06 Starting and drivingTowing
06158
WARNING
•
Never allow a vehicle to be towed with-
out a driver behind the wheel of the
disabled vehicle.
•
Never remove the key from the ignition
while the vehicle is moving. The steering
wheel could lock, making it impossible
to steer the vehicle.
•
When the engine is not running, steering
resistance and the effort needed to
apply the brakes will be great.
•
Never attempt to tow a vehicle with a
dead battery at night.CAUTION
•
Check with state and local authorities
before attempting this type of towing,
as vehicles being towed are subject to
regulations regarding maximum towing
speed, length and type of towing
device, lighting, marker flags, etc.
•
Never attempt to push- or tow-start a
vehicle with a dead battery. This would
inject unburned fuel into the three-way
catalytic converter(s), causing over-
heating, backfiring, and damage, see
page 159 for instructions on jump star-
ting the vehicle.
Towing vehicles with front wheel driveVolvo recommends the use of flat bed equip-
ment for towing vehicles with front wheel drive.
If wheel lift equipment must be used, please
use extreme caution to help avoid damage to
the vehicle.
In this case, the vehicle should be towed with
the rear wheels on the ground if at all possible.
If it is absolutely necessary to tow the vehicle
with the front wheels on the ground, please
refer to the towing information on the previous
page.•
Sling-type equipment applied at the front
will damage radiator and air conditioning
lines.
•
It is equally important not to use sling-type
equipment at the rear or apply lifting equip-
ment inside the rear wheels; serious dam-
age to the rear axle may result.
•
If the vehicle is being towed on a flat bed
truck, the towing eyelets must not be used
to secure the vehicle on the flat bed. Con-
sult the tow truck operator.
WARNING
•
Remember that the power brakes and
power steering will not function when
engine is not running. The braking and
steering systems will function but the
brake pedal pressure required is
3 – 5 times above normal and greater
steering effort must be exerted.
•
The towing eyelets must not be used for
pulling the vehicle out of a ditch or for
any similar purpose involving severe
strain. Do not use the towing eyelets to
pull the vehicle up onto a flat bed tow
truck.
06 Starting and driving
Jump starting
06
159
G020298
Follow these instructions to jump start your
vehicle's dead battery or to jump start another
vehicle's dead battery using your vehicle. If the
12-volt auxiliary battery to be used is in another
vehicle, check that the vehicles are not touch-
ing to prevent premature completion of a cir-
cuit. Be sure to follow jump starting instruc-
tions provided for the other vehicle.
To jump start your vehicle:
1. Switch off the ignition.
2. First connect the auxiliary battery positive
(+) terminal (1) to the positive (+) terminal in
your vehicle's battery (2), marked with a
"+" sign.3. Connect the auxiliary battery's negative (–)
terminal (3) to the ground point in your
vehicle's engine compartment near the
driver's side spring strut (4).
4. Start the engine in the assisting vehicle,
then start the engine in the vehicle with
dead battery.
5. After the engine has started, first remove
the negative (–) terminal jumper cable.
Then remove the positive (+) terminal
jumper cable.
WARNING
PROPOSITION 65 WARNING!
Battery posts, terminals, and related acces-
sories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the state of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling.
WARNING
Do not connect the jumper cable to any part
of the fuel system or to any moving parts.
Avoid touching hot manifolds.•
Batteries generate hydrogen gas, which
is flammable and explosive.
•
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do
not allow battery fluid to contact eyes,
skin, fabrics or painted surfaces. If con-
tact occurs, flush the affected area
immediately with water. Obtain medical
help immediately if eyes are affected.
•
Never expose the battery to open flame
or electric spark.
•
Do not smoke near the battery.
•
Failure to follow the instructions for
jump starting can lead to personal
injury.
•
Do not touch the jumper cables during
the attempt to start the vehicle. This
could cause sparks.
06 Starting and drivingTowing a trailer
06160
General information•
Volvo recommends the use of Volvo trailer
hitches that are specially designed for the
vehicle.CAUTION
Models equipped with the B5244S7 engine
(engine code 39 , which is the 6th and
7th digits from the left in your vehicle's VIN
number, see page 262 for the location of
the VIN plate), may not be used to tow trail-
ers or vehicles of any kind. This could cause
damage to the vehicle's emission control
systems.Maximum trailer weights recommended by
Volvo are:•
Trailers without brakes: 1,540 lbs
(700 kg).
•
Trailers with brakes: 2,000 lbs (900 kg)
Observe the legal requirements of the
state/province in which the vehicles are
registered.
•
The maximum recommended hitch
tongue load is 165 lbs (75 kg).
•
All Volvo models are equipped with
energy-absorbing shock-mounted bump-
ers. Trailer hitch installation should not
interfere with the proper operation of this
bumper system.Trailer towing does not normally present any
particular problems, but take into considera-
tion:
•
Increase tire pressure to recommended
full. See the chapter "Wheels and tires."
•
When your vehicle is new, avoid towing
heavy trailers during the first 620 miles
(1,000 km).
•
Maximum speed when towing a trailer:
50 mph (80 km/h).
•
Engine and transmission are subject to
increased loads. Therefore, engine coolant
temperature should be closely watched
when driving in hot climates or hilly terrain.
Use a lower gear and turn off the air con-
ditioner if the temperature gauge needle
enters the red range.
•
If the automatic transmission begins to
overheat, a message will be displayed in
the information display.
•
Avoid overload and other abusive opera-
tion.
•
Hauling a trailer affects handling, durabil-
ity, and economy.
•
It is necessary to balance trailer brakes
with the towing vehicle brakes to provide a
safe stop (check and observe state/local
regulations).
•
Do not connect the trailer's brake system
directly to the vehicle's brake system.
