LOADING AND STORAGE
144
Loading – general
The load carrying capacity of your vehicle is determined by factors such as the number ofpassengers, the amount of cargo, the weight ofany accessories that may be installed, etc.
To increase loading space, the rear seat back- rests can be folded down, see Rear seats – fold-
ing backrest (p. 87).
When loading the cargo area, keep the following
in mind:
• Load objects in the cargo area against thebackrest whenever possible.
• Unstable loads can be secured to the loadanchoring eyelets with straps or web lash-ings to help keep them from shifting.
• Stop the engine and apply the parking brakewhen loading or unloading long objects. Thegear selector can be knocked out of positionby long loads, which could set the vehicle inmotion.
WARNING
• Stop the engine, put the gear selector in P
, and apply the parking brake when
loading or unloading long objects.
• The vehicle's driving characteristics may change depending on the weight and dis-tribution 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 should notbe loaded to a level higher than 2 in.(5 cm) below the upper edge of the rearside windows. Objects placed higher thanthis level could impede the function ofthe Inflatable Curtain.
Related information
• Load anchoring eyelets (p. 145)
• Steel cargo grid (p. 148)
• Loading – roof load carriers (p. 144)
Loading – roof load carriers
Using load carriersLoad carriers are available as Volvo accessories. Observe the following points when in use:
• To avoid damaging your vehicle and toachieve maximum safety when driving, werecommend using the load carriers that Volvohas developed especially for your 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 manu-facturer's weight limits for the rack.
• Never exceed the rack manufacturer's weighlimits and never exceed the maximum ratedroof 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 appropriatetie-down equipment.
• Check periodically that the load carriers andload are properly secured.
• Remember that the vehicle's center of gravityand handling change when you carry a loadon the roof.
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Driving through 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 of approximately 13 in. (35 cm) at walkingspeed to help prevent water from entering thedifferential and the transmission. Water reducesthe oil's lubricating capacity and may shorten theservice life of these components.
• 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 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.
CAUTION
•Engine damage will occur if water is drawn into the air cleaner.
• If the vehicle is driven through waterdeeper than approximately 13 in.(35 cm), water may enter the differentialand the transmission. This reduces theoil's lubricating capacity and may shortenthe service life of these components.
• Damage to any components, the engine,transmission, turbo-charger, differential orits internal components caused by flood-ing, vapor lock or insufficient oil is notcovered under warranty.
• Do not allow the vehicle to stand in waterup to the door sills longer than absolutelynecessary. This could result in electricalmalfunctions.
• If the engine has been stopped while thevehicle is in water, do not attempt torestart it. Have the vehicle towed out ofthe water.
Related information
•Towing the vehicle (p. 282)
• Towing by tow truck (p. 284)
Engine and cooling system
Under special conditions, for example when driv- ing in hilly terrain, extreme heat or with heavyloads, there is a risk that the engine and coolingsystem will overheat.
Proceed as follows to avoid overheating the engine.
• Maintain a low speed when driving with atrailer up long, steep hills. For information,see Towing a trailer (p. 279)
• Do not turn the engine off immediately whenstopping after a hard drive.
WARNING
The cooling fan may start or continue to oper- ate (for up to 6 minutes) after the engine hasbeen switched off.
• Remove any auxiliary lights from in front of the grille when driving in hot weather condi-tions.
• Do not exceed engine speeds of 4500 rpm ifdriving with a trailer in hilly terrain. The oiltemperature could become too high.
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273
Driving in cold weather
Check your vehicle before the approach of cold weather.
The following advice is worth noting:
• Make sure that the engine coolant (p. 331) contains 50 percent antifreeze. Any othermixture will reduce freeze protection. Thisgives protection against freezing down to–31 °F (–35 °C). The use of "recycled" anti-freeze is not approved by Volvo. Differenttypes of antifreeze must not be mixed.
• Volvo recommends using only genuine Volvoantifreeze in your vehicle's radiator.
• Try to keep the fuel tank well filled – thishelps prevent the formation of condensationin the tank. In addition, in extremely coldweather conditions it is worthwhile to addfuel line de-icer before refueling.
• The viscosity of the engine oil is important.Oil with low viscosity (thinner oil) improvescold-weather starting as well as decreasingfuel consumption while the engine is warm-ing up. Full synthetic 0W-30 oil is recom-mended for driving in areas with sustainedlow temperatures.
