Get Starting and driving Guide for Volvo XC90 SUV First Generation (2002-2014)

Starting and driving

General

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Refuelling

Starting the car

Manual gearbox

Automatic gearbox

All-wheel drive

Brake system

Stability system

Parking assistance (option)

Towing and recovery

Start assistance

Driving with a trailer

Detachable towbar — mounting

Detachable towbar — removing

Loading

Adjusting headlamp pattern

BLIS (Blind Spot Information System)

NMN

Starting and driving

General

skid driving under controlled conditions so

that you know how your new car reacts.

NOTE! In greater depths, water can enter the

differentials and the transmission. This

reduces the lubricating ability of the oil and

shortens the service life of the systems.

Economical driving

Economical driving results from driving gently

with anticipation and adapting your driving

style and speed to the situation.

Driving on rough roads

The Volvo XC90 is primarily designed for

driving on main roads, but also has good

handling properties on uneven or rough

roads. Keep the following in mind in order to

preserve the service life of your car:

When driving through shallow water,

maintain a low speed and do not stop the car.

Once you have passed through the water,

apply a light pressure to the brake pedal and

check brake function. Water, mud and the

like can dampen brake linings, resulting in

delayed braking action.

Keep in mind the following:

•

Drive the engine to operating temperature

as soon as possible! That is to say: do not

let the engine idle, but drive with a light

load as soon as you can.

•

Drive slowly on rough roads so you do not

damage the car’s underbody.

•

A cold engine consumes more fuel than a

warm one.

Avoid driving short distances where the

engine never has time to reach operating

temperature.

•

If the ground is loose or is made up of dry

sand or snow, it is always best to keep

the car moving at all times and avoid

shifting. Do not stop the car.

Clean the electric contacts of the electric

engine heater and trailer coupling after

driving in water and mud.

•

Drive gently! Avoid unnecessary quick

accelerations and heavy braking.

Do not drive with unnecessary, heavy

loads in the car.

Do not use winter tyres when the roads

are clear and dry.

Remove the load carrier when it is not in

use.

Do not open side windows unnecessarily.

NOTE! Do not let the car stand with water

over the sills for any long period of time. This

could cause electrical malfunctions.

•

If the road is extremely steep and there is

a risk of overturning, never try to turn the

car around. Reverse back down. Do not

drive diagonally across an incline. Drive in

the direction of the incline.

NOTE! Avoid driving on steep slopes if the

fuel level is low. The catalytic converter could

be damaged if the engine does not receive

enough fuel. When driving on extremely

steep slopes, make sure the tank is more than

half full to avoid the risk of breakdown.

Your new car – slippery road

surfaces

Driving on a slippery road may feel different

depending on whether you choose a car with

a manual or an automatic gearbox. Practice

Wading

The car can be driven through water with a

depth of no more than 48 cm.

NMO

Starting and driving

warm weather, there is a risk of the engine

and cooling system overheating.

Do not overload the battery

The electrical functions in the car load the

battery to varying degrees. Avoid having the

ignition key in position II when the engine is

turned off. Use position I instead, as less

power is used. The 12 volt outlet in the cargo

area supplies power even when the ignition

key is removed.

To avoid the cooling system

overheating

•

Drive at low speeds if driving with a trailer

up a long incline.

Do not turn the engine off immediately

you stop, if the car has been driven hard.

Remove any auxiliary lamps from in front

of the grille if driving in extreme high

temperatures.

Examples of functions that use a lot of power:

•

ventilation fan

windscreen wipers

audio system

To avoid the engine overheating

Do not exceed engine speeds of 4500 rpm if

driving with a trailer or caravan in hilly terrain.

The oil temperature can become too high.

parking lights

Also take note of different accessories that

load the electrical system. Do not use

functions the consume a lot of current when

the engine is switched off. A text is shown on

the display in the combined instrument panel

if battery voltage is low and remains until the

engine has started. The energy economy

function shuts down certain functions or

reduces the load on the battery, e.g. by

lowering ventilation fan speed and switching

off the audio system.

Do not drive with an open

tailgate!

If you drive with the tailgate open, some of the

exhaust gases and poisonous carbon

monoxide could be sucked into the car

through the cargo compartment. If you must

drive a short distance with the tailgate open,

do as follows:

•

Close all windows.

Charge the battery by starting the engine.

Distribute the air between the windscreen

and floor while running the fan at high

speed.

Do not allow the engine and

cooling system to overheat

Under certain conditions, e.g. when driving in

hilly terrain or with a heavy load, especially in

NMP

Starting and driving

Refuelling

After refuelling, replace the fuel cap and turn

until one or more clicks is heard.

WARNING!

Never carry an activated mobile phone

when refuelling the ring signal could

cause spark build-up and ignite petrol

fumes, leading to fire and injury.

