tow VOLVO XC70 2003 Owner's Manual

2003 VOLVO XC70
Automatic transmission - shift gate positions
You can move the gear selector freely between the (MAN)ual and (D)ri\
ve positions while driving.
Depress the button on the front of the gear selector knob to move betwee\
n the R, N, D, and P positions.
Please see the following page for information on using the Geartronic ma\
nual shift mode.

pg. 93 Automatic transmission (Geartronic)
Manual shifting - Geartronic
You can move the gear selector freely between the (MAN)ual and (D)ri\
ve positions while driving. Gears
2, 3, and 4 have a "lock-up" function which reduces engine speed and hel\
ps save fuel. The currently
selected gear will be displayed in the instrument panel (see
page 27).
l To access the (MAN)ual shifting position from (D)rive, pull the gear\
selector back slightly from D
and move it to the left to MAN.
l To return to the (D)rive position from MAN, move the gear selector to \
the right and push it forward to
the (D)rive position.
While driving
If you select the (MAN)ual position while driving, the gear that was b\
eing 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 at a time, and will
utilize the braking power of the engine. If the current speed is too hig\
h for using a lower gear, the
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lower with the air conditioning 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 othe\
rs are checked at the
standard Maintenance Service intervals.
NOTE: Vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions should use (D)rive as o\
ften as possible and
avoid using "kick-down" to help improve fuel economy. Vehicles equipped \
with manual transmissions
should use fifth gear at highway speeds. At other times, choose the high\
est gear that still allows smooth
acceleration.
Weight distribution affects handling
At the specified curb weight your car has a tendency to understeer, whic\
h means that the steering wheel
has to be turned more than might seem appropriate for the curvature of a\
bend. This ensures good
stability and reduces the risk of rear wheel skid. Remember that these p\
roperties can alter with the
vehicle load. The heavier the load on the rear of the vehicle (e.g., he\
avily loaded (max. 220 lbs, 100 kg)
cargo area or when towing a trailer, the less the tendency to understeer\
.
Handling, roadholding
Vehicle load, tire design and inflation pressure all affect vehicle hand\
ling. Therefore, check that the tires
are inflated to the recommended pressure according to the vehicle load. \
See "Tire pressure" section.
Loads should be distributed so that capacity weight or maximum permissib\
le axle loads are not
exceeded.

pg. 96 Points to remember
Cooling system
The risk for engine overheating is greatest, especially in hot weather, \
when:
l Towing a trailer up steep inclines for prolonged periods at wide open th\
rottle and low engine rpm.
l Stopping the engine suddenly after high speed driving (so-called "after\
-boiling" can occur).
l To avoid overheating, the following rules should be followed: Do not dri\
ve for prolonged periods at
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engine speeds above 4500 rpm if you are towing a trailer in hilly terrai\
n.
Reduce speed when towing a trailer up long, steep inclines. The risk of \
overheating can be reduced by
switching off the air conditioning system for a short time.
Do not let the engine idle unnecessarily for prolonged periods.
Do not mount auxiliary lamps in front of the grill.
When the risk of overheating is imminent, or in the event of overheating\
(the temperature gauge goes
repeatedly into, or stays continually in, the red section), the followi\
ng precautions should be taken:
l Switch off the air conditioning system.
l Pull off the road, away from traffic, stop the car and put the gear sele\
ctor into neutral.
l Switch the heater to full (maximum) position. Increase the engine spee\
d to approx. 2000 rpm (twice
idling speed) until the temperature begins to drop.
WARNING!
Do not remove coolant expansion tank cap. The coolant will be extremely \
hot.
If necessary, see
page 129 and 132 for information on checking and topping-up the coolant
level.
CAUTION: Drive slowly and carefully if going through standing water (i.e. flood\
ed roadways, etc.).
Damage to the engine could result if excess water is drawn in through th\
e air intake system. Never drive
the vehicle in water deeper than 1 foot (300 mm). See the flood warnin\
g on
page 7.
WARNING!
l Driving with the tailgate open: Driving with the tailgate open could mean that poisonous exhaust
gases enter the passenger compartment.
If the tailgate must be kept open for any reason, proceed as follows:
- Close the windows.
- Set the ventilation system control to air flow to floor, windshield an\
d side windows and blower
control to its highest setting.
l Floor mats: An extra mat on the driver's floor can cause the accelerator pedal to \
catch. Check that
the movement of the accelerator pedal is not impeded. Not more than one \
protective floor covering
may be used at one time.
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pg. 99 Emergency towing


Front towing eyelet
Emergency towing
The towing eyelet is located in the tool kit, under the floor of the car\
go area, with the spare tire. This
eyelet must be screwed into the positions provided on the right sides of\
either the front or rear bumper
(see illustration). To attach the towing eyelet:
l Use a coin to pry open the lower edge of the cover (A).
l Screw the towing eyelet in place, first by hand and then using the tire \
iron (B) until it is securely in
place.
After the car has been towed, the eyelet should be removed and returned \
to the tool kit. Press the cover
back into position.