• The load placed on the battery is greater dur-ing the winter since the windshield wipers,lighting, etc., are used more often. Moreover,the capacity of the battery decreases as thetemperature drops. In very cold weather, apoorly charged battery can freeze and be damaged. It is therefore advisable to checkthe state of charge more frequently andspray an anti-rust oil on the battery posts.
• Volvo recommends the use of snow tires onall four wheels for winter driving, see Snowtires/studded tires (p. 303).
• To prevent the washer fluid (p. 344)reservoirfrom freezing, add washer solvents contain-ing antifreeze. This is important since dirt isoften splashed on the windshield during win-ter driving, requiring the frequent use of thewashers and wipers. Volvo Washer Solventshould be diluted as follows: Down to 14 °F(–10 °C): 1 part washer solvent and 4 partswater Down to 5 °F (–15 °C): 1 part washersolvent and 3 parts water Down to 0 °F(–18 °C): 1 part washer solvent and 2 partswater Down to –18 °F (–28 °C): 1 partwasher solvent and 1 part water.
• Use Volvo Teflon Lock Spray in the locks.
• Avoid using de-icing sprays as they cancause damage to the locks.
Refueling – fuel requirements
Volvo recommends the use of detergent gaso- line to control engine deposits.
Deposit control gasoline (detergent
additives)
Detergent gasoline is effective in keeping injec- tors and intake valves clean. Consistent use ofdeposit control gasolines will help ensure gooddrivability and fuel economy. If you are not surewhether the gasoline contains deposit controladditives, check with the service station operator.
NOTE
Volvo does not recommend the use of exter- nal fuel injector cleaning systems.
Unleaded fuelEach Volvo has a three-way catalytic converter and must use only unleaded gasoline. U.S. andCanadian regulations require that pumps deliver-ing unleaded gasoline be labeled "UNLEADED".Only these pumps have nozzles which fit yourvehicle's filler inlet. It is unlawful to dispense lea-ded fuel into a vehicle labeled "unleaded gaso-line only". Leaded gasoline damages the three-way catalytic converter and the heated oxygensensor system. Repeated use of leaded gasolinewill lessen the effectiveness of the emission con-trol system (p. 277) and could result in loss ofemission warranty coverage. State and local vehi-
STARTING AND DRIVING
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279
WARNING
Driving with the tailgate open: Driving with
the tailgate open could lead to poisonous exhaust gases entering the passenger com-partment. If the tailgate must be kept open forany 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 cargo area, the less the tendencyto understeer.
• 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 thatcapacity 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 more than 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 cargo compartment, the less the ten-dency to understeer.
Related information
•
Climate – general information (p. 126)
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. 372)
• 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.
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296
Tire inflation – general information
Check tire inflation pressure regularly.
Inflation placard
G032521
Tire inflation placard
Tire inflationSee the tire inflation decal on the driver's door opening. This decal indicates the designation ofthe factory-mounted tires on your vehicle, as wellas load limits and inflation pressure.
NOTE
• The placards shown indicate inflation pressure for the tires installed on thevehicle at the factory only.
• A certain amount of air seepage from thetires occurs naturally and tire pressurefluctuates with seasonal changes in tem-perature. Always check tire pressure reg-ularly.
•Use a tire gauge to check the tire inflation pressure, including the spare, at least once amonth and before long trips. You are stronglyurged to buy a reliable tire pressure gauge,as automatic service station gauges may beinaccurate.
• Use the recommended cold inflation pres-sure for optimum tire performance and wear.
• Under-inflation or over-inflation may causeuneven treadwear patterns.
WARNING
•
Under-inflation is the most common cause of tire failure and may result insevere tire cracking, tread separation, or"blow-out," with unexpected loss of vehi-cle control and increased risk of injury.
• Under-inflated tires reduce the load car-rying capacity of your vehicle. When weather temperature changes occur, tire inflation pressures also change. A 10-degreetemperature drop causes a corresponding dropof 1 psi (7 kPa) in inflation pressure. Check yourtire pressures frequently and adjust them to theproper pressure, which can be found on the vehi-cle's tire information placard or certification label.
