towing VOLVO XC70 2009 Owner´s Manual

05 During your tripTowing a trailer
05210
IntroductionVolvo recommends the use of Volvo trailer
hitches that are specially designed for the vehi-
cle.
NOTE
See page 271 for the maximum trailer and
tongue weights recommended by Volvo.•
Observe the legal requirements of the
state/province in which the vehicles are
•
All Volvo models are equipped with
energy-absorbing shock-mounted bump-
ers. Trailer hitch installation should not
interfere with the proper operation of this
bumper system.
Trailer towing does not normally present any
particular problems, but take into considera-
tion:
•
Increase tire pressure to recommended
full. See the tire inflation tables on pages
248 and 249.
•
When your vehicle is new, avoid towing
heavy trailers during the first 620 miles
(1,000 km).
•
Maximum speed when towing a trailer:
50 mph (80 km/h).
•
Engine and transmission are subject to
increased loads. Therefore, engine coolant
temperature should be closely watchedwhen driving in hot climates or hilly terrain.
Use a lower gear and turn off the air con-
ditioner if the temperature gauge needle
enters the red range.
•
If the automatic transmission begins to
overheat, a message will be displayed in
the text window.
•
Avoid overload and other abusive opera-
tion.
•
Hauling a trailer affects handling, durabil-
ity, and economy.
•
It is necessary to balance trailer brakes
with the towing vehicle brakes to provide a
safe stop (check and observe state/local
regulations).
•
Do not connect the trailer's brake system
directly to the vehicle's brake system.
•
More frequent vehicle maintenance is
required.
•
Remove the ball and drawbar assembly
when the hitch is not being used.
•
Volvo recommends the use of synthetic
engine oil when towing a trailer over long
distances or in mountainous areas.
WARNING
•
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 system, nor a trailer's lighting
system directly to the vehicle lighting
system. Consult your nearest author-
ized Volvo retailer for correct installa-
tion.
•
When towing a trailer, the trailer's safety
wire must be correctly fastened to the
hole or hook provided in the trailer hitch
on the vehicle. The safety wire should
never be fastened to or wound around
the drawbar ball.

05 During your trip
Towing a trailer
05
211
NOTE
•
When parking the vehicle with a trailer
on a hill, apply the parking brake before
putting the gear selector in P. Always
follow the trailer manufacturer's recom-
mendations for wheel chocking.
•
When starting on a hill, put the gear
selector in D before releasing the park-
ing brake. See also page 115 for more
detailed information about starting off
on a hill while towing a trailer.
•
If you use the manual (Geartronic) shift
positions while towing a trailer, make
sure the gear you select does not put
too much strain on the engine (using too
high a gear).
•
The drawbar assembly/trailer hitch may
be rated for trailers heavier than the
vehicle is designed to tow. Please
adhere to Volvo's recommended trailer
weights.
•
Avoid driving with a trailer on inclines of
more than 15 %.
Trailer cableAn adapter is required if the vehicle's trailer
hitch has a 13-pin connector and the trailer has
7 pins. Use an adapter cable approved by
Volvo. Make sure the cable does not drag on
the ground.
Detachable trailer hitch (accessory)
AC
E
D
B
G010496
Ball holderLocking boltCotter pinHitch assemblySafety wire attachment
Installing the ball holder1. If necessary, remove the cotter pin from
the locking bolt and slide the locking bolt
out of the hitch assembly.
2. Slide the ball holder into the hitch assem-
bly.
3. Align the hole in the ball holder with the one
in the hitch assembly.4. Slide the locking bolt through the hitch
assembly/ball holder.
5. Insert the cotter pin in the hole at the end
of the locking bolt.
Removing the ball holder1. Remove the cotter pin from the locking bolt
and slide the locking bolt out of the ball
holder/hitch assembly.
2. Pull the ball holder out of the hitch assem-
bly.
NOTE
A cover for the hitch assembly is also
included in the kit.

