05 During your trip
Towing a trailer
05
219 Introduction
Volvo recommends the use of Volvo trailer
hitches that are specially designed for the vehi-
cle.
NOTE
See page 284 for the maximum trailer and
tongue weights recommended by Volvo.
•Observe the legal requirements of the
state/province in which the vehicles are
•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 tire inflation tables on pages
260 and 260.
•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 watchedwhen 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 text window.
•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
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 author-
ized Volvo retailer for correct installa-
tion.
•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.
05 During your trip
Emergency towing
05
222
•Maximum distance with front wheels on
ground: 50 miles (80 km).
•While the vehicle is being towed, try to
keep the tow rope taut at all times.
•The vehicle should only be towed in the
forward direction.
NOTE
During towing, ignition mode II should be
used so that the lighting can be switched on.
CAUTION
Vehicles with AWD (All Wheel Drive) with the
front wheels off the ground should not be
towed at speeds above 50 mph (70 km/h) or
for distances longer than 30 miles (50 km).
CAUTION
•Please check with state and local
authorities before attempting this type
of towing, as vehicles being towed are
subject to regulations regarding maxi-
mum towing speed, length and type of
towing device, lighting, etc.
•If the vehicle's battery is dead, do not
attempt to start the vehicle by pushing
or pulling it as this will damage the
three-way catalytic converter(s). The
engine must be jump started using an
auxiliary battery (see page 108).
•If the vehicle is being towed on a flat bed
truck, the towing eyelets must not be
used to pull the vehicle up onto the flat
bed or to secure the vehicle on the flat
bed. Consult the tow truck operator.
Towing vehicles with front wheel drive/
All Wheel Drive
Volvo recommends the use of flat bed equip-
ment.
•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 vehi-
cle with the front wheels on the ground,please refer to the towing information on
page 221.
CAUTION
•Sling-type equipment applied at the
front will damage radiator and air con-
ditioning lines.
•It is equally important not to use sling-
type equipment at the rear or apply lift-
ing equipment inside the rear wheels;
serious damage 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. Consult the tow truck operator.
06 Maintenance and specifications
Maintaining your car
06
227 Owner maintenance
Periodic maintenance requirements and inter-
vals are described in your vehicle's Warranty
and Service Records Information booklet.
The following points can be carried out
between the normally scheduled maintenance
services.
Each time the car is refueled:
•Check the engine oil level.
•Clean the windshield, windshield wipers,
headlights, and tail lights.
Monthly:
•Check cold tire pressure in all tires. Inspect
the tires for wear.
•Check that engine coolant and other fluid
levels are between the indicated "min" and
"max" markings.
•Clean interior glass surfaces with a glass
cleaner and soft paper towels.
•Wipe driver information displays with a soft
cloth.
•Visually inspect battery terminals for cor-
rosion. Corrosion may indicate a loose ter-
minal connector, or a battery near the end
of its useful service life. Consult your Volvo
retailer for additional information.
As needed:Wash the car, including the undercarriage, to
reduce wear that can be caused by a buildup
of dirt, and corrosion that can be caused by salt
residues.
Clean leaves and twigs from air intake vents at
the base of the windshield, and from other pla-
ces where they may collect.
NOTE
Complete service information for qualified
technicians is available online for purchase
or subscription at www.volvotechinfo.com.
Hoisting the vehicle
If 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).
Emission inspection readiness
What is an Onboard Diagnostic System
(OBD II)?
OBD II is part of your vehicle's computerized
engine management system. It stores diagnos-
tic information about your vehicle's emission
controls. It can light the Check Engine light
(MIL) if it detects an emission control "fault." A
"fault" is a component or system that is not
performing within an expected range. A fault
may be permanent or temporary. OBD II will
store a message about any fault.
How do states use OBD II for emission
inspections?
Many states connect a computer directly to a
vehicle's OBD II system. The inspector can
then read "faults." In some states, this type of
06 Maintenance and specifications
Maintaining your car
06
228
inspection has replaced the tailpipe emission
test.
How can my vehicle fail OBD II emission
inspection?
Your vehicle can fail OBD II emission inspec-
tion for any of the following reasons.
•If your Check Engine (MIL) light is lit, your
vehicle may fail inspection.
•If your vehicle's Check Engine light was lit,
but went out without any action on your
part, OBD II will still have a recorded fault.
Your vehicle may pass or fail, depending
on the inspection practices in your area.
•If you had recent service that required dis-
connecting the battery, OBD II diagnostic
information may be incomplete and "not
ready" for inspection. A vehicle that is not
ready may fail inspection.
How can I prepare for my next OBD II
emission inspection?
•If your Check Engine (MIL) light is lit – or
was lit but went out without service, have
your vehicle diagnosed and, if necessary,
serviced by a qualified Volvo technician.
•If you recently had service for a lit Check
Engine light, or if you had service that
required disconnecting the battery, a
period of driving is necessary to bring the
OBD II system to "ready" for inspection. A
half-hour trip of mixed stop-and-go/high-way driving is typically needed to allow
OBD II to reach readiness. Your Volvo
retailer can provide you with more infor-
mation on planning a trip.
•Maintain your vehicle in accordance with
your vehicle's maintenance schedule.
