2012 VOLVO XC90 service

02 Instruments and controls
Instrument panel
02
60
Seat belt reminderThis symbol lights up to indicate
that the driver has not fastened his/
her seat belt.
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)If this light comes on while the
vehicle is being driven, or remains
on for longer than approximately
10 seconds after the vehicle has
been started, the SRS system's
diagnostic functions have detected a fault in a
seat belt lock or pretensioner, a front airbag,
side impact airbag, and/or an inflatable curtain.
Have the system(s) inspected by a trained and
qualified Volvo service technician as soon as
possible.
BRAKE – Brake failure warning lightIf the light comes on while driving or braking,
stop immediately, open the hood and check
the brake fluid level in the reservoir. see
page 218.
Canadian models are equipped
with this warning light.
If the BRAKE and ABS warning lights come
on at the same time, this could indicate a
fault in the brake system.
•Stop the vehicle in a suitable place and
switch off the engine.
•Restart the engine.
•If both warning lights go off, no further
action is required.
•If both lights are still on after the engine has
been restarted, switch off the engine again
and check the brake fluid level (see
page 218 for the location of the brake fluid
reservoir).
If the brake fluid level is above the MIN mark,
drive carefully to a trained and qualified Volvo
service technician and have the brake system
inspected.
WARNING
If the fluid level is below the MIN mark in the
reservoir or if a Brake failure – Service
urgent message is displayed in the text
window: DO NOT DRIVE. Have the vehicle
towed to a trained and qualified Volvo serv-
ice technician and have the brake system
inspected.
PARK BRAKE Parking brake appliedThis light will be on when the parking brake
(hand brake) is applied. The parking brake
pedal is located on the left side of the driver's
footwell, see page 79 for more information.
Canadian models are equipped
with this symbol.
Oil pressure warning light2
If the light comes on while driv-
ing, stop the vehicle and then
stop the engine immediately and
check the engine oil level, see
page 62. If the light stays on after
restart, have the vehicle towed to the nearest
trained and qualified Volvo service technician.
After hard driving, the light may come on occa-
sionally when the engine is idling. This is nor-
mal, provided it goes off when the engine
speed is increased.
Generator warning lightIf the light comes on while the
engine is running, have the charg-
ing system checked.
2On certain engines, the symbol for low oil pressure is not used. Instead, a text warning is provided in the information display, see page 62.

02 Instruments and controls
Instrument panel
02
61
Rear fog lightThis light indicates that the fog
light is on.
CHECK ENGINE Malfunction indicator
light
On-Board Diagnostics II (OBDII): As you drive,
a computer called "OBDII" monitors your vehi-
cle's engine, transmission, electrical and emis-
sion systems. The CHECK ENGINE light will
light up if the computer senses a condition that
potentially may need correcting. When this
happens, please have your vehicle checked by
a trained and qualified Volvo service technician
as soon as possible.
A CHECK ENGINE light may have many cau-
ses. Sometimes, you may not notice a change
in your vehicle's behavior. Even so, an uncor-
rected condition could hurt fuel economy,
emission cleanliness, and driveability.
Extended driving without correcting the cause
could even damage other components in your
vehicle.
Canadian models are equipped
with this warning light.
ABS (Anti-lock brake system)If the warning light comes on, there
is a malfunction of the ABS system
(the standard braking system will
still function). The vehicle should
be driven to a trained and qualified
Volvo service technician for inspection. See
page 149 for additional information.
DSTC systemThe Dynamic Stability and Traction
Control system (DSTC) is
explained in greater detail on page
153.
Tire pressure monitoring lightSee page 194 for more informa-
tion on this function.
Turn signal indicator – trailer (certain
models)
If you are towing a trailer, this light
will flash simultaneously with the
turn signals on the trailer. If the
light does not flash when signaling,
neither the trailer's turn signals nor
the vehicle's turn signals are functioning.

