VOLVO XC90 2007 Owners Manual

2007 Volvo XC90
- Select the desired gear. The gear engages after a very slight delay wh\
ich is especially noticeable when selecting R.
NOTE: Your vehicle is equipped with a KEYLOCK system. When the engine is switched off, the gear selector must be
in the (P)ark position before the key can be removed from the ignition switch. W\
hen starting in cold weather, the
transmission may shift up at slightly higher engine speeds than normal u\
ntil the automatic transmission fluid reaches
normal operating temperature.
NOTE: Do not race a cold engine immediately after starting. Oil flow may not \
reach some lubrication points fast enough
to prevent engine damage.
WARNING!
An extra mat on the driver's floor can cause the accelerator pedal to ca\
tch. Check that the movement of the accelerator
pedal is not impeded. No more than one protective floor covering may be \
used at one time.
1. If two of the keys to your vehicle are close together, e.g. on the sa\
me key ring when you try to start the vehicle, this could cause
interference in the immobilizer system and result in the vehicle not sta\
rting. If this should occur, remove one of the keys from the key
ring before trying to start the vehicle again.
2. On vehicles equipped with the autostart feature, release the key imme\
diately. See also
page 121.
pg. 120 Starting and driving
Starting the vehicle
WARNING!
Always place the gear selector in Park and apply the parking brake befor\
e leaving the vehicle. Never leave the vehicle
unattended with the engine running. Always open garage doors fully befor\
e starting the engine inside a garage to ensure
adequate ventilation. The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, which i\
s invisible and odorless but very poisonous.
CAUTION!
Automatic transmission
The engine should be idling when you move the gear selector. Never accel\
erate until after you feel the transmission
engage! Accelerating immediately after selecting a gear will cause harsh\
engagement and premature transmission wear.
Selecting P or N when idling at a standstill for prolonged periods of ti\
me will help prevent overheating of the automatic
transmission fluid.
pg. 121 Starting and driving
Economical driving
Ignition switch and steering wheel lock
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2007/2007_XC90/07xc90_06.htm (7 of 32)12/30/2006\
5:53:44 PM

2007 Volvo XC90
0 - Locked position:
Remove the key to lock the steering wheel
1.
WARNING!
Never turn the key to position O while driving or when the vehicle is be\
ing
towed.
I - Intermediate position2 - "radio position": Certain accessories, radio, etc. on, daytime running lights off.
II - Drive position: The key position when driving. The vehicle's entire electrical system i\
s connected.
III - Start position: Release the key when the engine starts. The key returns automatically t\
o the Drive position.
A chime will sound if the key is left in the ignition and the driver's d\
oor is opened.
Autostart
This function makes it possible to start the vehicle without holding the\
key in the start position (position III) until the
engine starts. Turn the key to position III and release it. The starter \
motor will then operate automatically (for up to ten
seconds) until the engine starts.
Steering wheel lock
The steering wheel lock might be under tension when the vehicle is parke\
d.
Turn the steering wheel slightly to free the ignition key.
In order to help reduce vehicle theft, make sure the steering wheel lock\
is engaged before leaving the vehicle.
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2007/2007_XC90/07xc90_06.htm (8 of 32)12/30/2006\
5:53:44 PM

