
STARTING AND DRIVING
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Driving through standing water
The vehicle should be driven with extreme cau- tion if it is necessary to drive through standingwater.
The vehicle can be driven through water up to a depth approximately level with the floor at walk-ing speed to help prevent water from enteringthe differential and/or the transmission or dam-aging electrical components. • If possible, check the depth of the water before driving through it. Take particular carewhen driving through flowing water.
• Before driving through water, always select the
Off Road drive mode to ensure that the
gasoline engine is running and to maximize ground clearance.
• After driving through water, apply the brakesand check that they are functioning correctly.
• 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.
CAUTION
• Damage may occur to the engine, trans- mission, electrical components, etc. if thevehicle is driven through water higherthan its floor level. Be aware that wavescreated by other vehicles could cause thelevel to temporarily be above the vehicle'sfloor level.
• Damage to any components due to waterabove the floor level, vapor lock or insuffi-cient oil is not covered under warranty.
• If the engine has been stopped while thevehicle is in water, do not attempt torestart it. Have the vehicle towed out ofthe water and inspected by a trained andqualified Volvo service technician.
WARNING
• Avoid driving through standing or rushing water. Doing so can be dangerous and itmay also be difficult to determine theactual depth of the water.
• If water cannot be avoided, after drivingthrough the water, press lightly on thebrake pedal to ensure that the brakes arefunctioning normally. Water or mud canmake the brake linings slippery, resultingin delayed braking effect.
Related information
•
Towing recommendations (p. 360)
Overheating the engine and transmission
In demanding driving conditions, such as when transporting heavy loads, driving in mountainousareas or in very hot weather there is a risk ofoverheating the engine or transmission.
• The engine's output may be slightly limited if there is a risk of overheating.
• Remove e.g., auxiliary lights mounted in frontof the grille in hot weather.
• If the temperature of the engine coolantbecomes too high, the warning symbol will illuminate and the message
Engine
temperature/Stop safely will be displayed.
Stop the vehicle as soon as possible in a safe place and let the engine idle for severalminutes.
• If the message
Engine temperature/High
temperature Turn off engine or Engine
coolant/Stop safely is displayed, stop
safely and turn off the engine.
• If the transmission begins to overheat, an alternative gear shifting program will beselected. An integrated protective functionwill also by activated, the warning symbol will illuminate and the message
Transmission
warmHigh temperature Reduce speed
or Transmission warmStop safely, wait
for cooling will be displayed in the instru-
ment panel.

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STARTING AND DRIVING
364
Refueling from a service station pump
To refuel:
1. Open the fuel filler door. Do not refuel withthe engine running 1
2. Insert the pump's nozzle into the fuel filler pipe's opening as far as possible (see the
illustration).
3. Avoid overfilling the fuel tank. Do not press the handle on the filler nozzle after it has stopped pumping. Too much fuel in the tankin hot weather conditions can cause the fuelto overflow. Overfilling could also cause dam-age to the emission control systems.
CAUTION
Avoid spilling gasoline during refueling. In addition to causing damage to the environ-ment, gasolines containing alcohol can causedamage to painted surfaces, which may notbe covered under the New Vehicle LimitedWarranty.
Related information
• Fuel (p. 361)
• Octane rating (p. 362)
Emission controls
Three-way catalytic converter
•Keep your engine properly tuned. Certain engine malfunctions, particularly involving theelectrical, fuel or distributor ignition systems,may cause unusually high three-way catalyticconverter temperatures. Do not continue tooperate your vehicle if you detect enginemisfire, noticeable loss of power or otherunusual operating conditions, such as engineoverheating or backfiring. A properly tunedengine will help avoid malfunctions thatcould damage the three-way catalytic con-verter.
• Do not park your vehicle over combustiblematerials, such as grass or leaves, which cancome into contact with the hot exhaust sys-tem and cause such materials to ignite undercertain wind and weather conditions.
• Excessive starter cranking (in excess of oneminute), or an intermittently firing or floodedengine can cause three-way catalytic con-verter or exhaust system overheating.
• Remember that tampering or unauthorizedmodifications to the engine, the Engine Con-trol Module, or the vehicle may be illegal andcan cause three-way catalytic converter orexhaust system overheating. This includes:altering fuel injection settings or compo-nents, altering emission system components
1
If the engine is running when the vehicle is refueled, the Check Engine Light (malfunction indicator lamp) may indicate a fault. However, your vehicle's performance will not be affected.

