06 Starting and driving
All Wheel Drive*
06
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.153
All Wheel Drive (AWD) – general information
Your Volvo can be equipped with an electron- ically controlled All Wheel Drive system*,which means that power is distributed auto-matically between the front and rear wheels.Under normal driving conditions, most of theengine's power is directed to the frontwheels. However, if there is any tendency forthe front wheels to spin, an electronicallycontrolled coupling distributes power to thewheels that have the best traction.
Tire dimensionsVolvo recommends that you always drive ontires of the same brand, size, construction(radial), tread pattern, load-, speed-, traction-,temperature-, and treadwear rating. Neverdrive on mixed tires, except for brief periodswhen the temporary spare tire is in use. Always use properly inflated tires of correct dimensions. Tire size and inflation pressuresare shown on the tire inflation pressure plac-ards, located on the driver's side B-pillar (thestructural member at the side of the vehicle,at the rear of the driver's door opening), or onthe inside of the fuel filler door on Canadianmodels.
Temporary SpareThe temporary spare tire is for temporary,low-speed, short-distance use only. Replaceit with a full-sized tire as soon as possible. Donot drive on the temporary spare at speedsabove 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).
NOTE
Never install snow chains on a temporary spare.
06 Starting and driving
Cold weather precautions
06
169
If you wish to check your vehicle before the approach of cold weather, the followingadvice is worth noting:
• Make sure that the engine coolant con- tains 50 percent antifreeze. Any othermixture will reduce freeze protection. Thisgives protection against freezing down to–31 °F (–35 °C). See section "Coolant".
• The use of "recycled" antifreeze is notapproved by Volvo. Different types ofantifreeze must not be mixed.
• Volvo recommends using only genuineVolvo antifreeze in your vehicle's radiator.Your Volvo retailer stocks plenty of Volvoengine coolant to protect your vehicleduring cold weather.
• Try to keep the
fuel tank well filled – this
prevents the formation of condensation inthe tank. In addition, in extremely coldweather conditions it is worthwhile to addfuel line de-icer before refueling.
• The viscosity of the engine oil is impor-tant. Oil with low viscosity (thinner oil)improves cold-weather starting as well asdecreasing fuel consumption while theengine is warming up. Full synthetic0W-30 oil is recommended for driving inareas with sustained low temperatures.
• The load placed on the
battery is greater
during the winter since the windshieldwipers, lighting, etc. are used more often. Moreover, the capacity of the batterydecreases as the temperature drops. Invery cold weather, a poorly charged bat-tery can freeze and be damaged. It istherefore advisable to check the state ofcharge more frequently and spray an anti-rust oil on the battery posts.
• Volvo recommends the use of
snow tires
on all four wheels for winter driving – seesection "Wheels and tires."
• To prevent the
washer fluid reservoir
from freezing, add washer solvents con-taining antifreeze (see page 224 for thelocation of the washer fluid reservoir).This is important since dirt is oftensplashed on the windshield during winterdriving, requiring the frequent use of thewashers and wipers. Volvo Washer Sol-vent should be diluted as follows:
• Down to 14 ° F (–10 ° C):
1 part washer
solvent and 4 parts water
• Down to 5 ° F (–15 ° C):
1 part washer
solvent and 3 parts water
• Down to 0 ° F (–18 ° C):
1 part washer
solvent and 2 parts water
• Down to –18 ° F (–28 ° C):
1 part washer
solvent and 1 part water
• Use Volvo Teflon Lock Spray in the locks.
NOTE
Avoid the use of de-icing sprays as they can cause damage to the locks.
W – Winter/Wet driving mode – enhanced vehicle traction
•Mode W will only function if the gear selector is in the (
D)rive position.
• Press the button at the base of the gearselector to engage/disengage this drivingmode.
• An LED in the button will light up to indi-cate that W is engaged and this will alsobe displayed in the instrument panel (seepage 58).
• This mode may be selected for starting/moving off on slippery roads.
06 Starting and driving
Before a long distance trip
06
170
It is always worthwhile to have your vehicle checked by a trained and qualified Volvoservice technician before driving long dis-tances. Your retailer or service technician willalso be able to supply you with bulbs, fuses,spark plugs and wiper blades for your use inthe event that problems occur. As a minimum, the following items should be checked before any long trip:• Check that engine runs smoothly and that fuel consumption is normal.
• Check for fuel, oil, and fluid leakage.
• Check transmission oil level 1
.
• Check condition of drive belts.
• Check state of the battery's charge.
• Examine tires carefully (the spare tire aswell), and replace those that are worn.Check tire pressures.