05 During your tripEmergency towing
05212
Towing eyelet
G017464
Location of the towing eyelet
G021501
Attaching the towing eyeletThe towing eyelet is located under the floor of
the cargo area, with the spare tire. This eyelet
must be screwed into the positions providedon the right sides of either the front or rear
bumper (see illustration).
CAUTION
If the vehicle is being towed on a flat bed
truck, the towing eyelets must not be used
to pull the vehicle up onto the flat bed.
NOTE
On certain models equipped with a trailer
hitch, the towing eyelet cannot be screwed
into the hole in the rear bumper. The towing
rope should be attached to the trailer hitch
instead. For this reason, the detachable
section of the trailer hitch should be safely
stowed in the vehicle at all times.Attaching the towing eyelet
V70
Press the marked edge of the cover in the
bumper and release it.Fold away the cover and screw the towing
eyelet in place, first by hand and then using
the tire iron until it is securely in place.
XC70
Use a coin to pry open the lower edge of
the cover.
Screw the towing eyelet 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 its storage
location.
Press the cover for the attachment point back
into position.WARNING
If the vehicle has no electrical current and
must be towed, the power steering and
brake systems will not function normally. It
will still be possible to steer the vehicle and
apply the brakes. However, keep in mind
that greater effort will be required to turn the
steering wheel and depress the brake pedal.Precautions when the vehicle is in tow•
The steering wheel must be unlocked. The
remote key must be in the ignition slot
1.
•
Attach jumper cables (see page 105) to
provide current for releasing the optional
electric parking brake and to move the gear
selector from the P position.
•
The gear selector must be in position N.
1On vehicles with the optional keyless drive, the remote key must be in the passenger compartment.

05 During your trip
Emergency towing
05
213
•
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 the
forward direction.NOTE
During towing, ignition mode II should be
used so that the lighting can be switched on.
CAUTION
Vehicles with AWD (All Wheel Drive) with the
front wheels off the ground should not be
towed at speeds about 50 mph (70 km/h) or
for distances longer than 30 miles (50 km).
CAUTION
•
Please check with state and local
authorities before attempting this type
of towing, as vehicles being towed are
subject to regulations regarding maxi-
mum towing speed, length and type of
towing device, lighting, etc.
•
If the vehicle's battery is dead, do not
attempt to start the vehicle by pushing
or pulling it as this will damage the
three-way catalytic converter(s). The
engine must be jump started using an
auxiliary battery (see page 105).
•
If the vehicle is being towed on a flat bed
truck, the towing eyelets must not be
used to pull the vehicle up onto the flat
bed or to secure the vehicle on the flat
bed. Consult the tow truck operator.
Towing vehicles with front wheel drive/
All Wheel DriveVolvo recommends the use of flat bed equip-
ment.•
If wheel lift equipment must be used,
please use extreme caution to help avoid
damage to the vehicle. In this case, the
vehicle should be towed with the rear
wheels on the ground if at all possible.
•
If it is absolutely necessary to tow the vehi-
cle with the front wheels on the ground,please refer to the towing information on
page 212.
CAUTION
•
Sling-type equipment applied at the
front will damage radiator and air con-
ditioning lines.
•
It is equally important not to use sling-
type equipment at the rear or apply lift-
ing equipment inside the rear wheels;
serious damage to the rear axle may
result.
•
If the vehicle is being towed on a flat bed
truck, the towing eyelets must not be
used to secure the vehicle on the flat
bed. Consult the tow truck operator.