Refuelling with petrol

NOTE! Do not add cleaning additives unless

specifically recommended by a Volvo

workshop.

Opening the fuel filler flap

The fuel filler flap can be opened when the

car is unlocked.

Important!

Petrol-powered cars must always be

refuelled with unleaded petrol so as not

to damage the catalytic converter.

NOTE! The filler flap remains unlocked for ten

minutes after the car is locked. It then locks

automatically.

Refuelling with diesel

Fuel filler flap

At low temperatures, paraffin can precipitate

out of diesel fuel (–5 °C - –40 °C). This can

cause problems when starting. Make sure

you use a special winter grade fuel during

cold periods.

The fuel cap is inside the fuel filler flap on the

right rear wing.

There may be overpressure in the tank if

outdoor temperatures are high. Open the cap

slowly. Do not overfill the fuel tank. Stop

refuelling when the pump cuts out for the first

time! If the tank is overfilled fuel may overflow

at high temperatures!

NMQ

Starting and driving

Starting the car

Turn the key to the start position when the

lamp extinguishes.

Starting the engine (petrol)

– Depress the parking brake.

– Automatic gearbox: Gear selector in

position P or N.

Ignition switch and steering lock

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The steering wheel locks

when the ignition key is

removed.

Ignition keys and electronic

immobiliser

The ignition key must not hang with other

keys or metal objects on the same key ring.

The electronic immobiliser could be activated

accidentally. If this happens, remove the

excess keys and restart the car.

Manual gearbox: Gear lever in neutral and

the clutch pedal completely depressed.

This is especially important in severe cold.

– Turn the ignition key to start position. If

the engine does not start within

5-10 seconds, release the key (see also

"Autostart", page 106) and try again.

NOTE! Depending on the engine temper-

ature at the time of the start attempt, engine

speed after a cold start may be higher than

normal – for a short time period – for certain

engine types. This is because Volvo strives to

minimise exhaust emissions by having the

engine exhaust system reach the correct

operating temperature as quickly as possible.

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Certain electrical compo-

nents can be switched on.

The engine’s electrical

system is not activated.

Never rev the engine hard straight after a cold

start! If the engine does not start or misfires,

contact a Volvo workshop.

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The key position when

driving. The car’s entire

electrical system is

connected.

WARNING!

Never switch off the ignition (position 0 or

1) or remove the ignition key when the

vehicle is in motion. This could activate the

steering wheel lock, making the car

impossible to steer.

Always remove the ignition key from the

ignition switch before leaving the vehicle –

especially if children remain in the car.

III – Start position

The starter motor is

connected. Release the key

once the engine has started.

The key automatically

Starting the engine (Diesel)

– Depress the parking brake.

– Automatic gearbox: Gear selector in

position P or N.

springs back to the driving

Manual gearbox: Gear lever in neutral and

the clutch pedal completely depressed.

This is especially important in severe cold.

– Turn the ignition key to the driving

position. A symbol on the combined

instrument panel will come on indicating

that the engine preheater is activated.

position. If the key is hard to turn, the front

wheels may be turned in such a way that

there is tension in the steering wheel lock.

Turn the wheel back and forth to make it

easier to turn the key.

NMR

Starting and driving

Starting the car

Autostart (V8 AWD)

Using the autostart function, the ignition key

does not need to be kept in the start position

(position III) until the engine has started. Turn

the ignition key to the start position and

release it. The starter motor then operates

automatically (up to ten seconds) until the

engine has started.

NOTE! Make sure the steering wheel locks

when you leave the car. This reduces the risk

of theft.

NMS

Starting and driving

Manual gearbox

Reverse gear inhibitor

Only engage reverse gear when the car is

stationary.

Gear positions

Depress the clutch pedal fully with each gear

change. Remove your foot from the clutch

pedal between gear changes! Follow the

appropriate shifting pattern.

Use 6th gear as often as possible for the best

possible fuel economy.

NMT

Starting and driving

Automatic gearbox

Cold start

When starting in low temperatures, the gear

changes can sometimes feel hard. This is due

to the gearbox oil’s viscosity at low tempera-

tures. To minimise engine emissions, the

gearbox shifts up later than normal when the

engine is started at low temperatures.

Kick-down is used when maximum acceler-

ation is needed, such as for overtaking.

Safety systems

Cars with an automatic gearbox have special

safety systems:

To prevent overrevving, the gearbox control

program has a protective downshift inhibitor.

Keylock

To remove the ignition key, the gear selector

must be in the P position. The key is locked in

all other positions.

The kick-down function cannot be used in

the manual positions. Return to automatic

position D.

NOTE! Depending on the engine temper-

ature when the engine is started, the idle

speed after a cold start may be higher than

normal for certain engine types.

Parking position (P)

Stationary car with engine running:

– Hold your foot on the brake pedal when

moving the gear selector to another

position.

