08 Wheels and tires
Snow chains, snow tires, studded tires
08
306
Winter driving conditions
Snow chainsSnow chains can be used on your Volvo with
the following restrictions:
•Snow chains should be installed on front
wheels only. Use only Volvo approved
snow chains.
•If accessory, aftermarket or "custom" tires
and wheels are installed and are of a size
different than the original tires and wheels,
chains in some cases CANNOT be used.
Sufficient clearances between chains and
brakes, suspension and body components
must be maintained.
•Some strap-on type chains will interfere
with brake components and therefore
CANNOT be used.
•All Wheel Drive models: Snow chains
should only be installed on the front
wheels.
•Certain size tires may not allow the assem-
bly of snow chains/traction devices.
Consult your Volvo retailer for additional snow
chain information.
CAUTION
•Check local regulations regarding the
use of snow chains before installing.
•Use single-sided snow chains only.
•Always follow the chain manufacturer's
installation instructions carefully. Install
chains as tightly as possible and
retighten periodically.
•Never exceed the chain manufacturer's
specified maximum speed limit. (Under
no circumstances should you exceed
31 mph (50 km/h).
•Avoid bumps, holes or sharp turns
when driving with snow chains.
•The handling of the vehicle can be
adversely affected when driving with
chains. Avoid fast or sharp turns as well
as locked wheel braking.
Snow tires, studded tires1
Tires for winter use:
•Owners who live in or regularly commute
through areas with sustained periods of
snow or icy driving conditions are strongly
advised to fit suitable winter tires to help
retain the highest degree of traction.
•It is important to install winter tires on all
four wheels to help retain traction duringcornering, braking, and accelerating. Fail-
ure to do so could reduce traction to an
unsafe level or adversely affect handling.
•Do not mix tires of different design as this
could also negatively affect overall tire road
grip.
•Winter tires wear more quickly on dry roads
in warm weather. They should be removed
when the winter driving season has ended.
•Studded tires should be run-in
300 – 600 miles (500 – 1000 km) during
which the vehicle should be driven as
smoothly as possible to give the studs the
opportunity to seat properly in the tires.
The tires should have the same rotational
direction throughout their entire lifetime.
NOTE
Please consult state or provincial regula-
tions restricting the use of studded winter
tires before installing such tires.
1Where permitted
08 Wheels and tires
Tire Sealing System
08
310
Tire sealing system–temporarily
repairing a flat tire
G014338
Temporarily repairing a flat tire is done in two
stages:
•Stage 1: The hole is sealed by pumping
sealing compound into the tire. The car is
then driven a short distance to distribute
the sealing compound in the tire.
NOTE
Do not remove any foreign objects (nails,
etc.) from the tire before using the sealing
system.
•Stage 2: The tire’s inflation pressure is
checked and adjusted if necessary.
WARNING
•Never leave the tire sealing system
unattended when it is operating.
•Keep the tire sealing system away from
children.
•Be sure the vehicle is parked safely off
the road and away from moving traffic.
•Apply the parking brake.
Stage 1: Sealing the hole1. Open the cover on the tire sealing kit.
2. Peel off the speed limit sticker and affix it
to the steering wheel hub where it will be
clearly visible to the driver.
3. Ensure that the on/off switch is in posi-
tion 0 (the 0 side of the switch should be
pressed down).
WARNING
Contact with the sealing compound may
cause skin irritation. If contact occurs, wash
the affected area immediately with soap and
water.
4. Unscrew the orange cover over the bottle
holder and unscrew the cap on the bottle
of sealing compound.
NOTE
Do not break the seal on the bottle. This
occurs automatically when the bottle is
screwed into the holder.
5. Screw the bottle into the bottle holder.
WARNING
The bottle is equipped with a catch to keep
it securely in place and help prevent sealing
compound leakage. Once in place, the bot-
tle cannot be unscrewed. This must be done
by a trained and qualified Volvo service
technician.
6. Remove the valve cap from the tire’s infla-
tion valve and screw the tire sealing sys-
tem’s hose connector onto the valve as
tightly as possible by hand.
08 Wheels and tires
Tire Sealing System
08
313 Inflating tires
The tire sealing system can be used to inflate
the tires. To do so:
1. Park the car in a safe place.
2. The compressor should be switched off.
Ensure that the on/off switch is in position
0 (the 0 side of the switch should be
pressed down).
3. Take out the electrical wire and hose.
4. Remove the valve cap from the tire’s infla-
tion valve and screw the hose connector
onto the valve as tightly as possible by
hand.