06 Maintenance and specifications
Wheels and tires
06``251
•
Maximum load rating: a figure indicating
the maximum load in pounds and kilo-
grams that can be carried by the tire. This
rating is established by the tire manufac-
turer.
•
Maximum permissible inflation
pressure: the greatest amount of air pres-
sure that should ever be put in the tire. This
limit is set by the tire manufacturer.
•
Recommended tire inflation pressure:
inflation pressure, established by Volvo,
which is based on the type of tires that are
mounted on a vehicle at the factory. This
inflation pressure is affected by the number
of occupants in the vehicle, the amount of
cargo, and the speed at which the vehicle
will be driven for a prolonged period. This
information can be found on the tire infla-
tion placard(s) located on the driver's side
B-pillar or on the inside of the fuel filler door
on Canadian models, and in the tire infla-
tion table in this chapter.
•
Cold tires: The tires are considered to be
cold when they have the same temperature
as the surrounding (ambient) air. This tem-
perature is normally reached after the vehi-
cle has been parked for at least 3 hours.
Vehicle loadingProperly loading your vehicle will provide maxi-
mum return of vehicle design performance.
Before loading your vehicle, familiarize yourself
with the following terms for determining your
vehicle's weight ratings, with or without a
trailer, from the vehicle's Federal/Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS/
CMVSS) label, and the vehicle's tire informa-
tion placard:Curb weightThe weight of the vehicle including a full tank
of fuel and all standard equipment. It does not
include passengers, cargo, or optional equip-
ment.Capacity weightAll weight added to the curb weight, including
cargo and optional equipment. When towing,
trailer hitch tongue load is also part of cargo
weight.
NOTE
For trailer towing information, please refer to
the section "Towing a trailer", see
page 210.Permissible axle weightThe maximum allowable weight that can be
carried by a single axle (front or rear). Thesenumbers are shown on the Federal/Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS/
CMVSS) label. The total load on each axle must
never exceed its maximum permissible weight.
Gross vehicle weight (GVW)The vehicle's curb weight + cargo + passen-
gers.
NOTE
•
The location of the various labels in your
vehicle can be found on page 266.
•
A table listing important weight limits for
your vehicle can be found on page
271.
Steps for Determining Correct Load
Limit1. Locate the statement "the combined
weight of occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX pounds" on your vehi-
cle's placard.
2. Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX kilograms or
XXX pounds.

06 Maintenance and specificationsWheels and tires
06252
4. The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity. For example, if the "XXX" amount
equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five
150 lb. passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400 – 750
(5 × 150) = 650 lbs.)
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load
from your trailer will be transferred to your
vehicle. Consult this manual
1 to determine
how this reduces the available cargo and
luggage load capacity of your vehicle.
WARNING
•
Exceeding the permissible axle weight,
gross vehicle weight, or any other
weight rating limits can cause tire over-
heating resulting in permanent defor-
mation or catastrophic failure.
•
Do not use replacement tires with lower
load carrying capacities than the tires
that were original equipment on the
vehicle because this will lower the vehi-
cle's GVW rating. Replacement tires
with a higher limit than the originals do
not increase the vehicle's GVW rating
limitations.
Uniform Tire Quality GradingALL PASSENGER VEHICLE TIRES MUST
CONFORM TO FEDERAL SAFETY
REQUIREMENTS IN ADDITION TO THESE
GRADES
Quality grades can be found, where appli-
cable, on the tire sidewall between the tread
shoulder and maximum section width. For
example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
TREADWEARThe treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course. For example, a tire gra-
ded 150 would wear one and one half (1 1/2)
times as well on the government course as a
tire graded 100. The relative performance of
tires depends upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and many depart signifi-
cantly from the norm due to variation in driving
habits, maintenance practices and differences
in road characteristics and climate.TRACTIONThe traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C, as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test sur-
faces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance. The trac-
tion grade assigned to this tire is based on
braking (straight-ahead) traction tests and is
not a measure of cornering (turning) traction.
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on braking (straight-ahead) traction
tests and is not a measure of cornering
(turning) traction.
1See "Introduction" on page 210.

