service VOLVO XC90 2009 Owner´s Manual

02 Instruments and controls
Information display
0259
Message
Meaning
TIME FOR REGULAR SERVICE
This message will be displayed at 7,500 mile (12,000 km) intervals, after 750 hours of driving or after
12 months, whichever occurs first, to remind the driver that the service interval has been exceeded. The
message will be displayed for 2 minutes each time the vehicle is started until reset by a trained and qualified
Volvo service technician.
OIL LEVEL LOW – FILL OIL
A
Check the oil level and top up if necessary, see page 209.
OIL LEVEL LOW – STOP SAFELY
B
Stop as soon as possible and switch off the engine, check the oil level and top up if necessary, see
page 209.
OIL LEVEL LOW – STOP ENGINE
B
Stop as soon as possible and switch off the engine, check the oil level and top up if necessary, see
page 209.
OIL LEVEL LOW – SEE MANUAL
B
Stop as soon as possible and switch off the engine, check the oil level and top up if necessary, see
page 209.
DSTC SPIN CONTROL OFF
The stability system's spin control function has been turned off, see page 145 for details.
AThe yellow warning symbol also lights up (see page 54).BThe red warning symbol also lights up (see page 54).

02 Instruments and controls
Left-side steering wheel lever
0267
time interval can be changed by a trained and
qualified Volvo service technician.

03 ClimateClimate control system – general information
0390
Condensation on the inside of the
windowsKeeping the insides of the windows clean will
help reduce the amount of condensation that
forms on the windows. Use a commercial win-
dow cleaning agent to clean the windows.Ice and snowAlways keep the air intake grille at the base of
the windshield free of snow.Cabin air filterReplace the cabin air filter with a new one at
the recommended intervals. Please refer to
your Warranty and Service Records Informa-
tion booklet, or consult a trained and qualified
Volvo service technician for these intervals.
The filter should be replaced more often when
driving under dirty and dusty conditions. The
filter cannot be cleaned and therefore should
always be replaced with a new one.
SensorsThe sunlight sensor on the dashboard and pas-
senger compartment temperature sensor in
the ECC control panel should not be covered
in any way as this could cause incorrect infor-
mation to be sent to the ECC system.Parking the vehicle in warm weatherIf your vehicle has been parked in the sun in
warm weather, opening the windows and
moonroof (option) for several minutes before
driving will help release the warm air from the
passenger compartment. When the engine is
running, close the windows and moonroof and
use the recirculation function for several
minutes to enable the air conditioning to cool
the compartment as quickly as possible.Windows and optional moonroofThe ECC system will function best if the win-
dows and optional moonroof are closed. If you
drive with the moonroof open, we recommend
that you manually adjust the temperature and
blower control (the LED in the AUTO switch
should be off).
AccelerationThe air conditioning is momentarily disen-
gaged during full-throttle acceleration.Climate control maintenanceSpecial tools and equipment are required to
maintain and carry out repairs on the climate
system. Work of this type should only be done
by a trained and qualified Volvo service tech-
nician.RefrigerantVolvo cares about the environment. The air
conditioning system in your vehicle contains a
CFC-free refrigerant – R134a (HFC134a). This
substance will not deplete the ozone layer. The
approximate amount of R134a contained in the
system is a follows:
6-cylinder engine
Single A/C system: 1.4 lbs (700 g)
Dual
1 A/C system: 2.2 lbs (1000 g)
8-cylinder engine
Single A/C system: 1.5 lbs (700 g)
Dual1 A/C system: 2.3 lbs (1050 g)
The system also uses PAG oil.
1Includes the optional rear A/C system

03 Climate
Electronic climate control (ECC)
03``95
will light up to indicate that the defrost function
is engaged.•
Blower speed increases automatically and
the air conditioning will switch on (if not
already on and if the passenger compart-
ment blower is not turned off) to dehumid-
ify the air in the passenger compartment.
•
Recirculation will not function while defrost
is engaged.
The climate system will return to its previous
settings when the defroster function is
switched off. Rear window and door mirror
defrostersThis function defrosts/deices the rear window
and door mirrors. The LED in the switch will
light up to indicate that the heating function is
engaged. For additional information on this
function see page 70.
Never use ice scrapers made of metal as they
can easily scratch the mirror surface. Heated front seats (option)1. Press the switch once for maximum seat
heating. Both LEDs in the switch will be lit.
2. Press the switch a second time for comfort
heating. One LED in the switch will be lit.3. Press the switch a third time to turn the
heating off completely. The LED will go off.
The seat heating for the passenger seat should
be switched off when the seat is not occupied.
Temperature
These controls are used to individually set the
temperature for both sides of the passenger
compartment. Please note that the compart-
ment will not be heated or cooled faster by
setting the temperature higher or lower than
necessary.
Set the control to the temperature you prefer. Blower control
1
Turn the control clockwise to increase or coun-
terclockwise to decrease the blower speed.
Pressing the AUTO switch will automatically
regulate blower speed and override manual
adjustment.
Turning the blower control counterclockwise
until an orange LED comes on will turn both the
blower and the air conditioning off. Blower control for rear climate system
(option)Turn the control to increase or decrease blower
speed.
OperationPress to operate the air quality sensor (normal
setting).
or:
Select one of the following three functions by
pressing 1, 2 or 3 times.
1.
TheAUT LED lights. The air quality sensor
is now activated.
2. No LED lights. Recirculation is not acti-
vated unless needed to cool the passenger
compartment in a warm climate.
3.
TheMAN LED lights. Recirculation is now
activated.Keep in mind the following:•
Make it a rule to have the air quality sensor
activated at all times.
•
Recirculation is limited in cold climates to
avoid fogging.
•
If window fogging occurs, you should
deactivate the air quality sensor. Also use
the defroster functions for the windshield,
side windows and rear window, see
page 93.
•
The filter should be changed at the inter-
vals recommended in the service sched-
ule. However, if the vehicle is used in a
severely contaminated environment, it may
1See also see page 90.

