09 Maintenance and servicing
Working on your vehicle
09 ` `187
G027252
Note the following before you begin working
on your vehicleBattery•
Ensure that the battery cables are correctly
connected and tightened.
•
Never disconnect the battery when the
engine is running (e.g. when replacing the
battery).
•
Never use a fast charger to charge the bat-
tery. The battery cables should be discon-
nected when recharging.
•
The battery contains acid that is both cor-
rosive and poisonous. It is important that
the battery is handled in an environmen-
tally friendly way. Let your Volvo dealer
assist you.
Hoisting the vehicleIf a garage jack is used to lift the vehicle, the
two jack attachments points should be used.
They are specially reinforced to bear the weight
of the vehicle. A garage jack can also be placed
under the front of the engine support frame.
Take care not to damage the splash guard
under the engine. Ensure that the jack is posi-
tioned so that the vehicle cannot slide off it.
Always use axle stands or similar structures.
If a two-post hoist is used to lift the vehicle, the
front and rear lift arm pads should be centered
under the reinforced lift plates on the inboard
edge of the sill rail (see illustration).
WARNING
The vehicle ignition system has very high
voltage!
The voltage in the ignition system is dan-
gerous!
Do not touch spark plugs, ignition cables or
the ignition coil when the engine is running
or the ignition is switched on!
The ignition should be switched off when:•
Conducting engine tests.
•
Replacing parts in the ignition system,
such as spark plugs, ignition coil, dis-
tributor, ignition cables, etc.
Belt checkCheck the belt regularly to make sure it is in
good condition and is clean. A worn or dirty belt
can cause poor cooling and low alternator out-
put as well as impair the operation of the power
steering and the air conditioning unit.
NOTE
The drive belt is equipped with a self-ten-
sioning mechanism and requires no adjust-
ment between changes.
WARNING
The engine must not be running when this
check is performed.Check coolant levelThe cooling system must be filled with coolant
and not leak to operate at maximum efficiency.
Check the coolant level regularly. The level
should be between the MAX and MIN marks
on the expansion tank. The check should be
made with particular thoroughness when the
engine is new or when the cooling system has
been drained.
Do not remove the filler cap other than for top-
ping up with coolant. Frequent removal may
prevent coolant circulation between the engine
and the expansion tank during engine warm up
and cooling.
