2014 VOLVO XC90 trailer

06 Starting and driving
Towing a trailer
06
164* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
The maximum weights recommended by Volvo for trailers with brakes are shown in
the table below. Recommended hitch tongue load: not more than 10% of the trailer's weight. Thetrailer load should be positioned so that it does not shift and the tongue load should be10% of the trailer's weight. However, thetongue load should not exceed the maximum
permissible weights indicated in the tablebelow.
No. of occu- pants1234567
Seating positionFront seatFront seat2nd row of seats2nd row of seats2nd row of seats3rd row of seats*3rd row of seats*
All Wheel Drive5,000 lbs (2250 kg)5,000 lbs (2250 kg)4,500 lbs (2050 kg)3,700 lbs (1700 kg)2,900 lbs (1350 kg)1,800 lbs (800 kg)Trailer towing not recommended
Max. trailer hitch tongue load500 lbs (225 kg)500 lbs (225 kg)450 lbs (205 kg)370 lbs (170 kg)290 lbs (135 kg)180 lbs (80 kg)–
Front Wheel Drive4,000 lbs (1800 kg)4,000 lbs (1800 kg)4,000 lbs (1800 kg)4,000 lbs (1800 kg)3,700 lbs (1650 kg)2,500 lbs (1150 kg)1,400 lbs (650 kg)
Max. trailer hitch tongue load400 lbs (180 kg)400 lbs (180 kg)400 lbs (180 kg)400 lbs (180 kg)370 lbs (165 kg)250 lbs (115 kg)140 lba (65 kg)

06 Starting and driving
Towing a trailer
06
165
Points to keep in mind when towing a trailer
•When towing trailers
without brakes, the
maximum permissible trailer weight is 1,700 lbs (750 kg).
• If necessary, redistribute the weight ofany cargo in the trailer to avoid excessiveweight on the trailer hitch.
• The maximum trailer weight listed in thetable for All Wheel Drive models,5,000 lbs (2250 kg) is only applicablewhen there are not more than two occu-pants in the vehicle, in the front seats,with a combined weight of 300 lbs(135 kg), with no other cargo in the vehi-cle.
• The maximum weight listed for FrontWheel Drive models, 4,000 lbs (1800 kg)is only applicable when there are notmore than four occupants in the vehicle,in the front seats and second row ofseats, with a combined weight of 600 lbs(270 kg), with no other cargo in the vehi-cle.
• Vehicles used for towing a trailer on aregular basis, or for long-distance high-way towing should be equipped with anautomatic transmission oil cooler andVolvo's automatic self-leveling system forthe rear suspension. Consult your Volvoretailer. •
Volvo recommends the use of Volvotrailer hitches that are specially designedfor the vehicle.
• All Volvo models are equipped withenergy-absorbing shock-mounted bump-ers. Trailer hitch installation should notinterfere with the proper operation of thisbumper system.
• Increase tire pressure to recommendedfull inflation pressure. See chapter"Wheels and tires."
• When your vehicle is new, avoid towingheavy trailers during the first 620 miles(1,000 km).
• Engine and transmission are subject toincreased loads. Therefore, engine cool-ant temperature should be closelywatched when driving in hot climates orhilly terrain. Use a lower gear and turn offthe air conditioner if the temperaturegauge needle enters the red range.
• If the automatic transmission begins tooverheat, a message will be displayed inthe text window.
• Hauling a trailer affects handling, durabil-ity, and economy.
• It is necessary to balance trailer brakeswith the towing vehicle brakes to providea safe stop (check and observe state/local regulations). •
Do not connect the trailer's brake systemdirectly to the vehicle's brake system.
• Remove the ball and drawbar assemblywhen the hitch is not being used.
• Volvo recommends the use of syntheticengine oil when towing a trailer over longdistances or in mountainous areas.
NOTE
•When parking the vehicle with a trailer on a hill, apply the parking brakebefore putting the gear selector in
P.
When starting on a hill, put the gearselector in D before releasing the park-
ing brake. Always follow the trailermanufacturer's recommendations forwheel chocking.
• If you use the manual (Geartronic) shiftpositions while towing a trailer, makesure the gear you select does not puttoo much strain on the engine (usingtoo high a gear).

06 Starting and driving
Towing a trailer
06
166
WARNING
•Bumper-attached trailer hitches must not be used on Volvos, nor shouldsafety chains be attached to thebumper.
• Trailer hitches attaching to the vehiclerear axle must not be used.
• Never connect a trailer's hydraulicbrake system directly to the vehiclebrake system, nor a trailer's lightingsystem directly to the vehicle lightingsystem. Consult a trained and qualifiedVolvo service technician for correctinstallation.
• When towing a trailer, the trailer'ssafety wire must be correctly fastenedto the hole or hook provided in thetrailer hitch on the vehicle. The safetywire should never be fastened to orwound around the drawbar ball.
LevelingIf your vehicle is equipped with automatic lev- eling, the rear suspension always retains thecorrect ride height regardless of the load.
• The system adjusts the rear suspension to the correct level after the vehicle hasbeen driven a short distance.
• When the vehicle is stationary, the rearsuspension lowers, which is normal.

06 Starting and driving
Detachable trailer hitch
06
167
Overview
A
C
EDBG010496
Ball holder
Locking bolt
Cotter pin
Hitch assembly
Safety wire attachment
Installing the ball holder1. If necessary, remove the cotter pin fromthe 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 lockingbolt and slide the locking bolt out of theball holder/hitch assembly.
2. Pull the ball holder out of the hitch assembly.
A cover for the hitch assembly can be pur-chased from your Volvo retailer.