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Battery drain Your vehicle's electrical functions drain the bat- tery to varying extents.
Avoid using ignition mode II as much as posssi-
ble, or electrical functions that require a great deal of electrical current when the engine is notrunning. Using ignition mode I whenever possible con-
sumes less electrical current. Functions that require a great deal of electrical current include:
• the climate system blower
• headlights
• wipers
• infotainment system (especially at high vol- ume).
If the battery's charge level is low, a text message will appear in the instrument panel. The vehicle'senergy-saving function will then turn off orreduce certain functions that are currently con-suming electrical current. If the battery needs to be recharged, start the engine and let it idle for at least 15 minutes ordrive the vehicle (driving charges the batteryfaster than letting the engine idle).
Related information
• Ignition modes (p. 370)
Starting the engine
The engine can be started using the start knob on the tunnel console if there is a remote key inthe passenger compartment.
Start knob in the tunnel console between the front seats
WARNING
Before starting the engine:
• Fasten the seat belt.
• Check that the seat, steering wheel and mirrors are adjusted properly.
• Make sure the brake pedal can bedepressed completely. Adjust the seat ifnecessary. To start the engine.
1. A remote key must be in the passenger com-
partment. On models with the standard Passive Start, the key has to be in the frontsection of the passenger compartment. If thevehicle is equipped the optional PassiveEntry system (keyless locking/unlocking) thekey can be anywhere in the vehicle.
2. Press firmly on the brake pedal 2
.
3. Turn the start knob toward START and
release it to start the engine.
> The starter motor will crank until the engine starts or its overheating protection is triggered.
2If the vehicle is moving, it is only necessary to turn the start knob toward START to start the engine.

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CAUTION
•When starting in cold weather, the auto- matic transmission may shift up at slightlyhigher engine speeds than normal untilthe automatic transmission fluid reachesnormal operating temperature.
• Do not race a cold engine immediatelyafter starting. Oil flow may not reachsome lubrication points fast enough toprevent engine damage.
• The engine should be idling when youmove the gear selector. Never accelerateuntil after you feel the transmissionengage. Accelerating immediately afterselecting a gear will cause harsh engage-ment and premature transmission wear.
• Selecting
P or N when idling at a stand-
still for prolonged periods of time will helpprevent overheating of the automatictransmission fluid.
Related information
• Ignition modes (p. 370)
• Turning the engine off (p. 374)
• Changing the remote key's battery (p. 232)
• Jump starting (p. 365)
Turning the engine off
The engine can be turned off using the start knob on the tunnel console.
Start knob in the tunnel console between the front seats
To turn off the engine:
–Turn the start knob toward STOP and
release it to switch the engine off.
If the gear selector is in P or if the vehicle is mov-
ing:
–Hold the knob in the STOP position until the
engine stops.
Related information
• Starting the engine (p. 372)
• Ignition modes (p. 370)
Driving systems
The XC90 T8 Twin Engine Plug-in Hybrid is a parallel hybrid, which means that it has two sep-arate drive systems: an electric motor and a gas-oline engine. Depending on the drive modeselected and the amount of electric power avail-able in the hybrid battery, the two systems canbe used in tandem or separately.
Two drive systemsA control system coordinates both of the drive systems to help optimize driving economy.
Hybrid battery
Gasoline engine
High voltage generator 3
Electric motor
3
Combined generator and starter motor (Crank Integrated Starter Generator).