04 InteriorInterior lighting
04106
Reading lights and courtesy light
G026960
Driver's side front reading lampCourtesy lightsPassenger's side front reading lamp The
reading lights can be switched on or off by
pressing buttons 1 or 3. The courtesy light-
ing (including footwell lighting) can be
turned on or off by pressing button 2. This
also activates the automatic function.
G027153
Rear reading lights
Driver's side rear reading lightPassenger's side rear reading light The
rear reading lights can be switched on and
off by pressing buttons (4) or (5).
Automatic functionThe reading lights and courtesy lights will
switch off automatically approximately
10 minutes after the engine has been turned
off. The lights can be turned off sooner by
pressing the respective buttons.The courtesy lights come on automatically
1
and remain on for approximately 30 seconds
when:•
The vehicle has been unlocked from the
outside with the remote control or key
•
If the engine has been switched off and the
ignition key has been turned to position 0
The courtesy lights will come on and remain on
for approximately 10 minutes when:
•
One of the doors is opened (assuming the
courtesy lighting has not previously been
switched off)
The courtesy lighting will go off when:
•
The engine is started
•
The vehicle is locked from the outside with
the remote control or key
The automatic function can be disconnected
by pressing button (2) for more than 3 seconds.
Briefly pressing the button again automatically
reconnects the function.
The courtesy light timer periods can be
changed. Contact a trained and qualified Volvo
service technician.
1This function is light dependent and is only activated in dark conditions.

06 Starting and drivingGeneral information
06128
Engine oilAlthough some oil consumption occurs during
normal engine operation, more oil is consumed
when the engine is new as the internal parts
generate higher friction while wearing-in to
each other. From the time the engine is new
until the first maintenance is performed, the oil
consumption could be higher than normal. For
this reason, it is especially important to check
the oil every time you refuel your vehicle during
this period, see page 209.Fuel requirementsDeposit control gasoline (detergent
additives)Volvo recommends the use of detergent gas-
oline to control engine deposits. Detergent
gasoline is effective in keeping injectors and
intake valves clean. Consistent use of deposit
control gasolines will help ensure good driva-
bility and fuel economy. If you are not sure
whether the gasoline contains deposit control
additives, check with the service station oper-
ator.
NOTE
Volvo does not recommend the use of
external fuel injector cleaning systems.
Unleaded fuelEach Volvo has a three-way catalytic converter
and must use only unleaded gasoline. U.S. and
Canadian regulations require that pumps deliv-
ering unleaded gasoline be labelled "UNLEA-
DED". Only these pumps have nozzles which
fit your vehicle's filler inlet. It is unlawful to dis-
pense leaded fuel into a vehicle labelled
"unleaded gasoline only". Leaded gasoline
damages the three-way catalytic converter and
the heated oxygen sensor system. Repeated
use of leaded gasoline will lessen the effec-
tiveness of the emission control system and
could result in loss of emission warranty cov-
erage. State and local vehicle inspection pro-
grams will make detection of misfueling easier,
possibly resulting in emission test failure for
misfueled vehicles.
NOTE
Some U.S. and Canadian gasolines contain
an octane enhancing additive called methyl-
cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT). If such fuels are used, your Emission
Control System performance may be affec-
ted, and the Check Engine Light (malfunc-
tion indicator lamp) located on your instru-
ment panel may light. If this occurs, please
return your vehicle to a trained and qualified
Volvo service technician for maintenance.
Gasoline containing alcohol and ethers"Oxygenated fuels"
Some fuel suppliers sell gasoline containing
"oxygenates" which are usually alcohols or
ethers. In some areas, state or local laws
require that the service pump be marked indi-
cating use of alcohols or ethers. However,
there are areas in which the pumps are
unmarked. If you are not sure whether there is
alcohol or ethers in the gasoline you buy, check
with the service station operator. To meet sea-
sonal air quality standards, some areas require
the use of "oxygenated" fuel.
Volvo allows the use of the following "oxygen-
ated" fuels; however, the octane ratings listed
on page 129 must still be met.
Alcohol – Ethanol: Fuels containing up to 10%
ethanol by volume may be used. Ethanol may
also be referred to as Ethyl alcohol, or "Gaso-
hol".
Ethers – MTBE: Fuels containing up to 15%
MTBE may be used.