2007 Volvo XC90
WARNING!
Never switch off the ignition (turn the ignition key to position 0) or\
remove the key from the ignition switch while the
vehicle is in motion. This could cause the steering wheel to lock, which\
would make the vehicle impossible to steer.
Economical driving conserves natural resources
Better driving economy may be obtained by thinking ahead, avoiding rapid\
starts and stops and adjusting the speed of your
vehicle to immediate traffic conditions. Observe the following rules:
l Bring the engine to normal operating temperature as soon as possible by \
driving with a light foot on the accelerator
pedal for the first few minutes of operation. A cold engine uses more fu\
el and is subject to increased wear.
l Whenever possible, avoid using the vehicle for driving short distances. \
This does not allow the engine to reach normal
operating temperature.
l Drive carefully and avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking.
l Use the transmission's (D)rive position as often as possible and avoid using "kickdown" to help \
improve fuel economy.
l Do not exceed posted speed limits.
l Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra load) in the vehicle.
l Maintain correct tire pressure. Check tire pressure regularly (when tir\
es are cold).
l Remove snow tires when threat of snow or ice has ended.
1. The gear selector must be in the (P)ark position (automatic transmission).
2. Please be aware that leaving the key in this position will increase b\
attery drain.
pg. 122 Starting and driving
Economical driving
l Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc, increase air resistance and also f\
uel consumption.
l At highway driving speeds, fuel consumption will be lower with the air c\
onditioning on and the windows closed than
with the air conditioning off and the windows open.
l Using the onboard trip computer's fuel consumption modes can help you le\
arn how to drive more economically.
Other factors that decrease gas mileage are:
l Dirty air cleaner
l Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter
l Dragging brakes
l Incorrect front end alignment.
Some of the above mentioned items and others are checked at the standard\
Maintenance Service intervals.
CAUTION!
Drive slowly and carefully if going through standing water (i.e. floode\
d roadways, etc.). Damage to the engine could
result if excess water is drawn in through the air intake system. Never \
drive the vehicle in water deeper than 18 inches
(48 cm).
pg. 123 Starting and driving
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2007/2007_XC90/07xc90_06.htm (9 of 32)12/30/2006\
5:53:44 PM

2007 Volvo XC90
Difficult driving conditions
Driving on rough/unpaved surfaces
The Volvo XC90 is designed primarily for on-road driving, and it has exc\
ellent handling characteristics on very rough or
unpaved roads.
When driving on poorly maintained or unpaved roads, please keep the foll\
owing in mind:
l Reduce speed on rough surfaces to minimize possible damage to the vehicl\
e's underbody.
l When driving on soft surfaces such as dry sand or snow, try to avoid sto\
pping if at all possible.
WARNING!
Avoid driving diagonally across steep inclines as this could increase th\
e risk of a roll-over. Try to drive straight up or
down the slope.
If the road is very steep, avoid turning the vehicle around to help avoi\
d the risk of rolling over. Back the vehicle up or
down the incline instead.
NOTE: Avoid driving on steep inclines if the fuel tank is nearly empty. If th\
e flow of fuel to the engine is interrupted due
to the vehicle's angle of inclination, this could result in damage to th\
e three-way catalytic converter. We recommend
keeping the fuel tank at least half full when driving on steep inclines.\
Driving through water
The vehicle can be driven through water up to a depth of approximately 1\
8 inches (48 cm), at a maximum speed of 6 mph
(10 km/h).
Take particular care when driving through flowing water.
Clean the electrical connections for trailer wiring after driving in mud\
or water.
When driving through water, maintain low speed and do not stop in the wa\
ter.
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!
l Engine damage will occur if water is drawn into the air cleaner.
l If the vehicle is driven through water deeper than 18 in (48 cm), wate\
r may enter the differential and the
transmission. This reduces the oil's lubricating capacity and may shorte\
n the service life of these components.
l Do not allow the vehicle to stand in water up to the door sills longer t\
han absolutely necessary. This could result in
electrical malfunctions.
l 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.
pg. 124 Starting and driving
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2007/2007_XC90/07xc90_06.htm (10 of 32)12/30/200\
6 5:53:44 PM

2007 Volvo XC90
Automatic transmission with Geartronic
P Park
Use this position when starting the engine or parking the vehicle.
Never use P while the vehicle is in motion.
The parking brake should also 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 po\
sition II) and the brake pedal must be depressed.
N (Neutral)
Neutral - no gear engaged. Use the parking brake.
WARNING!
Never leave the vehicle unattended when the engine is running. If, by mi\
stake, the gear selector is moved from P, the
vehicle may start moving.
R (Reverse)
Never engage R while the vehicle is moving.
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.
NOTE: The transmission has 6 forward speeds.
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2007/2007_XC90/07xc90_06.htm (11 of 32)12/30/200\
6 5:53:44 PM

