tow VOLVO C30 2012 Owner´s Manual

06 Starting and driving
Brake system
06

159
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 system message is
shown in the information display, DO NOT
DRIVE. Have the vehicle towed to a Volvo
retailer and have the brake system inspec-
ted.
Power brakes function only when the
engine is running
The 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, consider-
ably higher pressure will be required on the
brake pedal to compensate for the lack of
power assistance. This can happen for exam-ple when towing 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 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 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 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.
Anti-lock brakes (ABS)
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) helps to
improve vehicle control (stopping and steering)
during severe braking conditions by limiting
brake lockup. When the system "senses"
impending lockup, braking pressure is auto-
matically modulated in order to help prevent
lockup that 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.
For optimal ABS braking effect:1. Press down on the brake pedal with full
force. The pedal will pulsate.
2. Steer the vehicle in the direction of travel
and keep the brake pedal depressed.
Electronic Brake Force Distribution
(EBD)
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 switching of the ABS modulator will be
audible and the brake pedal will pulsate during

06 Starting and driving
Parking brake
06
161 Parking brake (hand brake)
G026348
The parking brake lever is located between the
front seats.
NOTE
The indicator light will illuminate even if the
parking brake has only been partially
applied.
When applying the parking brake1. Press firmly on the brake pedal.
2. Pull the parking brake lever up firmly to its
full extent.
3. Release the brake pedal and ensure that
the vehicle is at a standstill.4. If the vehicle rolls, the parking brake lever
must be pulled more firmly.
5. When parking a vehicle always put the gear
selector in first gear (for manual transmis-
sion) or P (for automatic transmission).
Parking on a hill
•If the vehicle is pointing uphill, turn the front
wheels so that they point away from the
curb.
•If the vehicle is pointing downhill, turn the
front wheels so that they point toward the
curb.
Releasing the parking brake1. Press firmly on the brake pedal.
2. Pull the lever up slightly, press the button
at the end of the lever and lower the lever
completely.
WARNING
Pull up the parking brake lever up firmly to
its full extent.

06 Starting and driving
Towing
06
164
Towing the vehicle
The towing eyelet (1) is located under the
floor of the cargo area.
Remove the cover over the opening for the
towing eyelet on the front bumper by pry-
ing open the lower edge with a coin, etc.
Remove the cover over the opening for the
towing eyelet on the rear bumper by press-
ing the lower right corner 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
space.
WARNING
Do not use the towing eyelets to pull the
vehicle up onto a flat bed tow truck.
Towing a vehicle with all four wheels on
the ground
WARNING
Volvo does not recommend towing a disa-
bled vehicle behind another vehicle. Signif-
icant difficulty in steering and braking, com-
bined with unfavorable weather, traffic, and
road conditions may make it impossible to
maintain vehicle control.
1. Apply the parking brake.

06 Starting and driving
Towing
06

165
2. Insert the key into the ignition to unlock the
steering wheel. With the engine off and the
vehicle at a standstill, great effort will be
required to turn the steering wheel.
3.
Turn the ignition key to position II.
4. Place the gear selector in neutral. For vehi-
cles with automatic transmissions, follow
instruction on page 157, "Shiftlock over-
ride" to allow the gear selector to be moved
from the Park position.
5. Keep firm pressure on the brake pedal
while releasing the parking brake.
6. When towing has been completed, return
the gear selector to Park (automatic) or
Reverse (manual) and apply the parking
brake.
The following points should also be
observed:
•Never exceed 50 mph (80 km/h). Never
exceed local towing speed limits and heed
all local towing restrictions.
•Never tow farther than 50 miles (80 km).
•Keep the tow rope taut at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
•The disabled vehicle should be towed in
the forward direction only.
WARNING
•Never allow a vehicle to be towed with-
out a driver behind the wheel of the dis-
abled vehicle.
•When the engine is not running, steering
resistance and the effort needed to
apply the brakes will be great.
•Never attempt to tow a vehicle with a
dead battery at night.
CAUTION
•Check with state and local authorities
before attempting this type of towing,
as vehicles being towed are subject to
regulations regarding maximum towing
speed, length and type of towing
device, lighting, marker flags, etc.
•Never attempt to push- or tow-start a
vehicle with a dead battery. This would
inject unburned fuel into the three-way
catalytic converter(s), causing over-
heating, backfiring, and damage, see
page 167 for instructions on jump star-
ting the vehicle.
Towing vehicles with front wheel drive
Volvo recommends the use of flat bed equip-
ment for towing vehicles with front wheel drive.
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 vehicle
with the front wheels on the ground, please
refer to the towing information on the previous
page.
•Sling-type equipment applied at the front
will damage radiator and air conditioning
lines.
•It is equally important not to use sling-type
equipment at the rear or apply lifting equip-
ment inside the rear wheels; serious dam-
age 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. Con-
sult the tow truck operator.

