tow VOLVO S60 2009 Owner´s Manual

05 Locks and alarmChild safety locks
05114
Manual child safety locks - rear doors
AB
G021514
Control for child safety lock - left rear doorThe controls are located on the rear door
jambs. Use the ignition key or a screwdriver to
adjust these controls.
A. The door cannot be opened from the
inside. Normal operation from the outside.
B. The door lock functions normally.
G021515
Control for child safety lock - right rear door
WARNING
Remember, in the event of an accident, the
rear seat passengers cannot open the doors
from the inside with the buttons in position
A.The alarm is automatically armed whenever
you lock your vehicle.
When armed, the alarm continuously monitors
a number of points on the vehicle. The follow-
ing conditions will set off the alarm:•
The hood is forced open.
•
The trunk is forced open.
•
A door is forced open.
•
The ignition switch is tampered with.
•
If there is movement in the passenger com-
partment (if the vehicle is equipped with
the optional movement sensor).
•
The vehicle is lifted or towed (if the vehicle
is equipped with the optional inclination
sensor).
•
The battery is disconnected (while the
alarm is armed).
•
The siren is disconnected when the alarm
is disarmed.
Arming the alarmPress the LOCK button on the remote control,
lock the vehicle using the key in the driver's
door or press the central lock button on the
driver's door with the door open. One long
flash of the turn signals will confirm that the
alarm is armed.

G020912
118
General information............................................................................... 120
Fuel requirements................................................................................. 121
Refueling............................................................................................... 122
Starting the vehicle............................................................................... 124
Economical driving................................................................................ 127
Handling and road holding.................................................................... 128
Manual transmission............................................................................. 129
Automatic transmission (option)........................................................... 130
All Wheel Drive (option)......................................................................... 134
Brake system........................................................................................ 135
Stability system..................................................................................... 138
Towing................................................................................................... 140
Jump starting........................................................................................ 142
Towing a trailer...................................................................................... 143
Detachable trailer hitch......................................................................... 145
Load carriers (accessory)...................................................................... 146
Cold weather precautions..................................................................... 148
Before a long distance trip.................................................................... 149
Front/rear park assist (option/accessory)............................................. 150

06 Starting and driving
Fuel requirements
06
121 Octane rating
Minimum octane
G028920
Typical pump octane labelVolvo recommends premium for best perform-
ance, but using 87 octane or above will not
affect engine reliability.
Volvo engines are designed to achieve rated
horsepower, torque, and fuel economy per-
formance using premium 91 octane fuel.Demanding drivingIn demanding driving conditions, such as oper-
ating the vehicle in hot weather, towing a trailer,
or driving for extended periods at higher alti-
tudes than normal, it may be advisable to
switch to higher octane fuel (91 or higher) or to
change gasoline brands to fully utilize yourengine's capacity, and for the smoothest pos-
sible operation.
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 as a
knock inhibitor, and do not use lead additives.
Besides damaging the exhaust emission con-
trol 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
precautions. 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, thicken-
ers, 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.

06 Starting and driving
Starting the vehicle
06``125
WARNING
Always place the gear selector in Park or in
reverse on models with a manual transmis-
sion, and apply the parking brake before
leaving the vehicle. Never leave the vehicle
unattended with the engine running.
Always open garage doors fully before star-
ting the engine inside a garage to ensure
adequate ventilation. The exhaust gases
contain carbon monoxide, which is invisible
and odorless but very poisonous
CAUTION
Automatic transmission
The engine should be idling when you move
the gear selector. Never accelerate until
after you feel the transmission engage!
Accelerating immediately after selecting a
gear will cause harsh engagement and pre-
mature transmission wear.
SelectingP or N when idling at a standstill
for prolonged periods of time will help pre-
vent overheating of the automatic transmis-
sion fluid.Do not race a cold engine immediately after
starting.
Ignition switch and steering wheel lock
0 – Locked position:
Remove the key to lock
the steering wheel
A.
I – Intermediate posi-
tion
B – "radio position":
Certain accessories,
radio, etc. on, daytime
running lights off.
II – Drive position: The
key position when driving.
The vehicle's entire elec-
trical system is con-
nected.
III – Start position:
Release the key when the
engine starts. The key
returns automatically to
the Drive position.
A chime will sound if the key is left in the
ignition and the driver's door is opened.AThe gear selector must be in the P (Park) position (automatic
transmission).BPlease be aware that leaving the key in this position will
increase battery drain.
WARNING
Never turn the key to position 0 while driving
or when the vehicle is being towed.Steering wheel lockThe steering wheel lock might be under tension
when the vehicle is parked.
Turn the steering wheel slightly to free the igni-
tion key.
In order to help reduce vehicle theft, make
sure the steering wheel lock is engaged
before leaving the vehicle.

