01 Safety
Integrated booster cushion* 01
54* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
Stowing the two-stage integrated booster cushion
The booster cushion can be folded down completely (stowed) from either the stage 1 orstage 2 positions.
NOTE
The booster cushion cannot be moved from the stage 2 (upper) position to thestage 1 (lower) position. It must first befolded down completely to the stowedposition, and then adjusted to stage 1.
Pull the handle forward to release the booster cushion.
Press down on the center of the booster cushion to return it to the stowed posi-tion.
NOTE
The booster cushion must be in the stowed position before the rear seat back-rests are folded down.
CAUTION
Be sure there are no loose objects under the booster cushion before it is stowed.
WARNING
DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY can occur Follow all instructions on the booster cushion and in the vehi-cle's owner's manual. MAKE SURE THE BOOSTER CUSHION IS SECURELYLOCKED BEFORE THE CHILD ISSEATED. • Use this booster cushion only with children whose height and weight arewithin the permitted limits shown inthe table (see page 52).
• In the event of a collision while theintegrated booster cushion was occu-pied, the entire booster cushion andseat belt must be replaced. Thebooster cushion should also bereplaced if it is badly worn or damagedin any way. This work should be per-formed by a trained and qualifiedVolvo service technician only.
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Driving recommendations
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General information
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 the following 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 Drive (
D) position
as often as possible and avoid using kick-down.
• Using the engine's optional Eco function 1
can help improve fuel economy. Seepage 135 for additional information. •
Using the transmission's Sport mode 2
may increase fuel consumption some-what. Use the transmission's Drive ( D)
position as often as possible. See page130 for additional information about Sportmode.
• 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 maintenanceintervals.
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 mustbe kept open for any reason, proceed asfollows: • Close the windows
• Set the ventilation system control to air flow to floor, windshield and side win-dows and the blower control to itshighest setting.
Weight distribution affects handlingAt the specified curb weight your vehicle has a 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 stabilityand reduces the risk of rear wheel skid.
1
Available on certain 4-cyl. engines
2 Models with the T6 turbo engine only.
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Remember that these properties can alter with the vehicle load. The heavier the load inthe cargo area, the less the tendency toundersteer.
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 the "Tire pressure" section. Loadsshould be distributed so that capacity weightor maximum permissible axle loads are notexceeded.
Driving through water
•
The vehicle can be driven through water up to a depth of approximately 10 in.(25 cm), at a maximum speed of 6 mph(10 km/h).
• Take particular care when driving throughflowing water.
• Clean the electrical connections for trailerwiring after driving in mud or water.
• When driving through water, maintain lowspeed 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.
CAUTION
• Engine damage will occur if water is drawn into the air cleaner.
• If the vehicle is driven through waterdeeper than 10 in (25 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 vehicle is in water, do not attemptto restart it. Have the vehicle towedout of the water.
Engine and cooling systemUnder special conditions, for example when driving in hilly terrain, extreme heat or withheavy loads, there is a risk that the engineand cooling system will overheat. Proceed asfollows to avoid overheating the engine. •
Maintain a low speed when driving with a trailer up long, steep hills.
• Do not turn the engine off immediatelywhen stopping after a hard drive.
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* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.291
Introduction
The load carrying capacity of your vehicle is determined by factors such as the number ofpassengers, the amount of cargo, the weightof any accessories that may be installed, etc. To increase loading space, the rear seat backrests can be folded down, see page 94. When loading the cargo area, keep the fol- lowing in mind:
• Load objects in the cargo area against the backrest whenever possible.
• Unstable loads can be secured to theload anchoring eyelets with straps or weblashings to help keep them from shifting.
• Stop the engine and apply the parkingbrake when loading or unloading longobjects. The gear selector can beknocked out of position by long loads,which could set the vehicle in motion.WARNING
•Stop the engine, put the gear selector in
P, and apply the parking brake
when loading or unloading longobjects.
• The vehicle's driving characteristicsmay change depending on the weightand distribution of the load.
• A 44-pound (20 kg) object produces aforce of 2,200 pounds (1,000 kg) in ahead-on collision at 30 mph (50 km/h).
• The cargo area and rear seat shouldnot be loaded to a level higher than2 in. (5 cm) below the upper edge ofthe rear side windows. Objects placedhigher than this level could impede thefunction of the Inflatable Curtain.
Power tailgate*
G031965
Power tailgate closing button
Automatic openingThe power tailgate can be opened automati- cally in the three ways:
• By pressing and holding the
but-
ton on the lighting panel until the tailgate begins to open.
• By pressing and holding the
but-
ton on the remote key until the tailgate begins to open.
• By pressing the rubber-covered buttonunder the outer handle on the tailgate.
The taillights illuminate automatically when the automatic open function is used.
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CAUTION
Be sure that there is adequate space above and behind the vehicle before open-ing the tailgate automatically. The vehicle should not be driven or moved with the tailgate in the open position. How-ever, if the vehicle is moved with the tail-gate in the open position, the automaticclosing function will be inoperative untilone of the following occurs:• The tailgate is closed manually
• The ignition is switched off and the key is removed for approximately 10minutes (the tailgate will function againafter restart).
