2009 VOLVO S40 Owner´s Manual

08
CAR CARE

08 Car careWashing and cleaning the car
08202
Washing the carThe following points should be kept in mind
when washing and cleaning the car:•
The car should be washed at regular inter-
vals since dirt, dust, insects and tar spots
adhere to the paint and may cause dam-
age. To help prevent corrosion, it is partic-
ularly important to wash the car frequently
in the wintertime when salt has been used
on the roads.
•
Avoid washing your car in direct sunlight.
Doing so may cause detergents and wax
to dry out and become abrasive. To avoid
scratching, use lukewarm water to soften
the dirt before you wash with a soft
sponge, and plenty of sudsy water.
•
Bird droppings: Remove from paintwork
as soon as possible. Otherwise the finish
may be permanently damaged.
•
A detergent can be used to facilitate the
softening of dirt and oil.
•
A water-soluble grease solvent may be
used in cases of sticky dirt. However, use
a wash place equipped with a drainage
separator.
•
Dry the car with a clean chamois and
remember to clean the drain holes in the
doors and rocker panels.
•
Tar spots can be removed with kerosene
or tar remover after the car has been
washed.
•
A stiff-bristle brush and lukewarm soapy
water can be used to clean the wiper
blades. Frequent cleaning of the wind-
shield and wiper blades improves visibility
considerably and also helps prolong the
service life of the wiper blades.
•
Wash off the dirt from the underside (wheel
housings, fenders, etc).
•
In areas of high industrial fallout, more fre-
quent washing is recommended.
•
After cleaning the engine, the spark plug
wells should be inspected for water and
blown dry if necessary.NOTE
When washing the car, remember to remove
dirt from the drain holes in the doors and
sills.Exterior componentsVolvo recommends the use of special cleaning
products, available at your Volvo retailer, for
cleaning colored plastic, rubber, or ornamental
components such as chromed strips on the
exterior of your vehicle. The instructions for
using these products should be followed care-fully.Solvents or stain removers should not be
used.
CAUTION
•
Avoid waxing or polishing plastic or rub-
ber components
•
Polishing chromed strips can wear
away or damage the surface
•
Polishes containing abrasive sub-
stances should not be used

08 Car care
Washing and cleaning the car
08``203
CAUTION
•
During high pressure washing, the
spray mouthpiece must never be closer
to the vehicle than 13" (30 cm). Do not
spray into the locks.
•
Dirt, snow, etc., on the headlights can
reduce lighting capacity considerably.
Clean the headlights regularly, for
example when refueling.
•
When washing or steam cleaning the
engine, avoid spraying water or steam
directly on the electrical components or
toward the rear side of the engine.
•
Always close the moonroof (option) and
sun shade before washing your vehicle.
•
Never use abrasive cleaning agents on
the moonroof.
•
Never use wax on the rubber seals
around the moonroof.
Automatic washing – simple and quickWe do NOT recommend washing your car in an
automatic wash during the first six months
(because the paint will not have hardened suf-
ficiently).
An automatic wash is a simple and quick way
to clean your car, but it is worth remembering
that it may not be as thorough as when you
yourself go over the car with sponge and water.Keeping the underbody clean is most impor-
tant, especially in the winter. Some automatic
washers do not have facilities for washing the
underbody.
CAUTION
•
Before driving into an automatic car
wash, turn off the optional rain sensor
to avoid damaging the windshield wip-
ers.
•
Make sure that side view mirrors, auxil-
iary lamps, etc, are secure, and that any
antenna(s) are retracted or removed.
Otherwise there is risk of the machine
dislodging them
•
Chromed wheels: Clean chrome-
plated wheels using the same deter-
gents used for the body of the vehicle.
Aggressive wheel-cleaning agents can
permanently stain chrome-plated
wheels.WARNING
•
When the car is driven immediately after
being washed, apply the brakes 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.
Exterior lightingCondensation may form temporarily on the
inside of the lenses of exterior lights such as
headlights, fog lights, or taillights. This is nor-
mal and the lights are designed to withstand
moisture. Normally, condensation will dissi-
pate after the lights have been on for a short
time.Polishing and Waxing•
Normally, polishing is not required during
the first year after delivery, however, wax-
ing may be beneficial.
•
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
compound.
•
After polishing use liquid or paste wax.
•
Several commercially available products
contain both polish and wax.
•
Waxing alone does not substitute for pol-
ishing a dull surface.
•
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
against oxidation, road dirt and fading.
•
Do not polish or wax your vehicle in direct
sunlight (the surface of the vehicle should
not be warmer than 113 °F (45 °C).

