2014 VOLVO XC90 Owner´s Manual

06 Starting and driving
Starting the vehicle
06
143
Starting the engine
WARNING
Before starting, check that the seat, steer- ing wheel and mirrors are adjusted prop-erly. Make sure the brake pedal can bedepressed completely. Adjust the seat ifnecessary, see page 104.
1. Fasten the seat belt.
2. Apply the parking brake (hand brake) ifnot already set. The gear selector is locked in the P position (SHIFTLOCK).
3. Without touching the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key 1
to the starting posi-
tion. Allow the starter to operate for up to10 seconds. Release the key as soon as the engine starts 2
. If the engine fails to
start, repeat this step.
CAUTION
If the engine does not start after the third try, wait for approximately 3 minutesbefore trying to start it again to give thebattery time to recover its startingcapacity.
WARNING
• Never use more than one floor mat at a time on the driver's floor. An extramat on the driver's floor can cause theaccelerator and/or brake pedal tocatch. Check that the movement ofthese pedals is not impeded.
• Volvo's floor mats are specially manu-factured for your car. They must befirmly secured in the clips on the floorso that they cannot slide and becometrapped under the pedals on the driv-er's side.
NOTE
•If the key blade section of the remote is not fully folded out when starting thevehicle, the immobilizer function maymake it impossible to start the engine.
• After a cold start, idle speed may benoticeably higher than normal for ashort period. This is done to help bringcomponents in the emission controlsystem to their normal operating tem-perature as quickly as possible, whichenables them to control emissions andhelp reduce the vehicle's impact onthe environment.
• To release the gear selector from the
P
(Park) position, the engine must berunning (or the ignition key must be inposition II) and the brake pedal must
be depressed.
• Select the desired gear. The gearengages after a very slight delay whichis especially noticeable when selecting R.
1
If two of the keys to your vehicle are close together, e.g. on the same key ring when you try to start the vehicle, this could cause interference in the immobilizer system and result in the vehicle not starting. If this should occur, remove one of the keys from the key ring before trying to start the vehicle again.
2 On vehicles equipped with the autostart feature, release the key immediately. See also page 145.

06 Starting and driving
Starting the vehicle
06
144
NOTE
Your vehicle is equipped with a KEYLOCK
system. When the engine is switched off, the gear selector must be in the P position
before the key can be removed from theignition switch. When starting in cold weather, the trans- mission may shift up at slightly higherengine speeds than normal until the auto-matic transmission fluid reaches normaloperating temperature.
NOTE
Do not race a cold engine immediately after starting. Oil flow may not reach somelubrication points fast enough to preventengine damage.
WARNING
Always place the gear selector in Park and apply the parking brake before leaving thevehicle. Never leave the vehicle unatten-ded with the engine running.
• Always open garage doors fully before starting the engine inside a garage toensure adequate ventilation. Theexhaust gases contain carbon monox-ide, which is invisible and odorless butvery poisonous.
CAUTION
Automatic transmission
• The engine should be idling when you move the gear selector. Never acceler-ate until after you feel the transmissionengage! Accelerating immediately afterselecting a gear will cause harshengagement and premature transmis-sion wear.
• Selecting
P or N when idling at a
standstill for prolonged periods of timewill help prevent overheating of theautomatic transmission fluid.

