STARTING AND DRIVING
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285
Some of the above mentioned items and others are checked at the standard maintenance inter-vals.
WARNING
Driving with the trunk open:
Driving with the
trunk open could lead to poisonous exhaust gases entering the passenger compartment. Ifthe trunk 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 windowsand the blower control to its highest set-ting.
Handling and roadholdingAt the specified curb weight your vehicle has a tendency to understeer, which means that thesteering wheel has to be turned more than mightseem appropriate for the curvature of a bend.This ensures good stability and reduces the riskof rear wheel skid. Remember that these proper-ties can alter with the vehicle load. The heavierthe load in the trunk, the less the tendency toundersteer. • Vehicle load, tire design and inflation pres- sure all affect vehicle handling. Therefore,check that the tires are inflated to the rec-ommended pressure according to the vehicleload. Loads should be distributed so that capacity weight or maximum permissible axleloads are not exceeded.
• At 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 stabilityand reduces the risk of rear wheel skid.Remember that these properties can alterwith the vehicle load. The heavier the load inthe trunk, the less the tendency to under-steer.
Related information
•Climate – general information (p. 120)
Towing a trailer When towing a trailer, always observe the legal requirements of the state/province.
NOTE
For the maximum trailer and tongue weights recommended by Volvo, see Weights (p. 373)
•
All Volvo models are equipped with energy- absorbing shock-mounted bumpers. Trailerhitch installation should not interfere with theproper operation of this bumper system.
Trailer towing does not normally present any par-ticular problems, but take into consideration:
• Increase tire pressure to recommended fullpressure, see the tire inflation decal on thedriver's door opening.
• When your vehicle is new, avoid towing heavytrailers 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 coolanttemperature should be closely watched whendriving in hot climates or hilly terrain. Use alower gear and turn off the air conditioner ifthe temperature gauge needle enters the redrange.
STARTING AND DRIVING
287
WARNING
•Bumper-attached trailer hitches must not be used on Volvos, nor should safetychains be attached to the bumper.
• Trailer hitches attaching to the vehiclerear axle must not be used.
• Never connect a trailer's hydraulic brakesystem directly to the vehicle brake sys-tem, nor a trailer's lighting system directlyto the vehicle lighting system. Consultyour nearest authorized Volvo retailer forcorrect installation.
• When towing a trailer, the trailer's safetychains or wire must be correctly fastenedto the attachment points provided in thetrailer hitch on the vehicle. The safetychain or wire must never be fastened toor wound around the towing ball.
Trailer cable
An adapter is required if the vehicle's trailer hitch has a 13-pin connector and the trailer has 7 pins.Use an adapter cable approved by Volvo. Makesure the cable does not drag on the ground.
Related information
•
Loading – general (p. 138)
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 to swayand is part of the stability system. For informationon the stability system, see Stability system –introduction (p. 166)
FunctionA vehicle towing a trailer may begin to sway for various reasons. Normally this only occurs at highspeeds but, for example, if the trailer is overloa-ded or if the load is unevenly distributed in thetrailer, there is risk of swaying at speeds betweenapproximately 45-55 mph (70-90 km/h). Swaying may be caused by factors such as:
• The vehicle and trailer are hit by a sudden, strong crosswind
• The vehicle and trailer are traveling on anuneven road surface or drive over a bump
• Sudden movements of the steering wheel
Facts about TSA
• TSA intervenes at speeds above approxi-mately 40 mph (60 km/h)
• The stability system symbol in the instrumentpanel will flash when TSA is working
• If the driver switches off the stability system'sSpin Control function, TSA will also beswitched off (but will be on again the nexttime the engine is started) •
TSA may not intervene when the vehicle andtrailer begin to sway if the driver tries to com-pensate for the swaying motion by movingthe steering wheel rapidly
How TSA worksOnce swaying has begun, it can be very difficultto stop, which makes it difficult to control thevehicle and trailer. The TSA system continuously monitors the vehi- cle's movements, particularly lateral movement. Ifthe system detects a tendency to sway, thebrakes are applied individually on the frontwheels, which has a stabilizing effect on the vehi-cle and trailer. This is often enough to enable thedriver to regain control of the vehicle. If this is not adequate to stop the swaying motion, the brakes are applied to all of the wheels on thevehicle and on the trailer if it is equipped withbrakes, and engine power is temporarily reduced.As the swaying motion begins to decrease andthe vehicle-trailer have once again become sta-ble, TSA will now stop regulating the brakes/engine power and the driver regains control ofthe vehicle.
