2019 VOLVO XC90 TWIN ENGINE trailer

STARTING AND DRIVING
473
Slippery driving conditionsFor optimal traction and roadholding, Volvo rec-
ommends using snow tires on all wheels when-
ever there is a risk of snow or ice on the road.
NOTECertain countries require use of winter tires
by law. Not all countries permit the use of
studded tires.
Practice driving on slippery surfaces under con-
trolled conditions to learn how the vehicle reacts.
Related information

Snow tires (p. 581)
Snow chains (p. 581)
Braking on salted roads (p. 441)
Braking on wet roads (p. 441)
Filling washer fluid (p. 662)
Start battery (p. 627)
Replacing windshield wiper blades (p. 660)
Changing rear window wipers (p. 659)
Refilling coolant (p. 625) Driving through standing water
Driving the vehicle through a deep pool of stand-
ing water on a water-covered roadway is called
fording. This must be done with great caution.
To prevent damage to the vehicle when driving
through water (e.g. on flooded roads):
Do not drive in water higher than the floor of
the vehicle. If possible, check the depth of
the water at its deepest point before driving
through it. Be particularly careful when driv-
ing through flowing water.
Always select the
Off Road drive mode
before driving in water to ensure the gasoline
engine is running.
Do not drive faster than walking speed.
Do not stop the vehicle in the water. Drive
carefully forward or back the vehicle out of
the water.
Remember that waves created by passing
vehicles could cause the water level to rise
above the vehicle's floor level.
Avoid driving through salt water to help avoid
the risk of corrosion.
CAUTION Parts of the vehicle (e.g. engine, transmission,
driveline, electrical components, etc.) can be
damaged if the vehicle is driven through water
higher than its floor level. Damage to any
components caused by flooding, vapor lock or
insufficient oil is not covered under warranty.
If the engine stalls while the vehicle is in
water, do not attempt to restart it. Have the
vehicle towed on the bed of a tow truck to a
workshop - an authorized Volvo workshop is
recommended.
CAUTION
Because it can be difficult to determine the
water depth, avoid driving through standing or
running water.
When you have passed the water, press lightly on
the brake pedal and check that the brakes are
functioning properly. Water, mud, slush, etc. can
make the brake linings slippery, resulting in
delayed braking effect.
If the vehicle is equipped with a trailer coupling
contact, clean the contact after driving in water or
mud.
Related information

Recovery (p. 489)
Low Speed Control (p. 464)

||STARTING AND DRIVING
478
NOTE
When switching to higher octane fuel or
changing gasoline brands, it may be neces-
sary to fill the tank more than once before a
difference in engine operation is noticeable.
Fuel FormulationsDo not use gasoline that contains lead or manga-
nese as a knock inhibitor, and do not use lead
additives. Besides damaging the exhaust emis-
sion control systems on your vehicle, lead has
been strongly linked to certain forms of cancer.
Many fuels contain benzene as a solvent.
Unburned benzene has been strongly linked to
certain forms of cancer. If you live in an area
where you must fill your own gas tank, take pre-
cautions. These may include:

standing upwind away from the filler nozzle
while refueling
refueling only at gas stations with vapor
recovery systems that fully seal the mouth of
the filler neck during refueling
wearing neoprene gloves while handling a
fuel filler nozzle.
Use of AdditivesWith the exception of gas line antifreeze during
winter months, do not add solvents, thickeners, or other store-bought additives to your vehicle's
fuel, cooling, or lubricating systems. Overuse may
damage your engine, and some of these additives
contain organically volatile chemicals. Do not
needlessly expose yourself to these chemicals.
WARNING Never carry a cell phone that is switched on
while refueling your vehicle. If the phone rings,
this may cause a spark that could ignite gaso-
line fumes, resulting in fire and injury.
WARNING
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, colorless,
and odorless gas. It is present in all exhaust
gases. If you ever smell exhaust fumes inside
the vehicle, make sure the passenger com-
partment is ventilated, and immediately return
the vehicle to a trained and qualified Volvo
service technician for correction.
Demanding drivingIn demanding driving conditions, such as when
towing a trailer or driving in hot weather or for
prolonged periods at high altitudes, it may be a
good idea to switch to a higher-octane fuel (AKI
6
91 or higher) or to switch to another brand of
gasoline in order to fully utilize the vehicle's
engine capacity and optimize traction.
Related information
Fuel (p. 476)
Emission controls (p. 479) 6
AKI (Anti Knock Index) is an average value of RON (Research Octane Nu\
mber) and MON (Motor Octane Number) - (RON)+(MON)/2

||STARTING AND DRIVING
480
the vehicle safely and letting the engine idle
for a few minutes to let the transmission
cool.
If the vehicle begins to overheat, the air con-
ditioning may be temporarily switched off.
After a prolonged period of driving in
demanding conditions, do not turn off the
engine immediately after stopping.
NOTE It is normal for the engine's cooling fan to
operate for a short time after the engine is
switched off.
Symbols in the instrument panel
Symbol
Meaning High engine temperature. Follow
the recommendations provided.
Low coolant level. Follow the rec-
ommendations provided.
Transmission hot/overheated/cool-
ing. Follow the recommendations
provided.
Related information