07 Index
07
279
EECC.......................................... 126, 127, 128
Economical driving..................................194
Electric parking brake.............................. 114
Electronic Climate Control.......126, 127, 128
air distribution table............................ 130
Interior Air Quality System.................. 128
ventilated seats................................... 126
Emergency brake lights............................. 86
Emergency locking retractor...................... 34
Emergency starting.................................. 105
Emergency towing...........................212, 213
Emission inspection readiness................ 217
Engine
overheating........................................... 75
specifications...................................... 272
starting................................................ 103
starting with keyless drive.................. 104
Engine compartment overview................ 219
Engine oil
checking............................................. 220
low pressure warning light.................... 73
specifications...................................... 273
volumes.............................................. 274Environment............................................... 10
Eyelets for anchoring loads..................... 203
FFederal Clean Air Act............................... 216
Floor rails................................................. 204
Fluid specifications.................................. 274
Fog lights
front...................................................... 73
front, changing bulbs.......................... 228
front/rear...............................................86
Four C (active chassis system)................157
Front airbags.................................. 19, 20, 21
disconnecting passenger’s side air-
bag.................................................. 23, 24
Front fog lights..................................... 73, 86
changing bulbs................................... 228
Front park assist..............................181, 183
Front seats........................................... 79, 80
heated................................................. 126
Fuel filler cap............................................ 200
Fuel filler door, opening........................... 200
Fuel level warning light.............................. 73Fuel requirements............................198, 199
Fuel tank volume...................................... 274
Fuses...............................236, 237, 240, 242
GGasoline requirements............................. 199
Gas tank volume...................................... 274
Gauges...................................................... 71
Geartronic................................................ 108
Geartronic automatic transmission.......... 108
Generator warning light............................. 74
Glossary of tire terminology..................... 250
Grocery bag holder.................................. 205
Gross vehicle weight............................... 251HHands-free connection (cell phone) (Cell
phone, hands-free connection)................ 143
Hazard warning flashers............................ 87

07 Index
07
283
Starting the vehicle
after a crash (crash mode)....................32
Start inhibitor (immobilizer)........................ 52
Steel grid in cargo area............................ 207
Steering wheel
adjusting............................................... 84
horn....................................................... 84
keypad.................................. 84, 120, 131
Stone chips, touching up......................... 264
Storage spaces........................................ 188
Studded tires........................................... 253
Sunroof (moonroof).............................. 98, 99
Supplemental restraint system.................. 18
warning light......................................... 74TTailgate
driving with it open.............................194
power operated.................................. 202
wiper/washer........................................ 92
Tailgate wipers......................................... 232
Taillights, changing bulbs........................ 228Telephone (cellular), hands-free connec-
tion (Cell phone, hands-free connection). 143
Temporary spare tire...............................254
Three-way catalytic converter................. 200
Tire designations.....................................249
Tire Pressure Monitoring System....259, 260
indicator light........................................ 73
Tires
age...................................................... 245
changing from summer to winter........ 254
glossary of terms................................ 250
improving economy............................ 245
inflation pressure........................ 246, 247
inflation pressure tables.............248, 249
snow...................................................253
spare................................................... 254
specifications...................................... 247
storing................................................. 244
studded............................................... 253
tire pressure monitoring system......... 259
uniform tire quality grading................. 252
Top tether anchors (child restraint sys-
tems).......................................................... 43
Touching up paint.................................... 264
Towing a trailer................................210, 211
trailer hitch.......................................... 211Towing the vehicle........................... 212, 213
Traction control........................................ 155
Trailer towing...................................210, 211
trailer hitch.......................................... 211
Transmission
general description..................... 107, 108
oil........................................................ 274
shiftlock override................................ 108
Tread wear indicator................................ 244
Trip computer.......................................... 152
Trip odometers.......................................... 76
Trips, long distance................................. 195
Turn signals
changing bulbs................................... 227
indicator lights................................73, 88
Two-stage booster cushion....................... 45
UUniform Tire Quality Grading................... 252
Unlocking the vehicle................................. 54
Upholstery care....................................... 263