06 Starting and drivingHandling and road holding
06128
Weight distribution affects handlingAt the specified curb weight your vehicle has a
tendency to understeer, which means that the
steering wheel has to be turned more than
might seem appropriate for the curvature of a
bend.
This ensures good stability and reduces the
risk of rear wheel skid. Remember that these
properties can alter with the vehicle load.
The heavier the load in the trunk (max. 220 lbs,
100 kg), the less the tendency to understeer.Handling, roadholdingVehicle load, tire design and inflation pressure
all affect vehicle handling. Therefore, check
that the tires are inflated to the recommended
pressure according to the vehicle load. See
"Tire pressure" section.
Loads should be distributed so that capacity
weight or maximum permissible axle loads are
not exceeded.
Speed-sensitive power steering
(Option on certain models)With this feature, the steering is most respon-
sive at lower speeds to make parking, driving
in city traffic, etc., easier. The effect of the
power steering diminishes as you accelerate
for greater stability at highway speeds.Driving through waterThe vehicle can be driven through water up to
a depth of approximately 9 in. (25 cm), at a
maximum speed of 6 mph (10 km/h).
Take particular care when driving through flow-
ing water.
Clean the electrical connections for trailer wir-
ing after driving in mud or water.
When driving through water, maintain low
speed and do not stop in the water.
WARNING
After driving through water, press lightly on
the brake pedal to ensure that the brakes
are functioning normally. Water or mud can
make the brake linings slippery, resulting in
delayed braking effect.
CAUTION
•
Engine damage will occur if water is
drawn into the air cleaner.
•
If the vehicle is driven through water
deeper than 9 in (25 cm), water may
enter the differential and the transmis-
sion. This reduces the oil's lubricating
capacity and may shorten the service
life of these components.
•
Do not allow the vehicle to stand in
water up to the door sills longer than
absolutely necessary. This could result
in electrical malfunctions.
•
If the engine has been stopped while the
car is in water, do not attempt to restart
the engine. Have the car towed out of
the water.

06 Starting and drivingAutomatic transmission (option)
06130
P (Park)
G031105
Use this position when starting the engine or
parking the vehicle.
CAUTION
The vehicle must be stationary when posi-
tionP is selected.The parking brake should be set whenever the
vehicle is parked.
The gear selector is mechanically locked in the
P position (SHIFTLOCK). To release the gear
selector from this position, the engine must be
running (or the ignition key must be in posi-
tionII) and the brake pedal must be depressed.
WARNING
Never leave the vehicle unattended when
the engine is running. If, by mistake, the gear
selector is moved from P, the vehicle may
start moving.R (Reverse)Never engage R while the vehicle is moving.N (Neutral)Neutral - no gear engaged. Use the parking
brake.D (Drive)D is the normal driving position and should be
used as often as possible to help improve fuel
economy. The vehicle should not be moving
when shifting from R to the D position.4 (Intermediate gear)The transmission will shift automatically
between gears 4, 3, 2 or 1 from this position.
The transmission cannot shift up to D from
fourth gear.
3 (Intermediate gear)The transmission will shift automatically
between gears 3, 2 and 1 from this position.
The transmission cannot shift up to fourth gear
orD from third gear.L (Low gears)The transmission is locked in gears 1 and 2
when the selector is in this position.
NOTE
Gears4,3, or L can be used if you are driv-
ing in a mountainous area, towing a trailer
or to increase engine braking effect.
The transmission has a built-in limiter
designed to help prevent excessive engine
speeds (high rpm) when gears 4,3, or L are
selected.

