06 Starting and driving
General information
06
142
more frequently and spray an anti-rust oil
on the battery posts.
•Volvo recommends the use of snow tires
on all four wheels for winter driving – see
the chapter "Wheels and tires."
•To prevent the washer fluid reservoir from
freezing, add washer solvents containing
antifreeze (see page 218 for the location of
the washer fluid reservoir). This is impor-
tant since dirt is often splashed on the
windshield during winter driving, requiring
the frequent use of the washers and wip-
ers. Volvo Washer Solvent should be dilu-
ted as follows: Down to 14 °F (–10 °C):
1 part washer solvent and 4 parts water
Down to 5 °F (–15 °C): 1 part washer sol-
vent and 3 parts water Down to 0 °F
(–18 °C): 1 part washer solvent and 2 parts
water Down to –18 °F (–28 °C): 1 part
washer solvent and 1 part water.
•Use Volvo Teflon Lock Spray in the locks.
NOTE
Avoid using de-icing sprays as they can
cause damage to the locks.
Conserving electrical current
Keep the following in mind to help minimize
battery drain:
•When the engine is not running, avoid turn-
ing the ignition key to position II. Many
electrical systems (the audio system, the
optional navigation system, power win-
dows, etc) will function with the ignition key
in position I. This position reduces drain on
the battery.
•Please keep in mind that using systems,
accessories, etc that consume a great deal
of current when the engine is not running
could result in the battery being completely
drained. Driving or having the engine run-
ning for approximately 15 minutes will help
keep the battery charged.
•The optional 12 volt socket in the trunk
(certain models only) provides electrical
current even with the ignition switched off,
which drains the battery.
NOTE
•If the ignition is switched on, a warning
message will be displayed in the text
window in the instrument panel when
the battery charge is low.
•An energy conserving function
designed into the vehicle's electrical
system will switch off certain functions
or reduce the load on the battery by,
e.g., reducing the audio system's vol-
ume.
Before a long distance trip
It is always worthwhile to have your vehicle
checked at a trained and qualified Volvo serv-
ice technician before driving long distances.
Your trained and qualified Volvo service tech-
nician will also be able to supply you with
bulbs, fuses, spark plugs and wiper blades for
your use in the event that problems occur.
As a minimum, the following items should be
checked before any long trip:
•Check that engine runs smoothly and that
fuel consumption is normal.
•Check for fuel, oil, and fluid leakage
•Have the transmission oil level checked2.
•Check condition of drive belts.
2To prevent injury from contact with hot surfaces, do not inspect your vehicle's transmission fluid yourself. Have your vehicle's transmission fluid level inspected by a qualified Volvo service technician.
06 Starting and driving
Ignition switch
06
147 Ignition switch positions
0 – Locked positionRemove the key to lock the
steering wheel1. Never turn
the key to position 0 while
driving or when the vehicle is
being towed.
NOTE
A ticking sound may be audible if the key is
turned to a position between 0 and I. To
stop this sound, turn the key to position II
and back to position 0.
I – Intermediate position2
Certain accessories, radio,
etc. on, daytime running lights
off.
II – Drive positionThe key's position when driv-
ing. The vehicle's entire elec-
trical system is activated.
III – Start positionTurn the key to this position
and release it immediately.
The key returns automatically
to the Drive position.
A chime will sound if the key
is left in the ignition and the
driver's door is opened (does not apply to vehi-
cles with the optional keyless drive).
1Automatic transmission: the gear selector must be in the Park position. The optional keyless drive start control does not need to be removed.2Please be aware that leaving the key in positions I or II will increase battery drain.
06 Starting and driving
Starting the vehicle
06
148
To start the engine
WARNING
Before starting, check that the seat, steering
wheel and mirrors are adjusted properly.
Make sure the brake pedal can be
depressed completely. Adjust the seat if
necessary.
1. Fasten the seat belt.
2. Apply the parking brake if not already set.
The gear selector should be locked in the
Park (P) position (Shiftlock). See also page
153.
NOTE
After a cold start, idle speed may be notice-
ably higher than normal for a short period.
This is done to help bring components in the
emission control system to their normal
operating temperature as quickly as possi-
ble, which enables them to control emis-
sions and help reduce the vehicle's impact
on the environment.
3. The vehicle is equipped with an autostart
feature. Without touching the throttle
pedal, turn the key to position III and
release it. The starter motor will then oper-ate automatically (for up to ten seconds)
until the engine starts. If the engine fails to
start, repeat this step.
4. To release the gear selector from the Park
(P) position, the engine must be running (or
the ignition key must be in position II) and
the brake pedal must be depressed.
5. Select the desired gear. The gear engages
after a very slight delay, which is especially
noticeable when selecting R.
NOTE
•Immobilizer: If two of the keys to your
vehicle are close together, e.g., on the
same key ring when you try to start the
vehicle, this could cause interference in
the immobilizer system and result in the
vehicle not starting. If this should occur,
remove one of the keys from the key
ring before trying to start the vehicle
again.
•Keylock: The automatic transmission
has a keylock system. When the engine
is switched off, the gear selector must
be in the Park (P) position before the key
can be removed from the ignition
switch
1.
•When starting in cold weather, an auto-
matic transmission may shift up at
slightly higher engine speeds than nor-
mal until the automatic transmission
fluid reaches normal operating tem-
perature.
•Do not race a cold engine immediately
after starting. Oil flow may not reach
some lubrication points fast enough to
prevent engine damage.
