INTRODUCTION
21
Volvo and the environment Volvo is committed to the well being of its cus- tomers. As a natural part of this commitment, wecare about the environment in which we all live.Concern for the environment means an everydayinvolvement in reducing our environmentalimpact.
Volvo's environmental activities are based on a holistic view, which means we consider the over-all environmental impact of a product throughoutits complete life cycle. In this context, design, pro-duction, product use, and recycling are all impor-tant considerations. In production, Volvo haspartly or completely phased out several chemicalsincluding CFCs, lead chromates, asbestos, andcadmium; 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 converter with aLambda sond, now called the heated oxygen sen-sor, in 1976. The current version of this highlyefficient system reduces emissions of harmfulsubstances (CO, HC, NOx) from the exhaust pipeby approximately 95 – 99% and the search toeliminate the remaining emissions continues.Volvo is the only automobile manufacturer tooffer CFC-free retrofit kits for the air conditioningsystem of all models as far back as the 1975model 240. Advanced electronic engine controlsand cleaner fuels are bringing us closer to ourgoal. In addition to continuous environmentalrefinement of conventional gasoline-poweredinternal combustion engines, Volvo is activelylooking at advanced technology alternative-fuelvehicles. When you drive a Volvo, you become our partner in the work to lessen the car's impact on theenvironment. To reduce your vehicle's environ-mental impact, you can:
• Maintain proper air pressure in your tires.Tests have shown decreased fuel economywith improperly inflated tires.
• Follow the recommended maintenanceschedule in your Warranty and ServiceRecords Information booklet.
• Drive at a constant speed whenever possible.
• See a trained and qualified Volvo servicetechnician as soon as possible for inspectionif the check engine (malfunction indicator)light illuminates, or stays on after the vehiclehas started.
• Properly dispose of any vehicle-related wastesuch as used motor oil, used batteries, brakepads, etc.
• When cleaning your vehicle, please use gen-uine Volvo car care products. All Volvo carcare products are formulated to be environ-mentally friendly.
FSC ®
The FSC
®
(Forest Stewardship Council ®
) symbol
indicates that the wood pulp used in this publica- tion comes from FSC ®
certified forests and other
responsible sources.
Related information
• Economical driving (p. 284)
• Tires – tire economy (p. 294)
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STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
270
Brake pad inspection
On vehicles equipped with a jack *, the condition
of the brake pads can be checked by raising the vehicle (see Changing a wheel – removing wheel(p. 295) for information about using the jack andremoving a wheel) and performing a visualinspection of the brake pads.
WARNING
• If the vehicle has been driven immediately prior to a brake pad inspection, the wheelhub, brake components, etc., will be veryhot. Allow time for these components tocool before carrying out the inspection.
• Apply the parking brake and put the gear selector in the Park (
P) position.
• Block the wheels standing on the ground, use rigid wooden blocks or large stones.
WARNING
• Use the jack intended for the vehicle when changing a tire. For any other job,use stands to support the vehicle.
• The jack should be kept well-greased andclean, and should not be damaged.
• Be sure the jack is on a firm, level, non-slippery surface.
• No objects should be placed between thebase of jack and the ground, or betweenthe jack and the attachment bar on thevehicle.
• The jack must correctly engage the jackattachment.
• Never allow any part of your body to beextended under a vehicle supported by ajack.
Power brakes function only when the engine is running
The power brakes utilize vacuum pressure which is only created when the engine is running. Neverlet the vehicle roll to a stop with the engineswitched off. If the power brakes are not working, considerably higher pressure will be required on the brakepedal to compensate for the lack of power assis-tance. This can happen for example when towingyour vehicle or if the engine is switched off whenthe vehicle is rolling. The brake pedal feels harderthan 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 to collect onthe brake discs and pads. This will cause a delayin braking effect when the pedal is depressed. Toavoid such a delay when the brakes are needed,depress the pedal occasionally when drivingthrough rain, slush, etc. This will remove the waterfrom the brakes. Check that brake applicationfeels normal. This should also be done afterwashing or starting in very damp or cold weather.
Severe strain on the brake systemThe brakes will be subject to severe strain whendriving in mountains or hilly areas, or when towinga trailer. Vehicle speed is usually slower, whichmeans that the cooling of the brakes is less effi-cient than when driving on level roads. To reducethe strain on the brakes, shift into a lower gearand let the engine help with the braking. Do notforget that if you are towing a trailer, the brakeswill be subjected to a greater than normal load.
Cleaning the brake discsCoatings of dirt and water on the brake discsmay result in delayed brake function. This delay isminimized by cleaning the brake linings. Cleaning the brake pads is advisable in wet weather, prior to long-term parking, and after thevehicle has been washed. Do this by braking gen-tly for a short period while the vehicle is moving.
