on the
model plate. The plate is located in the engine compartment.
Color code
Make sure you have the right color. The color code number is on the data\
plate in the engine
compartment.
Minor stone chips and scratches
Material:
l Primer - can
l Paint - touch-up pen
l Brush
l Masking tape
l If the stone chip has not gone down to the bare metal and an undamaged c\
olor coat remains, you can
add paint immediately after removing dirt.
NOTE: When touching up the vehicle, it should be clean and dry. The surface te\
mperature should be
above 60° F (15° C).
Minor scratches on the surface
If the stone chip has not penetrated down to the metal and an undamaged \
layer of paint remains, the
touch-up paint can be applied as soon as the spot has been cleaned.
Deep scratches
1. Place a strip of masking tape over the damaged surface. Pull the tape\
off so that any loose flakes of
paint adhere to it.
2. Thoroughly mix the primer and apply it with a small brush.
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2004 VOLVO XC90
When the primer surface is dry, the paint can be applied using a brush. \
Mix the paint thoroughly; apply
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.
Contents | Top of Page
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2004 VOLVO XC90
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VOLVO XC90
Wheels and tires
pg. 107 Wheels and tires
General information108
Tire pressure110
Tread wear indicators111
Uniform Tire Quality Grading112
Changing wheels113
pg. 108 Wheels and tires
General information
General information about wheels and tires
Your vehicle is equipped with tires according to the tire information la\
bel on the inside of the fuel filler
door.
All tires have a dimension designation. The following is an example of a tire designation: 225/70R16.
225 section width (mm)
70 relationship between section height and width
R radial tire
16 wheel rim diameter (inches)
The tires have good road holding characteristics and offer good handling\
on dry and wet surfaces. It
should be noted however that the tires have been developed to give these\
features on snow/ice-free
surfaces.
Certain models are equipped with "all-season" tires, which provide a som\
ewhat higher degree of
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