2008 VOLVO S40 warning

Raise the cover to switch on the light.
103 04 Interior
Storage compartments
104 04 Interior
Storage compartments
1. Storage pocket (on the rear side of the front seats)
2. Compartment in door panel (with a holder for an ice scraper)
3. Storage pocket (on the front side of the front seat cushion)
4. Glove compartment
5. Storage compartment for e.g., CDs and cup holders
6. Jacket hanger (intended for light garments only)
7. Rear seat storage compartment and cup holders
8. Storage pocket (on the front side of the rear, center seat cushion)
WARNING
Anchor any heavy objects to prevent them from moving during sudden stops.
Packages on the rear parcel shelf can obscure vision and may become dangerous projectiles in the event of a
sudden stop or an accident.
ProCarManuals.com

Rear seat
Rear seat head restraints
Each of the rear seat head restraints can be adjusted vertically to suit the height of the passenger. The upper edge of
the head restraint should be on a level with the midpoint of the rear side of the passenger's head (see illustration).
WARNING
The center rear seat head restraint should only be in its lowest position when this seat is NOT occupied. When the
center position is occupied, the head restraint should be correctly adjusted to the passenger's height.
To raise: slide the head restraint up to the desired height.
To lower: Press the catch at the base of the right support and press the head restraint down.
To remove: Pull the head restraint up far as possible. Press the catch at the base of the right support and pull the
head restraint out of the its holders.
NOTE
When the seat backs are folded down, the head restraints may be damaged if they are not removed. The center head
restraint must also be removed when transporting heavy loads.
108 04 Interior
Rear seat
Folding down the rear seat backrests
ProCarManuals.com

Both sections of the rear seat backrest can be folded down, together or separately, to enable you to transport long
objects. Before folding down the rear seat backrests, the outboard seat belts can be attached to the clothes hook as
shown in the illustration.
To fold down one or both sections:
1. Grasp the rear edge of the seat cushion and pull it forward.
2. Pull the catch on the upper outboard edge of the backrest upward and forward to release the backrest lock. A red
lock indicator is visible when the backrest is not locked in the upright position.
3. Fold the backrest down partially and remove the outer head restraints. Press the center head restraint down
completely or remove it.
4. Place the head restraints in the plastic tubes, which are now accessible on the under side of the seat cushions.
WARNING
The red lock indicator is VISIBLE when the backrest is NOT locked in position and hidden when the backrest is
correctly locked in place. When the backrest is in the upright position, it must always be correctly locked in place.
When the rear seat is folded down, do not place heavy objects against the backs of the front seats. This places a
severe strain on the folded down backrest of the rear seat. Be sure to secure cargo.
Cargo must not be stacked higher than the top of seat backs. This will reduce the possibility of luggage, etc.
becoming projectiles during sudden maneuvers, rapid braking or an accident.
109 04 Interior
ProCarManuals.com

The keyless drive system has a number of antennas located at various points in the vehicle.
1. On the inside center of the rear bumper
2. Left rear door handle
3. Under the floor of the trunk, near the rear seat
4. Right rear door handle
5. Under the rear section of the center console
6. Under the front section of the center console.
WARNING
People with implanted pacemakers should not allow the pacemaker to come closer than 9 inches (22 cm) to any of
the keyless drive system's antennas. This is to help prevent interference between the pacemaker and the keyless drive
system.
122 05 Locks and alarm
Locking and unlocking
Locking/unlocking the car from the inside
The switches near the door opening handles on the driver's and front passenger's doors can be used to lock or unlock
1
ProCarManuals.com

