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308* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
Driving with a trailer - manual gearbox
When driving with a trailer in hilly terrain in a hot climate there may be a risk of overheating.
OverheatingWhen driving with a trailer in hilly terrain in ahot climate there may be a risk of overheat-ing. • Do not run the engine at higher revolu- tions than 4500 rpm(diesel engines: 3500 rpm) - otherwise theoil temperature may become too high.
Diesel engine 5-cyl
•In the event of a risk of overheating theoptimal speed for the engine is2300-3000 rpm for optimal circulation ofthe coolant.
Related information
•Driving with a trailer (p. 306)
Driving with a trailer - automatic gearbox
When driving with a trailer in hilly terrain in a hot climate there may be a risk of overheating.
• An automatic gearbox selects the opti- mum gear related to load and enginespeed.
• In the event of overheating a warningsymbol is illuminated in the combinedinstrument panel with a message that isshown in the information display - followthe recommendation given.
Steep inclines
•Do not lock the automatic transmission ina higher gear than the engine "can copewith" - it is not always a good idea todrive at a high gear with low engine revo-lutions.
Parking on a hill1. Depress the foot brake.
2. Activate the parking brake.
3. Move the gear selector to position
P.
4. Release the foot brake.
• Move the gear selector to park position
P
when parking an automatic car with a hitched trailer. Always use the parkingbrake.
• Block the wheels with chocks when park-ing a car with hitched trailer on a hill.
IMPORTANT
See also the specific information on slow driving with a trailer for cars with thePowershift automatic transmission, seeAutomatic gearbox -- Powershift* (p. 276).
Starting on a hill1. Depress the foot brake.
2. Move the gear selector to driving posi-
tion D.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Release the foot brake and start driving off.
Related information
• Automatic gearbox -- Geartronic* (p. 273)
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Towing bracket/Towbar
A towing bracket means that it is possible to e.g. tow a trailer behind the car. If the car is equipped with a detachable/ removable towbar, the installation instruc-tions for the loose section must be followedcarefully, see Detachable towbar - attach-ment/removal (p. 310).
WARNING
If the car is fitted with a Volvo detachable towbar:
• Follow the installation instructions carefully.
• The detachable section must belocked with the key before setting off.
• Check that the indicator windowshows green.
Important checks
•
The towbar's towball must be cleaned and greased regularly.
NOTE
When a hitch with a vibration damper is used, the towball must not be lubricated.
Related information
•
Driving with a trailer (p. 306)
Detachable towbar - storage
Store the detachable towbar in the cargo area.
Towbar storage space.
IMPORTANT
Always remove the towbar after use and store it in the appointed location in the car.
Related information
•Detachable towbar - specifications (p. 309)
• Detachable towbar - attachment/removal(p. 310)
• Driving with a trailer (p. 306)
Detachable towbar - specifications
Specifications for detachable towbar.
Specifications
G021485
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G000000
Turn the key anticlockwise to locked position. Remove the key from the lock.
G021494
Check that the towbar is secure by pull- ing it up, down and back.
WARNING
If the towbar is not fitted correctly then it must be detached and reattached inaccordance with the previous instructions.
IMPORTANT
Only grease in the ball for the towing hitch, the remainder of the towbar should beclean and dry.
G021495
Safety cable.
WARNING
Take care to secure the trailer's safety cable in the intended bracket.
Removing the towbar
Insert the key and turn it clockwise to the unlocked position.
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Push in the locking wheel and turn it
anticlockwise
until you hear a click.
Turn the locking wheel down fully, until it comes to a stop. Hold it in this positionwhile pulling the towbar rearward andupward.
WARNING
Secure the towbar safely if it is stored in the car, see Detachable towbar - storage(p. 309).
G018929
Push the protective cover until it snaps tight.
Related information
• Detachable towbar - storage (p. 309)
• Detachable towbar - specifications (p. 309)
• Driving with a trailer (p. 306)
Trailer stabiliser - TSA 17
The trailer stability assist (TSA - Trailer Stability Assist) function is designed to stabi-lise the car and trailer combination if it beginsto snake. The trailer stability assist is included in the stability and traction control system (p. 175)(DSTC - Dynamic Stability and TractionControl).
FunctionThe snaking phenomenon can occur with anycar/trailer combination. Snaking normallyoccurs at high speeds. But, there is a risk of itoccurring at lower speeds (70-90 km/h) if thetrailer is overloaded or the load is improperlydistributed, e.g. too far back. In order for snaking to occur, there must be a triggering factor, e.g.:
• Car with trailer subjected to a sudden and powerful side wind.
• Car with trailer drives on an uneven roadsurface or in a pothole.
• Sweeping steering wheel movements.
OperationIf snaking has started, it could be difficult or even impossible to suppress. This makes thecar/trailer combination difficult to control andthere is a risk that you could, for example,
17
Included in the installation of Volvo genuine towbar.
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WARNING
•Check that the steering lock is unlocked before towing.
• The remote control key must be in keyposition
II - in position I all airbags are
deactivated.
• Never remove the remote control keyfrom the ignition switch when the caris being towed.
WARNING
The brake servo and power steering do not work when the engine is switched off - thebrake pedal needs to be depressedabout 5 times more heavily and the steer-ing is considerably heavier than normal.
Manual gearboxPrior to towing:
–Move gear lever into neutral and release the parking brake.
Automatic gearbox GeartronicPrior to towing:
–Move the gear selector to position
N and
release the parking brake.