Turbo engine

When the engine is cold, the transmission

shifts gears at higher revs. This allows the

catalytic converter to reach normal operating

temperature more quickly, with less exhaust

emissions.

Electric gear inhibitor – Shiftlock

Parking position (P position)

To be able to move the gear selector from the

P position to other gear positions, the ignition

key must be in position I or II and the brake

pedal must be depressed.

Adaptive system

The gearbox is controlled by what is known

as an adaptive system. The system contin-

ually monitors how the gearbox is behaving

and senses every gear change for optimum

change quality.

Kick-down

When the accelerator is pressed all the way

to the floor, beyond the position normally

regarded as full acceleration, a lower gear is

immediately engaged. This is known as kick-

down.

Lock-up function

The gears have a lock-up function (locked

gears), which gives better engine braking and

lower fuel consumption.

When maximum speed for this gear is

reached, or if the accelerator is released from

the kick-down position, the gearbox automat-

ically changes up.

NMU

Starting and driving

P – Park

Select this position when you wish to start

the engine or park the car.

N – Neutral

Gear selector inhibitor

N is the neutral position. The engine can be

started but no gear is engaged. Apply the

parking brake when the car is stationary with

the gear selector in N.

The gear selector can always be moved freely

1

between N and D . Other positions are

locked with a latch that is released with the

inhibitor button on the gear selector.

The car should be stationary when you

select P!

D – Drive

With one press on the inhibitor button you

can move the lever forwards or backwards

between the gear positions, N, R and P.

In P, the gearbox is mechanically blocked.

Apply the parking brake when parking.

D is the normal driving position. The car

automatically shifts between the different

gears of the gearbox based on the level of

acceleration and speed. The car should be

stationary when selecting D from position R.

R – Reverse

The car should be stationary when you

select R.

1.

In models with 4-speed automatic

gearbox the inhibitor button on the

gear lever must be pressed.

NMV

Starting and driving

Automatic gearbox

Gear selector manual positions

Manual positions

To move from automatic D to the manual

gears, press the gear selector to the left. To

move from MAN back to D, press the gear

selector to the right to D.

W – Winter

The W button by the gear

selector engages and disen-

gages the winter

programme W. The symbol

W is shown in the combined

instrument panel when the

On the 4-speed automatic gearbox gears 3

winter programme is activated.

1

and 4 have the Lock-up function (locked

The winter programme starts the gearbox in

3rd gear in order to make it easier to pull off

on slippery roads. When the winter

programme is engaged, lower gears are

activated only by kick-down.

gears), which provides better engine braking

and lower fuel consumption.

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Manual gear positions can be selected at

anytime during your trip. The engaged gear is

locked until you select another gear. The car

will only shift if you slow to a very low speed.

The W programme can only be selected in

position D.

If you move the gear selector to minus (–), the

car downshifts automatically one gear at a

time while engine braking. If you move the

gear selector to plus (+), the car upshifts one

gear at a time.

Third gear is the highest gear that can be

used when starting.

1.

5th gear also has lock-up on the

5-speed automatic gearbox.

2nd and 6th gear also have lock-up

on the 6-speed automatic gearbox.

NNM

Starting and driving

All-wheel drive

All-wheel drive – AWD

All-wheel drive is always engaged.

All-wheel drive means that all four road

wheels are driven at the same time. Power is

automatically distributed between front and

rear wheels. An electronically controlled

clutch system distributes the power to the

pair of wheels that grips best. This provides

the best traction and prevents wheel spin.

Under normal driving conditions, the majority

of power is transmitted to the front wheels.

All-wheel drive improves driving safety in rain,

snow and icy conditions.

NNN

Starting and driving

Brake system

Brake servo

Dampness can affect braking

characteristics

using engine braking more efficiently and

requires the foot brake for only brief periods.

If the car is rolling or is being towed with the

engine turned off, the brake pedal must be

pressed about five times harder than when

the engine is running. If the brake pedal is

pressed when the engine is started, you will

feel the pedal drop. This is normal and due to

the brake servo becoming active. This may be

more noticeable if the car has emergency

brake assistance (EBA).

Brake components become wet when the car

is driven in heavy rain, through pools of water

or when the car is washed. This may alter

brake pad friction characteristics so that

there is a delay before braking effect is

noticed.

Bear in mind that driving with a trailer puts an

additional load on the car’s brakes.

Anti-lock braking system (ABS)

The anti-lock braking system (ABS)

prevents the wheels from locking up

under braking.

Press the brake pedal lightly from time to time

if driving for long stretches in rain or slushy

snow, as well as after setting off in very damp

or cold weather. This warms up the braking

surfaces and dries off any water. It is also

recommended to do this before parking the

car for a long period in such weather condi-

tions.

This means the ability to steer is

maintained and it is easier to swerve to avoid

a hazard, for example.

