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* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.263
WARNING
•Cover sharp edges on long loads to help
prevent injury to occupants. Secure the
load to help prevent shifting during sud-
den stops.
•Always secure large and heavy objects
with a seat belt or cargo retaining
straps.
•Always secure the load to help prevent
it from moving in the event of sudden
stops.
•Switch off the engine, apply the parking
brake and put the gear selector in P
when loading and unloading the vehicle.
Grocery bag holder*
Grocery bag holder under the floor of the trunk
The grocery bag holder holds shopping bags
in place.
1. Open the hatch in the floor of the trunk.
2. Secure the shopping bags with the strap.
Ski hatch
There is a hatch in the right section of the rear
seat backrest that can be opened for transpor-
tation.
Fold the right backrest forward.
Release the hatch in the rear seat backrest
by sliding the catch up while folding the
hatch forward.
Return the backrest to the upright position
with the hatch open.
Use the seat belt to prevent the load from mov-
ing.
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264
WARNING
•Always secure the load to help prevent
it from moving in the event of sudden
braking.
•Switch off the engine, apply the parking
brake and put the gear selector in P
when loading and unloading the vehicle.
The cover on the rear seat armrest/child seat
has no hinge. The cover must be removed
before the ski hatch is used.
Removal:
–Open the cover 30 degrees and lift straight
up.
Installation:
–Insert the cover in the grooves behind the
upholstery and close the cover.
Roof loads
Using load carriersLoad carriers are available as Volvo accesso-
ries. Observe the following points when in use:
•To avoid damaging your vehicle and to
achieve maximum safety when driving, we
recommend using the load carriers thatVolvo has developed especially for your
vehicle.
•Volvo-approved removable roof racks are
designed to carry the maximum allowable
roof load for this vehicle: 220 lbs (100 kg).
For non-Volvo roof racks, check the man-
ufacturer's weight limits for the rack.
•Never exceed the rack manufacturer's
weigh limits and never exceed the maxi-
mum rated roof load of 220 lbs (100 kg).
•Avoid single-point loads. Distribute loads
evenly.
•Place heavier cargo at the bottom of the
load.
•Secure the cargo correctly with appropri-
ate tie-down equipment.
•Check periodically that the load carriers
and load are properly secured.
•Remember that the vehicle's center of
gravity and handling change when you
carry a load on the roof.
•The vehicle's wind resistance and fuel con-
sumption will increase with the size of the
load.
•Drive smoothly. Avoid rapid starts, fast
cornering and hard braking.
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265 Introduction
Volvo recommends the use of Volvo trailer
hitches that are specially designed for the vehi-
cle.
NOTE
See page 344 for the maximum trailer and
tongue weights recommended by Volvo.
•Observe the legal requirements of the
state/province in which the vehicles are
•All Volvo models are equipped with
energy-absorbing shock-mounted bump-
ers. Trailer hitch installation should not
interfere with the proper operation of this
bumper system.
Trailer towing does not normally present any
particular problems, but take into considera-
tion:
•Increase tire pressure to recommended full
pressure. See the tire inflation table on
page 279.
•When your vehicle is new, avoid towing
heavy trailers during the first 620 miles
(1,000 km).
•Maximum speed when towing a trailer:
50 mph (80 km/h).
•Engine and transmission are subject to
increased loads. Therefore, engine coolant
temperature should be closely watchedwhen driving in hot climates or hilly terrain.
Use a lower gear and turn off the air con-
ditioner if the temperature gauge needle
enters the red range.
•If the automatic transmission begins to
overheat, a message will be displayed in
the text window.
•Avoid overload and other abusive opera-
tion.
•Hauling a trailer affects handling, durabil-
ity, and economy.
•It is necessary to balance trailer brakes
with the towing vehicle brakes to provide a
safe stop (check and observe state/local
regulations).
•Do not connect the trailer's brake system
directly to the vehicle's brake system.
•More frequent vehicle maintenance is
required.
•Remove the ball holder when the hitch is
not being used.
•Volvo recommends the use of synthetic
engine oil when towing a trailer over long
distances or in mountainous areas.
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 your nearest author-
ized Volvo retailer for correct installa-
tion.
•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.
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266
NOTE
•When parking the vehicle with a trailer
on a hill, apply the parking brake before
putting the gear selector in P. Always
follow the trailer manufacturer's recom-
mendations for wheel chocking.
•When starting on a hill, put the gear
selector in D before releasing the park-
ing brake. See also page 125 for more
detailed information about starting off
on a hill while towing a trailer.
•If you use the manual (Geartronic) shift
positions while towing a trailer, make
sure the gear you select does not put
too much strain on the engine (using too
high a gear).
•The drawbar assembly/trailer hitch may
be rated for trailers heavier than the
vehicle is designed to tow. Please
adhere to Volvo's recommended trailer
weights.
•Avoid driving with a trailer on inclines of
more than 15%.
Trailer cableAn adapter is required if the vehicle's trailer
hitch has a 13-pin connector and the trailer has
7 pins. Use an adapter cable approved by
Volvo. Make sure the cable does not drag on
the ground.
Detachable trailer hitch (accessory)
A
C
EDBG010496
Ball holder
Locking bolt
Cotter pin
Hitch assembly
Safety wire attachment
Installing the ball holder1. If necessary, remove the cotter pin from
the locking bolt and slide the locking bolt
out of the hitch assembly.
2. Slide the ball holder into the hitch assem-
bly.
3. Align the hole in the ball holder with the one
in the hitch assembly.4. Slide the locking bolt through the hitch
assembly/ball holder.