08 Car careWashing and cleaning the car
08204
CAUTION
Volvo does not recommend the use of long-
life or durable paint protection coatings,
some of which may claim to prevent pitting,
fading, oxidation, etc. These coatings have
not been tested by Volvo for compatibility
with your vehicle's clear coat. Some of them
may cause the clear coat to soften, crack,
or cloud. Damage caused by application of
paint protection coatings may not be cov-
ered under your vehicle's paint warranty.Upholstery careFabricClean with soapy water or a detergent. For
more difficult spots caused by oil, ice cream,
shoe polish, grease, etc., use a clothing/fabric
stain remover. Consult your Volvo retailer.Interior plastic componentsCleaning interior plastic components should
be done with a cleaning agent specially
designed for this purpose. Consult your Volvo
retailer.Alcantera™ suede-like materialSuede-like upholstery can be cleaned with a
soft cloth and mild soap solution.
Leather careVolvo's leather upholstery is manufactured
with a protectant to repel soiling. Over time,
sunlight, grease and dirt can break down the
protection. Staining, cracking, scuffing, and
fading can result.
Volvo offers an easy-to-use, non-greasy
leather care kit formulated to clean and beau-
tify your vehicle's leather, and to renew the
protective qualities of its finish. The cleaner
removes dirt and oil buildup. The light cream
protectant restores a barrier against soil and
sunlight.
Volvo also offers a special leather softener that
should be applied after the cleaner and pro-
tectant. It leaves leather soft and smooth, and
reduces friction between leather and other fin-
ishes in the vehicle.
Volvo recommends cleaning, protecting and
conditioning your vehicle's leather two to four
times a year. Ask your Volvo retailer about
Leather Care Kit 951 0251 and Leather Soft-
ener 943 7429.Cleaning leather upholstery1. Pour leather cleaner on a damp sponge
and squeeze it until the cleaner foams.
2. Apply the foam to the stain by moving the
sponge with circular movements.3. Dampen the stain thoroughly with the
sponge. Let the sponge absorb the stain,
do not rub.
4. Dry the stain with soft paper towels or a
towel, and allow the leather to dry com-
pletely.
Protecting leather upholstery1. Put a small amount of protectant cream on
a cloth and apply a thin coating of cream
to the upholstery with light circular move-
ments.
2. Allow the leather to dry for 20 minutes.
This will help the leather resist staining and
protect against sunlight's harmful UV rays.

08 Car care
Washing and cleaning the car
08
205
CAUTION
•
Under no circumstances should gaso-
line, naphtha or similar cleaning agents
be used on the plastic or the leather
since these can cause damage.
•
Take extra care when removing stains
such as ink or lipstick since the coloring
can spread.
•
Use solvents sparingly. Too much sol-
vent can damage the seat padding.
•
Start from the outside of the stain and
work toward the center.
•
Sharp objects (e.g. pencils or pens in a
pocket) or Velcro fasteners on clothing
may damage the textile upholstery.
•
Clothing that is not colorfast, such as
new jeans or suede garments, may stain
the upholstery.
Cleaning the seat beltsClean only with lukewarm water and a mild
soap solution.
Cleaning floor matsThe 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 with a mild deter-
gent. For best protection in winter, Volvo rec-
ommends the use of Volvo rubber floor mats.
Consult your Volvo retailer.

08 Car carePaint touch up
08206
Touching up minor paint damagePaint damage requires immediate attention to
avoid rusting. Make it a habit to check the finish
regularly - when washing the vehicle for
instance. Touch-up if necessary.
Paint repairs require special equipment and
skill. Contact a trained and authorized Volvo
service technician for any extensive damage.
Minor scratches can be repaired by using
Volvo touch-up paint.Color code
G031024
When ordering touch-up paint from your Volvo
retailer, make sure you have the right color.
Use the paint code indicated on the model
plate (1 in the illustration).
Minor stone chips and scratchesMaterial:•
Primer – can
•
Paint – touch-up pen
•
Brush
•
Masking tape
G020345
NOTE
When touching up the vehicle, it should be
clean and dry. The surface temperature
should be above 60° F (15° C).
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 scratches1. Place a strip of masking tape over the dam-
aged 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. 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 applica-
tion.
3. If there is a longer scratch, you may want
to protect surrounding paint by masking it
off.

08 Car care
08
207

G020922
208
Volvo maintenance................................................................................ 210
Maintaining your car.............................................................................. 212
Hood.....................................................................................................214
Engine compartment............................................................................. 215
Engine oil............................................................................................... 216
Fluids..................................................................................................... 218
Wiper blades......................................................................................... 220
Battery................................................................................................... 221
Replacing bulbs.................................................................................... 223
Fuses..................................................................................................... 230