5. Connect the electrical wire to the nearest
12-volt socket in the vehicle.
6. Start the vehicle’s engine.WARNING
•The vehicle’s engine should be running
when the tire sealing system is used to
avoid battery drain. Therefore, be sure
the vehicle is parked in a well ventilated
place, or outdoors, before using the sys-
tem. The parking brake should be
securely applied and the gear selector
should be in the P (park) position.
•Children should never be left unattended
in the vehicle when the engine is running.
7. Check the tire’s inflation pressure on the
gauge. Switch off the compressor briefly to
get a clear reading from the pressure
gauge.
8. Refer to the tire inflation table in this chap-
ter for the correct inflation pressure. If the
tire needs to be inflated, start the tire seal-
ing system’s compressor (press the on/off
switch to position I). If necessary, release
air from the tire by turning the air release
knob counterclockwise.
CAUTION
The compressor should not be used for
more than 10 minutes at a time to avoid
overheating.
9. Turn off the compressor (press the on/off
switch to position 0) when the correct infla-
tion pressure has been reached.
10. Unscrew the hose from the tire’s inflation
valve and reinstall the valve cap.
11. Disconnect the electrical wire from the
12-volt socket.
08 Wheels and tires
Changing a wheel
08
314* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
Removing a wheel
G017464
Location of jack and tools
Spare wheelThe spare wheel is only intended for temporary
use. Replace it with a normal wheel as soon as
possible. The car's handling may be altered by
the use of the spare wheel. The correct tire
pressure for the spare wheel is stated in the tire
pressure table on page 299 and in the tire infla-
tion placard on the driver's side door jamb at
the rear of the driver's door opening.
WARNING
Current legislation prohibits the use of the
“Temporary Spare” tire other than as a tem-
porary replacement for a punctured tire. It
must be replaced as soon as possible by a
standard tire. Road holding and handling
may be affected with the “Temporary
Spare” in use.
CAUTION
The vehicle must never be driven with more
than one temporary spare wheel.
The spare wheel is located in the spare wheel
well with the rim side down. There are two foam
blocks, one under the spare wheel and one
over/inside. The upper one contains all tools.
The same bolt runs through to secure the spare
wheel and the foam blocks.
Taking out the spare wheel1. Open the floor hatch.
2. Undo the retaining bolt.
3. Lift out the foam block.
4. Lift out the spare wheel.
The other two blocks can remain in the spare
wheel well.
After useThe foam block and spare wheel must be
replaced in the reverse order. Note the arrow
on the upper foam block. It should point for-
ward.
NOTE
If the floor hatch is not completely closed,
the private locking feature (see page 62) will
not function.
Changing a wheel1. Apply the parking brake and put the gear
selector in P.
2. Take out the jack*, lug wrench*, the towing
eyelet and the wheel cover removal tool*
stowed under the floor of the trunk.
3. Remove the wheel cover (where applica-
ble) using the removal tool or remove the
wheel cover by hand.
4. Block the wheels that are on the ground
with wooden blocks or large stones.
08 Wheels and tires
Changing a wheel
08
316
WARNING
•The jack must correctly engage the jack
attachment.
•Be sure the jack is on a firm, level, non-
slippery surface.
•Never allow any part of your body to be
extended under a vehicle supported by
a jack.
•Use the jack intended for the vehicle
when changing a tire. For any other job,
use stands to support the vehicle.
•Apply the parking brake and put the
gear selector in the Park (P) position.
•Block the wheels standing on the
ground, use rigid wooden blocks or
large stones.
•The jack should be kept well-greased
and clean, and should not be damaged.
•No objects should be placed between
the base of jack and the ground, or
between the jack and the attachment
bar on the vehicle.
NOTE
The jack provided with your vehicle is
intended to be used only in temporary sit-
uations such as changing wheels in the
event of a flat tire. Only the jack that came
with your particular model should be used
to lift the vehicle. If the vehicle needs to be
lifted more frequently or for a prolonged
period, using a garage jack or hoist is rec-
ommended. Always follow this device’s
instructions for use.
Re-installing the wheel1. Clean the contact surfaces on the wheel
and hub.
2. Lift the wheel and place it on the hub.
Tighten the lug nuts
3. Install the wheel nuts and tighten hand-
tight. Using the lug wrench, tighten cross-
wise until all nuts are snug.
4. Lower the vehicle to the ground and alter-
nately tighten the bolts crosswise to
103 ft. lbs. (140 Nm).
5. Install the wheel cover (where applicable).
The opening in the wheel cover for the tire's
inflation valve must be positioned over the
valve.