NOTE! If braking with the engine switched

off, press the brake pedal sharply once, not

repeatedly.

After the engine has been started, the ABS

will perform a brief self-test at a speed of

about 20 km/h. This can be felt and heard as

pulses in the brake pedal.

WARNING!

The brake servo only works when the

engine is running.

To get the most out of the ABS:

If the brakes are used heavily

•

Press brake pedal with full force. Pulses

will be felt.

When driving in the Alps or other roads with

similar characteristics, the car’s brakes are

heavily loaded even if the brake pedal is not

being depressed especially hard.

•

Steer the car in the direction of travel. Do

not release the pressure on the pedal.

Brake circuits

This symbol lights if a brake circuit is

not working.

Practice braking with the ABS system in a

traffic-free area and in different weather

conditions.

Because speed is often low, the brakes are

not cooled as effectively as when driving on

flat roads at higher speed.

If a fault should occur in one of the

circuits, it is still possible to brake the car. The

brake pedal will travel further and may feel

softer than normal. Harder pressure on the

pedal is needed to produce the normal

braking effect.

The ABS symbol lights up: for about

two seconds when the car is started if the

ABS is disengaged due to a fault.

So as not to overload the brakes, shift down

when driving downhill instead of using the

foot brake. Use the same gear driving

downhill as you would use driving uphill. This

NNO

Starting and driving

Electronic Brakeforce Distribution

system – EBD

registering how quickly the brake pedal is

depressed. Continue braking without easing

off on the brake pedal. The function is

suspended when the pressure on the brake

pedal eases. This function is always active

and cannot be disengaged.

The Electronic Brakeforce Distribution

system (EBD) is an integrated part of the

ABS system. The EBD system controls the

brake force to the rear wheels so that the

best possible braking force is always

available. Pulses will be heard and felt

through the brake pedal when the system

regulates brake force.

WARNING!

If the BRAKE and ABS warning symbols

are lit at the same time, a fault may have

occurred in the brake system. If the level in

the brake fluid reservoir is normal, drive

carefully to the nearest authorised Volvo

workshop to have the brake system

checked.

If the brake fluid is under the MIN level in

the brake fluid reservoir, do not drive

further before topping up the brake fluid.

The reason for the loss of brake fluid must

be investigated.

Emergency Brake Assistance – EBA

(Emergency Brake Assistance) In case of

sudden braking, full-strength braking is

provided instantaneously. The EBA function

senses when heavy braking is underway by

NNP

Starting and driving

Stability system

When the stability system is in action, it may

seem like the car does not respond normally

to acceleration. This is because the system

detects the amount of friction on the road

surface and allows the different stability

system functions to operate.

Spin Control (SC)

The Stability Control function prevents the

drive wheels from slipping during acceler-

ation. This improves road safety on slippery

surfaces. Under certain conditions, such as

when driving with snow chains or in deep

snow or sand, it may be beneficial to

deactivate the SC function to increase

traction. This is done with the STC/DSTC

button.

The car is either equipped with STC (Stability

and Traction Control) - Stability and traction

control system or DSTC (Dynamic Stability

and Traction Control) - Dynamic stability and

traction control system.

Active Yaw Control (AYC)

The Active Yaw Control function automati-

cally brakes one or more wheels to stabilise

the car in the event of a skid. If the brake

pedal were to be depressed in this situation,

it would feel more rigid than usual and a

pulsing sound would be heard.

Function/

system

1

STC

DSTC

TC

SC

AYC

X

1. Option on certain markets.

The AYC function is always active and cannot

be deactivated.

Traction Control (TC)

The Traction Control function transfers

power from the spinning drive wheel to the

drive wheel which has grip by braking the

spinning drive wheel. To increase forward

traction in this situation, it may be necessary

to depress the accelerator more than usual. A

pulsing sound is heard when Traction Control

is working. This is completely normal. The TC

function is most active at low speeds. It

cannot be deactivated.

WARNING!

Suppressing the STC or DSTC system

may alter the driving characteristics of the

car. Always take care when cornering and

driving in slippery conditions.

NNQ

Starting and driving

Parking assistance (option)

If the volume of another sound source from

the audio system is high, this is automatically

lowered.

towbar or the like as they would trigger the

sensors.

Rear parking assistance is deactivated

automatically when towing a trailer if a Volvo

genuine trailer cable is used.

The system is always activated when the car

is started.

WARNING!

Parking assistance does not relinquish the

driver’s own responsibility during parking.

The sensors have blind spots where

objects cannot be detected. Be aware of

children and animals near the car.

Parking assistance front and rear

Front parking assistance

General

The measurement area straight in front of the

car is approx. 0.8 m. The text message PARK

ASSIST ACTIVE appears in the audio display

when the sensors react to an obstacle in front

of the car.