Related information
•
Tire specifications (p. 298)
• Tires – storage and age (p. 289)
• Tires – tread wear indicator (p. 290)
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299
7.
M+S or M/S = Mud and Snow, AT = All Ter-
rain, AS = All Season
8. U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN) : This begins with the letters "DOT" and
indicates that the tire meets all federalstandards. The next two numbers or lettersare the plant code where it was manufac-tured, the next two are the tire size code andthe last four numbers represent the weekand year the tire was built. For example,1510 means that the tire was manufacturedduring week 15 of 2010. The numbers inbetween are marketing codes used at themanufacturer's discretion. This informationhelps a tire manufacturer identify a tire forsafety recall purposes.
9. Tire Ply Composition and MaterialUsed : Indicates the number of plies indi-
cates or the number of layers of rubber-coated fabric in the tire tread and sidewall.Tire manufacturers also must indicate the plymaterials in the tire and the sidewall, whichinclude steel, nylon, polyester, and others.
10. Maximum Load : Indicates the maximum
load in pounds and kilograms that can becarried by the tire. Refer to the vehicle's tireinformation placard located on the B-Pillarfor the correct tire pressure for your vehicle.
11. Treadwear, Traction, and Temperaturegrades : see Tire specifications – Uniform
Tire Quality Grading (p. 302) for more infor-mation. 12.
Maximum permissible inflationpressure: the greatest amount of air pres-
sure that should ever be put in the tire. Thislimit is set by the tire manufacturer.
Loading specifications Properly loading your vehicle will provide maxi- mum return of vehicle design performance.
Before loading your vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms for determining yourvehicle's weight ratings, with or without a trailer,from the vehicle's Federal/Canadian Motor Vehi-cle Safety Standards (FMVSS/CMVSS) label, andthe vehicle's tire information placard:
Curb weightThe weight of the vehicle including a full tank offuel and all standard equipment. It does notinclude passengers, cargo, or optional equipment.
Capacity weightAll weight added to the curb weight, includingcargo and optional equipment. When towing,trailer hitch tongue load is also part of cargoweight.
Permissible axle weightThe maximum allowable weight that can be car-ried by a single axle (front or rear). These num-bers are shown on the Federal/Canadian MotorVehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS/CMVSS) label.The total load on each axle must never exceed itsmaximum permissible weight.
Gross vehicle weight (GVW)The vehicle's curb weight + cargo + passengers.
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300
NOTE
•The location of the various labels in your vehicle, see Label information (p. 366).
• A table listing important weight limits foryour vehicle, see Weights (p. 372).
Loading specifications – load limit The load limit of your vehicle is the combined weight of the occupants and cargo.
Steps for Determining Correct Load
Limit
1. Locate the statement "the combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs." on your vehicle's plac-ard.
2. Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will be riding in yourvehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.For example, if the "XXX" amount equals1400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lb. pas-sengers in your vehicle, the amount of availa-ble cargo and luggage load capacity is650 lbs. (1400 – 750 (5 × 150) = 650 lbs.)
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. Thatweight may not safely exceed the availablecargo and luggage load capacity calculatedin Step 4. 6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load
from your trailer will be transferred to yourvehicle. Consult this manual to determinehow this reduces the available cargo and lug-gage load capacity of your vehicle.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.
SPECIFICATIONS
372
Weights The following table lists important weight data for your vehicle.
CategoryUSACanada
Gross vehicle weight 4-cyl. FWDA
5-cyl. AWD B
5140 lbs 5290 lbs2330 kg 2400 kg
Capacity weightAll models: 950 lbsAll models: 430 kg
Permissible axle weights, front 4-cyl. FWD 4-cyl. AWD
2720 lbs 2790 lbs1230 kg 1265 kg
Permissible axle weights, rear 4-cyl. FWD 4-cyl. AWD
2560 lbs 2655 lbs1160 kg 1205 kg
Curb weight3860 - 4210 lbs1830 - 1890 kg
Max. roof load220 lbs100 kg
Max. trailer weights Without brakes With brakes, 1 7/8” ballWith brakes, 2” ball:
1650 lbs 2,000 lbs3,300 lbs750 kg 900 kg1500 kg
Max. tongue weight165 lbs75 kg
A
FWD = Front Wheel Drive
B AWD = All Wheel Drive