06 Starting and driving
Ignition switch and steering wheel lock
06
145
Ignition switch and steering wheel lock
0 – Locked position: Remove the key to lock the steering wheelA
.
I – Intermediate posi- tion B
– "radio position":
Certain accessories, radio, etc. on, daytimerunning lights off.
II – Drive position: The
key position when driv- ing. The vehicle's entireelectrical system is con-nected.
III – Start position: Release the key when the engine starts. Thekey returns automaticallyto the Drive position.
A chime will sound if the key is left in the ignition and the driver's door is opened.
A The gear selector must be in the P (Park) position (auto-
matic transmission).
B Please be aware that leaving the key in this position will increase battery drain.
AutostartThis function makes it possible to start the vehicle without holding the key in the startposition (position III) until the engine starts.
Turn the key to position III and release it. The
starter motor will then operate automatically(for up to ten seconds) until the engine starts.
Steering wheel lockThe steering wheel lock might be under ten-sion when the vehicle is parked. Turn the steering wheel slightly to free the ignition key. In order to help reduce vehicle theft, make sure the steering wheel lock is engagedbefore leaving the vehicle.
WARNING
Never switch off the ignition (turn the igni- tion key to position 0) or remove the key
from the ignition switch while the vehicle isin motion. This could cause the steeringwheel to lock, which would make the vehi-cle impossible to steer.

06 Starting and driving
Economical driving
06
146
Economical driving conserves natural resources
Better driving economy may be obtained by thinking ahead, avoiding rapid starts andstops and adjusting the speed of your vehicleto immediate traffic conditions. Observe thefollowing rules:
• Bring the engine to normal operating tem- perature as soon as possible by drivingwith a light foot on the accelerator pedalfor the first few minutes of operation. Acold engine uses more fuel and is subjectto increased wear.
• Whenever possible, avoid using the vehi-cle for driving short distances. This doesnot allow the engine to reach normaloperating temperature.
• Drive carefully and avoid rapid accelera-tion and hard braking.
• Use the transmission's
D (Drive) position
as often as possible and avoid using"kickdown" to help improve fuel econ-omy.
• Do not exceed posted speed limits.
• Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extraload) in the vehicle.
• Maintain correct tire pressure. Check tirepressure regularly (when tires are cold).
• Remove snow tires when threat of snowor ice has ended. •
Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc,increase air resistance and also fuel con-sumption.
• At highway driving speeds, fuel consump-tion will be lower with the air conditioningon and the windows closed than with theair conditioning off and the windowsopen.
• Using the onboard trip computer's fuelconsumption modes can help you learnhow to drive more economically.
Other factors that decrease gas mileage are: • Dirty air cleaner
• Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter
• Dragging brakes
• Incorrect front end alignment.
Some of the above mentioned items and oth- ers are checked at the standard MaintenanceService intervals.
CAUTION
Drive slowly and carefully if going through standing water (i.e. flooded roadways,etc.). Damage to the engine could result ifexcess water is drawn in through the airintake system. Never drive the vehicle inwater deeper than 18 inches (48 cm).

06 Starting and driving
Difficult driving conditions
06
147
Driving on rough/unpaved surfaces
The Volvo XC90 is designed primarily for on- road driving, and it has excellent handlingcharacteristics on very rough or unpavedroads. When driving on poorly maintained or unpaved roads, please keep the following inmind:
• Reduce speed on rough surfaces to mini- mize possible damage to the vehicle'sunderbody.
• When driving on soft surfaces such as drysand or snow, try to avoid stopping if atall possible.
WARNING
•Avoid driving diagonally across steep inclines as this could increase the riskof a roll-over. Try to drive straight upor down the slope.
• If the road is very steep, avoid turningthe vehicle around to help avoid therisk of rolling over. Back the vehicle upor down the incline instead.
NOTE
Avoid driving on steep inclines if the fuel tank is nearly empty. If the flow of fuel tothe engine is interrupted due to the vehi-cle's angle of inclination, this could resultin damage to the three-way catalytic con-verter. We recommend keeping the fueltank at least half full when driving on steepinclines.
Driving through water
The vehicle can be driven through water up to a depth of approximately 16 inches (40 cm),at a maximum speed of 6 mph (10 km/h). Take particular care when driving through flowing water. Clean the electrical connections for trailer wir- ing after driving in mud or water. When driving through water, maintain low speed and do not stop in the water.
WARNING
• Avoid driving through standing or rushing water. Doing so can be dan-gerous and it may also be difficult todetermine the actual depth of thewater.
• If water cannot be avoided, after driv-ing through the water, press lightly onthe brake pedal to ensure that thebrakes are functioning normally. Wateror mud can make the brake liningsslippery, resulting in delayed brakingeffect.