5. Insert the cotter pin in the hole at the end
of the locking bolt.
Removing the ball holder1. Remove the cotter pin from the locking bolt
and slide the locking bolt out of the ball
holder/hitch assembly.
2. Pull the ball holder out of the hitch assem-
bly.
NOTE
A cover for the hitch assembly is also
included in the kit.
Trailer Stability Assist (TSA)
Trailer Stability Assist is a system designed to
help stabilize a vehicle that is towing a trailer
when the vehicle and trailer have begun to
sway and is part of the Dynamic Stability and
Traction Control system (DSTC). See page
130 for information on DSTC.
FunctionA vehicle towing a trailer may begin to sway for
various reasons. Normally this only occurs at
high speeds but, for example, if the trailer is
overloaded or if the load is unevenly distributed
in the trailer, there is risk of swaying at speeds
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267
between approximately 45-55 mph (70-90 km/
h).
Swaying may be caused by factors such as:
•The vehicle and trailer are hit by a sudden,
strong crosswind
•The vehicle and trailer are traveling on an
uneven road surface or drive over a bump
•Sudden movements of the steering wheel
Facts about TSA
•TSA intervenes at speeds above approxi-
mately 40 mph (60 km/h)
•The DSTC symbol () in the instru-
ment panel will flash when TSA is working
•If the driver switches off the DSTC sys-
tem's Spin Control function, TSA will also
be switched off (but will be on again the
next time the engine is started)
•TSA may not intervene when the vehicle
and trailer begin to sway if the driver tries
to compensate for the swaying motion by
moving the steering wheel rapidly
How TSA worksOnce swaying has begun, it can be very diffi-
cult to stop, which makes it difficult to control
the vehicle and trailer.
The TSA system continuously monitors the
vehicle's movements, particularly lateralmovement. If the system detects a tendency to
sway, the brakes are applied individually on the
front wheels, which has a stabilizing effect on
the vehicle and trailer. This is often enough to
enable the driver to regain control of the vehi-
cle.
If this is not adequate to stop the swaying
motion, the brakes are applied to all of the
wheels on the vehicle and on the trailer if it is
equipped with brakes, and engine power is
temporarily reduced. As the swaying motion
begins to decrease and the vehicle-trailer have
once again become stable, TSA will no stop
regulating the brakes/engine power and the
driver regains control of the vehicle.
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268
Towing eyelet
Location of the towing eyelet
Removing the front/rear covers
Attaching the towing eyeletThe towing eyelet is located under the floor
of the trunk. This eyelet must be screwed
into the positions provided on the rightsides of either the front or rear bumper (see
illustration).
There are two different types of covers over
the openings for the towing eyelet and they
have to be opened differently.
•If the cover has a notch, insert a coin,
etc., into the notch and pry open the
edge of the cover. Open the cover com-
pletely and remove it.
•If the cover has a mark along one edge
or in a corner, press the mark while pry-
ing out the opposite side/corner using a
coin, etc. Open the cover and remove it.
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
location.
Press the cover for the attachment point back
into position.
NOTE
On certain models equipped with a trailer
hitch, the towing eyelet cannot be screwed
into the hole in the rear bumper. The towing
rope should be attached to the trailer hitch
instead. For this reason, the detachable
section of the trailer hitch should be safely
stowed in the vehicle at all times.
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WARNING
•When the vehicle is being towed, the
ignition should be in mode II (in mode I,
all of the vehicle's airbags are deacti-
vated). See page 85 for more informa-
tion about ignition modes.
•Never remove the remote key from the
ignition slot when the vehicle is being
towed. For vehicles with keyless drive,
the remote key must remain inside the
vehicle.
•The power brakes and power steering
will not function when the engine is not
running. Approximately 5 times more
pressure will be required on the brake
pedal and the steering wheel will be
considerably harder to turn.
•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.
Towing the vehicle
1. With the remote key fully pressed into the
ignition slot1, press START/STOP
ENGINE for approximately 2 seconds to
activate ignition mode II.
2. The remote key must remain in the ignition
slot
2 for the entire time that the vehicle is
being towed.
3. Keep the tow rope taut when the towing
vehicle slows down by applying light pres-
sure on the brake pedal. This will help pre-
vent jarring movements of the vehicle
being towed.
4. Be prepared to apply the brakes to stop the
vehicle being towed.
CAUTION
General towing precautions:
•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, attach
jumper cables (see page 116) to provide
current for releasing the electric parking
brake and to move the gear selector
from the P position to N. If this is not
possible, see page 120 for information
about manually overriding the shiftlock
system to move the gear selector from
P to N.
•Maximum speed: 50 mph (80 km/h). Do
not exceed the maximum allowable
towing speed.
•Maximum distance with front wheels on
ground: 50 miles (80 km).
•The vehicle should only be towed in the
forward direction.
1Not necessary in vehicles with the optional keyless drive.2For vehicles with the the optional keyless dirive, the remote key must be in the vehicle.
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07 During your trip
Emergency towing
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270* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
Having the vehicle towed by a tow
truck
Call for professional help from an authorized
towing company.Volvo recommends the use of
flat bed equipment.
CAUTION
•The vehicle should always be towed in
the forward direction.
•Vehicles with All Wheel Drive (AWD)*
that are being towed with the front
wheels off the ground should not be
towed at a speed above approx. 45 mph
(70 km/h) and should not be towed far-
ther than 30 miles (50 km).
•If the vehicle is being towed on a flat bed
truck, the towing eyelet 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.