2007 Volvo XC90 
Difficult driving conditions 
Driving on rough/unpaved surfaces 
The Volvo XC90 is designed primarily for on-road driving, and it has exc\
ellent 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. 
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 th\
e flow of fuel to the engine is interrupted due 
to the vehicle's angle of inclination, this could result in damage to th\
e three-way catalytic converter. We recommend 
keeping the fuel tank at least half full when driving on steep inclines.\
Driving through water 
The vehicle can be driven through water up to a depth of approximately 1\
8 inches (48 cm), at a maximum speed of 6 mph 
(10 km/h). 
Take particular care when driving through flowing water. 
Clean the electrical connections for trailer wiring after driving in mud\
 or water. 
When driving through water, maintain low speed and do not stop in the wa\
ter. 
WARNING! 
After driving through water, press lightly on the brake pedal to ensure \
that the brakes are functioning normally. Water 
or mud can make the brake linings slippery, resulting in delayed braking\
 effect. 
CAUTION! 
l     Engine damage will occur if water is drawn into the air cleaner. 
l     If the vehicle is driven through water deeper than 18 in (48 cm), wate\
r may enter the differential and the 
transmission. This reduces the oil's lubricating capacity and may shorte\
n the service life of these components. 
l     Do not allow the vehicle to stand in water up to the door sills longer t\
han absolutely necessary. This could result in 
electrical malfunctions. 
l     If the engine has been stopped while the car is in water, do not attempt\
 to restart the engine. Have the car towed out 
of the water. 
pg. 124 Starting and driving 
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