2009 VOLVO XC70 ESP

06 Maintenance and specifications
Battery
06``233 Warning symbols on the battery
Wear protective goggles.Keep away from children.Avoid smoking, open flames,
and/or sparks.See the owner's manual.Contains corrosive acid.Risk of explosion
NOTE
A used battery should be disposed of in an
environmentally responsible manner. Con-
sult your Volvo retailer or take the battery to
a recycling station.Handling•
Check that the battery cables are correctly
connected and tightened.
•
Never disconnect the battery when the
engine is running (for example, when
replacing the battery).
The service life and function of the battery is
influenced by factors such as the number of
starts, discharging, driving style, driving con-
ditions, climatic conditions etc.
Never use a quick charger to charge the bat-
tery.
WARNING
•
Never expose the battery to open flame
or electric spark.
•
Do not smoke near the battery.
•
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.NOTE
The life of the battery is shortened if it
becomes discharged repeatedly.Maintenance•
Regularly check that the electrolyte level is
correct and never fill above the level mark.
•
Check all cells. Use a large screwdriver or
a coin to remove the cell caps. Each cell
has its own maximum and minimum level
mark.
•
If necessary, top up with distilled water to
the battery's maximum mark.
•
Tighten the cell caps thoroughly.

06 Maintenance and specifications
Wheels and tires
06``245
When replacing worn tires, it is recommended
that the tire be identical in type (radial) and size
as the one being replaced. Using a tire of the
same make (manufacturer) will prevent altera-
tion of the driving characteristics of the vehicle.
WARNING
•
The wheel and tire sizes for your Volvo
are specified to meet stringent stability
and handling requirements. Unap-
proved wheel/tire size combinations
can negatively affect your vehicle's sta-
bility and handling. Approved tire sizes
are shown in the Tire inflation pressure
tables.
•
Any damage caused by installation of
unapproved wheel/tire size combina-
tions will not be covered by your new
vehicle warranty. Volvo assumes no
responsibility for death, injury, or
expenses that may result from such
installations.
New tires
G021823
Remember that tires are perishable goods. As
of 2000, the manufacturing week and year
(Department of Transportation (DOT) stamp)
will be indicated with 4 digits (e.g. 1502 means
that the tire illustrated was manufactured dur-
ing week 15 of 2002).Tire age•
Tires degrade over time, even when they
are not being used. It is recommended that
tires generally be replaced after 6 years of
normal service. Heat caused by hot cli-
mates, frequent high loading conditions or
Ultra Violet (U.V.) exposure can accelerate
the aging process.
•
You should replace the spare tire when you
replace the other road tires due to the
aging of the spare.
•
A tire's age can be determined by the DOT
stamp on the sidewall (see the illustration).
•
A tire with e.g., visible cracks or discolor-
ation should be replaced immediately.
Improving tire economy•
Maintain correct tire pressure. See the tire
pressure tables on pages 248 and 249.
•
Drive smoothly: avoid fast starts, hard
braking and tire screeching.
•
Tire wear increases with speed.
•
Correct front wheel alignment is very
important.
•
Unbalanced wheels impair tire economy
and driving comfort.
•
Tires must maintain the same direction of
rotation throughout their lifetime.
•
When replacing tires, the tires with the
most tread should be mounted on the rear
wheels to reduce the chance of oversteer
during hard braking.
•
Hitting curbs or potholes can damage the
tires and/or wheels permanently.