06 Starting and drivingAutomatic transmission (option)
06
133
The currently selected gear will be displayed in
the instrument panel (see page 50).•
To access the MAN shifting position from
D, move the gear selector to the left to
MAN.
•
To return to the D position from MAN,
move the gear selector to the right.
While drivingIf you select the MAN position while driving, the
gear that was being used in the D position will
also initially be selected in MAN position.•
Move the gear selector forward (toward
"+") to shift to a higher gear or rearward
(toward "–") to shift to a lower gear.
•
If you hold the gear selector toward "–", the
transmission will downshift one gear and
will utilize the braking power of the engine.
If the current speed is too high for using a
lower gear, the downshift will not occur
until the speed has decreased enough to
allow the lower gear to be used.
•
If you slow down to a very low speed, the
transmission will automatically shift down.
•
When starting in the MAN position, 3rd
gear is the highest gear that may be
selected.
NOTE
Kickdown does not function when the trans-
mission is in the manual shift (Geartronic)
mode.The gear selector must be in the D
position.KickdownAutomatic shift to a lower gear (kickdown) is
achieved by depressing the accelerator pedal
fully and briskly. An upshift will occur when
approaching the top speed for a particular gear
or by releasing the accelerator pedal slightly.
Kickdown can be used for maximum acceler-
ation or when passing at highway speeds.
Kickdown does not function when the trans-
mission is in the manual shift (Geartronic)
mode.W - Winter/Wet driving mode -
enhanced vehicle tractionPlease refer to the information on page 131.

06 Starting and driving
Brake system
06``135 BRAKE Brake circuit malfunction
The brake system is a hydraulic system con-
sisting of two master cylinders and two sepa-
rate brake circuits. If a problem should occur in
one of these circuits, it is still possible to stop
the vehicle with the other brake circuit.
If the brake pedal must be depressed farther
than normal and requires greater foot pressure,
the stopping distance will be longer.
A warning light in the instrument panel will light
up to warn the driver that a fault has occurred.
If this light comes on while driving or braking,
stop immediately and check the brake fluid
level in the reservoir.
NOTE
Press the brake pedal hard and maintain
pressure on the pedal – do not pump the
brakes.
WARNING
If the fluid level is below the MIN mark in the
reservoir or if a
Brake failure – Service
urgent
message is displayed in the text
window:DO NOT DRIVE
. Have the vehicle
towed to a trained and qualified Volvo serv-
ice technician and have the brake system
inspected.
NOTE
When the vehicle is at a standstill and the
engine is idling, e.g. at a traffic light and the
brake pedal is depressed, the pedal may go
down slightly. This is a normal function of
the power-assisted brake system.Power brakes function only when the
engine is runningThe power brakes utilize vacuum pressure
which is only created when the engine is run-
ning. Never let the vehicle roll to a stop with the
engine switched off.
If the power brakes are not working, the brake
pedal must be pressed approximately four
times harder than usual to make up for the lack
of power assistance. This can happen for
example when towing your vehicle or if the
engine is switched off when the vehicle is roll-
ing. The brake pedal feels harder than usual.
Water on brake discs and brake pads
affects brakingDriving in rain and slush or passing through an
automatic car wash can cause water to collect
on the brake discs and pads. This will cause a
delay in braking effect when the pedal is
depressed. To avoid such a delay when the
brakes are needed, depress the pedal occa-
sionally when driving through rain, slush etc.
This will remove the water from the brakes.
Check that brake application feels normal. This
should also be done after washing or starting
in very damp or cold weather.Severe strain on the brake systemThe brakes will be subject to severe strain
when driving in mountains or hilly areas or tow-
ing. Vehicle speed is usually slower, which
means that the cooling of the brakes is less
efficient than when driving on level roads. To
reduce the strain on the brakes, shift into a
lower gear and let the engine help with the
braking. Do not forget that, if you are towing a
trailer, the brakes will be subjected to a greater
than normal load.

