2012 VOLVO XC90 brake

Contents
6* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
06
06 Starting and driving
General information................................134
Fuel requirements................................... 135
Refueling................................................. 137
Starting the vehicle................................. 139
Ignition switch and steering wheel lock. . 141
Economical driving.................................. 142
Difficult driving conditions...................... 143
Automatic transmission..........................144
Jump starting.......................................... 147
All Wheel Drive*....................................... 148
Brake system.......................................... 149
Parking brake.......................................... 152
Stability system....................................... 153
Front/rear park assist*............................. 155
Towing.................................................... 157
Towing a trailer....................................... 159
Detachable trailer hitch........................... 162
Load carriers (accessory)........................ 163
Cold weather precautions....................... 164
Before a long distance trip...................... 165
Blind Spot Information System*.............. 166
07
07 Wheels and tires
General information................................172
Tire inflation ............................................ 175
Tire inflation pressure table..................... 177
Tire designations..................................... 178
Glossary of tire terminology.................... 180
Vehicle loading........................................ 181
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.................. 182
Snow chains, snow tires, studded tires. . 183
Temporary spare..................................... 184
Tire Sealing System ............................... 185
Changing wheels....................................190
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) 194
08
08 Car care
Washing and cleaning the vehicle.......... 200
Paint touch up......................................... 204

Introduction
Important information
13
ShiftlockWhen your vehicle is parked, the gear selector
is locked in the P (Park) position. To release the
selector from this position, turn the ignition key
to position II (or start the engine), depress the
brake pedal, press the button on the front side
of the gear selector and move the selector from
P (Park).
KeylockWhen you switch off the ignition, the gear
selector must be in the P (Park) position before
the key can be removed from the ignition
switch.
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)The ABS system in your vehicle performs a
self-diagnostic test when the vehicle first rea-
ches the speed of approximately 12 mph
(20 km/h). The brake pedal will pulsate several
times and a sound may be audible from the
ABS control module. This is normal.
Fuel filler doorPress the button on the light switch panel (see
the illustration on page 67) when the vehicle
is at a standstill to unlock the fuel filler door.
Please note that the fuel filler door will remain
unlocked until the vehicle begins to move for-
ward. An audible click will be heard when the
fuel filler door relocks.
Fuel filler capThe fuel filler door, located on the right rear
quarter panel, is connected to your vehicle's
central locking system.
Points to keep in mind
•Do not export your Volvo to another coun-
try before investigating that country's
applicable safety and exhaust emission
requirements. In some cases it may be dif-
ficult or impossible to comply with these
requirements. Modifications to the emis-
sion control system(s) may render your
Volvo not certifiable for legal operation in
the U.S., Canada and other countries.
•All information, illustrations and specifica-
tions contained in this manual are based on
the latest product information available at
the time of publication. Please note that
some vehicles may be equipped differ-
ently, depending on special legal require-
ments. Optional equipment described in
this manual may not be available in all mar-
kets.
•Volvo reserves the right to make model
changes at any time, or to change specifi-
cations or design without notice and with-
out incurring obligation.
Vehicle event data (Black box)
Your vehicle's driving and safety systems
employ computers that monitor, and share
with each other, information about your vehi-
cle's operation. One or more of these comput-
ers may store what they monitor, either during
normal vehicle operation or in a crash or near-
crash event. Stored information may be read
and used by:
•Volvo Car Corporation
•service and repair facilities
•law enforcement or government agencies
•others who may assert a legal right to
know, or who obtain your consent to know
such information.

Introduction
Environment
14
Volvo and the environment
Volvo is committed to the well being of its cus-
tomers. As a natural part of this commitment,
we care about the environment in which we all
live. Caring for the environment means an
everyday involvement in reducing our environ-
mental impact. Volvo's environmental activities
are based on a holistic view, which means we
consider the overall environmental impact of a
product throughout its complete life cycle. In
this context, design, production, product use,
and recycling are all important considerations.
In production, Volvo has partly or completely
phased out several chemicals including CFCs,
lead chromates, asbestos, and cadmium; and
reduced the number of chemicals used in our
plants 50% since 1991.
Volvo was the first in the world to introduce into
production a three-way catalytic converter with
a Lambda sond, now called the heated oxygen
sensor, in 1976. The current version of this
highly efficient system reduces emissions of
harmful substances (CO, HC, NOx) from the
exhaust pipe by approximately 95 – 99% and
the search to eliminate the remaining emis-
sions continues. Volvo is the only automobile
manufacturer to offer CFC-free retrofit kits for
the air conditioning system of all models as far
back as the 1975 model 240. Advanced elec-
tronic engine controls and cleaner fuels are
bringing us closer to our goal. In addition tocontinuous environmental refinement of con-
ventional gasoline-powered internal combus-
tion engines, Volvo is actively looking at
advanced technology alternative-fuel vehicles.
When you drive a Volvo, you become our part-
ner in the work to lessen the car's impact on
the environment. To reduce your vehicle's
environmental impact, you can:
•Maintain proper air pressure in your tires.
Tests have shown decreased fuel econ-
omy with improperly inflated tires.
•Follow the recommended maintenance
schedule in your Warranty and Service
Records Information booklet.
•Drive at a constant speed whenever pos-
sible.
•See a trained and qualified Volvo service
technician as soon as possible for inspec-
tion if the check engine (malfunction indi-
cator) light illuminates, or stays on after the
vehicle has started.
•Properly dispose of any vehicle-related
waste such as used motor oil, used batter-
ies, brake pads, etc.
•When cleaning your vehicle, please use
genuine Volvo car care products. All Volvo
car care products are formulated to be
environmentally friendly.
RecyclingAs part of Volvo’s commitment to the environ-
ment, it is essential for the vehicle to be recy-
cled in an environmentally sound way. Almost
the entire vehicle can be recycled and for that
reason, the vehicle’s final owner is requested
to contact a Volvo retailer for information about
approved and certified recycling facilities.