06 Starting and driving
Blind Spot Information System*
06
172* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
When you pass another vehicle: The system reacts when you pass another vehicle at a speed of up to 6 mph (10 km/h)faster than that vehicle. When you are passed by another vehicle:The system reacts if your vehicle is passed by another vehicle at a speed of up to 43 mph(70 km/h) faster than your vehicle.
WARNING
• BLIS does not function in sharp curves.
• BLIS does not function when yourvehicle is backing up.
• If you are towing a wide trailer, thismay prevent the BLIS cameras fromdetecting other vehicles in adjacentlanes.
How BLIS functions in daylight and darkness
Daylight BLIS reacts to the
shape of surrounding vehi-
cles. The system is designed to help detect motor vehicles such as cars, trucks, buses,motorcycles, etc. Darkness BLIS reacts to the
headlights of surrounding
vehicles. In order to be detected by BLIS, a vehicle in the blind area must have its head-lights on. This means, for example, that thesystem will not detect a trailer without head-lights that is being towed behind a car ortruck.
WARNING
• BLIS does not react to cyclists or mopeds.
• BLIS does not react to vehicles thatare standing still.
• The BLIS cameras have the same limi-tation as the human eye. In otherwords, their "vision is impaired" byadverse weather conditions such asheavy snowfall, intense light directlyinto the camera, dense fog, etc.
Cleaning the BLIS camera lensesIn order to function optimally, the BLIS cam- era lenses must be kept clean. They can bewiped clean with a soft cloth or wet sponge.
CAUTION
• Clean the lenses carefully to avoid scratching.
• The lenses are electrically heated tohelp melt ice or snow. If necessary,gently brush away snow from the len-ses.
LimitationsIn certain situations, the BLIS indicator light(s) may illuminate even when there are no othervehicles in the area monitored by the system.
NOTE
If the BLIS indicator lights illuminate occa- sionally even when there are no other vehi-cles in the blind area, this does not indi-cate a fault in the system. In the event of a fault,
Blind spot syst.
service required will be displayed.
The following are several examples of situa- tions in which the BLIS indicator light(s) mayilluminate even when there are no other vehi-cles in the area monitored by the system.

07 Wheels and tires
Vehicle loading
07
187
Properly loading your vehicle will provide maximum return of vehicle design perform-ance. Before loading your vehicle, familiarize your- self with the following terms for determiningyour vehicle's weight ratings, with or withouta trailer, from the vehicle's Federal/ CanadianMotor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS/CMVSS) label, and the vehicle's tire informa-tion placard.
Curb weightThe weight of the vehicle including a full tankof fuel and all standard equipment. It doesnot include passengers, cargo, or optionalequipment.
Capacity weightAll weight added to the curb weight, includingcargo and optional equipment. When towing,trailer hitch tongue load is also part of cargoweight.
NOTE
For trailer towing information, please refer to the section "Towing a trailer."
Permissible axle weightThe maximum allowable weight that can be carried by a single axle (front or rear). Thesenumbers are shown on the Federal/CanadianMotor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS/CMVSS) label. The total load on each axlemust never exceed its maximum permissibleweight.
Gross vehicle weight (GVW)The vehicle's curb weight + cargo + passen-gers. A table listing important weight limits for your vehicle, is in chapter "Dimension andweights". For the location of the various labels in your vehicle, see page 282
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
•
Locate the statement "the combined weight of occupants and cargo shouldnever exceed XXX pounds" on your vehi-cle's placard.
• Determine the combined weight of thedriver and passengers that will be ridingin your vehicle. •
Subtract the combined weight of thedriver and passengers from XXX kilo-grams or XXX pounds.
• The resulting figure equals the availableamount of cargo and luggage loadcapacity. For example, if the "XXX"amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will befive 150 lb. passengers in your vehicle,the amount of available cargo and lug-gage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400-750(5 x 150) = 650 lbs.)
• Determine the combined weight of lug-gage and cargo being loaded on the vehi-cle. That weight may not safely exceedthe available cargo and luggage loadcapacity calculated in Step 4.
• If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, loadfrom your trailer will be transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual 1
to deter-
mine how this reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of yourvehicle.
1 For "Towing a trailer" see page 164.

09 Maintenance and servicing
Fuses 09
246* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
Fuses in the cargo compartment
The fuses in the cargo area are located behind the panel on the driver's side of thecargo compartment. When replacing a blownfuse, be sure to replace it with a new one ofthe same color and amperage (written on thefuse).
NoA
1Backup lights10
2Parking lights, rear foglight, cargo compartment lighting,license plate lights, brake lightdiodes20
NoA
3Accessories15
4–
5Rear Electronic module10
6-
7Trailer wiring (30 feed)*15
812-volt socket in cargo com- partment15
NoA
9Rear passenger's side door – power window, power windowcutout function20
10Rear driver's side door – power window, power window cutoutfunction20
11–
12–
13–

09 Maintenance and servicing
Fuses09
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* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.247
NoA
14Rear air conditioning system*15
15–
16–
17Accessory audio5
18–
19Tailgate window wiper15
20Trailer wiring (15-feed)*20
21–
22–
23All Wheel Drive (AWD)7.5
24–
25–
26Park assist*5
27Main fuse: trailer wiring, park assist, All Wheel Drive30
28Central locking system15
29Driver's side trailer lighting: parking lights, turn signal*25
NoA
30Passenger's side trailer light- ing: brake light, rear fog light,turn signal*25
31Main fuse: fuses 37 and 3840
32–
33–
34–
35–
36–
37Heated rear window20
38Heated rear window20