Parking assistance is used as an aid to

parking. A signal indicates the distance to a

detected object.

The frequency of the signal increases as you

1

come closer to an object in front of or

behind the car.

Front parking assistance cannot be

combined with extra lights because the

sensors are affected by the extra lights.

The tone becomes constant at a distance of

about 30 cm. If there are objects within this

Rear parking assistance

1

distance both behind and in front of the car,

the signal alternates between front and rear

speakers.

The measurement area straight behind the

car is approx. 1.5 m. The text message PARK

ASSIST ACTIVE appears in the audio display

when reverse gear is engaged.

The system must be deactivated when

driving with a trailer, bike carrier on the

1.

Provided that the parking assistance

is mounted both front and rear.

NNR

Starting and driving

Parking assistance (option)

Rear parking assistance

Rear parking assistance is activated when

reverse gear is engaged. The signal comes

from the rear speakers.

Fault indicator

The information symbol comes

on and stays lit

PARK ASSIST SERVICE

REQUIRED is shown in the infor-

mation display in the centre of the combined

instrument panel together with the symbol.

Parking assistance sensors

Deactivating and reactivating

the parking assistance

Parking assistance can be deactivated with

the button in the switch panel. The LED in the

switch goes out. Parking assistance is reacti-

vated when the switch is turned on and the

LED illuminates.

Cleaning the sensors

The sensors must be cleaned regularly to

ensure that they work properly. Clean them

with water and car shampoo.

The sensors can react if covered by ice and

snow.

Front parking assistance

The front parking assistance is active at

speeds of below 15 km/h, even during

reversing. The signal comes from the front

loudspeakers.

NNS

Starting and driving

Towing and recovery

Do not bump start the engine

If you bump start a car with manual gearbox,

the catalytic converter(s) may be damaged.

Cars with an automatic gearbox cannot be

bump started. Use a booster battery if the

battery is flat.

If the car must be towed

•

Unlock the steering wheel lock so that the

car can be steered.

Keep in mind the highest legally permis-

sible speed.

Bear in mind that the brake and power

steering servos do not function when the

engine is off. Approx. five times more

pressure must be exerted on the brake

pedal and steering requires much more

force than usual.

•

Drive gently. Keep the towline taut to

avoid unnecessary jerking.

For automatic gearboxes

•

The gear selector should be in position N.

The maximum permissible speed when

towing a car with automatic gearbox is

80 km/h.

•

Only tow with the car facing forward.

The engine cannot be bump started.

"Jump starting", see page 119.

NNT

Starting and driving

Towing and recovery

The towing eye may only be used for towing

on roads, not for recovery after driving into a

ditch or the like. Professional help should be

called for recovery.

Towing eye

The towing eye is in the tool kit in the cargo

compartment. You must screw the towing

eye into place before towing. The socket and

cover for the towing eye are on the right-hand

side of each bumper.

Remove the cover as follows:

A. Release the bottom edge of the cover

with a coin.

B. Screw the towing eye securely into

place up to the flange (C). You can use

a wheelbrace.

After use, unscrew the towing eye and refit

the cover.

NNU

Starting and driving

Start assistance

compartment (2+).

WARNING!

Connect the clamp to the contact point

under a small black cover which has a

plus sign on it. The cover is integrated

with the fuse box cover.

The battery can generate oxyhydrogen

gas, which is highly explosive. One spark,

which can be generated if you connect the

jump leads incorrectly, is sufficient to

make the battery explode.

The battery contains sulphuric acid, which

can cause serious burns. If the acid

comes into contact with eyes, skin or

clothing, flush with large quantities of

water. If acid splashes into the eyes, seek

medical attention immediately.

4

2

– Connect one clamp of the black cable to

the negative terminal of the booster

battery (3–).

– Connect the other clamp of the black

cable to the lifting eye on your car’s

engine (4–).

– Start the engine of the "donor car". Let

the engine run a few minutes at a speed

slightly higher than idle 1500 rpm.

– Start the engine of the car with the flat

battery.

3

1

Starting with a booster battery

If for some reason the battery in your car is

discharged, you can "borrow" current from a

spare battery or another car’s battery to start

the engine. Always check that the clamps are

secure so that there are no sparks during the

start attempt.

– Remove the clamps in reverse order.

NOTE! Do not remove the clamps during the

start attempt; risk of spark build-up.

To avoid the risk of explosion, we recommend

you do exactly as follows.

– Turn the ignition key to position 0.

– Ensure that the booster battery has 12

volt current.

– If the booster battery is in another car,

stop the engine of that car and make sure

the cars are not touching.

– Connect the red cable to the positive

terminal (1+) of the booster battery and

the red connection in your car’s engine

NNV

Starting and driving

Driving with a trailer

The load capacity is affected by extra acces-

sories mounted on the car, such as a towbar,

the load on the towball (75 kg with trailer

hitched), load carriers and roof box, as well as

the passengers’ combined weight. The load

capacity of the car is reduced by the number

of passengers and their weight.