06 Starting and drivingBrake system
06136
Anti-lock brakes (ABS)
If the warning lamp lights up there
is a malfunction of the ABS system
(the standard braking system will
however function) and the vehicle
should be driven cautiously to a
trained and qualified Volvo service technician
for inspection. The Anti-lock Braking System
(ABS) helps to improve vehicle control (stop-
ping and steering) during severe braking con-
ditions by limiting brake lockup. When the
system "senses" impending lockup, braking
pressure is automatically modulated in order to
help prevent lockup, which could lead to a skid.
The system performs a self-diagnostic test
when the engine is started and when the
vehicle first reaches a speed of approxi-
mately 12 mph (20 km/h). The brake pedal will
pulsate several times and a sound may be
audible from the ABS control module. This is
normal.
To obtain optimal effect from the ABS system,
constant pressure should be kept on the brake
pedal. Do not pump the brake pedal.
The switching of the ABS modulator will be
audible and the brake pedal will pulsate during
braking. Please be aware that ABS does not
increase the absolute braking potential of the
vehicle. While control will be enhanced, ABSwill not shorten stopping distances on slippery
surfaces.
ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake Force
Distribution)EBD is an integrated part of the ABS system.
EBD regulates the hydraulic pressure to the
rear brakes to help provide optimal braking
capacity. The brake pedal will pulsate during
braking, which is normal.
If the BRAKEandABS warning lights come on
at the same time, this could indicate a fault in
the brake system.
1. Stop the vehicle in a suitable place and
switch off the engine.
2. Restart the engine.
3. If both warning lights go off, no further
action is required.
WARNING
If the fluid level is below the MIN mark in the
reservoir or if a "
Brake failure - Service
urgent
" message is displayed in the text
window:DO NOT DRIVE
. Have the vehicle
towed to a trained and qualified Volvo serv-
ice technician and have the brake system
inspected.
4. If both lights are still on after the engine has
been restarted, switch off the engine again
and check the brake fluid level (see
page 193 for the location of the brake fluid
reservoir).
5.
If the brake fluid level is above the MIN
mark, drive carefully to a trained and quali-
fied Volvo service technician and have the
brake system inspected.Emergency Brake Assistance (EBA)The EBA function is designed to provide full
brake effect immediately in the event of sud-
den, hard braking. The system is activated by
the speed with which you depress the brake
pedal.

06 Starting and drivingTowing
06140
Emergency towing
ABC
G028091
Front towing eyeletThe towing eyelet is located in the tool bag,
under the floor of the trunk, with the spare tire.
This eyelet must be screwed into the positions
provided on the right sides of either the front or
rear bumper (B, see illustrations).
WARNING
Do not use the towing eyelets to pull the
vehicle up onto a flat bed tow truck.
To attach the towing eyelet:A. Use a coin to pry open the lower edge of
the cover (A)
1.
B. Screw the towing eyelet (C) in place, first
by hand and then using the tire iron until it
is securely in place.
After the vehicle has been towed, the eyelet
should be removed and returned to the tool
bag. Press the cover back into position.A
B
C
G028093
Rear towing eyelet
Precautions when the vehicle is in tow•
The steering wheel must be unlocked. Turn
the ignition key to position I or II.
•
The gear selector must be in position N.
•
Maximum speed: 50 mph (80 km/h). Do not
exceed the maximum allowable towing
speed.
•
Maximum distance with front wheels on
ground: 50 miles (80 km).
•
While the vehicle is being towed, try to
keep the tow rope taut at all times.
•
The vehicle should only be towed in for-
ward direction.
1The opening in the cover may vary.