2011 VOLVO V50 ignition

06 Starting and driving
Towing
06
158
Emergency towing
G021297
The towing eyelet (1) is located under the
floor of the cargo area.
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 151, "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
159
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 160 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.

06 Starting and driving
Jump starting
06
160
Jump starting the vehicle
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 inyour 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.

07 Wheels and tires
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
07
200
NOTE
•TPMS indicates low tire pressure but
does not replace normal tire mainte-
nance. For information on correct tire
pressure, please refer to the tables
beginning on page 179, or consult your
Volvo retailer.
•The tire pressure warning light will not
identify which tire is underinflated. Be
sure to check all four tires.
•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.
Erasing warning messagesWhen a low tire pressure warning message has
been displayed, and the tire pressure warning
light has come on:
1. Use a tire pressure gauge to check the
inflation pressure of all four tires.
2. Re-inflate the tire(s) to the correct pressure
(consult the tire pressure placard or the
tables, see page 179 ).
3. In certain cases, it may be necessary to
drive the vehicle for several minutes at a
speed of 20 mph (30 km/h) or faster. Thiswill erase the warning text and the warning
light will go out.
WARNING
Incorrect inflation pressure could lead to tire
failure, resulting in a loss of control of the
vehicle.
Changing wheels with TPMSPlease note the following when changing or
replacing the factory installed TPMS wheels/
tires on the vehicle:
•Only the factory-mounted wheels are
equipped with TPMS sensors in the valves.
•If the vehicle is equipped with a temporary
spare tire, this tire does not have a TPMS
sensor.
•If wheels without TPMS sensors are moun-
ted on the vehicle, TIRE PRESS SYST
SERVICE REQUIRED will be displayed
each time the vehicle is driven above
25 mph (40 km/h) for 10 minutes or more.
•Once TPMS sensors are properly installed,
the warning message should not reappear.
If the message is still displayed, drive the
vehicle for several minutes at a speed of
20 mph (30 km/h) or faster to erase the
message.
•Volvo recommends that TPMS sensors be
fitted on all wheels used on the vehicle.Volvo does not recommend moving sen-
sors back and forth between sets of
wheels.
NOTE
•If you change to tires with a different
recommended inflation pressure, the
TPMS system must be recalibrated to
these tires. This must be done by an
authorized Volvo retailer or workshop.
•If a tire is changed, or if the TPMS sen-
sor is moved to another wheel, the sen-
sor's seal, nut, and valve core should be
replaced.
•When installing TPMS sensors, the
vehicle must be parked for at least
15 minutes with the ignition off. If the
vehicle is driven within 15 minutes, a
TPMS error message will be displayed.
CAUTION
When inflating tires with TPMS valves, press
the pump's mouthpiece straight onto the
valve to help avoid bending or otherwise
damaging the valve.
Recalibrating TPMS (Canadian models
only)
In certain cases, it may be necessary to reca-
librate TPMS to conform to Volvo's recom-

07 Wheels and tires
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
07
201
mended tire inflation pressures (see the infla-
tion pressure table on page 180), for example,
if higher inflation pressure is necessary when
transporting heavy loads, etc.
To recalibrate:
1. Switch off the engine.
2. Inflate the tires to the desired pressure and
turn the ignition key to position I or II (see
page 145 for additional information).
3. Turn the thumb wheel on the left-side
steering wheel lever until
Tire pressure
Calibration appears in the display.
4.
Press and hold the Reset button on the
left-side steering wheel lever until
TIRE
PRESSURE CALIBRATED is displayed.
Activating/deactivating TPMS (Canadian
models only)
1. Switch off the engine.
2.
Turn the ignition key to position I or II.
3.
Press and hold the Reset button on the
left-side steering wheel lever until
TIRE
PRESS SYST OFF is displayed.
Repeat steps 1-3 to turn TPMS on again.

09 Maintenance and servicing
Battery 09
222
Battery maintenance
Driving habits and conditions, climate, the
number of starts, etc., all affect the service life
and function of the battery. In order for your
battery to perform satisfactorily, keep the fol-
lowing in mind:
Check the fluid level in each cell in the battery
every 24 months or every 15,000
1 miles
(24,000 km), whichever is sooner.
•Use a screw driver to open the caps or
cover and a flashlight to inspect the level.
•If necessary, add distilled water. The level
should never be above the indicator.
•The fluid level should be checked if the
battery has been recharged.
•After inspection, be sure the cap over each
battery cell or the cover is securely in
place.
•Check that the battery cables are correctly
connected and properly tightened.
•Never disconnect the battery when the
engine is running, or when the key is in the
ignition. This could damage the vehicle's
electrical system.
•The battery should be disconnected from
the vehicle when a battery charger is used
directly on the battery.
•To help keep the battery in good condition,
the vehicle should be driven for at least 15
minutes a week or connected to a charger
with an automatic charging function.
•If the battery is fully discharged a number
of times, this may shorten its service life.
Keeping the battery fully charged helps
prolong its service life.
•The service life of a battery is affected by
factors such as driving conditions and cli-
mate. Extreme cold may also further
decrease the battery’s starting capacity.
•Because the battery’s starting capacity
decreases with time, it may be necessary
to recharge it if the vehicle is not driven for
an extended period of time or if the vehicle
is usually only driven short distances.
•
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.
Battery symbols
Wear protection goggles
See owner's manual for
details
Keep away from children
Corrosive
1More frequently in warm climates.

09 Maintenance and servicing
Battery09
223
No smoking, no open flames,
no sparks
Explosion
Battery replacement
Removing the battery1. Switch off the ignition and remove the key.
2. Wait at least 5 minutes after switching off
the ignition before disconnecting the bat-
tery so that all information in the vehicle's
electrical system can be stored in the con-
trol modules.
3. Remove the cover over the battery.
4. Disconnect the battery negative (ground)
cable.
5. Disconnect the positive cable.
6. Remove the front side of the battery box
with a screwdriver.7. Release the clamp holding the battery.
8. Lift out the battery.
Installing a new battery1. Put the battery in place in the engine com-
partment.
2. Install the battery's retaining clamp.
3. Reinstall the front side of the battery box.
4. Connect the positive cable.
5. Connect the ground cable.
6. Reinstall the cover over the battery.
NOTE
Used batteries should be properly disposed
of at a recycling station or similar facility, or
taken to your Volvo retailer.
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.

09 Maintenance and servicing
Replacing bulbs 09
224
Introduction
Before replacing bulbs in your vehicle, please
keep the following points in mind:
NOTE
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.
The optional Active Bending Light bulbs
contain trace amounts of mercury. These
bulbs should always be disposed of by a
trained and qualified Volvo service techni-
cian.
Certain bulbs should only be replaced by a
trained and qualified Volvo service techni-
cian:
•Courtesylighting
•Reading lights
•Glove compartment lights
•Turn signals and courtesy lights in the
side door mirrors
•Brake lights
•Active Bending Lights, Brake lights
Removing the headlight housing
WARNING
•The engine should not be running when
changing bulbs.
•If the engine has been running just prior
to replacing bulbs in the headlight hous-
ing, please keep in mind that compo-
nents in the engine compartment will be
hot.
G019599
The entire headlight housing must be lifted out
when replacing the high/low beam, parkinglight, turn signal, and side marker bulbs. To lift
out the housing:
1. Remove the key from the ignition and turn
the headlight switch to position
.
2. Open the hood.
3. Pull up the headlight housing's retaining
pin.
4. Pull out the headlight housing.
G019600
5. Disconnect the wiring connector by press-
ing down the clip with your thumb while at
the same time pulling the connector with
your other hand.