NOTE
If the tailgate has been opened and closed continuously for more than 60 seconds,the automatic function will be deactivatedto avoid overloading the electrical system.The automatic function can be used againafter approximately 10 minutes. If the vehicle's battery has been dis- charged or disconnected, the tailgate mustbe opened and closed once manually toreset the system.
Programming the tailgate opening angle
The tailgate's maximum opening angle can be programmed, which can be useful, forexample, if the tailgate has to be opened in agarage with a low ceiling. To do so:
• Open the tailgate manually, hold it at the desired maximum opening angle andpress the tailgate's closing button for atleast 3 seconds. When the tailgate isreleased, programming is complete.
• To remove this programming, open thetailgate manually to a higher openingangle.
Automatic closingThe power tailgate can be closed by pressing the
button on the tailgate (see the
illustration) or by pressing it down.
NOTE
If the tailgate is pressed down e.g., by the weight of snow or strong wind, it will closeautomatically.
WARNING
Be sure that no one is near the tailgate when it is opened or closed automatically.The tailgate should never be obstructed inany way when it is operated.
Interrupting automatic opening/closingAutomatic opening or closing the tailgate can be interrupted in four ways:
• By pressing the
button on the
lighting panel.
• By pressing the
button on the
remote key.
• By pressing the button on the lower edge of the tailgate.
• By pressing the rubber-covered buttonunder the outer handle on the tailgate.
If one of these actions is taken, the tailgate will stop and reopen.
Pinch protectionIf the tailgate is obstructed while it is being operated, the pinch protection function isactivated.
• If the tailgate is being
opened, the electri-
cal function will be switched off and the
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Roof loads
Using load carriersLoad carriers are available as Volvo accesso- ries. Observe the following points when inuse:
• To avoid damaging your vehicle and to achieve maximum safety when driving,we recommend using the load carriersthat Volvo has developed especially foryour vehicle.
• Volvo-approved removable roof racks aredesigned to carry the maximum allowableroof load for this vehicle: 220 lbs (100 kg).For non-Volvo roof racks, check the man-ufacturer's weight limits for the rack.
• Never exceed the rack manufacturer'sweigh limits and never exceed the maxi-mum rated roof load of 220 lbs (100 kg).
• Avoid single-point loads. Distribute loadsevenly.
• Place heavier cargo at the bottom of theload.
• Secure the cargo correctly with appropri-ate tie-down equipment.
• Check periodically that the load carriersand load are properly secured.
• Remember that the vehicle's center ofgravity and handling change when youcarry a load on the roof. •
The vehicle's wind resistance and fuelconsumption will increase with the size ofthe load.
• Drive smoothly. Avoid rapid starts, fastcornering and hard braking.
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Towing a trailer
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Introduction
Volvo recommends the use of Volvo trailer hitches that are specially designed for thevehicle.
NOTE
See page 383 for the maximum trailer and tongue weights recommended by Volvo.
•Observe the legal requirements of the state/province in which the vehicles are
• All Volvo models are equipped withenergy-absorbing shock-mounted bump-ers. Trailer hitch installation should notinterfere with the proper operation of thisbumper system.
Trailer towing does not normally present any particular problems, but take into considera-tion: • Increase tire pressure to recommended full pressure. See the tire inflation tableon page 312.
• When your vehicle is new, avoid towingheavy trailers during the first 620 miles(1,000 km).
• Maximum speed when towing a trailer:50 mph (80 km/h).
• Engine and transmission are subject toincreased loads. Therefore, engine cool-ant temperature should be closely watched 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.
• Avoid overload and other abusive opera-tion.
• 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.
• More frequent vehicle maintenance isrequired.
• Remove the ball holder when the hitch isnot being used.
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 your nearest author-ized Volvo retailer for correct installa-tion.
• 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.
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NOTE
•When parking the vehicle with a trailer on a hill, apply the parking brakebefore putting the gear selector in
P.
Always follow the trailer manufactur-er's recommendations for wheelchocking.
• When starting on a hill, put the gearselector in
D before releasing the park-
ing brake.
• 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).
• The drawbar assembly/trailer hitchmay be rated for trailers heavier thanthe vehicle is designed to tow. Pleaseadhere to Volvo's recommended trailerweights.
• Avoid driving with a trailer on inclinesof more than 15%.
Trailer cableAn adapter is required if the vehicle's trailer hitch has a 13-pin connector and the trailerhas 7 pins. Use an adapter cable approvedby Volvo. Make sure the cable does not dragon the ground.
Detachable trailer hitch (accessory) 1
A
C
EDBG010496
Ball holder
Locking bolt
Cotter pin
Hitch assembly
Safety wire attachment
Installing the ball holder1. If necessary, remove the cotter pin from
the 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.
NOTE
A cover for the hitch assembly is also included in the kit.
Trailer Stability Assist (TSA)
Trailer Stability Assist is a system designed to help stabilize a vehicle that is towing a trailerwhen the vehicle and trailer have begun tosway and is part of the Dynamic Stability andTraction Control system (DSTC). See page150 for information on DSTC.
1Check with your retailer for availability of the Volvo accessory trailer hitch