06 Maintenance and specificationsWheels and tires
06246
Tire inflation
G032521
Tire inflation placard on U.S. modelsTire inflationCheck tire inflation pressure regularly.
Tables listing the recommended inflation pres-
sure for your vehicle can be found on pages
248 and 249. A tire inflation pressure placard
is also located on the driver's side B-pillar (the
structural member at the side of the vehicle, at
the rear of the driver's door opening). This plac-
ard indicates the designation of the factory-
mounted tires on your vehicle, as well as load
limits and inflation pressure.
NOTE
•
The placards shown indicate inflation
pressure for the tires installed on the
vehicle at the factory only.
•
A certain amount of air seepage from
the tires occurs naturally and tire pres-
sure fluctuates with seasonal changes
in temperature. Always check tire pres-
sure regularly.
•
Use a tire gauge to check the tire inflation
pressure, including the spare, at least once
a month and before long trips. You are
strongly urged to buy a reliable tire pres-
sure gauge, as automatic service station
gauges may be inaccurate.
•
Use the recommended cold inflation pres-
sure for optimum tire performance and
wear.
•
Under-inflation or over-inflation may cause
uneven treadwear patterns.NOTE
A certain amount of air seepage from the
tires occurs naturally and tire pressure fluc-
tuates with seasonal changes in tempera-
ture. Always check tire pressure regularly.
WARNING
•
Under-inflation is the most common
cause of tire failure and may result in
severe tire cracking, tread separation,
or "blow-out," with unexpected loss of
vehicle control and increased risk of
injury.
•
Under-inflated tires reduce the load car-
rying capacity of your vehicle.
G032522
Tire inflation placard on Canadian modelsWhen weather temperature changes occur, tire
inflation pressures also change. A 10-degree
temperature drop causes a corresponding
drop of 1 psi (7 kPa) in inflation pressure. Check
your tire pressures frequently and adjust them
to the proper pressure, which can be found on

06 Maintenance and specificationsWheels and tires
06254
ure to do so could reduce traction to an
unsafe level or adversely affect handling.
•
Do not mix tires of different design as this
could also negatively affect overall tire road
grip.
•
Winter tires wear more quickly on dry roads
in warm weather. They should be removed
when the winter driving season has ended.
•
Studded tires should be run-in
300 – 600 miles (500 – 1000 km) during
which the vehicle should be driven as
smoothly as possible to give the studs the
opportunity to seat properly in the tires.
The tires should have the same rotational
direction throughout their entire lifetime.NOTE
Please consult state or provincial regula-
tions restricting the use of studded winter
tires before installing such tires.Temporary SpareThe spare tire in your vehicle is called a "Tem-
porary Spare".
Recommended tire pressure (see the placard
on the B-pillar or on the fuel filler door) should
be maintained irrespective of which position on
the vehicle the temporary spare tire is used on.In the event of damage to this tire, a new one
can be purchased from your Volvo retailer.
WARNING
Current legislation prohibits the use of the
"Temporary Spare" tire other than as a tem-
porary replacement for a punctured tire. It
must be replaced as soon as possible by a
standard tire. Road holding and handling
may be affected with the "Temporary
Spare" in use. Do not exceed 50 mph
(80 km/h).
CAUTION
The vehicle must not be driven with wheels
of different dimensions or with a spare tire
other than the one that came with the vehi-
cle. The use of different size wheels can
seriously damage your car's transmission.
G021778
The arrow shows the direction of rotation of the
tireSummer and winter tires•
When switching between summer and
winter tires, mark the tires to indicate
where they were mounted on the vehicle,
e.g. LF = left front, RR = right rear.
•
Tires with tread designed to roll in only one
direction are marked with an arrow on the
sidewall.
•
Incorrectly mounted tires impair the car's
braking properties and ability to force
aside rain, snow and slush.
•
The tires with the most tread should always
be at the rear (to reduce the risk of skid-
ding).
•
Contact a Volvo workshop if you are
unsure about the tread depth.