1The optional keyless drive start control does not need to be removed from the ignition switch.
06 Starting and driving
Starting the vehicle with keyless drive*
06
150* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
Starting a vehicle with keyless drive
G019410
Keyless drive makes it possible to unlock, start
and lock the vehicle without using a remote
key.
A start control is fitted in the ignition switch on
vehicles equipped with the optional keyless
drive. This control is used in the same way as
the ignition key to start the engine. See also
page 148 for general information on starting
the engine.
NOTE
A keyless drive remote key must be inside
the vehicle in order to start the engine.
1. Press the brake pedal.
2. Press in the keyless drive start control and
turn it to position III.
NOTE
The vehicle is equipped with an autostart
function that makes it possible to start the
engine without holding the start control in
position III. Turn the start control to posi-
tion III and release it. The starter motor will
then operate automatically (for up to ten
seconds) until the engine starts.
Starting the vehicle with the ignition key
(remote key)
A vehicle with keyless drive can also be started
with the ignition key (if, for example, the battery
in the keyless drive remote key is weak). To do
so:
G019420
Removing the keyless drive start control
Press the catch on the side of the start con-
trol (see the illustration).
Pull the keyless drive start control out of the
ignition switch.
Insert the remote key into the ignition switch
and turn it to position III to start the engine,
page 148 for complete starting information.
06 Starting and driving
Automatic transmission
06
151 Shiftgate positions
G020237
Depress the button on the front of the gear
selector knob to move the selector between
the R, N, D, and P positions.
The gear selector can be moved freely between
the Geartronic (manual shifting) and Drive (D)
positions while driving.
Gear selector positions
P – ParkSelect the P position when starting or parking.
In P, the transmission is mechanically blocked
(Shiftlock). Always apply the parking brake
when parking.
G018264
D - left position: automatic shifting, M - right posi-
tion: manual shifting
CAUTION
The car must be stationary when selecting
position P.
R – ReverseThe car must be stationary when shifting to
position R.
N – NeutralN is the neutral position. The engine can be
started, but no gear is selected. Apply the park-
ing brake when the car is stationary with the
gear selector in N.
NOTE
If the gear selector is in the Neutral position
and the vehicle has been at a standstill for
at least 3 seconds, the brake pedal must be
pressed before the gear selector can be
moved to another position.
In order to move the gear selector to another
position:
1.
Turn the ignition key to position II (if the
engine is not already running).
2. Depress the brake pedal.
3. Move the gear selector to the desired posi-
tion.
D – DriveD is the normal driving position. The Drive posi-
tion offers 5 forward gears1. The car automat-
ically shifts between the various forward gears,
1T5 models have 6 forward gears.
06 Starting and driving
Shiftlock override
06
153 Overriding the shiftlock system
G018263
Shiftlock prevents the gear selector from being
moved out of the P position unless the ignition
key is in position II and the brake pedal is
depressed.
In certain cases it may be necessary to move
the gear selector from the P position manually.
To manually override the Shiftlock
system:
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Depress the brake pedal.
3.
There is a small cover below P-R-N-D on
the gear selector panel. Open the rear edge
of the panel.4. Insert the key blade, see page 124, into the
opening and press it down until it bottoms.
5. With the key blade pressed down, move
the gear selector out of the P position.
06 Starting and driving
Towing
06
160
Emergency towing
G030710
The towing eyelet (1) is located under the
floor of the trunk.
Remove the cover over the openings for
the towing eyelet on the bumpers by prying
open the lower edge with a coin, etc.
Screw the towing eyelet in place first by
hand and then using the tire iron until it is
securely in place.
After the vehicle has been towed, the eyelet
should be removed and returned to its storage
space.
WARNING
Do not use the towing eyelets to pull the
vehicle up onto a flat bed tow truck.
Towing a vehicle with all four wheels on
the ground
WARNING
Volvo does not recommend towing a disa-
bled vehicle behind another vehicle. Signif-
icant difficulty in steering and braking, com-
bined with unfavorable weather, traffic, and
road conditions may make it impossible to
maintain vehicle control.
1. Apply the parking brake.
WARNING
Towing a vehicle with a locked steering
wheel will make the vehicle impossible to
steer.
2. Insert the key into the ignition to unlock the
steering wheel. The steering wheel must be
unlocked. With the engine off and the vehi-
cle at a standstill, great effort will be
required to turn the steering wheel.
3.
Turn the ignition key to position II.4. Place the gear selector in neutral. For vehi-
cles with automatic transmissions, follow
instruction on page 153, "Shiftlock over-
ride" to allow the gear selector to be moved
from the Park position.
5. Keep firm pressure on the brake pedal
while releasing the parking brake.
6. When towing has been completed, return
the gear selector to Park and apply the
parking brake.
The following points should also be
observed:
•Never exceed 50 mph (80 km/h). Never
exceed local towing speed limits and heed
all local towing restrictions.
•Never tow farther than 50 miles (80 km).
•Keep the tow rope taut at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
•The disabled vehicle should be towed in
the forward direction only.
06 Starting and driving
Towing
06
161
WARNING
•Never allow a vehicle to be towed with-
out a driver behind the wheel of the dis-
abled 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 162 for instructions on jump star-
ting the vehicle.
Towing vehicles with front wheel drive
Volvo 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 con-
siderably higher pressure will be
required on the brake pedal 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.