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Preparations for charging the hybrid batterySeveral preparatory steps should be taken before starting to charge the hybrid battery.WARNING
• The charging cable must be grounded when in use. It is equipped with a cordwith a grounding conductor and agrounding plug. The plug must beinserted into an appropriate outlet that isproperly installed and grounded inaccordance with all local codes and ordi-nances and is not damaged in any way
• Children should be supervised when inthe vicinity of the charging cable when itis plugged in
• High voltage is present in your electricmeter housing and power distributionservice panel. Contact with high voltagecan cause death or serious personalinjury
• Do not use the charging cable if it isdamaged in any way
• Always position the charging cable sothat it will not be driven over, stepped on,tripped over or otherwise damaged, orcause personal injury
• Disconnect the charger from the wall out-let before cleaning it
• Never connect the charging cable to anextension cord or a multiple plug socket
• If the hybrid battery needs to be replaced, this may only be done by Volvo retailer orauthorized Volvo workshop
Also, refer to the manufacturer's instructions for using the charging cable and its compo-nents.
Prior to chargingThe charging cable and any of its components should not be wet or submerged in any liquid. The charge module or its plug should not be exposed to direct sunlight. This could cause theunit's overheating protector to reduce or stop thehybrid battery charging process. Be sure the 120-/240-volt socket used has ade- quate current for charging electrically poweredvehicles. Have the socket checked by an licensedelectrician if you are uncertain.
Opening/closing the charger door

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4. The charging cable's coupler will lock onto
the charging socket and charging will begin within approx. 10 seconds. The approximateremaining charging time and charging statuswill be displayed in the instrument panel. Seealso the article "Hybrid battery charge sta-tus." Charging will be temporarily interrupted if the vehicle is unlocked: •If a door is opened, charging will restart within 2 minutes.
• if no door is opened, the vehicle will auto-matically relock and charging will restartafter 1 minute.
NOTE
Charging status is shown in the instrument panel, which goes dark after a period of time.Reactivate the instrument panel by: •pressing the brake pedal
• opening one of the doors
• putting the ignition in mode
I ( without
pressing the brake pedal , turn the start
knob to START and release it).
CAUTION
Never disconnect the charging cable from the 120-/240-volt socket while charging is inprogress. This could damage the socket. Always stop the charging process (by unlock- ing the vehicle) and disconnect the chargingcable from the vehicle's charging socket before disconnecting the other end from the
120-/240-volt socket being used.
During the charging process, condensation may form under the vehicle, which is normal and iscaused by cooling the hybrid battery.
Related information
• Hybrid battery charge status (p. 385)
• Charging the hybrid battery (p. 383)
• Hybrid battery charging cable (p. 375)
• Stopping hybrid battery charging (p. 381)
Charging the hybrid battery In addition to the conventional fuel tank, the XC90 T8 Twin Engine Plug-in Hybrid is alsoequipped with a rechargeable lithium-ion hybridbattery.
The hybrid battery is recharged using a charging cable located in a storage compartment underthe floor of the cargo area. See also the article"Charging cable."
WARNING
The hybrid electrical system in your vehicle uses high voltage electrical current. Any dam-age to this system or to the hybrid batterymay result in the danger of overheating, fire,or serious injury. If the vehicle is involved in acollision or is subjected to flooding, fires, etc.,have it inspected by a trained and qualifiedVolvo service technician. Prior to this inspec-tion, the vehicle should be parked outdoors ata safe distance from any building or poten-tially flammable materials.
The hybrid battery's charging time depends on the charging current used.

