We will not compromise our commitment to safety. We continue to seek out new safety features and to refine those
already in our cars. You can help. We would appreciate hearing your suggestions about improving automobile safety.
We also want to know if you ever have a safety concern with your car.
Call us in the U.S. at: 1-800-458-1552 or in Canada at: 1-800-663-8255.
Occupant safety reminders
How safely you drive doesn't depend on how old you are but rather on:
How well you see.
Your ability to concentrate.
How quickly you make decisions under stress to avoid an accident.
The following suggestions are intended to help you cope with the ever changing traffic environment.
Never drink and drive.
If you are taking any medication, consult your physician about its potential effects on your driving abilities.
Take a driver-retraining course.
Have your eyes checked regularly.
Keep your windshield and headlights clean.
Replace wiper blades when they start to leave streaks.
Take into account the traffic, road, and weather conditions, particularly with regard to stopping distance.
Reporting safety defects in the U.S.
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should
immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying Volvo Cars
of North America, LLC. If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a
safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot
become involved in individual problems between you, your retailer, or Volvo Cars of North America, LLC.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at
1-888-327-4236
(TTY: 1-800-424-9153) or write to:
NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington D.C. 20590.
You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from:
http://www.safecar.gov
Volvo strongly recommends that if your vehicle is covered under a service campaign, safety or emission recall or
similar action, it should be completed as soon as possible. Please check with your local retailer or Volvo Cars of North
America, LLC if your vehicle is covered under these conditions.
13 01 Safety
Occupant safety
NHTSA can be reached at:
Internet:
http://www.nhtsa.gov
Telephone:
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Press the button to resume the previously set speed.
Disengaging cruise control
Cruise control can also be disengaged by:
Pressing the CRUISE button (CRUISE ON will no longer be shown in the function display).
Putting the gear selector in Neutral ( N).
WARNING
Cruise control should not be used in heavy traffic or when driving on wet or slippery roads. Cruise control may not
maintain set speed on steep downgrades.
64 02 Instruments and controls
Right-side steering wheel lever
Windshield wipers
A. Windshield/headlight washers
B. Rain sensor (option) - on/off, see page 65
C. Thumb wheel
D. Used on wagon models only
Windshield wipers off
The windshield wipers are off when the lever is in position 0.
Manual wiper function
From position 0, move the lever upward. The windshield wipers will sweep one stroke at a time for as long as the lever
is held up.
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Intermittent wiper function
With the lever in this position, you can set the wiper interval by moving the thumb wheel (C) upward to increase wiper
speed or downward to decrease the speed.
Continuous wiper function
The wipers operate at "normal" speed.
High speed wiper function.
Windshield washers (A)
Pull the lever toward the steering wheel and release it. The wipers will make 2-3 sweeps across the windshield after the
lever has been released.
CAUTION
Use ample washer fluid when washing the windshield. The windshield should be thoroughly wet when the wipers
are in operation.
Headlight washers (certain models)
When the lever has been pulled, high pressure jets mounted in the bumper will spray the headlights.
The following applies to conserve washer fluid (see page 58
for information on the light switch positions):
Low/high beam headlights on
The headlights will be washed the first time the windshield is washed. Thereafter, the headlights will only be washed
once for every five times the windshield is washed within a 10-minute period.
Parking lights on
Optional Bi -Xenon headlights will be washed once for every five times the windshield is washed.
Normal halogen headlights will not be washed.
65 02 Instruments and controls
Rain sensor
B - Rain sensor (option)
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The rain sensor regulates windshield wiper speed according to the amount of water on the windshield. The sensitivity
of the rain sensor is adjusted by moving the thumb wheel (C in the illustration on the previous page) up (the wipers
will sweep the windshield more frequently) or down (the wipers will sweep the windshield less frequently).
On/Off
To activate the rain sensor:
1. Switch on the ignition.
2. Put the windshield wiper lever in position 0.
3. Press button B (see the illustration on the previous page). The rain sensor symbol will appear in the lower display.
The rain sensor can be deactivated by:
Pressing button (B).
or
Moving the windshield wiper lever down.
NOTE
The rain sensor function will remain activated if the lever is briefly moved up to activate the "manual sweep"
function.
CAUTION
The rain sensor should be deactivated when washing the car in an automatic car wash, etc. If the rain sensor function
is left on, the wipers will start inadvertently in the car wash and could be damaged.
The rain sensor is automatically deactivated:
When the key is removed from the ignition.
Five minutes after the ignition is switched off if the key is left in the ignition.
C - Thumb wheel
The thumb wheel is used to set the wiper interval when intermittent wiping is selected, or the sensitivity to the amount
of rain on the windshield when the rain sensor is selected. Move the wheel upward or downward to increase/decrease
wiper speed when the intermittent function is selected, or to increase/decrease the optional rain sensor's sensitivity
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2 0 0 7
VOLVO S40
80 03 Climate
General information 82
Air vents84
Manual climate control85
Electronic Climate Control (ECC) - option87
Air distribution90
81 03 Climate
82 03 Climate
General information
Air conditioning - A/C
Your car is equipped with a climate control system that includes either manually adjustable air conditioning or optional
Electronic Climate Control (ECC).