•

Do not drive with a heavy trailer when

your car is brand new! Wait until it has

gone at least 1000 km.

The brakes are loaded much more than

usual on long and steep downhill slopes.

Downshift to a lower gear and adjust your

speed.

If the car is driven with a heavy load in a

hot climate, the engine and gearbox may

overheat. The temperature gauge in the

combined instrument panel goes into the

red zone when the car overheats. Stop

and let the engine idle a few minutes.

If the car overheats, the air conditioning

system can be temporarily switched off.

The gearbox reacts with a built-in

protection function if the car overheats.

See the message in the display!

The engine is loaded more heavily than

usual when driving with a trailer.

For reasons of safety, you should not

drive faster than 80 km/h, even if the laws

of certain countries permit higher speeds.

The maximum permissible trailer weight

for a trailer without brakes is 750 kg.

Select position P (automatic gearbox) or

engage a gear (manual gearbox) when

parking with a trailer and always apply the

parking brake. If you are parking on a

steep incline, place chocks behind the

wheels.

Trailer weights

See page 225 for permitted trailer weights.

NOTE! The stated maximum permitted trailer

weights are those permitted by Volvo.

National vehicle regulations can further limit

trailer weights and speeds. Towbars can be

certified for higher towing weights than the

car can actually tow.

•

WARNING!

The car’s driving characteristics change

depending on how heavily it is loaded and

how the load is distributed.

WARNING!

•

Follow the stated recommendations for

trailer weights. Otherwise, the rig may be

difficult to control during evasive

manoeuvres and braking.

•

The car’s towing bracket must be of an

approved type.

If the towing bracket is fitted by Volvo, the

car is delivered with the necessary

equipment to drive with a trailer. If retro-

fitting, check with your Volvo dealer to

ensure that the car is fully equipped to

drive with a trailer.

•

Distribute the load on the trailer so that

the weight on the towing bracket follows

the specified maximum towball load.

Increase tyre pressure to correspond to

the pressure for full load. See the tyre

pressure table!

•

Clean the towing bracket regularly and

1

grease the towball and all moving parts

1.

Does not apply to ball hitch with

vibration damper.

to prevent unnecessary wear.

NOM

Starting and driving

Activating

Driving with trailer and

automatic gearbox

When parking on hills, you should apply the

parking brake before moving the gear

selector to P. When you start on a hill, you

should first put the gear selector in drive and

then release the parking brake.

To activate, the cables from the trailer must

be connected to the trailer socket which is

fitted beside the towbar, see page 122.

Deactivating

Unplug the cables from the electrical socket.

NOTE! The function is also activated when

any other electrical equipment is plugged into

the trailer socket, and the car then accel-

erates more gently when pulling away.

•

Select a low gear in the gearbox when

driving on steep inclines or when driving

slowly. This prevents the gearbox from

upshifting. The gearbox oil will be cooler.

Do not use a higher manual gear than the

engine can "handle". It is not always

economical to drive in high gears.

•

Avoid driving with trailer and automatic

gearbox on inclines exceeding 15 %.

Levelling (option on cars seating

five, standard on cars seating

seven)

If your car is equipped with automatic

levelling, the rear suspension always retains

the correct ride height regardless of load.

When the car is stationary, the rear

NOTE! An automatic gearbox oil cooler for

trailer towing is required for a number of

models.

Consult your Volvo dealer for information

regarding your car’s specifications if the

towbar has been installed after purchase.

suspension sinks. This is completely normal.

When starting with a load, the level is

pumped up after a certain distance.

Assisted starting with a trailer

Cars equipped with a V8 engine have an

integrated function which reduces the risk of

significant jerking and wheelspin when

starting with a trailer hitched to the car.

NON

Starting and driving

Driving with a trailer

Towing bracket (option)

NOTE! Check that the car is equipped with

transmission oil cooling if the towing bracket

is retrofitted.

Fixed towbar (A)

Always remember to fasten the trailer’s safety

cable to the attachment. See the illustration!

A

B

Detachable towbar (B)

Always follow mounting instructions carefully.

Always remember to fasten the trailer’s safety

cable to the attachment. See the illustration!

Always remember to clean and grease the

connector pin regularly.

If your car is equipped with a Volvo

detachable towbar:

Use recommended grease 8624203.

NOTE! Your car may have a towing bracket

with a 13 pin contact that you must connect

to a trailer with a 7 pin contact. In such a

case, use a Volvo Genuine adapter cable.

Make sure that the cable does not drag on

the ground.

•

Make sure that the towbar is locked

before you begin driving.

The red signal pin (see the arrow in the

illustration above) should not be visible.

The lock must be locked using the key.

