STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.473
CAUTION•
Bumper-attached trailer hitches must not
be used on Volvos, nor should safety
chains be attached to the bumper.
• Trailer hitches attaching to the vehicle
rear axle must not be used.
• Never connect a trailer's hydraulic brake
system directly to the vehicle brake sys-
tem, nor a trailer's lighting system directly
to the vehicle lighting system. Consult
your nearest authorized Volvo retailer for
correct installation.
• When towing a trailer, the trailer's safety
chains or wire must be correctly fastened
to the attachment points provided in the
trailer hitch on the vehicle. The safety
chain or wire must never be fastened to
or wound around the towing ball.
NOTE The optional detachable trailer hitch may not
be available in all markets or on all models.
Consult your Volvo retailer.
NOTE
Extreme weather conditions, towing a trailer,
driving at high altitudes and fuel quality are
factors that significantly increase a vehicle's
fuel consumption.
Trailer weights
WARNING Please adhere to the recommendations provi-
ded for trailer weight. If the recommendations
are not followed, the vehicle and trailer may
be difficult to control during evasive maneu-
vers and braking.
NOTE
The specified maximum trailer weights are
those permitted by Volvo. National vehicle
regulations may set additional restrictions on
trailer weight and speed. The trailer hitches
may be certified for higher towing weights
than the vehicle is permitted to tow.
Self-leveling suspension*The vehicle's self-leveling system attempts to
keep the vehicle at a constant level, regardless of
load (up to the maximum permitted weight).
When the vehicle is stationary, the rear end of the
vehicle will be slightly lowered, which is normal.
Driving in hilly terrain or hot weatherIn certain conditions, there is a risk of overheat-
ing when driving with a trailer. If overheating of
the engine and drive system is detected, a warn-
ing symbol will illuminate in the instrument panel
along with a message.The automatic transmission selects the optimal
gear for the current load and engine speed.
Steep inclines
Do not lock the automatic transmission into a
higher gear than what the engine can handle ‒ it
is not always preferable to drive in high gears at
low rpm.
Parking on a hill
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Put the gear selector in P.
4. Release the brake pedal.
Put chocks behind the wheels when the vehicle
is parked on a hill with a trailer attached.
Starting on a hill
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Put the gear selector in D.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Release the brake pedal and start driving.
Related information
• Trailer Stability Assist* (p. 474)
• Checking trailer lights (p. 475)
• Towing capacity and tongue weight (p. 660)
• Overheating of engine and transmission
(p. 468)
WHEELS AND TIRES
* Option/accessory.557
Checking tire pressure
Correct inflation pressure helps improve driving
stability, save fuel and increase the service life of
the tires.
Tire pressure decreases over time, which is nor-
mal. Tire pressure also varies depending on the
ambient temperature. Driving on under-inflated
tires could cause the vehicle to overheat and lead
to damage. Tire pressure affects traveling com-
fort, road noise and driving characteristics.
Check the pressure in the tires every month. Use
the recommended inflation pressure for cold tires
for optimal tire performance and wear. Under-
inflated or over-inflated tires could cause uneven
tread wear.
Use an air pressure gauge and check the infla-
tion pressure on all the tires, including the spare
tire 4
, at least once a month and before long trips.
Volvo strongly recommends buying a reliable air
pressure gauge, as the automatic gauges provi-
ded at service stations may be inaccurate.
WARNING •
Under-inflation is the most common
cause of tire failure and may result in
severe 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.
Cold tiresInflation pressure should be checked when the
tires are cold.
The tires are considered to be cold when they
have the same temperature as the surrounding
(ambient) air.
This temperature is normally reached after the
vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours.
After driving for approximately 1.6 km (1 mile),
the tires are considered to be warm. If you need
to drive longer than that to inflate the tires, check
and record the inflation pressure of the tires first
and inflate accordingly when you arrive at the
pump.
When the ambient temperature changes, so does
the inflation pressure. A 10-degree temperature
drop causes a corresponding drop in inflation
pressure of 1 psi (7 kPa). Check the inflation
pressure of the tires regularly and adjust to the correct pressure, which can be found on the vehi-
cle's tire information placard or certification label.
If you check inflation pressure when the tires are
warm, you should never release air. The tires
become warm after driving and it is normal for
warm tires to have an inflation pressure above
the recommended pressure for cold tires. A warm
tire with an inflation pressure equal to or under
the recommended pressure for cold tires could
be significantly under-inflated.Related information
•
Adjusting tire pressure (p. 558)
• Recommended tire pressure (p. 559)
• Tire pressure monitoring system* (p. 559)
• Tires (p. 550) 4
Not available in all models.