02 Instruments and controls
Information display
02
62
Message in the text windows
G026979
When a warning light in the instrument panel
comes on, a message is also displayed in the
text window. After you have read the message,
you can erase it by pressing button A (see illus-
tration).
NOTE
Certain messages cannot be erased until
the condition has been corrected.
If a warning message is displayed when e.g.
you are using the trip computer, this message
must be erased before you can access thefunction of your choice. Press button A to erase
the warning message.
You can scroll through the stored messages by
pressing button A (see illustration). The text
window can be cleared (the message will be
returned to memory) by pressing button A
again.
MessageMeaning
STOP SAFELYStop the car in a safe place and switch off the engine to help prevent the risk of serious damage.
STOP ENGINEStop the car in a safe place and switch off the engine to help prevent the risk of serious damage.
SERVICE URGENTTake your vehicle to a trained and qualified Volvo service technician for inspection immediately.
SEE MANUALRefer to your owner's manual. For additional information, please contact your Volvo retailer.
SERVICE REQUIREDTake your vehicle to a trained and qualified Volvo service technician for inspection at your convenience
(but preferably before the next scheduled maintenance service).
FIX NEXT SERVICEHave the system affected inspected at the next scheduled maintenance service.

02 Instruments and controls
Information display
02
63
MessageMeaning
TIME FOR REGULAR SERVICEThis message will be displayed at 7,500 mile (12,000 km) intervals, after 750 hours of driving or after
12 months, whichever occurs first, to remind the driver that the service interval has been exceeded. The
message will be displayed for 2 minutes each time the vehicle is started until reset by a trained and qualified
Volvo service technician.
OIL LEVEL LOW – FILL OILACheck the oil level and top up if necessary, see page 215.
OIL LEVEL LOW – STOP SAFELYBStop as soon as possible and switch off the engine, check the oil level and top up if necessary, see
page 215.
OIL LEVEL LOW – STOP ENGINEBStop as soon as possible and switch off the engine, check the oil level and top up if necessary, see
page 215.
OIL LEVEL LOW – SEE MANUALBStop as soon as possible and switch off the engine, check the oil level and top up if necessary, see
page 215.
DSTC SPIN CONTROL OFFThe stability system's spin control function has been turned off, see page 153 for details.
AThe yellow warning symbol also lights up (see page 58).BThe red warning symbol also lights up (see page 58).

02 Instruments and controls
Left-side steering wheel lever
02
70
Lever positions
G026954
Turn signals, lane change position
Turn signals, position for normal turns
High beam flash
Toggle between high and low beams,
Home Safe lighting
Turn signals
When turningMove the lever as far up or down as possible
(to position 2) to start the turn signals. The turn
signals will be cancelled automatically by the
movement of the steering wheel, or the lever
can be returned to its initial position by hand.
When changing lanesThe driver can automatically flash the turn sig-
nals 3 times by:
•Moving the turn signal lever up or down to
position (1) and releasing it.
•Moving the lever up or down to position (2)
and immediately back to its original posi-
tion.
NOTE
•This automatic flashing sequence can
be interrupted by immediately moving
the lever in the opposite direction.
•If the turn signal indicator flashes faster
than normal, check for a burned-out
turn signal bulb.
High/low beam headlights
Continuous high beams1.
Turn the ignition key to position II.
2.
With the light switch in position
, (see
page 67) pull the turn signal lever toward
the steering wheel to toggle between high
and low beams.
High beam flash1.
Turn the ignition key to position II.
2. Pull the turn signal lever to position (3). The
high beams will remain on until the lever is
released.
Home safe lightingWhen leaving your vehicle at night, home safe
lighting can illuminate the area in front of the
vehicle.
1. Remove the key from the ignition switch.
2. Pull the turn signal lever as far as possible
toward the steering wheel and release it.
3. Exit the vehicle and lock the doors.
The headlights and parking lights will illuminate
and remain on for 30
1, 60 or 90 seconds. The
time interval can be changed by a trained and
qualified Volvo service technician.
1Factory setting