2007 Volvo XC90
Automatic transmission - shift gate positions
Depress the button on the front of the gear selector knob to move betwee\
n the R, N, D, and P positions.
Kickdown
Automatic shift to a lower gear (kickdown) is achieved by depressing t\
he accelerator pedal fully and briskly. An upshift
will occur when approaching the top speed for a particular gear or by re\
leasing the accelerator pedal slightly.
Kickdown can be used for maximum acceleration or when passing at highway\
speeds.
pg. 125 Starting and driving
Automatic transmission with Geartronic
NOTE: The gear selector must be in the D (Drive) position for kickdown to f\
unction.
Manual shifting - Geartronic
You can move the gear selector freely between the (MAN)ual and (D)rive positions while driving.
l Geartronic has 6 forward speeds.
l A "lock-up" feature1 reduces engine speed and help saves fuel. The currently selected gear w\
ill be displayed in the
instrument panel (see
page 46).
l To access the (MAN)ual shifting position from (D)rive, move the gear selector to the left to MAN.
l To return to the (D)rive position from MAN, move the gear selector to the right.
While driving
If you select the (MAN)ual position while driving, the gear that was being used in the (D)rive position will also initially be
selected in (MAN)ual position.
l Move the gear selector forward (toward "+") to shift to a higher gear \
or rearward (toward "-") to shift to a lower gear.
l If you hold the gear selector toward "-", the transmission will downshif\
t 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.
l If you slow down to a very low speed, the transmission will automaticall\
y shift down.
l When starting in the (MAN)ual position, 3rd gear is the highest gear that may be selected.
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2007/2007_XC90/07xc90_06.htm (12 of 32)12/30/200\
6 5:53:44 PM

2007 Volvo XC90
W - Winter/Wet driving mode - enhanced vehicle traction
Press the button at the base of the gear selector to engage/disengage th\
is driving mode (see illustration).
l Mode W will only function if the gear selector is in the (D)rive position.
l When the W driving mode is engaged, this is displayed in the instrument \
panel (see page 46).
This mode may be selected for starting/ moving off on slippery roads.
1. Six-speed transmission: gears 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
pg. 126 Starting and driving
All Wheel Drive (option)
All Wheel Drive (AWD) - general information
Your Volvo can be equipped with permanent All Wheel Drive (option), wh\
ich means that power is distributed
automatically between the front and rear wheels. Under normal driving co\
nditions, most of the engine's power is directed
to the front wheels. However, if there is any tendency for the front whe\
els to spin, an electronically controlled coupling
distributes power to the wheels that have the best traction.
Tire dimensions
Volvo recommends that you always drive on tires of the same brand, size,\
construction (radial), tread pattern, load-,
speed-, traction- , temperature-, and treadwear rating. Never drive on m\
ixed tires, except for brief periods when the
temporary spare tire is in use.
Always use properly inflated tires of correct dimensions. Tire size and \
inflation pressures are shown on the tire inflation
pressure placards, located on the driver's side B-pillar (the structura\
l member at the side of the vehicle, at the rear of the
driver's door opening), or on the inside of the fuel filler door on Can\
adian models.
Temporary Spare
The temporary spare tire is for temporary, low-speed, short-distance use\
only. Replace it with a full-sized tire as soon as
possible. Do not drive on the temporary spare at speeds above 50 m.p.h. \
(80km/h) or for distances greater than 50 miles
(80 km).
Never install snow chains on a temporary spare.
pg. 127 Starting and driving
Brake system
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2007/2007_XC90/07xc90_06.htm (13 of 32)12/30/200\
6 5:53:44 PM

2007 Volvo XC90
BRAKE Brake circuit malfunction
The brake system is a hydraulic system consisting of two master cylinder\
s and two separate 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 gr\
eater 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 ch\
eck 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 Volvo retaile\
r 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-a\
ssisted brake system.
Power brakes function only when the engine is running
The power brakes utilize vacuum pressure which is only created when the \
engine is running. 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 app\
roximately four times harder than usual to make
up for the lack of power assistance. This can happen for example when to\
wing your vehicle or if the engine is switched off
when the vehicle is rolling. The brake pedal feels harder than usual.
Water on brake discs and brake pads affects braking
Driving in rain and slush or passing through an automatic car wash can c\
ause water to collect on the brake discs and pads.
This will cause a delay in braking effect when the pedal is depressed. T\
o avoid such a delay when the brakes are needed,
depress the pedal occasionally when driving through rain, slush etc. Thi\
s will remove the water from the brakes. Check
that brake application feels normal. This should also be done after wash\
ing or starting in very damp or cold weather.
Severe strain on the brake system
The brakes will be subject to severe strain when driving in mountains or\
hilly areas, or when towing a trailer. Vehicle
speed is usually slower, which means that the cooling of the brakes is l\
ess efficient than when driving on level roads. To
reduce the strain on the brakes, shift into a lower gear and let the eng\
ine help with the braking. Do not forget that, if you
are towing a trailer, the brakes will be subjected to a greater than nor\
mal load.
pg. 128 Starting and driving
Brake system
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 Volvo retail\
er for inspection. The Anti-lock Braking System
(ABS) helps to improve vehicle control (stopping and steering) durin\
g severe braking conditions by limiting brake lockup.
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2007/2007_XC90/07xc90_06.htm (14 of 32)12/30/200\
6 5:53:44 PM