The air conditioning system can be switched off, but for optimal air quality in the passenger compartment and to
prevent the windows from fogging, the air conditioning should be left on - even in cool weather.
NOTE
In warm weather, a small amount of water may accumulate under the car when it has been parked. This water is
condensation from the A/C system and is normal.
Ice and snow
Always keep the air intake grille at the base of the windshield free of snow.
Climate control maintenance
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6. Heated driver's seat
7. Heated front passenger's seat
8. Rear window and door mirror defrosters
9. Temperature selector
Manual climate system functions
1. Blower
The blower speed can be increased or decreased by turning the knob. If the knob is turned counterclockwise and the
indicator light in the display goes out, the blower and the air conditioning are switched off. The display shows the
blower symbol and OFF.
2. Recirculation
This function can be used to shut out exhaust fumes, smoke, etc from the passenger compartment. The air in the
passenger compartment is then recirculated, i.e. no air from outside the car is taken into the car when this function is
activated. Recirculation (together with the air conditioning system) cools the passenger compartment more quickly in
very warm weather. If the air in the car recirculates for too long, there is a risk of condensation
86 03 Climate
Manual climate control
forming on the insides of the windows, especially in winter.
Timer
The timer function minimizes the risk of misting, or stale air when the recirculation function is selected. See page 74
for information on setting the recirculation timer. Recirculation is always disengaged when you select Defroster (3).
3. Defroster
Directs airflow to the windshield and side windows and increases blower speed. When the defroster is activated:
Air flows to the windows at high blower speed.
The LED in the defroster button lights up when this function is activated. The air conditioning system is controlled
to provide maximum air dehumidification.
The air conditioning is automatically switched on (can be switched off by pressing button 5).
The air is not recirculated.
4. Airflow controls
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Electronic Climate Control (ECC) - option
automatically if AUTO is selected. The previously set blower speed is disconnected.
NOTE
If the knob is turned counterclockwise and the blower indication in the display goes out, the blower and the air
conditioning are switched off. The display shows the blower symbol and OFF.
3. Recirculation
This function can be used to shut out exhaust fumes, smoke, etc from the passenger compartment. The air in the
passenger compartment is then recirculated, i.e. no air from outside the car is taken into the car when this function is
activated.
If the air in the car recirculates for too long, there is a risk of condensation forming on the insides of the windows,
especially in winter.
Timer
The timer function minimizes the risk of fogging, or stale air when the recirculation function is selected. See page 74
for information on setting the recirculation timer.
NOTE
Recirculation is always disengaged if the defroster button is engaged to clear ice or condensation from the side
windows.
4. Defroster
Directs airflow to the windshield and side windows and increases blower speed. When the defroster is activated:
Air flows to the windows at high blower speed.
The LED in the defroster button lights up when this function is activated. The air conditioning system is controlled
to provide maximum air dehumidification.
The air conditioning is automatically switched on (can be switched off by pressing button 6).
The air is not recirculated.
5. Airflow controls
Press one of the three buttons in the illustration to activate the selected airflow. A symbol in the display above the
climate control panel and a lit LED in the selected button indicate that the manual function has been selected. With
manually selected airflow both warm and cool air can be selected. See also the table on page 90
.
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Observe the following rules:
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 engine uses more fuel and is subject to increased wear.
Whenever possible, avoid using the vehicle for driving short distances. This does not allow the engine to reach
normal operating temperature.
Drive carefully and avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking.
Use the transmission's Drive ( D) position as often as possible and avoid using kickdown.
Do not exceed posted speed limits.
Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra load) in the vehicle.
Maintain correct tire pressure. Check tire pressure regularly (when tires are cold).
Remove snow tires when threat of snow or ice has ended.
Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc, increase air resistance and also fuel consumption.
At highway driving speeds, fuel consumption will be lower with the air conditioning on and the windows closed
than with the air conditioning off and the windows open.
Using the onboard trip computer's fuel consumption modes can help you learn how to drive more economically.
Other factors that decrease gas mileage are:
Dirty air cleaner
Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter
Dragging brakes
Incorrect front end alignment
Some of the above mentioned items and others are checked at the standard maintenance intervals.
Weight distribution affects handling
WARNING
Driving with the trunk open: Driving with the trunk open could lead to poisonous exhaust gases entering the
passenger compartment. If the trunk must be kept open for any reason, proceed as follows:
Close the windows
Set the ventilation system control to air flow to floor, windshield and side windows and the blower control to its
highest setting.
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 curvature of a bend. This ensures good stability and reduces the risk
of rear wheel skid. Remember that these properties can alter with the vehicle load. The heavier the load in the cargo
area, the less the tendency to understeer.
Handling, roadholding
Vehicle load, tire design and inflation pressure all affect vehicle handling. Therefore, check that the tires are inflated to
the recommended pressure according to the vehicle load. See the "Tire pressure" section. Loads should be distributed
so that capacity weight
123 06 Starting and driving
General information
or maximum permissible axle loads are not exceeded.
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