09 Maintenance and specifications
Hood and engine compartment09
325 Opening and closing the hood
G010951
Pull the lever located under the left side of
the dash to release the hood lock.
Lift the hood slightly. Press the release
control (located under the right front edge
of the hood) to the left, and lift the hood.
WARNING
Check that the hood locks properly when
closed.
Engine compartment, overview
Coolant expansion tank
Power steering fluid reservoir
Dipstick-engine oil
Filler cap-engine oil
Cover over brake fluid reservoir
Battery
Relay/fuse box
Washer fluid reservoir
The appearance of the engine compartment
may vary depending on engine model.
WARNING
The cooling fan (located at the front of the
engine compartment, behind the radiator)
may start or continue to operate (for up to
6 minutes) after the engine has been
switched off.
WARNING
Before performing any operations in the
engine compartment, the ignition should
always be completely switched off (in mode
0, see page 83) and there should be no
remote keys in the passenger compartment.
The gear selector should be in the P (park)
position. If the engine has been running,
wait until it has cooled before touching any
components in the engine compartment.
The distributor ignition system operates at
very high voltages. Special safety precau-
tions must be followed to prevent injury.
Always turn the ignition off when:
•Replacing distributor ignition compo-
nents e.g. plugs, coil, etc.
•Do not touch any part of the distributor
ignition system while the engine is run-
ning. This may result in unintended
movements and body injury.
09 Maintenance and specifications
Fluids 09
328
Coolant
Location of the coolant reservoir
Normally, the coolant does not need to be
changed. If the system must be drained, con-
sult a trained and qualified Volvo service tech-
nician.
See page 364 for information on cooling sys-
tem capacities.
CAUTION
•If necessary, top up the cooling system
with Volvo Genuine Coolant/Antifreeze
only (a 50/50 mix of water and anti-
freeze).
•Different types of antifreeze/coolant
may not be mixed.
•If the cooling system is drained, it
should be flushed with clean water or
premixed anti-freeze before it is refilled
with the correct mixture of water/anti-
freeze.
•The cooling system must always be
kept filled to the correct level, and the
level must be between the MIN and
MAX marks. If it is not kept filled, there
can be high local temperatures in the
engine which could result in damage.
Check coolant regularly!
•Do not top up with water only. This
reduces the rust-protective and anti-
freeze qualities of the coolant and has a
lower boiling point. It can also cause
damage to the cooling system if it
should freeze.
•Do not use chlorinated tap water in the
vehicle's cooling system.
WARNING
•Never remove the expansion tank cap
while the engine is warm. Wait until the
engine cools.
•If it is necessary to top off the coolant
when the engine is warm, unscrew the
expansion tank cap slowly so that the
overpressure dissipates.
Brake fluid
Location of the brake fluid reservoir
Checking the levelThe fluid reservoir is concealed under the
round cover at the rear of the engine compart-
ment. The round cover must be removed first
before the reservoir cap can be accessed.
09 Maintenance and specifications
Fluids09
329
The brake fluid should always be between the
MIN and MAX marks on the inside of the res-
ervoir. Check, without removing the cap, that
there is sufficient fluid in the reservoir.
Fluid type: DOT 4+ boiling point >536 °F
(>280 °C), P/N 9437433
Replace: The fluid should be replaced accord-
ing to the intervals specified in the Warranty
and Service Records Information booklet.
When driving under extremely hard conditions
(mountain driving, etc), it may be necessary to
replace the fluid more often. Consult a trained
and qualified Volvo service technician.
Always entrust brake fluid changing to a
trained and qualified Volvo service technician.
WARNING
•If the fluid level is below the MIN mark
in the reservoir or if a brake-related
message is shown in the information
display: DO NOT DRIVE. Have the car
towed to a trained and qualified Volvo
service technician and have the brake
system inspected.
•Dot 4+ should never be mixed with any
other type of brake fluid.
Filling1. Turn and open the cover.2. Unscrew the reservoir cap and fill the fluid.
The level must be between the MIN and
MAX marks.
Power steering fluid
Check the level frequently. The fluid does not
require changing. The fluid level must be
between the MIN and MAX marks. For capaci-
ties and recommended fluid grade, see
page 364.
WARNING
If a problem should occur in the power
steering system or if the vehicle has no elec-
trical current and must be towed, it is still
possible to steer the vehicle. However, keep
in mind that greater effort will be required to
turn the steering wheel.
CAUTION
Keep the area around the power steering
fluid reservoir clean when checking.