See the description on page 124.

NOO

Starting and driving

aáëí~åÅÉ _ ~ÄçîÉW

Fixed towbar: 80 mm

Specifications

aáëí~åÅÉ ^ ~ÄçîÉW

Fixed towbar: 1124 mm

Detachable towbar: 80 mm

Detachable towbar: 1124 mm

Max. permissible ball pressure: 90 kg

NOP

Starting and driving

Detachable towbar — mounting

OPEN

B

– Remove the connector pin cover.

– Insert the key into the detachable part and

turn it clockwise to the unlocked position.

– Hold the towball and turn the lever

clockwise to the locked position.

NOQ

Starting and driving

LOCKED

PUSH TO

LOCK

RED PIN (B)

NOT VISIBLE

– Push the towball to the locked position.

Do not hold the lever.

– Check that the signal pin (B) is pushed in.

– Turn the key anticlockwise to the locked

position and remove it from the lock.

NOTE! The lever changes position quickly.

NOR

Starting and driving

Detachable towbar — removing

OPEN

– Insert the key into the detachable part and

turn it clockwise to the unlocked position.

– Turn the lever clockwise to the locked

position and grip the towball.

– Pull the towball from the connector pin.

Do not hold the lever.

Important!

The lock on the towball can only be

locked when the red plastic pin is not

visible.

NOS

Starting and driving

LOCKED

– Turn the key anticlockwise to the locked

position and remove it from the lock.

– Refit the connector pin cover as in the

illustration.

NOT

Starting and driving

Loading

General

The load capacity is affected by extra acces-

sories mounted on the car, such as a towbar,

the load on the towball (75 kg with trailer

hitched), load carriers and roof box, as well as

the passengers’ combined weight. The load

capacity of the car is reduced by the number

of passengers and their weight.

The car’s driving characteristics change

depending on how heavily it is loaded and

how the load is distributed.

Fitting load carriers

Load on the roof

Make sure that the load carrier sits correctly

against the roof rail. Screw on the load carrier

using its torque wrench. Tighten to the

marking on the torque wrench (corresponds

to 6 Nm). See illustration!

Load carrier position (accessory)

Make sure the load carrier is placed in the

right direction on the roof rails. Load carriers

can be positioned anywhere along the roof

rails. When driving without a load, the front

load carrier should be positioned 200 mm in

front of the centre rail foot and the rear load

carrier centred between the centre and rear

rail foot (see illustration) to minimise wind

noise. The longer load carrier should be in the

front.

NOU

Starting and driving

•

Remember that the car’s centre of gravity

and driving characteristics change if you

have a load on the roof.

Keep in mind that the car’s wind

resistance and fuel consumption increase

in proportion to the size of the load.

Drive gently! Avoid quick accelerations,

heavy braking and taking curves hard.

WARNING!

Load no more than 100 kg on the roof,

inclusive of the load carriers or roof box.

The car’s centre of gravity and driving

characteristics are altered by roof loads.

Load carrier cover

Use the end of the torque wrench (see illus-

tration) or the ignition key to loosen or secure

the cover. Rotate ¼ turn.

Load carriers

•

To avoid damaging your car and to

achieve the best level of safety when

driving, we recommend that you only use

load carriers that Volvo has specially

designed for your car.

•

Check periodically that the load carriers

and load are properly secured. Lash the

load securely with retaining straps!

Distribute the load evenly over the load

carriers. Do not load lopsidedly! Place the

heaviest items at the bottom.

NOV

Starting and driving

Adjusting headlamp pattern

illustrations corresponds to the line in the

headlamp lens that the template should be

matched to.

Position each template so that the arrows

point towards the centre and the dot on the

template matches the dot on the headlamp

lens. The template marking > < should be

aligned with the line on the headlamp lens.

After copying the templates, check the

measurements so that the reference

measurements cover enough of the beam

pattern.

Reference measurements:

Template 3.) The line between the > <

markings on the templates should be

approx. 140 mm.

The templates are for both LHD and RHD

variants and are positioned as illustrated.

The upper illustration is for LHD cars. The

lower illustration is for RHD cars.

Template 4.) The line between the > <

markings on the templates should be

approx. 112 mm.

Halogen headlamps

Copy templates 1 and 2. Check the measure-

ments to ensure they are correct. Transfer the

template to a self-adhesive, waterproof

material and cut it out.

A. Headlamp pattern for left-hand traffic B.

Right-hand traffic

Correct light pattern for left or

right-hand traffic

So as not to dazzle oncoming drivers, the

headlamp beam pattern can be altered by

masking the headlamps. The quality of the

beam pattern may not be as good.

Position each template so that the arrows

point towards the centre and the dot on the

template matches the dot on the headlamp

lens.

Reference measurements:

Template 1 and 2.) The long sides of the

templates should be approx. 82 mm.