03 Climate
Climate control system – general information
03
94* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
Condensation on the inside of the
windows
Keeping the insides of the windows clean will
help reduce the amount of condensation that
forms on the windows. Use a commercial win-
dow cleaning agent to clean the windows.
Ice and snow
Always keep the air intake grille at the base of
the windshield free of snow.
Cabin air filter
Replace the cabin air filter with a new one at
the recommended intervals. Please refer to
your Warranty and Service Records Informa-
tion booklet, or consult a trained and qualified
Volvo service technician for these intervals.
The filter should be replaced more often when
driving under dirty and dusty conditions. The
filter cannot be cleaned and therefore should
always be replaced with a new one.
Sensors
The sunlight sensor on the dashboard and pas-
senger compartment temperature sensor in
the ECC control panel should not be covered
in any way as this could cause incorrect infor-
mation to be sent to the ECC system.
Parking the vehicle in warm weather
If your vehicle has been parked in the sun in
warm weather, opening the windows and
moonroof* for several minutes before driving
will help release the warm air from the passen-
ger compartment. When the engine is running,
close the windows and moonroof and use the
recirculation function for several minutes to
enable the air conditioning to cool the com-
partment as quickly as possible.
Windows and optional moonroof
The ECC system will function best if the win-
dows and optional moonroof are closed. If you
drive with the moonroof open, we recommend
that you manually adjust the temperature and
blower control (the LED in the AUTO switch
should be off).
Acceleration
The air conditioning is momentarily disen-
gaged during full-throttle acceleration.
Climate control maintenance
Special tools and equipment are required to
maintain and carry out repairs on the climate
system. Work of this type should only be done
by a trained and qualified Volvo service tech-
nician.
Refrigerant
Volvo cares about the environment. The air
conditioning system in your vehicle contains a
CFC-free refrigerant – R134a (HFC134a). This
substance will not deplete the ozone layer. The
approximate amount of R134a contained in the
system is a follows:
6-cylinder engine
Single A/C system: 1.5 lbs (700 g)
Dual
1 A/C system: 2.2 lbs (1000 g)
The system also uses PAG oil.
1Includes the optional rear A/C system

03 Climate
Electronic climate control (ECC)
03
101
OperationPress to operate the air quality sensor (normal
setting).
or:
Select one of the following three functions by
pressing 1, 2 or 3 times.
1.
The AUT LED lights. The air quality sensor
is now activated.
2. No LED lights. Recirculation is not acti-
vated unless needed to cool the passenger
compartment in a warm climate.
3.
The MAN LED lights. Recirculation is now
activated.
Keep in mind the following:
•Make it a rule to have the air quality sensor
activated at all times.
•Recirculation is limited in cold climates to
avoid fogging.
•If window fogging occurs, you should
deactivate the air quality sensor. Also use
the defroster functions for the windshield,
side windows and rear window, see
page 98.
•The filter should be changed at the inter-
vals recommended in the service sched-
ule. However, if the vehicle is used in a
severely contaminated environment, it may
be necessary to change the filter more fre-
quently.

04 Interior
Interior lighting
04

111 Reading lights and courtesy light
G026960
Driver's side front reading lamp
Courtesy lights
Passenger's side front reading lamp The
reading lights can be switched on or off by
pressing buttons 1 or 3. The courtesy light-
ing (including footwell lighting) can be
turned on or off by pressing button 2. This
also activates the automatic function.
G027153
Rear reading lights
Driver's side rear reading light
Passenger's side rear reading light The
rear reading lights can be switched on and
off by pressing buttons (4) or (5).
Automatic functionThe reading lights and courtesy lights will
switch off automatically approximately
10 minutes after the engine has been turned
off. The lights can be turned off sooner by
pressing the respective buttons.The courtesy lights come on automatically
1
and remain on for approximately 30 seconds
when:
•The vehicle has been unlocked from the
outside with the remote key or key
•If the engine has been switched off and the
ignition key has been turned to position 0
The courtesy lights will come on and remain on
for approximately 10 minutes when:
•One of the doors is opened (assuming the
courtesy lighting has not previously been
switched off)
The courtesy lighting will go off when:
•The engine is started
•The vehicle is locked from the outside with
the remote key or key blade.
The automatic function can be disconnected
by pressing button (2) for more than 3 seconds.
Briefly pressing the button again automatically
reconnects the function.
The courtesy light timer periods can be
changed. Contact a trained and qualified Volvo
service technician.
1This function is light dependent and is only activated in dark conditions.