01 Introduction
01
22
Volvo and the environment
Volvo is committed to the well being of its customers. As a natural part of this commit-ment, we care about the environment inwhich we all live. Concern for the environmentmeans an everyday involvement in reducingour environmental impact. Volvo's environmental activities are based on a holistic view, which means we consider theoverall environmental impact of a productthroughout its complete life cycle. In this con-text, design, production, product use, andrecycling are all important considerations. Inproduction, Volvo has partly or completelyphased out several chemicals includingCFCs, lead chromates, asbestos, and cad-mium; and reduced the number of chemicalsused in our plants 50% since 1991. Volvo was the first in the world to introduce into production a three-way catalytic con-verter with a Lambda sond, now called theheated oxygen sensor, in 1976. The currentversion of this highly efficient system reducesemissions of harmful substances (CO, HC,NOx) from the exhaust pipe by approximately95 – 99% and the search to eliminate theremaining emissions continues. Volvo is theonly automobile manufacturer to offer CFC-free retrofit kits for the air conditioning systemof all models as far back as the 1975model 240. Advanced electronic engine con-trols and cleaner fuels are bringing us closerto our goal. In addition to continuous environ-mental refinement of conventional gasoline-powered internal combustion engines, Volvois actively looking at advanced technologyalternative-fuel vehicles. When you drive a Volvo, you become our partner in the work to lessen the car's impacton the environment. To reduce your vehicle'senvironmental impact, you can: •
Maintain proper air pressure in your tires. Tests have shown decreased fuel econ-omy with improperly inflated tires.
• Follow the recommended maintenanceschedule in your Warranty and ServiceRecords Information booklet.
• Drive at a constant speed whenever pos-sible.
• See a trained and qualified Volvo servicetechnician as soon as possible forinspection if the check engine (malfunc-tion indicator) light illuminates, or stayson after the vehicle has started.
• Properly dispose of any vehicle-relatedwaste such as used motor oil, used bat-teries, brake pads, etc.
• When cleaning your vehicle, please usegenuine Volvo car care products. AllVolvo car care products are formulated tobe environmentally friendly.
FSC®
The FSC ®
(Forest Stewardship Council ®
)
symbol indicates that the wood pulp used in this publication comes from FSC ®
certified
forests and other responsible sources.
Related information
• Economical driving (p. 265)
• Tires – tire economy (p. 275)
08 Starting and driving
08
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* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.251
Brake pad inspectionOn vehicles equipped with a jack*, the condi- tion of the brake pads can be checked byraising the vehicle (see Changing a wheel –removing wheel (p. 276) for informationabout using the jack and removing a wheel)and performing a visual inspection of thebrake pads.
WARNING
• If the vehicle has been driven immedi- ately prior to a brake pad inspection,the wheel hub, brake components,etc., will be very hot. Allow time forthese components to cool before car-rying out the inspection.
• Apply the parking brake and put thegear selector in the Park (
P) position.
• Block the wheels standing on theground, use rigid wooden blocks orlarge stones.
WARNING
•Use the jack intended for the vehicle when changing a tire. For any otherjob, use stands to support the vehicle.
• The jack should be kept well-greasedand clean, and should not be dam-aged.
• Be sure the jack is on a firm, level,non-slippery surface.
• No objects should be placed betweenthe base of jack and the ground, orbetween the jack and the attachmentbar on the vehicle.
• The jack must correctly engage thejack attachment.
• Never allow any part of your body tobe extended under a vehicle suppor-ted by a jack.
Power brakes function only when the engine is running
The power brakes utilize vacuum pressure which is only created when the engine is run-ning. Never let the vehicle roll to a stop withthe engine switched off. If the power brakes are not working, consid- erably higher pressure will be required on thebrake pedal to compensate for the lack ofpower assistance. This can happen for exam-ple when towing your vehicle or if the engineis switched off when the vehicle is rolling. Thebrake pedal feels harder than usual.
Water on brake discs and brake pads affects braking
Driving in rain and slush or passing through an automatic car wash can cause water tocollect on the brake discs and pads. This willcause a delay in braking effect when thepedal is depressed. To avoid such a delaywhen the brakes are needed, depress thepedal occasionally when driving through rain,slush, etc. This will remove the water from thebrakes. Check that brake application feelsnormal. This should also be done after wash-ing or starting in very damp or cold weather.
Severe strain on the brake systemThe brakes will be subject to severe strainwhen driving in mountains or hilly areas, orwhen towing a trailer. Vehicle speed is usuallyslower, which means that the cooling of thebrakes is less efficient than when driving onlevel roads. To reduce the strain on thebrakes, shift into a lower gear and let theengine help with the braking. Do not forgetthat if you are towing a trailer, the brakes willbe subjected to a greater than normal load.
Cleaning the brake discsCoatings of dirt and water on the brake discsmay result in delayed brake function. Thisdelay is minimized by cleaning the brake lin-ings. Cleaning the brake pads is advisable in wet weather, prior to long-term parking, and afterthe vehicle has been washed. Do this by