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.
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
129 06 Starting and driving
General information
ProCarManuals.com

or maximum permissible axle loads are not exceeded.
Driving through water
The vehicle can be driven through water up to a depth of approximately 9 in. (25 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 water.
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
Engine damage will occur if water is drawn into the air cleaner.
If the vehicle is driven through water deeper than 9 in (25 cm), water may enter the differential and the
transmission. This reduces the oil's lubricating capacity and may shorten the service life of these components.
Do not allow the vehicle to stand in water up to the door sills longer than absolutely necessary. This could result
in electrical malfunctions.
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.
Cold weather precautions
If you wish to check your vehicle before the approach of cold weather, the following advice is worth noting:
Make sure that the engine coolant contains 50 percent antifreeze. Any other mixture will reduce freeze protection.
This gives protection against freezing down to - 31°F (-35°C). See section "Coolant". The use of "recycled" antifreeze
is not approved by Volvo. Different types of antifreeze must not be mixed.
Volvo recommends using only genuine Volvo antifreeze in your vehicle's radiator. Your Volvo retailer stocks plenty
of Volvo engine coolant to help protect your vehicle during cold weather.
Try to keep the fuel tank well filled - this prevents the formation of condensation in the tank. In addition, in
extremely cold weather conditions it is worthwhile to add fuel line de -icer before refueling.
The viscosity of the engine oil is important. Oil with low viscosity (thinner oil) improves cold-weather starting as
well as decreasing fuel consumption while the engine is warming up. For winter use, 5W -30 oil, particularly the
synthetic type
1, is recommended. Be sure to use good quality oil but do not use cold-weather oil for hard driving or in
warm weather. See page 253
for more information.
The load placed on the battery is greater during the winter since the windshield wipers, lighting, etc. are used more
often. Moreover, the capacity of the battery decreases as the temperature drops. In very cold weather, a poorly charged
battery can freeze and be damaged. It is therefore advisable to check the state of
1Synthetic oil is not used when the oil is changed at the normal maintenance intervals except at owner request and at additional charge. Please
consult your Volvo retailer.
130 06 Starting and driving
General information
ProCarManuals.com

charge more frequently and spray an antirust oil on the battery posts.
Volvo recommends the use of snow tires on all four wheels for winter driving - see the chapter "Wheels and tires."
To prevent the washer fluid reservoir from freezing, add washer solvents containing antifreeze (see page 204 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 diluted 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.
Use Volvo Teflon Lock Spray in the locks.
NOTE
Avoid using de -icing sprays as they can cause damage to the locks.
Conserving electrical current
Keep the following in mind to help minimize battery drain:
When the engine is not running, avoid turning the ignition key to position II. Many electrical systems (the audio
system, the optional navigation system, power windows, etc) will function with the ignition key in position I. This
position reduces drain on the battery.
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 drained.
The optional 12-volt socket in the cargo area provides electrical current even with the ignition switched off, which
drains the battery.
NOTE
If the ignition is switched on, a warning message will be displayed in the text window in the instrument panel
when the battery charge is low.
An energy conserving function designed into the vehicle's electrical system will switch off certain functions or
reduce the load on the battery by, e.g., reducing the audio system's volume.
131 06 Starting and driving
General information
Before a long distance trip
It is always worthwhile to have your vehicle checked by a trained and qualified Volvo service technician before
driving long distances. Your retailer or service technician will also be able to supply you with bulbs, fuses, spark plugs
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:
Check that engine runs smoothly and that fuel consumption is normal.
Check for fuel, oil, and fluid leakage
Have the transmission oil level checked1.
Check condition of drive belts.
Check state of the battery's charge.
Examine tires carefully (the spare tire as well), and replace those that are worn. Check tire pressures.
ProCarManuals.com

The brakes, front wheel alignment, and steering gear should be checked by a trained and qualified Volvo service
technician only.
Check all lights, including high beams.
Reflective warning triangles are legally required in some states/provinces.
Have a word with your Volvo retailer if you intend to drive in countries where it may be difficult to obtain the
correct fuel.
Consider your destination. If you will be driving through an area where snow or ice are likely to occur, consider
snow tires.
1To 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 qualified Volvo service technician.
132 06 Starting and driving
Fuel requirements
Octane rating
MINIMUM
Volvo recommends premium for best performance, but using 87 octane or above will not affect engine reliability.
Volvo engines are designed to achieve rated horsepower, torque, and fuel economy performance using premium 91
octane fuel.
In demanding driving conditions, such as operating the vehicle in hot weather, towing a trailer, or driving for extended
periods at higher altitudes than normal, it may be advisable to switch to higher octane fuelRECOMMENDED
ProCarManuals.com