01 Safety
Supplemental Restraint System01
23 Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
G027284
SRS warning light
As an enhancement to the three-point seat
belts, your Volvo is equipped with a Supple-
mental Restraint System (SRS). Volvo's SRS
consists of seat belt pretensioners, front air-
bags, side impact airbags, the occupant
weight sensor, and inflatable curtains. All of
these systems are monitored by the SRS con-
trol module. An SRS warning light in the instru-
ment panel (see the illustration) illuminates
when the ignition key is turned to position I, II,
or III, and will normally go out after approxi-
mately 7 seconds if no faults are detected in
the system.Where applicable, a text message
will also be displayed when the
SRS warning light illuminates. If
this warning symbol is not func-
tioning properly, the general warn-
ing symbol illuminates and a text message will
be displayed.
WARNING
•If the SRS warning light stays on after
the engine has started or if it illuminates
while you are driving, have the vehicle
inspected by a trained and qualified
Volvo service technician as soon as
possible.
•Never try to repair any component or
part of the SRS yourself. Any interfer-
ence in the system could cause mal-
function and serious injury. All work on
these systems should be performed by
an authorized Volvo service technician.
WARNING
If your vehicle has been subjected to flood
conditions (e.g. soaked carpeting/standing
water on the floor of the vehicle) or if your
vehicle has become flood-damaged in any
way, do not attempt to start the vehicle or
put the key in the ignition before discon-
necting the battery (see below). This may
cause airbag deployment which could result
in personal injury. Have the vehicle towed to
a trained and qualified Volvo service tech-
nician for repairs.
Automatic transmission:
Before attempting to tow the vehicle, use
the following procedure to override the
shiftlock system to move the gear selector
to the neutral position:
1. Switch off the ignition for at least
10 minutes and disconnect the battery.
2. Wait at least one minute.
3. Insert the key in the ignition and turn it
to position II
4. Press firmly on the brake pedal.
5.
Move the gear selector from P (Park) to
the N(Neutral) position.

02 Instruments and controls
Instrument overview
02
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.57
Headlights/Parking lights
Panel vents
Display
Temperature gauge
Odometer/Trip odometer/Cruise control
indicator
Speedometer
Turn signal indicator lights
Tachometer
Ambient temperature gauge, clock, gear
indicator
Fuel gauge
Indicator and warning symbols
Panel vents
Glove compartment
Hazard warning flashers
Audio system
Climate system controls
Windshield wiper/washer lever
Audio control buttons in steering wheel
Instrument panel
Horn
Cruise control buttons in steering wheel
Turn signals, High/low beams, READ-but-
ton
Parking brake pedal
Parking brake release handle
Reading lights
Courtesy light
Moonroof control*
Seat belt reminder
Rearview mirror
Control panel in the driver's door
G029570
Central locking button
Lockout switch for rear seat power win-
dows
Power window controls
Door mirror controls

02 Instruments and controls
Instrument panel
02

59
Gear and driving mode indicator – The cur-
rently selected driving mode is displayed
here. If you use the Geartronic function on
the automatic transmission, the currently
selected gear will be displayed.
Ambient temperature gauge – This display
indicates the air temperature outside your
vehicle. A "snowflake" symbol in the text
window is displayed when the temperature
is in the range of 23 – 36 °F (–5 – +2 °C).
Please note that this symbol does not indi-
cate a fault with your vehicle. At low
speeds or when the vehicle is not moving,
the temperature readings may be slightly
higher than the actual ambient tempera-
ture.
Clock/set button – Turn the button to set
the clock.
Fuel gauge – see page 284 for fuel tank
volume. When the warning light in the
gauge comes on, the vehicle should be
refueled as soon as possible. The trip com-
puter section (see page 75) provides
more information on fuel level and con-
sumption.
Indicator and warning symbols – The indi-
cator and warning symbols1light up when
you turn the ignition key to the driving posi-
tion (position II) before starting.
G027134
This shows that the symbols are functioning.
When the engine starts, all symbols go out. If
the engine is not started within 5 seconds, all
symbols except CHECK ENGINE and
go out. Certain symbols may not have their
functions illustrated, depending on the vehi-
cle's equipment. The symbol for the parking
brake goes out when the parking brake is
released.
Warning/information symbol in center of
the instrument panel
This symbol shines as a red or yel-
low light depending on the nature
of the information displayed.
Red symbol – Stop the vehicle as soon as
possible in a suitable location and read the
message shown in the text window. The sym-
bol and accompanying text will remain on until
the fault has been corrected.
Yellow symbol – Follow the instructions
shown in the text window. The text can be
erased by pressing the READ button (see
page 62), or will disappear automatically after
two minutes.
NOTE
When the message TIME FOR REGULAR
SERVICE is displayed, the text can be
erased and the yellow symbol light can be
turned off by pressing the READ button.
The text will disappear and the symbol light
will go out automatically after two minutes.
1On certain engines, the symbol for low oil pressure is not used. Instead, a text warning is provided in the information display, see page 215.

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.