2007 Volvo XC90
When the system "senses" impending lockup, braking pressure is automatic\
ally 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 an\
d when the vehicle first reaches a speed of
approximately 12 mph (20 km/h). The brake pedal will pulsate several times and a sound may be audible f\
rom the ABS
control module. This is normal.

To obtain optimal effect from the ABS system, constant pressure should b\
e kept on the brake pedal. Do not pump the
brake pedal.

The switching of the ABS modulator will be audible and the brake pedal w\
ill pulsate during braking. Please be aware that
ABS does not increase the absolute braking potential of the vehicle. Whi\
le control will be enhanced, ABS will 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, w\
hich is normal.
If the BRAKE and ABS warning lights come on at the same time, this could\
indicate a fault in the brake system.
- Stop the vehicle in a suitable place and switch off the engine.
- Restart the engine.
- If both warning lights go off, no further action is required.
- If both lights are still on after the engine has been restarted, switc\
h off the engine again and check the brake fluid level
(see
page 185 for the location of the brake fluid reservoir).
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 Volvo retaile\
r and have the brake system inspected.
- If the brake fluid level is above the MIN mark, drive carefully to an \
authorized Volvo retailer 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 sudden, hard braking. The system is
activated by the speed with which you depress the brake pedal.
NOTE:
l When the EBA system is activated, the brake pedal will go down and press\
ure in the brake system immediately
increases to the maximum level. You must maintain full pressure on the b\
rake pedal in order
pg. 129 Starting and driving
Brake system
to utilize the system completely. There will be no braking effect if the\
pedal is released. EBA is automatically deactivated
when the brake pedal is released.
l When the vehicle has been parked for some time, the brake pedal may sink\
more than usual when the engine is started.
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2007/2007_XC90/07xc90_06.htm (15 of 32)12/30/200\
6 5:53:44 PM

2007 Volvo XC90
This is normal and the pedal will return to its usual position when it i\
s released.
pg. 130 Starting and driving
Stability system
Dynamic Stability Traction Control (DSTC)
The stability system consists of a number of functions designed help red\
uce wheel spin, counteract skidding, and to
generally help improve directional stability.
NOTE: A pulsating sound will be audible when the system is actively operating\
and is normal.
Traction control (TC)
This function is designed to help reduce wheel spin by transferring powe\
r from a drive wheel that begins to lose traction to
the wheel on the opposite side of the vehicle (on the same axle).
TC is most active at low speeds.
This is one of DSTC's permanent functions and cannot be switched off.
Spin control (SC)
The spin control function is designed to help prevent the drive wheels f\
rom spinning while the vehicle is accelerating.
Under certain circumstances, such as when driving with snow chains, or d\
riving in deep snow or loose sand, it may be
advisable to temporarily switch off this function for maximum tractive f\
orce.
Temporarily switching off Spin control
- Turn the thumbwheel (1) on the left-side steering wheel lever until \
the DSTC menu is displayed.
- Hold down the RESET button (2) to toggle between DSTC SPIN CONTROL O\
N or OFF.
NOTE:
l The message DSTC SPIN CONTROL OFF indicates that the stability system's \
spin control function has temporarily
been switched off.
l The stability control indicator light will illuminate and remain on until spin control has been reactivated.
l The spin control function is automatically enabled each time the engine \
is started.
l DSTC ON indicates that all system functions are active.
Active Yaw Control (AYC)
This function helps maintain directional stability, for example when cor\
nering, by braking one or more of the wheels if the
vehicle shows a tendency to skid or slide laterally.
This is one of DSTC's permanent functions and cannot be switched off
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2007/2007_XC90/07xc90_06.htm (16 of 32)12/30/200\
6 5:53:44 PM