• The brakes, front wheel alignment, andsteering gear should be checked by atrained and qualified Volvo service techni-cian only.
• Check all lights, including high beams.
• Reflective warning triangles are legallyrequired in some states/provinces. •
Have a word with your Volvo retailer ifyou intend to drive in countries where itmay be difficult to obtain the correct fuel.
• Consider your destination. If you will bedriving through an area where snow or iceare likely to occur, consider snow tires.
1
To prevent injury from contact with hot surfaces, do not inspect your vehicle’s transmission fluid yourself. Have your vehicle’s transmission fluid level inspected by a qualified Volvo service techni- cian.
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.
07 Wheels and tires
Temporary spare
07
191
The spare tire in your vehicle
1
is called a
"Temporary Spare". Recommended tire pressure (see the placard on the B-pillar or on the fuel filler door) shouldbe maintained irrespective of which positionon the vehicle the temporary spare tire isused. In the event of damage to this tire, a new one can be purchased from your Volvo retailer.
WARNING
Current legislation prohibits the use of the "Temporary Spare" tire other than as atemporary replacement for a puncturedtire. It must be replaced as soon as possi-ble by a standard tire. Road holding andhandling may be affected with the "Tem-porary Spare" in use. Do not exceed50 mph (80 km/h).
CAUTION
The vehicle must not be driven with wheels of different dimensions or with a spare tireother than the one that came with the vehi-cle. The use of different size wheels canseriously damage your vehicle's transmis-sion.
1 Not on models equipped with the Tire sealing system.
07 Wheels and tires
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
07
203
The tire pressure monitoring system
1
uses
sensors mounted in the tire valves to check inflation pressure levels. When the vehicle ismoving at a speed of approximately 20 mph(30 km/h) or faster, these sensors transmitinflation pressure data to a receiver located inthe vehicle.
USA – FCC ID: MRXG403MA4 A
This device complies with part 15 of the
FCC rules. Operation is subject to the fol- lowing conditions: (1) This device may notcause harmful interference, and (2) thisdevice must accept any interferencereceived, including interference that maycause undesired operation. When low inflation pressure is detected, TPMS will light up the tire pressure warn-ing light (also referred to as a telltale) in theinstrument panel (see page 61), and willdisplay a message in the text window. Thewording of this message is determined bythe degree of inflation pressure loss.
A On certain models, the FCC code is MRXTG315AM04
When low inflation pressure is detected, TPMS will light up the tire pressure warning light
(also referred to as a telltale) in the instrument panel and will display one of the following messages in the text window:
LOW
TIRE PRESS. CHECK TIRES or VERY LOW
TIRE PRESSURE.
NOTE
If a fault occurs in TPMS, the tire pressure warning light will flash for approximately 1 minute and
TIRE PRESS SYST
SERVICE REQUIRED will be displayed.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly when cold andinflated to the inflation pressure recom-mended by the vehicle manufacturer on thevehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label.(If your vehicle has tires of a different sizethan the size indicated on the vehicle placardor tire inflation pressure label, you shoulddetermine the proper tire inflation pressure forthose tires.) As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire pressure monitor-ing system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tirepressure telltale when one or more of yourtires is significantly under-inflated. Accord-ingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illu-minates, you should stop and check yourtires as soon as possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantlyunder-inflated tire causes the tire to overheatand can lead to tire failure. Under-inflationalso reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life,and may affect the vehicle's handling andstopping ability. Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire maintenance, and it is the driv-er's responsibility to maintain correct tirepressure, even if under-inflation has notreached the level to trigger illumination of theTPMS low tire pressure telltale. Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate whenthe system is not operating properly. TheTPMS malfunction indicator is combined withthe low tire pressure telltale. When the sys-tem detects a malfunction, the telltale willflash for approximately one minute and thenremain continuously illuminated. Thissequence will continue upon subsequentvehicle start-ups as long as the malfunctionexists. When the malfunction indicator is illu-minated, the system may not be able todetect or signal low tire pressure as intended.TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety ofreasons, including the installation of replace-ment or alternate tires or wheels on the vehi-cle that prevent the TPMS from functioning
1
This system is standard on U.S. models and optional on Canadian models
08 Car care
Washing and cleaning the vehicle
08
208
Washing
•The vehicle should be washed at regular intervals since dirt, dust, insects and tarspots adhere to the paint and may causedamage. It is particularly important towash the vehicle frequently in the winter-time to prevent corrosion, when salt hasbeen used on the roads.
• When washing the vehicle, do not exposeit to direct sunlight. Use lukewarm waterto soften the dirt before you wash with asponge, and plenty of water, to avoidscratching.
