VOLVO XC90 2007 Owners Manual

2007 Volvo XC90
Load carrier cover
The vehicle's ignition key or the stud on the edge of the supplied torqu\
e wrench can be used to undo or tighten the cover.
Turn a quarter turn (90 degrees). See illustration.
pg. 143 Starting and driving
Cold weather precautions
If you wish to check your vehicle before the approach of cold weather, t\
he following advice is worth noting:
l Make sure that the engine coolant contains 50 percent antifreeze. Any ot\
her mixture will reduce freeze protection. This
gives protection against freezing down to -31°F (-35°C). See sec\
tion "Coolant". The use of "recycled" antifreeze is not
approved by Volvo. Different types of antifreeze must not be mixed.
l Volvo recommends using only genuine Volvo antifreeze in your vehicle's r\
adiator. Your Volvo retailer stocks plenty of
Volvo engine coolant to protect your vehicle during cold weather.
l Try to keep the fuel tank well filled - this prevents the formation of condensation in the tank. \
In addition, in extremely
cold weather conditions it is worthwhile to add fuel line de-icer before\
refueling.
l The viscosity of the engine oil is important. Oil with low viscosity (thinner oil) improves cold-weat\
her starting as well
as decreasing fuel consumption while the engine is warming up. For winte\
r use, 5W-30 oil, particularly the synthetic type
1,
is recommended. Be sure to use good quality oil but do not use cold-weat\
her oil for hard driving or in warm weather. See
section "Engine oil" for more information.
l The load placed on the battery is greater during the winter since the windshield wipers, lighting, etc\
. are used more
often. Moreover, the capacity of the battery decreases as the temperatur\
e drops. In very cold weather, a poorly charged
battery can freeze and be damaged. It is therefore advisable to check th\
e state of charge more frequently and spray an
antirust oil on the battery posts.
l Volvo recommends the use of snow tires on all four wheels for winter driving - see section "Wheels and tires."\

l To prevent the washer fluid reservoir from freezing, add washer solvents containing antifreeze (see page 188 for the
location of the washer fluid reservoir). This is important since dirt i\
s often splashed on the windshield during winter
driving, requiring the frequent use of the washers and wipers. Volvo Was\
her Solvent should be diluted as follows:
- Down to 14° F (-10° C): 1 part washer solvent and 4 parts water
- Down to 5° F (-15° C): 1 part washer solvent and 3 parts water
- Down to 0° F (-18° C): 1 part washer solvent and 2 parts water
- Down to -18° F (-28° C): 1 part washer solvent and 1 part water
l Use Volvo Teflon Lock Spray in the locks.
NOTE: Avoid the use of de-icing sprays as they can cause damage to the locks.
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2007 Volvo XC90
W - Winter/Wet driving mode - enhanced vehicle traction
l Mode W will only function if the gear selector is in the (D)rive position.
l Press the button at the base of the gear selector to engage/disengage th\
is driving mode.
l An LED in the button will light up to indicate that W is engaged and thi\
s will also be displayed in the instrument panel
(see
page 46).
l This mode may be selected for starting/ moving off on slippery roads.
1. Synthetic oil is not used when the oil is changed at the normal maint\
enance service intervals except at owner request and at
additional charge. Please consult your Volvo retailer.
pg. 144 Starting and driving
Before a long distance trip
It is always worthwhile to have your vehicle checked at a Volvo retailer\
before driving long distances. Your retailer will
also be able to supply you with bulbs, fuses, spark plugs and wiper blad\
es for your use in the event that problems occur.
As a minimum, the following items should be checked before any long trip\
:
l Check that engine runs smoothly and that fuel consumption is normal.
l Check for fuel, oil, and fluid leakage.
l Check transmission oil level1.
l Check condition of drive belts.
l Check state of the battery's charge.
l Examine tires carefully (the spare tire as well), and replace those th\
at are worn. Check tire pressures.
l The brakes, front wheel alignment, and steering gear should be checked b\
y your Volvo retailer only.
l Check all lights, including high beams.
l Reflective warning triangles are legally required in some states/provinc\
es.
l Have a word with your Volvo retailer if you intend to drive in countries\
where it may be difficult to obtain the correct
fuel.
l Consider your destination. If you will be driving through an area where \
snow or ice are likely to occur, consider snow
tires.
1. To prevent injury from contact with hot surfaces, do not inspect your\
vehicle's transmission fluid yourself. Have your vehicle's
transmission fluid level inspected by a qualified Volvo service technici\
an.
pg. 145 Starting and driving
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) - option
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2007 Volvo XC90
BLIS is an information system that indicates the presence of another veh\
icle moving in the same direction as your vehicle
in the sideview mirror's "blind area."
The system is based on digital camera technology. The cameras (1) are \
located beneath the side-view mirrors.