•
More frequent vehicle maintenance is
required.
•
Remove the ball and drawbar assembly
when the hitch is not being used.
•
Volvo recommends the use of synthetic
engine oil when towing a trailer over long
distances or in mountainous areas.WARNING
•
Bumper-attached trailer hitches must
not be used on Volvos, nor should
safety chains be attached to the
bumper.
•
Trailer hitches attaching to the vehicle's
rear axle must not be used.
•
Never connect a trailer's hydraulic
brake system directly to the vehicle
brake system, nor a trailer's lighting
system directly to the vehicle lighting
system. Consult your nearest trained
and qualified Volvo service technician
for correct installation.
•
When towing a trailer, the trailer's safety
wire must be correctly fastened to the
hole or hook provided in the trailer hitch
on the vehicle. The safety wire should
never be fastened to or wound around
the drawbar ball.
06 Starting and driving
Towing a trailer
06
161
NOTE
•
When parking the vehicle with a trailer
on a hill, apply the parking brake before
putting the gear selector in Park (P) or
in reverse on models with a manual
transmission. Always follow the trailer
manufacturer's recommendations for
wheel chocking.
•
If you use the manual (Geartronic) shift
positions while towing a trailer, or if the
vehicle is equipped with a manual trans-
mission, make sure the gear you select
does not put too much strain on the
engine (using too high a gear).
•
The drawbar assembly/trailer hitch may
be rated for trailers heavier than the
vehicle is designed to tow. Please
adhere to Volvo's recommended trailer
weights.
•
Avoid driving with a trailer on inclines
exceeding 15%.
06 Starting and driving
Transporting loads
06
163 Loading the vehicle
Your vehicle's load-carrying capacity is affec-
ted by factors such as:•
the number of passengers
•
tire inflation
•
the amount of optional or accessory equip-
ment installed
•
the amount of cargo.
See the chapter "Wheels and tires" for more
detailed information.
Before loading the car, turn off the engine, and
apply the parking brake when loading or
unloading long objects. The gear selector can
be inadvertently knocked out of position by
long cargo, causing the car to move.
Keep the following in mind when
loading the vehicle:•
Load objects in the trunk against the rear
seat backrest.
•
Load heavy cargo as low as possible.
•
Center wide loads.
•
Secure all cargo with restraining straps
anchored to the load securing eyelets.
•
Cover sharp edges on the load.
•
Seats can be folded down and head
restraints removed to extend the cargo
compartment, see page 113.
WARNING
•
Remember that an object weighing
44 lbs (20 kg) produces a force of
2,200 lbs (1,000 kg) in a head-on colli-
sion at 30 mph (50 km/h)!
•
When the rear backrest(s) are folded
down, the vehicle should not be loaded
to a level higher than 2 in. (5 cm) below
the upper edge of the rear side win-
dows. Objects placed higher than this
level could impede the function of the
Volvo Inflatable Curtain.
Load carriers (accessory)Load carriers are available as Volvo accesso-
ries. Follow the installation instructions sup-
plied with the load carriers.
Observe the following points when using load
carriers:•
To avoid damaging your car and to achieve
maximum safety when driving, we recom-
mend using the load carriers that Volvo has
developed especially for your car.
•
Volvo-approved removable roof racks are
designed to carry the maximum allowable
roof load for this vehicle: 165 lbs (75 kg).
For Non-Volvo roof racks, check the man-
ufacturer's weight limits for the rack.
•
Never exceed the rack manufacturer's
weigh limits and never exceed the maxi-
mum rated roof load of 165 lbs (75 kg).
•
Avoid single-point loads. Distribute loads
evenly.
•
Place heavier cargo at the bottom of the
load.
•
Secure the cargo correctly with appropri-
ate tie-down equipment.
•
Check periodically that the load carriers
and load are properly secured.
•
Remember that the car's center of gravity
and handling change when you carry a
load on the roof.
•
The car's wind resistance and fuel con-
sumption will increase with the size of the
load.
•
Drive smoothly. Avoid rapid starts, fast
cornering and hard braking.
06 Starting and drivingPark assist (Option/accessory)
06168
Introduction
G020294
Front/rear park assistThe park assist system is designed to assist
you when driving into parking spaces, garages,
etc. It utilizes four ultrasound sensors located
in one or both bumpers to measure the dis-
tance to a vehicle, object or a person who may
be close to the front or rear of your vehicle.
Park assist is available in two versions:•
Rear bumper only
•
Front and rear bumpers
WARNING
Park Assist is an information system, NOT a
safety system. This system is designed to
be a supplementary aid when parking the
vehicle. It is not, however, intended to
replace the driver's attention and judge-
ment.FunctionThe system is activated automatically when the
vehicle is started. The indicator light in the but-
ton in the center console illuminates.•
The front park assist system is active from
the time the engine is started until the vehi-
cle exceeds a speed of approximately
10 mph (15 km/h). It is also active when the
vehicle is backing up.
•
Rear park assist is active when the engine
is running and reverse gear has been
selected.
Rear park assistThe distance monitored behind the vehicle is
approximately 5 ft (1.5 m). The signal comes
from the rear speakers.
The system must be deactivated when towing
a trailer, carrying bicycles in a rear-mounted
carrier, etc, which could trigger the rear park
assist system's sensors.
NOTE
Rear park assist is deactivated automati-
cally when towing a trailer if Volvo genuine
trailer wiring is used.Front park assistThe distance monitored in front of the vehicle
is approximately 2.5 ft (0.8 m). The audible sig-
nal comes from the audio system's front
speakers.
It may not be possible to combine auxiliary
headlights and front park assist since these
lights could trigger the system's sensors.