Related information
•
Towing a trailer (p. 285)
• Loading – general (p. 138)
STARTING AND DRIVING
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289
Attaching the towing eyeletThe towing eyelet is located under the floor of the trunk. This eyelet must be screwedinto the positions provided on the right sidesof either the front or rear bumper (see illus-tration).
There are two different types of covers over the openings for the towing eyelet and theyhave to be opened differently.
• If the cover has a notch, insert a coin, etc.,into the notch and pry open the edge ofthe cover. Open the cover completely andremove it.
• If the cover has a mark along one edge orin a corner, press the mark while pryingout the opposite side/corner using a coin,etc. Open the cover and remove it.
Screw the towing eyelet in place, first by handand then using the tire iron until it is securely inplace. After the vehicle has been towed, the eyelet should be removed and returned to its storagelocation. Press the cover for the attachment point back into position.
WARNING
• When the vehicle is being towed, the igni- tion should be in mode
II (in mode I, all of
the vehicle's airbags are deactivated). For more information, see Ignition modes(p. 74)
• Never remove the remote key from theignition slot when the vehicle is beingtowed. For vehicles with keyless drive, theremote key must remain inside the vehi-cle.
• The power brakes and power steering willnot function when the engine is not run-ning. Approximately 5 times more pres-sure will be required on the brake pedaland the steering wheel will be considera-bly harder to turn.
• The towing eyelets must not be used forpulling the vehicle out of a ditch or forany similar purpose involving severestrain.
Related information
•Towing the vehicle (p. 288)
• Towing by tow truck (p. 289)
Towing by tow truck
When necessary, call for professional help from an authorized towing company. Volvo recom-mends the use of flat bed equipment.
CAUTION
In certain conditions, the towing eyelet may be used to pull the vehicle onto aflatbed tow truck.
• The vehicle's position and ground clear-ance determine if it can be pulled up ontoa flatbed tow truck using the towing eye-let.
• If the angle of the tow truck
WHEELS AND TIRES
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* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.319
Tire sealing system* – sealing a
hole The tire sealing system can be used to tempo- rarily seal a hole in the tread surface of a tire.
Stage 1: Sealing the hole1. Peel off the speed limit sticker and affix it to the steering wheel hub where it will be clearly visible to the driver.
2. Ensure that the on/off switch is in position 0
(the 0 side of the switch should be pressed
down).
WARNING
Contact with the sealing compound may cause skin irritation. If contact occurs, washthe affected area immediately with soap andwater.
3. Unscrew the orange cover over the bottle holder on the compressor and unscrew the cap on the bottle of sealing compound.
NOTE
Do not break the seal on the bottle. This occurs automatically when the bottle isscrewed into the holder.
4. Screw the bottle into the bottle holder as faras possible.
WARNING
The bottle is equipped with a catch to keep it securely in place and help prevent sealingcompound leakage. Once in place, the bottlecannot be unscrewed. This must be done by atrained and qualified Volvo service technician.
5. Remove the valve cap from the tire
WHEELS AND TIRES
}}
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.321
WARNING
If heavy vibrations, unsteady steering behavior, or noises should occur while driving, reducespeed and park the vehicle in a safe place.Recheck the tire for bumps, cracks, or othervisible damage, and recheck its inflation pres-sure. If the pressure is below 19 psi (1.3 bar),do not continue driving. Have the vehicletowed to a trained and qualified Volvo servicetechnician.
Tire sealing system – checking inflation pressure The tire sealing system can also be used to check the tires' inflation pressure.
Stage 2: Checking inflation pressure1. Reconnect the tire sealing system's hose to
the tire's inflation valve as described in stage
1 , see Tire sealing system * – sealing a hole
(p. 319).