06 Starting and driving
Towing
06
166
WARNING
•Remember that the power brakes and
power steering will not function when
engine is not running. The braking and
steering systems will function but con-
siderably higher pressure will be
required on the brake pedal and greater
steering effort must be exerted.
•The towing eyelets must not be used for
pulling the vehicle out of a ditch or for
any similar purpose involving severe
strain. Do not use the towing eyelets to
pull the vehicle up onto a flat bed tow
truck.

06 Starting and driving
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS)*
06
170* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
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 mph (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 speed of up to 43 mph
(70 km/h) faster than your vehicle.
WARNING
•BLIS does not function in sharp curves.
•BLIS does not function when your vehi-
cle is backing up.
•If you are towing a wide trailer, this may
prevent the BLIS cameras from detect-
ing other vehicles in adjacent lanes.
How BLIS functions in daylight and
darkness
Daylight
BLIS reacts to the shape of surrounding vehi-
cles. The system is designed to help detect
motor vehicles such as cars, trucks, buses,
motorcycles, etc.
DarknessBLIS reacts to the headlights of surrounding
vehicles. In order to be detected by BLIS, a
vehicle in the blind area must have its head-
lights on. This means, for example, that the
system will not detect a trailer without head-
lights that is being towed behind a car or truck.
WARNING
•BLIS does not react to cyclists or
mopeds.
•BLIS does not react to vehicles that are
standing still.
•The BLIS cameras have the same limi-
tation as the human eye. In other words,
their "vision is impaired" by adverse
weather conditions such as heavy
snowfall, intense light directly into the
camera, dense fog, etc.
LimitationsIn certain situations, the BLIS indicator light(s)
may illuminate even when there are no other
vehicles in the area monitored by the system.
NOTE
If the BLIS indicator lights illuminate occa-
sionally even when there are no other vehi-
cles in the blind area, this does not indicate
a fault in the system.
In the event of a fault,
Blind spot syst.
Service required will be displayed.
The following are several examples of situa-
tions in which the BLIS indicator light(s) may
illuminate even when there are no other vehi-
cles in the area monitored by the system.
Light reflected from a wet road surface

06 Starting and driving
Rear park assist*
06

* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.173 Introduction
Rear park assist
The park assist system is designed to assist
you when driving into parking spaces, garages,
etc. It utilizes four ultrasound sensors located
in the rear bumper to measure the distance to
a vehicle, object or a person who may be close
to the rear of your vehicle.
WARNING
Park Assist is an information system, NOT a
safety system. This system is designed to
be a supplementary aid when parking the
vehicle. It is not, however, intended to
replace the driver's attention and judge-
ment.
Function
The system is activated automatically when the
vehicle is started. The indicator light in the but-
ton in the center console illuminates. Park
assist monitors the area behind the vehicle
when the engine is running and reverse gear
has been selected.
The distance monitored behind the vehicle is
approximately 5 ft (1.5 m). The signal comes
from the rear speakers.
The system must be deactivated when towing
a trailer, carrying bicycles in a rear-mounted
carrier, etc., which could trigger the rear park
assist system's sensors.
NOTE
Rear park assist is deactivated automati-
cally when towing a trailer if Volvo genuine
trailer wiring is used.
Activating/deactivating park assist
G021267
Park Assist button (right button in the illustration)
The system is activated automatically when the
vehicle is started.