06 Starting and driving
Fuel requirements
06``129 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.
WARNING
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, colorless,
and odorless gas. It is present in all exhaust
gases. If you ever smell exhaust fumes
inside the vehicle, make sure the passenger
compartment is ventilated, and immediately
return the vehicle to a trained and qualified
Volvo service technician for correction.

06 Starting and driving
Refueling
06``131 Fuel filler door
G027073
The fuel filler cap can be placed on the hook on
the fuel filler door while refuelingPress the button on the light switch panel (see
the illustration on page 63) when the vehicle is
at a standstill to unlock the fuel filler door.
Please note that the fuel filler door will remain
unlocked until the vehicle begins to move for-
ward. An audible click will be heard when the
fuel filler door relocks.
If you intend to leave your vehicle while it is
being refueled, this feature enables you to lock
the doors/tailgate while leaving the fuel filler
door unlocked.You can also keep the vehicle locked if you
remain inside it during refueling. The central
locking button does not lock the fuel filler door.
Be sure the fuel filler door is not obstructed and
is completely closed after refueling.
Open the fuel filler cap slowly during hot
weather.
NOTE
During a transitional period, a small number
of service stations may still have fuel noz-
zles that are not compatible with the fuel
filler neck on vehicles equipped with the
evaporative control system.RefuelingThe fuel tank is designed to accommodate
possible expansion of the fuel in hot weather.
See page 265 for fuel tank volume. Be aware
that the "usable" tank capacity will be some-
what less than the specified maximum. When
the fuel level is low, such factors as ambient
temperature, the fuel's "Reid vapor pressure"
characteristics, and terrain can affect the fuel
pump's ability to supply the engine with an
adequate supply of fuel. Therefore, it is advis-
able to refuel as soon as possible when theneedle nears the red zone, or when the fuel
warning light comes on.
WARNING
Never carry a cell phone that is switched on
while refueling your vehicle. If the phone
rings, this may cause a spark that could
ignite gasoline fumes, resulting in fire and
injury.

06 Starting and drivingEconomical driving
06136
Economical driving conserves natural
resourcesBetter 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 fol-
lowing rules:•
Bring the engine to normal operating tem-
perature 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 fuel and is subject to
increased wear.
•
Whenever possible, avoid using the vehicle
for driving short distances. This does not
allow the engine to reach normal operating
temperature.
•
Drive carefully and avoid rapid acceleration
and hard braking.
•
Use the transmission's D (Drive) position
as often as possible and avoid using "kick-
down" to help improve fuel economy.
•
Do not exceed posted speed limits.
•
Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra
load) in the vehicle.
•
Maintain correct tire pressure. Check tire
pressure regularly (when tires are cold).
•
Remove snow tires when threat of snow or
ice has ended.
•
Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc,
increase air resistance and also fuel con-
sumption.
•
At highway driving speeds, fuel consump-
tion will be lower with the air conditioning
on and the windows closed than with the
air conditioning off and the windows open.
•
Using the onboard trip computer's fuel
consumption modes can help you learn
how to drive more economically.
Other factors that decrease gas mileage
are:
•
Dirty air cleaner
•
Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter
•
Dragging brakes
•
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. flooded roadways, etc.).
Damage to the engine could result if excess
water is drawn in through the air intake sys-
tem. Never drive the vehicle in water deeper
than 18 inches (48 cm).

06 Starting and driving
Difficult driving conditions
06
137 Driving on rough/unpaved surfaces
The Volvo XC90 is designed primarily for on-
road driving, and it has excellent handling cha-
racteristics on very rough or unpaved roads.
When driving on poorly maintained or unpaved
roads, please keep the following in mind:•
Reduce speed on rough surfaces to mini-
mize possible damage to the vehicle's
underbody.
•
When driving on soft surfaces such as dry
sand or snow, try to avoid stopping if at all
possible.WARNING
Avoid driving diagonally across steep
inclines as this could increase the 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 avoid 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 the flow of fuel to the
engine is interrupted due to the vehicle's
angle of inclination, this could result in dam-
age to the three-way catalytic converter. We
recommend keeping the fuel tank at least
half full when driving on steep inclines.Driving through waterThe vehicle can be driven through water up to
a depth of approximately 16 inches (40 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 18 in (48 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.