When one (or both) of the cameras have detected a vehicle in the blind\
area (up to approximately 10 ft. (3 meters) from the
side of your vehicle, and up to approximately 31 ft. (9.5 meters) behi\
nd the side-view mirror), see the illustration in the
right column, the indicator light in the door panel (2) illuminates.
WARNING!
l BLIS is an information system, NOT a warning or safety system.
l BLIS does not eliminate the need for you to visually confirm the conditi\
ons around you, and the need for you to turn
your head and shoulders to make sure that you can safely change lanes.
l As the driver, you have full responsibility for changing lanes in a safe\
manner.
The light will glow continuously to alert the driver of the vehicle in t\
he blind area.
NOTE: The door panel indicator light illuminates on the side of the vehicle wh\
ere the system has detected another vehicle.
If your vehicle is passed on both sides at the same time, both lights wi\
ll illuminate.
BLIS has an integrated function that alerts the driver if a fault should\
occur with the system. For example, if one or both of
the system's cameras are obscured, a message (see the table on
page 147) will appear in the information display in the
instrument panel. If this occurs, clean the camera lenses. If necessary,\
the system can be temporarily switched off (for
instructions, see
page 147).
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2007 Volvo XC90

Areas monitored by BLIS
Distance A = approx. 10 ft. (3 meters)
Distance B = approx. 31 ft. (9.5 meters)
When does BLIS function
The system functions when your vehicle is moving at speeds above 6 mph (\
10 km/h).
When you pass another vehicle:
The system reacts when you pass another vehicle at a speed of up to 6 mp\
h (10 km/h) faster than that vehicle.
When you are passed by another vehicle:
The system reacts if your vehicle is passed by another vehicle at a spee\
d of up to 43 mph (70 km/h) faster than your
vehicle.
pg. 146 Starting and driving
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) - option
WARNING!
l BLIS does not function in sharp curves.
l BLIS does not function when your vehicle is backing up.
l If you are towing a wide trailer, this may prevent the BLIS cameras from\
detecting other vehicles in adjacent
lanes.
How BLIS functions in daylight and darkness
Daylight
BLIS reacts to the shape of surrounding vehicles. The system is designed to help detect motor ve\
hicles such as cars,
trucks, buses, motorcycles, etc.
Darkness
BLIS reacts to the headlights of surrounding vehicles. In order to be detected by BLIS, a vehicle in \
the blind area must
have its headlights on. This means, for example, that the system will no\
t detect a trailer without headlights that is being
towed behind a car or truck.
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WARNING!
l BLIS does not react to cyclists or mopeds.
l BLIS does not react to vehicles that are standing still.
l The function of the BLIS cameras may be affected by intense light, or wh\
en driving at night in areas where there are
no external sources of light (e.g., street lights, other vehicles, etc.\
). In such cases, the system may react as if the cameras
were obscured.
In both of the above mentioned conditions, a message will appear in the \
information display.
When driving in such conditions, the system can be temporarily switched \
off. See
page 147 for instructions.
When the message is no longer displayed, BLIS will return to normal func\
tion.
l The BLIS cameras have the same limitation as the human eye. In other wor\
ds, their "vision is impaired" by adverse
weather conditions such as heavy snowfall, dense fog, etc.
Cleaning the BLIS camera lenses
In order to function optimally, the BLIS camera lenses must be kept clea\
n. They can be wiped clean with a soft cloth or
wet sponge. CAUTION!
Clean the lenses carefully to avoid scratching.
The lenses are electrically heated to help melt ice or snow. If necessar\
y, gently brush away snow from the
lenses.
pg. 147 Starting and driving
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) - option
Switching BLIS on and off
BLIS is automatically activated when the ignition is switched on. The in\
dicator lights will provide confirmation by
flashing 3 times.
l The system can be switched off by pressing the BLIS button in the center\
console (see the illustration above). The
indicator light in the button goes out when the system is switched off, \
and a text message is displayed.
l BLIS can be switched on again by pressing the button. The indicator ligh\
t in the button will illuminate and a new text
message will be displayed. Press the READ button (see
page 50) to erase the message.
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BLIS system messages
System statusText in the display
BLIS not functioning properly BLIND-SPOT SYST SERVICE REQUIRED
Right camera obscured BLIND-SPOT SYST R CAMERA BLOCKED
Left camera obscured BLIND-SPOT SYST L CAMERA BLOCKED
Both cameras obscured BLIND-SPOT SYST CAMERAS BLOCKED
BLIS system off BLIND-SPOT INFO SYSTEM OFF
BLIS system on BLIND-SPOT INFO SYSTEM ON
BLIS function reduced BLIND-SPOT SYST FUNCTION REDUCED
The messages listed above can only be displayed if the ignition key is i\
n position II (or if the engine is running) and if
BLIS is active (i.e. if the system has not been turned off by pressing \
the BLIS button).
pg. 148 Starting and driving
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Contents | Top of Page
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2007 Volvo XC90
2 0 0 7
VOLVO XC90
Wheels and tires
pg. 149 Wheels and tires
General information 150
Tire inflation pressure tables - U.S. models
154
Tire inflation pressure tables - Canadian models
155
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) -
option
156
Tire designations
159
Glossary of tire terminology
160
Vehicle loading
161
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
163
Snow chains, snow tires, studded tires
164
Temporary spare
165
Changing wheels
166
pg. 150 Wheels and tires
General information
Your vehicle is equipped with tires according to the vehicle's tire info\
rmation placard on the B-pillar
(the structural member at the side of the vehicle, at the rear of the d\
river's door opening), or on the inside
of the fuel filler door on Canadian models.