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Available drive modes
HYBRID
This is the default mode. The vehicle normally starts in
Hybrid mode 4
. The
engine management system uses both the elec- tric motor and gasoline engine (separately or intandem) and calculates the optimal levels of per-formance, fuel consumption and comfort. Athigher speeds, ground clearance is reducedautomatically to help reduce wind resistance. The amount of driving done using only the elec- tric motor in
Hybrid mode is determined by the
hybrid battery's charge level and the need for heating/cooling in the passenger compartment. If sufficient electrical energy is available, only the electric motor will be activated when the driverpresses the accelerator pedal up to a certainlevel. Above this level, the gasoline engine willstart.The instrument panel gauge when both the electric motor and gasoline engine are being used
The long needle in the gauge indicates the amount of energy that the vehicle is currentlyusing. The short white line between the "light-ning" and "oil drop" symbols indicates theamount of energy available. See also the article"General information about the XC90 T8 TwinEngine Plug-in Hybrid" for additional information. The gasoline engine starts when the response required when the driver presses the acceleratorpedal cannot be provided by the electric motoralone. The gauge also indicates when the battery is being recharged (regenerated) during light brak-ing. See the article "Brakes" for additional infor-mation. When the hybrid battery's charge level is low, thegasoline engine will start more often to help con-serve electrical energy. Charge the battery withthe charging cable as soon as possible or switch to the
Save drive mode.
PURE
This mode activates the electric motor only with as low energy consumption as possible and thelowest possible carbon dioxide emissions. Ground clearance will be lowered to help reduce wind resistance and certain climate system func-tions will be reduced.
Pure mode is available when the hybrid battery is
sufficiently charged. If the level gets too low, the gasoline engine will start. The gasoline engine will also start: • If the vehicle's speed goes above approx. 75 mph (125 km/h)
• If the driver wants more response than theelectric motor alone can provide
• If factors such as cold weather, etc., affectthe system or components
To restart the climate system functions that have been reduced in the mode, press the,
AUTO or
defroster buttons.
4 Unless the vehicle was switched off in Off Road mode. If so, it will restart in Off Road mode.

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WHEELS AND TIRES
450
WARNING
•Exceeding the permissible axle weight, gross vehicle weight, or any other weightrating limits can cause tire overheatingresulting in permanent deformation orcatastrophic failure.
• Do not use replacement tires with lowerload carrying capacities than the tires thatwere original equipment on the vehiclebecause this will lower the vehicle's GVWrating. Use only tires with the correct loadcarrying capacity. Consult your Volvoretailer for information.
Related information
• Label information (p. 520)
• Weights (p. 525)
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
ALL PASSENGER VEHICLE TIRES MUST CONFORM TO FEDERAL SAFETY REQUIRE-MENTS IN ADDITION TO THESE GRADES .
Quality grades can be found, where applica- ble, on the tire sidewall between the treadshoulder and maximum section width. Forexample: Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
TREADWEARThe treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire when testedunder controlled conditions on a specified gov-ernment test course. For example, a tire graded150 would wear one and one half (1 ½) times aswell on the government course as a tire graded100. The relative performance of tires dependsupon the actual conditions of their use, however,and many depart significantly from the norm dueto variation in driving habits, maintenance practi-ces and differences in road characteristics andclimate.
TRACTIONThe traction grades, from highest to lowest, areAA, A, B, and C, as measured under controlledconditions on specified government test surfacesof asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C mayhave poor traction performance. The tractiongrade assigned to this tire is based on braking (straight-ahead) traction tests and is not a meas-ure of cornering (turning) traction.
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking (straight-ahead) tractiontests and is not a measure of cornering (turn-ing) traction.
TEMPERATUREThe temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the tire's resistance to thegeneration of heat and its ability to dissipate heatwhen tested under controlled conditions on aspecified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustainedhigh temperature can cause the material of thetire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and exces-sive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.The grade C corresponds to a minimum level ofperformance that all passenger vehicle tires mustmeet under the Federal Motor Safety StandardNo. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levelsof performance on the laboratory test wheel thanthe minimum required by law.
WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is estab- lished for a tire that is properly inflated andnot overloaded. Excessive speed, under-infla-tion, or excessive loading, either separately orin combination, can cause heat buildup andtire failure.