2. Refer to the inflation pressure table in this chapter for the correct inflation pressure. If the tire needs to be inflated, start the tiresealing system
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING
325
Maintenance – owner maintenance
Periodic maintenance requirements and intervals are described in your vehicle's Warranty andService Records Information booklet. The following points can be carried out between the normally scheduled maintenance services.
Owner maintenance
Each time the car is refueled:
• Check the engine oil level.
• Clean the windshield, windshield wipers, headlights, and taillights.
Monthly:
• Check cold tire pressure in all tires. Inspect the tires for wear.
• Check that engine coolant and other fluidlevels are between the indicated "min" and"max" markings.
• Clean interior glass surfaces with a glasscleaner and soft paper towels.
• Wipe driver information displays with a softcloth.
• Visually inspect battery terminals for corro-sion. Corrosion may indicate a loose terminalconnector, or a battery near the end of itsuseful service life. Consult your Volvo retailerfor additional information.
As needed:
Wash the car, including the undercarriage, to reduce wear that can be caused by a buildup of dirt, and corrosion that can be caused by salt res-idues. Clean leaves and twigs from air intake vents at the base of the windshield, and from other placeswhere they may collect.
NOTE
Complete service information for qualified technicians is available online for purchase orsubscription at www.volvotechinfo.com.
Related information
•
Maintenance – opening/closing hood (p. 329)
• Engine compartment – overview (p. 330)
• Engine compartment – coolant (p. 333)
• Engine compartment – engine oil (p. 331)
• Engine compartment – power steering fluid(p. 335)
• Engine compartment – washer fluid (p. 346)
• Cleaning the interior (p. 363)
• Washing the car (p. 361)
• Tire inflation – checking pressure (p. 301)
• Tires – tread wear indicator (p. 294)
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING
330
Engine compartment – overviewThe overview shows the main inspection points in the engine compartment.
Coolant expansion tank
Power steering fluid reservoir
Dipstick-engine oil
Filler cap-engine oil
Cover over brake fluid reservoir
Battery
Relay/fuse box
Washer fluid reservoir
Engine compartment - 4-cylinder engines only
Filler cap-engine oil
Coolant expansion tank
Radiator
Brake fluid reservoir
Battery
Relay/fuse box
Washer fluid reservoir
Air cleaner
The appearance of the engine compartment may vary depending on engine model.
WARNING
The cooling fan (located at the front of the engine compartment, behind the radiator) maystart or continue to operate (for up to6 minutes) after the engine has beenswitched off.
WARNING
Before performing any operations in the engine compartment, the ignition should always be completely switched off (in mode 0,
see Ignition modes (p. 74)) and there should be no remote keys in the passenger compart- ment. The gear selector should be in the P
(park) position. If the engine has been run- ning, wait until it has cooled before touchingany components in the engine compartment. The distributor ignition system operates at very high voltages. Special safety precautionsmust be followed to prevent injury. Alwaysturn the ignition off when:
• Replacing distributor ignition componentse.g. plugs, coil, etc.
• Do not touch any part of the distributorignition system while the engine is run-ning. This may result in unintended move-ments and body injury.
Related information
•Maintenance – opening/closing hood (p. 329)
• Maintenance – owner maintenance (p. 325)
||
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
332
G021737
The oil level must be between the MIN and MAX marks
on the dipstick
Checking the oil
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a lint-
free rag.
2. Reinsert the dipstick, pull it out, and check the oil level. The level must be between the MIN and MAX marks.
3. Add oil if necessary. If the level is close to the MIN mark, add approximately
0.5 US quarts (0.5 liters) of oil.
4. Recheck the level and add more oil if neces- sary until the level is near the MAX mark.
WARNING
Do not allow oil to spill onto or come into con- tact with hot exhaust pipe surfaces.
Electronic oil level sensor (4-cylinder engines only)
Oil filler cap
No action is necessary until a message is dis- played, see the following illustration.
Left: digital instrument panel *, Right: analog instrument
panel
Message
Oil level
The oil level can be checked when the engine is not running by scrolling to the oil level sensorusing the thumb wheel on the left steering wheellever.