Refilling coolant (p. 625)
Driving with a trailer (p. 483)
Preparing for a long trip (p. 472) Battery drain
The electrical functions in the vehicle drain the
battery to varying degrees. Avoid using ignition
mode II when the engine is switched off. Use
ignition mode I instead, as this uses less electri-
cal current.
Note that certain accessories may also drain
power from the electrical system. Do not use
functions that use a lot of electrical current when
the engine is turned off. Examples of such func-
tions are: blower
headlights
windshield wipers
audio system (especially at high volume).
If the starter battery voltage is low, a message is
shown in the driver display. The vehicle's energy-
saving function will then turn off or reduce certain
functions, such as the blower and/or the audio
system.
– Charge the battery by starting the engine
and let it run for at least 15 minutes (driving
charges the battery faster than letting the
engine idle).
Related information
Start battery (p. 627)
Ignition modes (p. 437)

||STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.
482 12. Remove the jumper cables in the reverse
order ‒ first the black cables and then the
red cables.
Make sure that none of the clamps of the
black jumper cables come into contact with
either vehicle's positive (+) jump start termi-
nals or either of the red jumper cable's con-
nected clamps.
WARNING PROPOSITION 65 WARNING! Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories contain
lead and lead compounds, chemicals known
to the state of California to cause cancer and
reproductive harm. Wash hands after han-
dling.
WARNING
Batteries generate hydrogen gas, which
is flammable and explosive.
Do not connect the jumper cable to any
part of the fuel system or to any moving
parts. Avoid touching hot manifolds.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow battery fluid to contact eyes, skin,
fabrics or painted surfaces.
If contact occurs, flush the affected area
immediately with water. Obtain medical
help immediately if eyes are affected.
Never expose the battery to open flame
or electric spark. Do not smoke near the
battery. Failure to follow the instructions
for jump starting can lead to injury.
NOTE The vehicle cannot be started if the hybrid
battery is discharged.
Related information

Starting the vehicle (p. 434)
Ignition modes (p. 437)
Adjusting the steering wheel (p. 201)
Selecting ignition mode (p. 438) Detachable towbar*
Volvo recommends the use of Volvo towbars
that are specially designed for the vehicle.
NOTE The optional detachable trailer hitch may not
be available in all markets or on all models.
Consult your Volvo retailer.
Ball holder
Cotter pin
Towbar assembly
Locking bolt
Safety wire attachment bracket

STARTING AND DRIVING
}}
483
Installing the ball holder1. If necessary, remove the cotter pin from the locking bolt and slide the locking bolt out of
the towbar assembly.
2. Slide the ball holder into the towbar assem- bly.
3. Align the hole in the ball holder with the one in the towbar assembly.
4. Slide the locking bolt through the towbar assembly/ball holder.
5. Insert the cotter pin in the hole at the end of the locking bolt.
WARNING
Be sure the towbar is securely locked in
position before attaching anything to it.
Always attach the trailer's safety wire
securely to the towbar's safety wire
attachment bracket.
Removing the ball holder1. Remove the cotter pin from the locking bolt
and slide the locking bolt out of the ball
holder/towbar assembly.
2. Pull the ball holder out of the towbar assem- bly.
Stowing the ball holder
WARNING When not in use, the detachable ball holder
should always be properly stowed in the des-
ignated location under the floor of the cargo
compartment.
Related information

Driving with a trailer (p. 483)
Towing capacity and tongue weight (p. 670) Driving with a trailer
There are a number of things to consider when
towing a trailer, such as the towbar, the trailer
and how the load is distributed in the trailer.
Load-carrying capacity is determined by the vehi-
cle's curb weight. The total weight of all passen-
gers and any installed accessories, e.g. towbar,
reduces the vehicle's load-carrying capacity by
the corresponding amount.
Towbars used on the vehicle must be
approved for the applicable use.
Distribute the load on the trailer so that the
weight on the towbar complies with the
specified maximum towball weight. The
tongue weight is calculated as part of the
vehicle's payload.
Increase the tire pressure to the recom-
mended pressure for a full load.
The engine is subjected to more load than
usual when towing a trailer.
Towing a trailer affects the vehicle's han-
dling, durability and driving economy.
Do not drive with a heavy trailer when the
vehicle is very new. Wait until the mileage
has reached at least 1000 km (620 miles).
On long and steep downgrades, the vehicle's
brakes are subjected to much more load
than usual. When manually shifting, down-
shift and adapt speed accordingly.

||STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.
484
Follow applicable regulations regarding per-
mitted speed and weight.
Drive slowly when towing a trailer up a long
and steep incline.
The maximum trailer weights given only apply
to altitudes up to 1000 meters (3280 feet)
above sea level. At higher altitudes, engine
power (and thus the vehicle's climbing ability)
is decreased due to the reduced air density,
and the maximum trailer weight must there-
fore be reduced. The weight of the vehicle
and trailer must be decreased by 10% for
each additional 1000 m (3280 feet) or part
thereof.
Avoid driving with a trailer on inclines of more
than 12%.
Avoid overloading and other incorrect use.
The trailer's brakes must be balanced with
the vehicle's brakes to help ensure safe
stops (follow applicable local regulations).
NOTE To facilitate towing a trailer in a vehicle equip-
ped with pneumatic suspension*, select: the
Suspension Control
Dynamic
setting in
Individual drive mode.
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.

STARTING AND DRIVING
}}
* Option/accessory. 485
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. 485)
Checking trailer lights (p. 486)
Towing capacity and tongue weight (p. 670)
Overheating of engine and transmission
(p. 479) Trailer Stability Assist*
Trailer Stability Assist (TSA 8
) is a function
designed to help stabilize a vehicle that is tow-
ing a trailer when the vehicle and trailer have
begun to sway. The function is part of the Elec-
tronic Stability Control system ESC 9
.
Reasons for swayingA vehicle towing a trailer may begin to sway for
various reasons. Normally this only occurs at high
speeds. However, if the trailer is overloaded or
unevenly distributed, e.g. too far back, there is a
risk of swaying even at low speeds.
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 an
uneven road or over a bump.
Sudden movements of the steering wheel.
Once swaying has begun, it can be difficult or
impossible to stop it. This makes the vehicle and
trailer difficult to control and there is a risk of
swerving into oncoming traffic or driving off the
road.
Trailer Stability Assist functionTrailer Stability Assist continuously monitors the
vehicle's movements, particularly lateral move- ments. If swaying is detected, the brakes are
applied individually on the front wheels, which has
a stabilizing effect on the vehicle and trailer. This
is often enough to enable the driver to regain
control of the vehicle.
If the Trailer Stability Assist function's first
attempt is not adequate to stop the swaying
motion, the brakes are applied on all wheels and
engine power is temporarily reduced. As the
swaying motion begins to decrease and the vehi-
cle and trailer have once again become stable,
TSA stops regulating the brakes/engine power
and the driver regains control of the vehicle.
NOTE
Trailer Stability Assist is deactivated if the
driver selects the sport mode by deactivating
ESC in the center display's menu system. Trailer Stability Assist may not intervene if the
driver tries to compensate for the swaying motion
by moving the steering wheel rapidly, because
the system will then not be able to determine if it
is the trailer or the driver causing the swaying.
8
Trailer Stability Assist
9 Electronic Stability Control

||STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.
486 When Trailer Stability Assist is
activated, the ESC symbol is
displayed in the instrument
panel.
Related information

Driving with a trailer (p. 483)
Electronic Stability Control (p. 279) Checking trailer lights
When connecting a trailer, make sure that all of
the lights on the trailer are functioning before
starting to drive.
Trailer turn signals and brake lightsIf one or more of the turn signals or brake lights
on the trailer is not working, a symbol and mes-
sage will be displayed in the instrument panel.
The other lights on the trailer must be checked
manually by the driver before the vehicle is driven. Symbol
Message
Trailer turn indicator Right
turn indicator malfunction
Trailer turn indicator Left
turn indicator malfunction
Trailer brake light Malfunc-
tion If any of the trailer's turn signal lights is not work-
ing, the turn signal symbol in the instrument
panel will also flash more quickly than normal.
Trailer rear fog lightWhen a trailer is connected, the vehicle's rear fog
light may not illuminate and rear fog light func-
tionality is instead transferred to the trailer. If this
is the case, check to see if the trailer is equipped
with a rear fog light before activating the vehicle'sfog lights when driving with a trailer to help
ensure safe operation.
Checking trailer lights*
Automatic check
When the trailer has been connected to the vehi-
cle's electrical system, its lights can be checked
by automatically activating them. This function
helps the driver check that the trailer's lights are
functioning correctly before starting to drive.
In order to perform this check, the engine must
be turned off.
1. When a trailer is connected to the towbar, the message Automatic Trailer Lamp
Check will appear in the instrument panel.
2.

Acknowledge the message by pressing the
O button on the right-side steering wheel
keypad.
> The light check will begin.
3. Get out of the vehicle to perform the check. > All of the lights on the trailer will beginflashing, and then illuminate separately
one at a time.
4. Visually check that all of the trailer's lights are functioning correctly.
5. After a short time, all of the trailer's lights will start flashing again.
> The light check is completed.