2014 VOLVO XC90 warning

06 Starting and driving
Fuel requirements
06
140
WARNING
Driving with the tailgate open: Driving
with the tailgate open could lead to poi- sonous exhaust gases entering the pas-senger compartment.
• If the tailgate must be kept open for any reason, proceed as follows:
• Close the windows
• Set the ventilation system control to airflow to floor, windshield and side win-dows and blower control to its highestsetting.
Gasoline containing alcohol and ethers, "Oxygenated fuels"
Some fuel suppliers sell gasoline containing "oxygenates" which are usually alcohols orethers. In some areas, state or local lawsrequire that the service pump be marked indi-cating use of alcohols or ethers. However,there are areas in which the pumps areunmarked. If you are not sure whether there isalcohol or ethers in the gasoline you buy,check with the service station operator. Tomeet seasonal air quality standards, someareas require the use of "oxygenated" fuel. Volvo allows the use of the following "oxy- genated" fuels; however, the octane ratingslisted on page 139 must still be met.
Alcohol – EthanolFuels containing up to 10% ethanol by vol- ume may be used. Ethanol may also be refer-red to as Ethyl alcohol, or "Gasohol". Ethers – MTBE: Fuels containing up to 15% MTBE may be used.
MethanolDo not use gasolines containing methanol(methyl alcohol, wood alcohol). This practicecan result in vehicle performance deteriora-tion and can damage critical parts in the fuelsystem. Such damage may not be coveredunder the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Weight distribution affects handlingAt the specified curb weight your vehicle hasa tendency to understeer, which means thatthe steering wheel has to be turned morethan might seem appropriate for the curva-ture of a bend. This ensures good stability and reduces the risk of rear wheel skid. Remember that theseproperties can alter with the vehicle load. The heavier the load in the cargo area, the less the tendency to understeer.
Handling, roadholdingVehicle load, tire design and inflation pres-sure all affect vehicle handling. Therefore,check that the tires are inflated to the recom- mended pressure according to the vehicleload. See "Tire pressure" section. Loads should be distributed so that capacity weight or maximum permissible axle loadsare not exceeded.
Conserving electrical currentKeep the following in mind to help minimizebattery drain:
• When the engine is not running, avoid turning the ignition key to position
II (see
page 145). Many electrical systems (theaudio system, the optional infotainment/navigation systems, power windows, etc)will function with the ignition key in posi-tion I. This position reduces drain on the
battery.
• Please keep in mind that using systems,accessories, etc that consume a greatdeal of current when the engine is notrunning could result in the battery beingcompletely drained. Driving or having theengine running for approximately15 minutes will help keep the batterycharged.
NOTE
A warning message will be displayed in the text window in the instrument panel whenthe battery charge is low.

06 Starting and driving
Refueling
06
141
Fuel filler door
G027073
The fuel filler cap can be placed on the hook on the fuel filler door while refuelingPress the button on the light switch panel (see the illustration on page 67) when thevehicle is at a standstill to unlock the fuel fillerdoor. Please note that the fuel filler door willremain unlocked until the vehicle begins tomove forward. An audible click will be heardwhen the fuel filler door relocks. If you intend to leave your vehicle while it is being refueled, this feature enables you tolock the doors/tailgate while leaving the fuelfiller door unlocked. You can also keep the vehicle locked if youremain inside it during refueling. The centrallocking button does not lock the fuel fillerdoor. Be sure the fuel filler door is notobstructed and is completely closed afterrefueling. Open the fuel filler cap slowly during hot weather.
NOTE
During a transitional period, a small num- ber of service stations may still have fuelnozzles that are not compatible with thefuel filler neck on vehicles equipped withthe evaporative control system.
RefuelingThe fuel tank is designed to accommodate possible expansion of the fuel in hot weather.See page 288 for fuel tank volume. Be awarethat the "usable" tank capacity will be some-what less than the specified maximum. Whenthe fuel level is low, such factors as ambienttemperature, the fuel's "Reid vapor pressure"characteristics, and terrain can affect the fuelpump's ability to supply the engine with anadequate supply of fuel. Therefore, it is advis-able to refuel as soon as possible when the
needle nears the red zone, or when the fuelwarning light comes on.
WARNING
Never carry a cell phone that is switched on while refueling your vehicle. If thephone rings, this may cause a spark thatcould ignite gasoline fumes, resulting infire and injury.

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
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
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
Jump starting
06
152
G030860
Follow these instructions to jump start your vehicle's dead battery or to jump startanother vehicle's dead battery using yourvehicle. Although your vehicle's battery islocated under the floor of the cargo area,jumper cables should be connected in theengine compartment, to the points shown in
the illustrations. If the 12-volt auxiliary battery to be used is in another vehicle, check that the vehicles arenot touching to prevent premature comple-tion of a circuit. Be sure to follow jump star-ting instructions provided for the other vehi-cle.
To jump start your vehicle:1. Switch off the ignition.
2. First connect the auxiliary battery positive (+) terminal (1) to the positive (+) terminal in your vehicle's engine compartment (2),located under a small black plastic coverattached to the fuse box cover, markedwith a "+" sign. Remove the cover on themain fuse box if necessary to access thisterminal. Then connect the auxiliary bat-tery's negative (–) terminal (3) to theground point in your vehicle's enginecompartment (4).
3. Start the engine in the assisting vehicle, then start the engine in the vehicle withdead battery.
4. After the engine has started, first remove the negative (–) terminal jumper cable.Then remove the positive (+) terminaljumper cable.
WARNING
PROPOSITION 65 WARNING! Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories contain lead and lead com-pounds, chemicals known to the state ofCalifornia to cause cancer and reproduc-tive harm. Wash hands after handling.
WARNING
•Do not connect the jumper cable to any part of the fuel system or to anymoving parts. Avoid touching hotmanifolds.
• Never expose the battery to openflame or electric spark.
• Do not smoke near the battery.
• Batteries generate hydrogen gas,which is flammable and explosive.
• Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Donot allow battery fluid to contact eyes,skin, fabrics or painted surfaces. Ifcontact occurs, flush the affected areaimmediately with water. Obtain medi-cal help immediately if eyes are affec-ted.
• Failure to follow the instructions forjump starting can lead to personalinjury.