Automatic gearbox PowershiftThe model with Powershift transmission should not be towed as it is dependent on theengine running in order to receive sufficient lubrication. If towing still has to take place,the route must be as short as possible andthen with very low speed. In the event of uncertainty as to whether or not the car is equipped with Powershift trans-mission, this can be verified by checking thedesignation on the gearbox label under thebonnet, see Type designations (p. 386). Thedesignation ”MPS6” means that it isPowershift transmission - otherwise it isGeartronic automatic transmission.
IMPORTANT
Avoid towing.
• However, the car can be towed for a short distance at low speed to move itfrom a dangerous position - not furtherthan 10 km and not faster than10 km/h. Note that the car mustalways be towed with the wheels roll-ing forward.
• In the event of moving a longer dis-tance than 10 km, the car must betransported with the drive wheelsraised from the road - professionalrecovery is recommended.
Prior to towing:
–Move the gear selector to position
N and
release the parking brake.
Jump startingDo not tow the car to bump start the engine. Use a donor battery if the battery is dis-charged and the engine does not start, seeJump starting with battery (p. 270).
IMPORTANT
The catalytic converter may be damaged during attempts to tow-start the engine.
Related information
• Towing eye (p. 315)
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Towing eye
The towing eye is screwed into a threaded socket behind a cover on the right-hand sideof the bumper, front or rear.
Attaching the towing eye
Take out the towing eye that is located under the floor hatch in the cargo area.
The cover for the towing eye's attach- ment point is available in two variantswhich must be opened in different ways:
• Open the variant with a recess using a coin or similar inserted in the recess,turning it outwards. Then turn out thecover completely and remove it.
• The second variant has a markingalong one side or in a corner: Press themarking with a finger and fold out theopposite side/corner at the same timeusing a coin or similar - the cover turnsaround its axis and can then beremoved.
Screw the towing eye right in up to its flange. Turn in the towing eye firmly e.g.using the wheel wrench. After use, unscrew the towing eye and return it to its place. Finish by refitting the cover onto the bumper.
The towing eye may be used to pull the carup onto a recovery vehicle with a flatbed plat-form. The car's position and ground clear-ance determine whether it is possible. If theslope of the recovery vehicle's ramp is toosteep, or if the ground clearance under thecar is inadequate, then the car may be dam-aged if you try to pull it up using the towingeye. Raise the car using the recovery vehi-cle's lifting device if necessary.WARNING
No one/nothing is allowed to remain behind the recovery vehicle while the carpulled up onto the flatbed platform.
IMPORTANT
The towing eye is only designed for towing on roads - not for pulling the car unstuck
or out of a ditch. Call a recovery service forrecovery assistance.
Related information
• Towing (p. 313)
• Recovery (p. 316)
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Recovery
Recovery means that the vehicle is transpor- ted away by means of another vehicle. Call a recovery service for recovery assis- tance. The towing eye may be used to pull the car up onto a recovery vehicle with a flatbed plat-form. The car's position and ground clear-ance determine whether it is possible. If theslope of the recovery vehicle's ramp is toosteep, or if the ground clearance under thecar is inadequate, then the car may be dam-aged if you try to pull it up using the towingeye. Raise the car using the recovery vehi-cle's lifting device if necessary.
WARNING
No one/nothing is allowed to remain behind the recovery vehicle while the carpulled up onto the flatbed platform.
IMPORTANT
The towing eye is only designed for towing on roads - not for pulling the car unstuck
or out of a ditch. Call a recovery service forrecovery assistance.
IMPORTANT
Note that the car must always be transpor- ted with the wheels rolling forward.
• An All Wheel Drive car (AWD) with raised front suspension must not betowed at speeds above 70 km/h. Itshould not be towed further than 50km.
Related information
•
Towing (p. 313)
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09 Wheels and tyres
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New tyres
Tyres are perishable. After a few years they begin to harden at the same time as the fric-tion capacity/characteristics gradually deteri-orate. For this reason, aim to get as freshtyres as possible when you replace them.This is especially important with regard towinter tyres. The last four digits in thesequence mean the week and year of manu-facture. This is the tyre's DOT marking(Department of Transportation), and this isstated with four digits, for example 1510. Thetyre in the figure was manufactured in week15 of 2010.
Summer and winter tyresWhen summer and winter wheels arechanged the wheels should be marked withwhich side of the car they were mounted on,for example L for left and R for right.
Wear and maintenanceCorrect tyre pressure (p. 328) results in moreeven wear. Driving style, tyre pressure, cli-mate and road condition affect how quicklyyour tyres age and wear. To avoid differencesin tread depth and to prevent wear patternsarising, the front and rear wheels can beswitched with each other. A suitable distancefor the first change is approx. 5000 km andthen at 10000 km intervals. Volvo recom-mends that you contact an authorised Volvoworkshop for checking if you are uncertainabout tread depth. If significant differences inwear (> 1 mm difference in tread depth)between tyres have already occurred, theleast worn tyres must always be placed onthe rear. Understeer is normally easier to cor-rect than oversteer, and leads to the car con-tinuing forwards in a straight line rather thanhaving the rear end skidding to one side,resulting in possible complete loss of controlover the car. This is why it is important for therear wheels never to lose grip before the frontwheels. Wheels should be stored lying down or hang- ing up - and not standing up.
WARNING
A damaged tyre may lead to loss of control over the car.
Related information
• Tyres - dimensions (p. 322)
• Tyres - speed ratings (p. 323)
• Tyres - load index (p. 323)
• Tyres - direction of rotation (p. 318)
• Tyres - tread wear indicators (p. 320)
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