2012 VOLVO XC90 brake light

06 Starting and driving
Towing
06
158
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 147).
•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.
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.
G030862
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 vehicle
with the front wheels on the ground, please
refer to the towing information on the previous
page.
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 Starting and driving
Towing a trailer
06
161
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 a trained and qualified
Volvo service technician for correct
installation.
•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.
LevelingIf your vehicle is equipped with automatic lev-
eling, the rear suspension always retains the
correct ride height regardless of the load.
•The system adjusts the rear suspension to
the correct level after the vehicle has been
driven a short distance.
•When the vehicle is stationary, the rear
suspension lowers, which is normal.

06 Starting and driving
Before a long distance trip
06
165
It is always worthwhile to have your vehicle
checked by a trained and qualified Volvo serv-
ice technician before driving long distances.
Your retailer or service technician 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.
•Check transmission oil level1.
•Check condition of drive belts.
•Check state of the battery's charge.
•Examine tires carefully (the spare tire as
well), and replace those that are worn.
Check tire pressures.
•The brakes, front wheel alignment, and
steering gear should be checked by a
trained and qualified Volvo service techni-
cian only.
•Check all lights, including high beams.
•Reflective warning triangles are legally
required in some states/provinces.
•Have a word with your Volvo retailer if you
intend to drive in countries where it may be
difficult to obtain the correct fuel.
•Consider your destination. If you will be
driving through an area where snow or ice
are likely to occur, consider snow tires.
1To 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.

08 Car care
Washing and cleaning the vehicle
08

201
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
NOTE
When washing the vehicle, remember to
remove dirt from the drain holes in the doors
and sills.
WARNING
•When the vehicle is driven immediately
after being washed, apply the brakes
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.
Automatic washing – simple and quick
•We do NOT recommend washing your
vehicle in an automatic wash during thefirst few months (because the paint will not
have hardened sufficiently).
•An automatic wash is a simple and quick
way to clean your vehicle, but it is worth
remembering that it may not be as thor-
ough as when you yourself go over the
vehicle with sponge and water. Keeping
the underbody clean is most important,
especially in the winter. Some automatic
washers do not have facilities for washing
the underbody.
•Before driving into an automatic car wash,
make sure that side view mirrors, auxiliary
lamps, etc, are secure, and that any
antenna(s) are retracted or removed. Oth-
erwise there is risk of the machine dislodg-
ing them.
Exterior lightingCondensation may form temporarily on the
inside of the lenses of exterior lights such as
headlights, fog lights, or tail lights. 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 car waxes
can be purchased today. These waxes are
easy to use and produce a long-lasting,
high-gloss finish that protects the body-
work against oxidation, road dirt and fad-
ing.
•Do not polish or wax your vehicle in direct
sunlight (the surface of the vehicle should
not be warmer than 113° F (45° C).

09 Maintenance and servicing
Replacing bulbs09

* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.223
When replacing bulbs, keep the following
points in mind:
•Never touch the glass of bulbs with your
fingers. 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 an
authorized Volvo retailer.
The following bulbs should only be replaced by
a trained and qualified Volvo service techni-
cian:
•Active Bending Lights
•Courtesy (dome) lighting
•Reading lights
•Glove compartment lights
•Turn signals and courtesy lights in the side
door mirrors
•High-mounted brake lights
See page 230 for a list of bulb specifications.
Replacing high/low beams/turn signal/
parking light bulbs
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.
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 technician.
G027081
The entire lamp housing must be lifted out
when replacing these bulbs.
To lift out the lamp housing:
1. Switch off the ignition.
2. Open the hood.
3. Pull up the retaining pins (see the illustra-
tion).
4. Lift out the lamp housing.

09 Maintenance and servicing
Replacing bulbs09

227
Back-up light
Parking light
Brake light
NOTE
If the message indicating a burned out bulb
remains in the information display after a
bulb has been replaced, consult a trained
and qualified Volvo service technician.

09 Maintenance and servicing
Replacing bulbs 09
228
Replacing bulbs in the taillight cluster
G027077
1. Switch off all lights and turn ignition key to
position 0.
2. Fold down the lower section of the tailgate,
and fold up the rear section of the cargo
area floor.
3. If the vehicle is equipped with the optional
grocery bag holder, detach the holder's
bands.
4. Remove the corner panel.
5. Open the cover in the side panel by pulling
the tab upward/outward.
6. Loosen the bolts.
7. Pull the entire tail light housing straight out.8. Disconnect the wiring.
9. Place the tail light housing on a soft cloth
to avoid scratching the lens.
10. Turn the lamp holder(s) counterclockwise
and pull out.
11. Turn signal, back-up light, brake light
bulbs: Turn the bulb counterclockwise and
remove it.
12. Parking light bulbs: Pull the bulb straight
out.
13. Insert a new bulb.
14. Place the lamp holder in the groove and
turn clockwise.15. Press wiring back into place.
16. Align the tail light housing with the holes for
the retaining bolts and press it into place.
17. Tighten the retaining bolts.
18. Reinsert the side and corner panels.

09 Maintenance and servicing
Replacing bulbs09
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.231
Lighting functionWattageBulb
Daytime running lights (models with Active Bending
Lights*)45H10
Front parking lights, front side marker lights, taillights5W5W LL
Front fog lights55H1
Front turn signals21H21W LL
Rear fog light21H21W LL
Brake lights, backup lights21P21W LL
Rear turn signals21PY21W LL
Vanity mirror lighting1.2SV5.5 (length 35mm)
License plate lighting5C5W LL
Glove compartment5SV8.5 (length 43mm)
Cargo area lighting10SV8.5 (length 43mm)
Front footwell lighting5SV8.5 (length 38mm)
NOTE
Please consult a Volvo retailer’s Parts
department for the most up-to-date speci-
fications.