The tires have good road holding characteristics and offer good handling\
on dry and wet surfaces. It
should be noted however that the tires have been developed to give these\
features on snow/ice-free
surfaces.
Certain models are equipped with "all-season" tires, which provide a som\
ewhat higher degree of road
holding on slippery surfaces than tires without the "all-season" rating.\
However, for optimum road
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2007 Volvo XC90
holding on icy or snow-covered roads, we recommend suitable winter tires\
on all four wheels.
When replacing tires, be sure that the new tires are the same size desig\
nation, type (radial) and
preferably from the same manufacturer, on all four wheels. Otherwise the\
re is a risk of altering the
vehicle's roadholding and handling characteristics.
Storing wheels and tires
When storing complete wheels (tires mounted on rims), they should be s\
uspended off the floor or placed
on their sides on the floor.
Tires not mounted on rims should be stored on their sides or standing up\
right, but should not be
suspended. CAUTION!
Tires should preferably be stored in a cool, dry, dark place, and should\
never be stored in close
proximity to solvents, gasoline, oils, etc.
Tread wear indicator
The tires have wear indicator strips running across or parallel to the t\
read. The letters TWI are printed on
the side of the tire. When approximately 1/16" (1.6 mm) is left on the\
tread, these strips become visible
and indicate that the tire should be replaced. Tires with less than 1/16\
" (1.6 mm) tread offer very poor
traction.
When replacing worn tires, it is recommended that the tire be identical \
in type (radial) and size as the
one being replaced. Using a tire of the same make (manufacturer) will \
prevent alteration of the driving
characteristics of the vehicle.
pg. 151 Wheels and tires
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General information
WARNING!
l The wheel and tire sizes for your Volvo are specified to meet stringent \
stability and handling
requirements. Unapproved wheel/tire size combinations can negatively aff\
ect your vehicle's stability
and handling. Approved tire sizes are shown in the Tire inflation pressu\
re tables on
page 154.
l Any damage caused by installation of unapproved wheel/tire size combinat\
ions will not be covered
by your new vehicle warranty. Volvo assumes no responsibility for death,\
injury, or expenses that
may result from such installations.
New tires
Remember that tires are perishable goods. As of 2000, the manufacturing \
week and year will be
indicated with 4 digits (e.g. 1502 means that the tire illustrated was \
manufactured during week 15 of
2002).
Tire age
Tires degrade over time, even when they are not being used. It is recomm\
ended that tires generally be
replaced after 6 years of normal service. Heat caused by hot climates, f\
requent high loading conditions
or Ultra Violet (U.V) exposure can accelerate the aging process.
You should replace the spare tire when you replace the other road tires \
due to the aging of the spare.
A tire's age can be determined by the DOT stamp on the sidewall (see th\
e illustration above).
A tire with e.g., visible cracks or discoloration should be replaced imm\
ediately.
Improving tire economy:
l Maintain correct tire pressure. See the tire pressure table on page 154.
l Drive smoothly: avoid fast starts, hard braking and tire screeching.
l Tire wear increases with speed.
l Correct front wheel alignment is very important.
l Unbalanced wheels impair tire economy and driving comfort.
l Tires must maintain the same direction of rotation throughout their life\
time.
When replacing tires, the tires with the most tread should be mounted on\
the rear wheels to reduce the
chance of oversteer during hard braking.
Hitting curbs or potholes can damage the tires and/or wheels permanently\
.
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2007 Volvo XC90
pg. 152 Wheels and tires
General information
Tire inflation
Check tire inflation pressure regularly.
Tables listing the recommended inflation pressure for your vehicle can b\
e found on
pages 154 and 155.
A tire inflation pressure placard is also located on the driver's side B\
pillar (the structural member at the
side of the vehicle, at the rear of the driver's door opening). This pl\
acard indicates the designation of the
factory-mounted tires on your vehicle, as well as load limits and inflat\
ion pressure.
NOTE: The placards shown indicate inflation pressure for the tires installed \
on the vehicle at the factory
only.
l Use a tire gauge to check the tire inflation pressure, including the spa\
re, at least once a month and
before long trips. You are strongly urged to buy a reliable tire pressur\
e gauge, as automatic service
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