06 Starting and driving
Difficult driving conditions
06
148
CAUTION
•Engine damage will occur if water is drawn into the air cleaner.
• If the vehicle is driven through waterdeeper than 18 in (48 cm), water mayenter the differential and the transmis-sion. This reduces the oil's lubricatingcapacity and may shorten the servicelife of these components.
• Do not allow the vehicle to stand inwater up to the door sills longer thanabsolutely necessary. This could resultin electrical malfunctions.
• If the engine has been stopped whilethe car is in water, do not attempt torestart the engine. Have the car towedout of the water.

06 Starting and driving
Automatic transmission
06
149
G026990
P (Park)Use this position when starting the engine or parking the vehicle. Never use P while the vehicle is in motion.
The parking brake should also be set when- ever the vehicle is parked. The gear selector is mechanically locked in the P position (SHIFTLOCK). To release
the gear selector from this position, the engine must be running (or the ignition keymust be in position II) and the brake pedal
must be depressed.
N (Neutral)Neutral – no gear engaged. Use the parkingbrake.
WARNING
Never leave the vehicle unattended when the engine is running. If, by mistake, thegear selector is moved from P, the vehicle
may start moving.
R (Reverse)Never engage R while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive)D is the normal driving position and should be used as often as possible to help improve fueleconomy. The vehicle should not be movingwhen shifting from R to the D position.
NOTE
The transmission has 6 forward speeds.
Automatic transmission – shift gate positions
G020237
Shift gate positions
Depress the button on the front of the gear selector knob to move between the R, N, D,
and P positions.
CAUTION
The transmission’s temperature is moni- tored to help prevent damage to the trans-mission or other drivetrain components. Ifthere is a risk of overheating, the warningsymbol on the instrument panel will illumi-nate and a text message will be displayed.Follow the instructions provided there.

06 Starting and driving
Automatic transmission
06
150
KickdownAutomatic shift to a lower gear (kickdown) is achieved by depressing the accelerator pedalfully and briskly. An upshift will occur whenapproaching the top speed for a particulargear or by releasing the accelerator pedalslightly. Kickdown can be used for maximum acceler- ation or when passing at highway speeds.
NOTE
The gear selector must be in the D (Drive)
position for kickdown to function.
Manual shifting – Geartronic
You can move the gear selector freely between the MAN (Manual) and D (Drive)
positions to select forward gears while driv-ing. Gears 3, 4, 5, and 6 have a "lock-up"function which reduces engine speed andhelps save fuel.
NOTE
Reverse, Neutral, and Park cannot be selected in Geartronic mode.
• A "lock-up" feature 1
reduces engine
speed and help saves fuel.
The currently selected gear will be displayed in the instrument panel (see page 58). • To access the
MAN shifting position from
D , move the gear selector to the left to
MAN .
• To return to the
D positions from MAN,
move the gear selector to the right.
While driving
If you select the MAN position while driving,
the gear that was being used in the D posi-
tion will also initially be selected in MAN posi-
tion. • Move the gear selector forward (toward "
+ ") to shift to a higher gear or rearward
(toward " – ") to shift to a lower gear.
• If you hold the gear selector toward "
–",
the transmission will downshift one gearand will utilize the braking power of theengine. If the current speed is too high forusing a lower gear, the downshift will notoccur until the speed has decreasedenough to allow the lower gear to beused.
• If you slow down to a very low speed, thetransmission will automatically shift down. •
When starting in the
MAN position, 3rd
gear is the highest gear that may beselected.
W – Winter/Wet driving mode – enhanced vehicle traction
G030859
Press the W button at the base of the gear
selector to engage/disengage this driving mode (see illustration). The
W symbol will
appear in the display (see page 58) when the function is activated. This mode may be selected for starting/ moving off on slippery roads. The vehicle
1 Six-speed transmission: gears 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.