06 Maintenance and specifications
Wheels and tires
06``259
CAUTION
The compressor should not be used for
more than 10 minutes at a time to avoid
overheating.9. Turn off the compressor (press the on/off
switch to position 0) when the correct infla-
tion pressure has been reached.
10. Unscrew the hose from the tire’s inflation
valve and reinstall the valve cap.
11. Disconnect the electrical wire from the
12-volt socket.Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)–U.S models only
NOTE
USA – FCC ID: KR5S122780002
This device complies with part 15 of the
FCC rules. Operation is subject to the fol-
lowing conditions: (1) This device may not
cause harmful interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.The tire pressure monitoring system uses sen-
sors mounted in the tire valves to check infla-
tion pressure levels. When the vehicle ismoving at a speed of approximately 20 mph
(30 km/h) or faster, these sensors transmit
inflation pressure data to a receiver located in
the vehicle.
When low inflation pressure is detected, TPMS
will light up the tire pressure warning light
(
) (also referred to as a telltale) in the
instrument panel, and will display a message in
the text window. The wording of this message
is determined by the degree of inflation pres-
sure loss.NOTE
If a fault occurs in TPMS, the tire pressure
warning light will flash for approximately
1 minute and
TIRE PRESS SYST
SERVICE REQUIRED
will be displayed.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If your
vehicle has tires of a different size than the size
indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label, you should determine the
proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pres-sure telltale when one or more of your tires is
significantly under-inflated. Accordingly, when
the low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you
should stop and check your tires as soon as
possible, and inflate them to the proper pres-
sure. Driving on a significantly under-inflated
tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to
tire failure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel
efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect the
vehicle's handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute
for proper tire maintenance, and it is the driv-
er's responsibility to maintain correct tire pres-
sure, even if under-inflation has not reached
the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS low
tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when
the system is not operating properly. The
TPMS malfunction indicator is combined with
the low tire pressure telltale. When the system
detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately one minute and then remain
continuously illuminated. This sequence will
continue upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as
long as the malfunction exists. When the mal-
function indicator is illuminated, the system
may not be able to detect or signal low tire
pressure as intended. TPMS malfunctions may
occur for a variety of reasons, including the

06 Maintenance and specificationsVehicle care
06262
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
Automatic car wash•
We do NOT recommend washing your car
in an automatic wash during the first six
months (because the paint will not have
hardened sufficiently).
•
An automatic wash is a simple and quick
way to clean your car, but it is worth
remembering that it may not be as thor-
ough as when you yourself go over the car
with sponge and water. Keeping the under-
body clean is most important, especially in
the winter. Some automatic washers do
not have facilities for washing the under-
body.
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 vehicle is driven immediately
after being washed, apply the brakes,
including the parking brake, 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 asheadlights, 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).

06 Maintenance and specificationsVehicle care
06264
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.
Spots on interior plastic, metal, or wood
surfacesCleaning interior plastic components should
be done with a cleaning agent specially
designed for this purpose. Consult your Volvo
retailer.Touching up paintworkPaint code on the model plate
1
Paint damage requires immediate attention to
avoid rusting. Make it a habit to check the finish
regularly, for instance washing the vehicle.
Touch-up if necessary.Paint repairs require special equipment and
skill. Contact your Volvo retailer for any exten-
sive damage.
Minor scratches can be repaired by using
Volvo touch-up paint.
Color codeMake sure you have the right color. The color
code number is stated on the model plate.Minor stone chips and scratchesMaterial:•
Primer – can
•
Paint – touch-up pen
•
Brush
•
Masking tape
If the stone chip has not gone down to the bare
metal and an undamaged color coat remains,
you can add paint immediately after removing
dirt.NOTE
When touching up the vehicle, it should be
clean and dry. The surface temperature
should be above 60 °F (15 °C).
1see page 266 for the location of the model plate.

06 Maintenance and specifications
Label information
06
267 List of labels
Model plate. Vehicle Identification Num-
ber (VIN). Codes for color and upholstery,
etc.Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
(FMVSS) specifications (USA) and Min-
istry of Transport (CMVSS) standards
(Canada). Your Volvo is designed to meet
all applicable safety standards, as evi-
denced by the certification label on the
facing side of the driver's door. For further
information regarding these regulations,
please consult your Volvo retailer.Loads and Tire Pressures. The appear-
ance of the decal will vary, depending on
the market for which the vehicle is
intended. See also page 246.Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The
VIN plate is located on the top left surface
of the dashboard. The Vehicle Identifica-
tion Number (VIN) should always be quo-
ted in all correspondence concerning your
vehicle with the retailer and when ordering
parts.
Vehicle Emission Control Information.
Your Volvo is designed to meet all appli-
cable emission standards, as evidenced by
the certification label on the underside of
the hood. For further information regarding
these regulations, please consult your
Volvo retailer.