Headlamp masking

Copy the templates found on page 132 and

transfer the pattern to a self-adhesive, water-

proof material such as opaque tape or similar.

Bi-Xenon headlamps

Copy templates 3 and 4. Check the measure-

ments to ensure they are correct. Transfer the

template to a self-adhesive, waterproof

material and cut it out.

The mask is positioned using the dot (5) in

the headlamp lens as a reference point,

which should align with the red dot on the

respective template. The long red line on the

NPM

Starting and driving

Fitting the mask to the headlamps. The upper illustration is for LHD variants and the lower illustration is for RHD variants. Templates 1 and 2 are for

halogen headlamps, 3 and 4 are for Bi-Xenon headlamps.

NPN

Starting and driving

Adjusting headlamp pattern

Masking templates

NPO

Starting and driving

BLIS (Blind Spot Information System)

the driver’s attention to a vehicle in the blind

spot.

B

WARNING!

- BLIS is an information system, NOT a

A

warning or safety system.

- The system is a complement to, and not

a replacement for, the existing rearview

mirrors. It can never replace the

awareness and responsibility of the

driver.

- The responsibility for changing lanes

safely rests with the driver.

1. BLIS camera

2. Indicator lamp

3. BLIS symbol

"Blind spots" covered by BLIS

Distance A = approx. 9.5 m

Distance B = approx. 3 m

NOTE! The lamp comes on on the side of the

car where the system has detected the

vehicle. If the car is overtaken on both sides

at the same time then both lamps come on.

When you are overtaken by another

vehicle:

BLIS

BLIS is an information system which

indicates whether there is another vehicle

moving in the same direction in the "blind

spot". The system is based on digital camera

technology. The cameras (1) are fitted under

the door mirrors.

•

The system reacts if you are overtaken by

a vehicle travelling up to 70 km/h faster

than you are travelling.

When BLIS operates

The system operates when the car is driven at

a speed between 10 km/h and 250 km/h.

•

The system does not react if you are

overtaken by a vehicle travelling more

than 70 km/h faster than you are

travelling.

When you overtake another vehicle:

•

The system reacts if you overtake another

vehicle at a speed of up to 20 km/h

faster than the other vehicle.

The system does not react if you drive at

a speed of more than 20 km/h faster

than the other vehicle.

When a camera has detected a vehicle inside

the blind spot zone (up to approx. 3 metres

from the side of the car and up to approx. 9.5

metres behind the rearview mirror) then an

indicator lamp is lit in the door panel (2). The

lamp comes on with a constant glow to draw

•

NPP

Starting and driving

BLIS (Blind Spot Information System)

to be detected by the system. This means

WARNING!

for example that the system does not

react to a trailer without headlamps /

daytime running lights which is towed

behind a car or truck.

- BLIS does not work in sharp bends.

- The system does not work if the camera

lenses are covered. In this case the BLIS

indicator lamps flash and a text message

is shown in the display (see table on

page 135).

- BLIS does not work when the car is

reversing.

System function in daylight and

darkness

•

Daylight: In daylight the system reacts to

the shape of the surrounding vehicles.

The system is designed to detect motor

vehicles such as cars, trucks, motorcycles

etc.

Switching off and reactivating BLIS

BLIS is always active when the ignition is

switched on.

•

The system can be switched off by

pressing the BLIS button in the switch

panel in the centre console (see illus-

tration above). The LED in the button

goes out when the system is switched off

and a text message is shown in the

display in the dashboard.

WARNING!

- The system does not react to bicycles

or mopeds.

- BLIS does not react to stationary

vehicles.

•

BLIS can be reactivated by pressing the

button. An LED in the button then lights

and a new text message is shown in the

display. Press the READ button, see

page 42, to clear the text message.

•

Darkness: In darkness the system reacts

to the headlamps of surrounding

vehicles. A vehicle in the blind spot must

at least have its daytime running lights on

NPQ

Starting and driving

System status

Text in the display

BLIS not functioning

BLIND-SPOT SYST SERVICE

REQUIRED

Right-hand camera

blocked

BLIND-SPOT SYST R CAMERA

BLOCKED

Left-hand camera

blocked

BLIND-SPOT SYST L CAMERA

BLOCKED

Both cameras blocked

BLIND-SPOT SYST CAMERAS

BLOCKED

BLIS system off

BLIS system on

BLIND-SPOT INFO SYSTEM OFF

BLIND-SPOT INFO SYSTEM ON

WARNING!

The BLIS cameras have the same limitations as the human eye, i.e.

they "see" worse in heavy snowfall or thick fog for example.

The messages above are only shown if the

ignition key is in position II and BLIS is active

(i.e. if the driver has not switched off the

system).

NPR

Starting and driving

NPS

Starting and driving for Your Volvo XC90 SUV First Generation (2002-2014)

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