06 Maintenance and specifications
Hood and engine compartment
06
229 Opening and closing the hood
G031911
Pull the lever located under the left side of
the dash to release the hood lock.
Lift the hood slightly. Press the release
control (located under the right front edge
of the hood) to the left, and lift the hood
WARNING
Check that the hood locks properly when
closed.
Engine compartment, overview
The appearance of the engine compartment
may vary depending on engine model.
Coolant expansion tank
Power steering fluid reservoir
Engine oil dipstick
Radiator
Filler cap for engine oil
Cover over brake fluid reservoir
Battery
Relay and fuse box
Washer fluid reservoir
Air cleaner
WARNING
The cooling fan may start or continue to
operate (for up to 6 minutes) after the engine
has been switched off.
WARNING
The ignition should always be completely
switched off before performing any opera-
tions in the engine compartment.
The distributor ignition system operates at
very high voltages. Special safety precau-
tions must be followed to prevent injury.
Always turn the ignition off when:
•Replacing distributor ignition compo-
nents e.g. plugs, coil, etc.
•Do not touch any part of the distributor
ignition system while the engine is run-
ning. This may result in unintended
movements and body injury.
06 Maintenance and specifications
Replacing bulbs
06
234* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
Introduction
All bulb specifications are listed on page 240.
The following bulbs should only be replaced by
a trained and qualified Volvo service techni-
cian:
•Dome lighting
•Reading lights
•Glove compartment lighting
•Turn signals in the door mirror
•Approach lighting in the door mirror
•Brake/fog/taillights
•Rear side parking lights
•Active Bending Lights and LED bulbs
NOTE
For information regarding any other bulbs
not mentioned in this section, please con-
tact your Volvo retailer or a trained and
authorized Volvo service technician.
WARNING
•Active Bending Lights* – due to the high
voltage used by these headlights, these
bulbs should only be replaced by a
trained and qualified Volvo service tech-
nician.
•Turn off the lights and remove the
remote key from the ignition before
changing any bulbs.
Headlight housing
G010325
WARNING
•The engine should not be running when
changing bulbs.
•When changing in the headlight hous-
ing, if the engine has been running just
prior to replacing bulbs, please be
aware that components in the engine
compartment will be hot.
The entire headlight housing must be lifted out
when replacing all front bulbs (except for the
fog lights).
CAUTION
Never touch the glass of bulbs with your fin-
gers. Grease and oils from your fingers
vaporize in the heat and will leave a deposit
on the reflector, which will damage it.
06 Maintenance and specifications
Replacing bulbs
06
235
NOTE
•Always switch off the ignition before
starting to replace a bulb.
•The optional Active Bending Light bulbs
contain trace amounts of mercury.
These bulbs should always be disposed
of by a trained and qualified Volvo serv-
ice technician.
Removing the headlight housing1. Switch off the ignition by pressing quickly
on the START/STOP ENGINE button and
remove the remote key from the ignition
slot
1.
2. (Upper illustration under "Headlight hous-
ing")
Withdraw the headlight housing's lock-
ing pins.
Pull the headlight housing straight out .
CAUTION
When disconnecting the connector, pull on
the connector itself and not on the wiring.
3. (Lower illustration under "Headlight hous-
ing")
Unplug the wiring connector by holding
down the clip with your thumb.
Pull out the connector with the other
hand.
4. Lift out the housing and place it on a soft
surface to avoid scratching the lens.
5. Replace the defective bulb(s).
Reinserting the headlight housing
When reinserting the housing, be sure that the
long locking pin (to the left in the illustration) is
securely in place in both of its retaining clamps.
1. Plug in the connector until it clicks into
place.2. Reinstall the headlight housing and locking
pins. Check that they are correctly
inserted. The headlight housing must be
properly inserted and secured in place
before the lighting is switched on or the
remote key is inserted into the ignition slot.
3. Check that the lights function properly.
The headlight wiring must be connected and
the housing must be securely in place before
the ignition is switched on.
Removing the cover to access the
headlights and parking lights
1Does not apply to vehicles with the optional keyless drive.
06 Maintenance and specifications
Replacing bulbs
06
236
NOTE
Before starting to replace a bulb, see
page 234.
1. Open the retaining clamps by pressing
them to the sides.
2. Pull the cover straight out.
Reinstall the cover in the reverse order.
Low beam, Halogen
G021746
1. Remove the headlight housing from the
vehicle (see page 234).
2. Remove the cover over the bulbs.3. Detach the bulb by pressing the upper sec-
tion of the retaining spring downward and
to the side.
4. Unplug the connector from the bulb.
5. Replace the bulb and reinsert it into the
headlight housing.
6. Put the cover back into position and rein-
stall the headlight housing.
High beam, Halogen
1. Remove the headlight housing from the
vehicle (see page 234).
2. Remove the cover over the bulbs (see
page 235).3. Disconnect the wiring connector from the
bulb holder.
4. Pull the bulb holder straight out of the
headlight housing.
5. Pull the defective bulb out of the socket.
6. Press the new bulb into the socket until it
snaps into place. It can only be secured in
one position.
7. Press the bulb holder into position in the
headlight housing.
8. Reconnect the wiring connector to the bulb
holder.
9. Put the cover back into position and rein-
stall the headlight housing.