• Bird droppings: Remove from paintworkas soon as possible. Otherwise the finishmay be permanently damaged.
• A detergent can be used to facilitate thesoftening of dirt and oil.
CAUTION
Chromed wheels
: Clean chrome-plated
wheels using the same detergents used for the body of the vehicle. Aggressive wheelcleaning agents can permanently stainchrome-plated wheels.
• Dry the vehicle with a clean chamois and remember to clean the drain holes in thedoors and rocker panels.
• Tar spots can be removed with tarremover after the vehicle has beenwashed.
• A stiff-bristle brush and lukewarm soapywater can be used to clean the wiperblades. Frequent cleaning of the wind-shield and wiper blades improves visibilityconsiderably and also helps prolong theservice life of the wiper blades.
• Wash off the dirt from the underside(wheel housings, fenders, etc.).
• In areas of high industrial fallout, morefrequent washing is recommended.
Suitable detergentsSpecial vehicle washing detergents should be used. A suitable mixture is about 2.5 fl. oz.(8.5 cl) of detergent to 2.6 US gal. (10 liters) ofwarm water. After washing with a detergentthe vehicle should be well rinsed with cleanwater.
CAUTION
•Avoid waxing or polishing plastic or rubber components
• Polishing chromed strips can wearaway or damage the surface
• Polishes containing abrasive sub-stances should not be used
CAUTION
•Dirt, snow, etc., on the headlights can reduce lighting capacity considerably.Clean the headlights regularly, forexample when refueling.
• During high pressure washing, thespray mouthpiece must never becloser to the vehicle than 13 " (30 cm).Do not spray into the locks.
Special moonroof cautions:
• Always close the moonroof and sunshade before washing your vehicle.
• Never use abrasive cleaning agents onthe moonroof.
• Never use wax on the rubber sealsaround the moonroof.
09 Maintenance and servicing
Maintaining your vehicle09
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217
Owner maintenance
Periodic maintenance requirements and inter- vals are described in your vehicle's Warrantyand Service Records Information booklet. The following points can be carried out between the normally scheduled maintenanceservices.
Each time the vehicle is refueled
•Check the engine oil level
• Clean the windshield, windshield wipers, headlights, and tail lights
Monthly
•Check cold tire pressure in all tires.Inspect the tires for wear.
• Check that engine coolant and other fluidlevels are between the indicated "
min"
and " max" markings.
• Clean interior glass surfaces with a glasscleaner and soft paper towels.
• Wipe driver information displays with asoft cloth.
• Visually inspect battery terminals for cor-rosion. Corrosion may indicate a looseterminal connector, or a battery near theend of its useful service life. Consult atrained and qualified Volvo service techni-cian for additional information.
As needed
•
Wash the vehicle, including the undercar-riage, to reduce wear that can be causedby a buildup of dirt, and corrosion thatcan be caused by salt residues.
• Clean leaves and twigs from air intakevents at the base of the windshield, andfrom other places where they may collect.
• Complete service information for qualifiedtechnicians is available online for pur-chase or subscription at www.volvote-chinfo.com.
Emission inspection readiness
What is an Onboard Diagnostic System
(OBD II)?
OBD II is part of your vehicle's computerized engine management system. It stores diag-nostic information about your vehicle's emis-sion controls. It can light the Check Enginelight (MIL) if it detects an emission control"fault." A "fault" is a component or systemthat is not performing within an expectedrange. A fault may be permanent or tempo-rary. OBD II will store a message about anyfault.
How do states use OBD II for emission
inspections?
Many states connect a computer directly to avehicle's OBD II system. The inspector can then read "faults." In some states, this type ofinspection has replaced the tailpipe emissiontest.
How can my vehicle fail OBD II emission
inspection?
Your vehicle can fail OBD II emission inspec-tion for any of the following reasons.
• If your Check Engine (MIL) light is lit, your vehicle may fail inspection.
• If your vehicle's Check Engine light waslit, but went out without any action onyour part, OBD II will still have a recordedfault. Your vehicle may pass or fail,depending on the inspection practices inyour area.
• If you had recent service that requireddisconnecting the battery, OBD II diag-nostic information may be incompleteand "not ready" for inspection. A vehiclethat is not ready may fail inspection.
How can I prepare for my next OBD II
emission inspection?
• If your Check Engine (MIL) light is lit – orwas lit but went out without service, haveyour vehicle diagnosed and, if necessary,serviced by a qualified Volvo technician.
• If you recently had service for a lit CheckEngine light, or if you had service thatrequired disconnecting the battery, aperiod of driving is necessary to bring the