Press the Park assist button on the center
console to temporarily deactivate the sys-
tem. The indicator light in the button will go
out when the system has been deacti-
vated.

Park assist will be automatically reactiva-
ted the next time the engine is started, or if
the button is pressed (the indicator light in
the button will illuminate).

07 Wheels and tires
Vehicle loading
07
187 Loading the vehicle
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.
Permissible axle weightThe maximum allowable weight that can be
carried by a single axle (front or rear). These
numbers 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 272.
•A table listing important weight limits for
your vehicle can be found on page
275.
Steps for Determining Correct Load
Limit
1. 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.
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 lbs. 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.
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. Use only tires with the
correct load carrying capacity. Consult
your Volvo retailer for information.

07 Wheels and tires
Tire Sealing System*
07
190* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
Introduction
Location of the tire sealing system
Certain models are equipped with a tire sealing
system1 that enables you to temporarily seal a
hole in the tread surface and re-inflate a flat tire,
or to adjust a tire’s inflation pressure.
The system consists of an air compressor, a
container for the sealing compound, wiring to
connect the system to the vehicle’s electrical
system via one of the 12-volt sockets, and a
hose used to connect the system to the tire’s
inflation valve.The 12-volt sockets are located in the front
tunnel console and on the rear side of the tun-
nel console, in the rear seat.
Accessing the tire sealing systemThe tire sealing system is stowed under the
floor of the cargo area. To access it:
1. Lift the floor hatch in the cargo area.
2. Remove the screw holding the tire sealing
system's retaining bracket.
3. Lift out the tire sealing system.
NOTE
•The tire sealing system is only intended
to seal holes on the tire’s tread area, not
the sidewall.
•Tires with large holes or tears cannot be
repaired with the tire sealing system.
•After use, stow the tire sealing system
properly to help prevent rattling.
WARNING
•After using the tire sealing system, the
vehicle should not be driven farther than
approximately 120 miles (200 km).
•Have the tire inspected by a trained and
qualified Volvo service technician as
soon as possible to determine if it can
be permanently repaired or must be
replaced.
•The vehicle should not be driven faster
than 50 mph (80 km/h) while using a tire
that has been temporarily repaired with
the tire sealing system.
•After using the tire sealing system, drive
carefully and avoid abrupt steering
maneuvers and sudden stops.
1Not available on all models or in all markets

07 Wheels and tires
Tire Sealing System*
07

* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.191
Stowing the tire sealing system
1. Return the tire sealing system to its storage
position.
2. Put the retaining bracket in its proper posi-
tion.
3. Tighten the screw that holds the bracket in
place.
Be sure the bracket is correctly installed and
the screw tightened to help keep the tire seal-
ing system from rattling.
Tire sealing system–overview
G020400
Speed limit sticker
On/Off switch
Electrical wire
Bottle holder (orange cover)
Protective hose cover
Air release knob
Hose
Bottle with sealing compound
Air pressure gauge
WARNING
Please keep the following points in mind
when using the tire sealing system:
•The sealing compound bottle (no. 8 in
the illustration) contains 1.2-Ethanol
and natural rubber-latex. These sub-
stances are harmful if swallowed.
•The contents of this bottle may cause
allergic skin reactions or otherwise be
potentially harmful to the skin, the cen-
tral nervous system, and the eyes.
Precautions:
•Keep out of reach of children.
•Do not ingest the contents.
•Avoid prolonged or repeated contact
with the skin.
•Hands should be washed thoroughly
after handling.
First aid:
•Skin: Wash affected areas of skin with
soap and water. Get medical attention
if symptoms occur.
•Eyes: Flush with plenty of water for least
15 minutes, occasionally lifting the