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Rear towing eyelet
Precautions when the car is in tow
l The steering wheel must be unlocked. Turn the ignition key to position I\
or II.
l The gear selector must be in position N.
l Maximum speed: 50 mph (80 km/h)
l Maximum distance with front wheels on ground: 50 miles (80 km).
l While the car is being towed, try to keep the tow rope taut at all times\
.
l Cars with an automatic transmission should only be towed in forward dire\
ction.
CAUTION:
l Please check with state and local authorities before attempting this typ\
e of towing, as vehicles being
towed are subject to regulations regarding maximum towing speed, length \
and type of towing device,
lighting, etc.
l If the car's battery is dead, do not attempt to start the vehicle by pus\
hing or pulling it as this will
damage the three-way catalytic converter(s). The engine must be jump s\
tarted using an auxiliary battery
(see
page 103).
l If the car is being towed on a flat bed truck, the towing eyelets must n\
ot be used to secure the car on
the flat bed. Consult the tow truck operator.
WARNING!
l Remember that the power brakes and power steering will not function when\
engine is not running.
The braking and steering systems will function but the brake pedal press\
ure required is 3 - 4 times
above normal and greater steering effort must be exerted.
l The towing eyelets must not be used for pulling another vehicle out of a\
ditch or for any similar
purpose involving severe strain.
l Do not use the towing eyelets to pull the car up onto a flat bed tow tru\
ck.


pg. 100 Vehicle towing information

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Towing cars with all wheel drive/front wheel drive
Volvo recommends the use of flat bed equipment. If wheel lift equipment \
must be used, please use
extreme caution to help avoid damage to the car. In this case, the car 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 o\
n the ground, please refer to the
towing information on the previous page.
CAUTION:
l The car must not be driven with wheels of different dimensions/specifica\
tions or with a spare tire
other than the one that came with the car. The use of different size whe\
els can seriously damage your
car's transmission.
l Sling-type equipment applied at the front will damage radiator and air c\
onditioning lines.
l It is equally important not to use sling-type equipment at the rear or a\
pply lifting equipment inside the
rear wheels; serious damage to the rear axle may result.
l If the car is being towed on a flat bed truck, the towing eyelets must n\
ot be used to secure the car on
the flat bed. Consult the tow truck operator.
WARNING!
l Do not use the towing eyelets to pull the car up onto a flat bed tow
truck.


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pg. 101 Towing a trailer
When preparing for trailer towing, observe the following:
Volvo recommends the use of Volvo trailer hitches which are specially de\
signed for the car.
l Maximum trailer weight recommended by Volvo is:
Trailers without brakes: 1100 lbs (500 kg)
Trailers with brakes: 3300 lbs* (1,500 kg),
Observe the legal requirements of the state/province in which the vehicl\
es are registered.
l All Volvo models are equipped with energy-absorbing shock-mounted bumper\
s. Trailer hitch
installation should not interfere with the proper operation of this bump\
er system.
Trailer towing does not normally present any particular problems, but ta\
ke into consideration:
l Increase tire pressure to recommended full. See section "Wheels and tire\
s".
l When your car is new, avoid towing heavy trailers during the first 620 m\
iles (1000 km).
l Recommended hitch tongue load is:
Trailer weights below 2,650 lbs (1,200 kg) - 110 lbs (50 kg)
Trailer weights above 2,650 lbs (1,200 kg) - 165 lbs (75 kg)
l Maximum speed when towing a trailer: 50 mph (80 km/h).
l Engine and transmission are subject to increased loads. Therefore, engin\
e coolant temperature should
be closely watched when driving in hot climates or hilly terrain. Use a \
lower gear and turn off the air
conditioner if the temperature gauge needle enters the red range.
l If the automatic transmission begins to overheat, a message will be disp\
layed in the text window.
l Avoid overload and other abusive operation.
l Hauling a trailer affects handling, durability, and economy.
l It is necessary to balance trailer brakes with the towing vehicle brakes\
to provide a safe stop (check
and observe state/local regulations).
l Do not connect the trailer's brake system directly to the vehicle's brak\
e system.
l More frequent vehicle maintenance is required.
l Remove the ball and drawbar assembly when the hitch is not being used.
l Volvo recommends the use of synthetic engine oil when towing a trailer o\
ver long distances or in
mountainous areas.
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WARNING!
l Bumper-attached trailer hitches must not be used on Volvo's, nor should \
safety chains be attached
to the bumper.
l Trailer hitches attaching to the vehicle rear axle must not be used.
l 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 ne\
arest authorized Volvo retailer
for correct installation.
l When towing a trailer, the trailer's safety wire must be correctly faste\
ned to the hole or hook
provided in the trailer hitch on the car. The safety wire should never b\
e fastened to or wound around
the drawbar ball.
NOTE:
l When parking the car with a trailer on a hill, apply the parking brake before putting the gear selector
in (P)ark. When starting on a hill, put the gear selector in (D)rive\
before releasing the parking brake.
l If you use the manual (Geartronic) shift positions while towing a trai\
ler, make sure the gear you select
does not put too much strain on the engine (using too high a gear).
l The drawbar assembly/trailer hitch may be certified for trailers that ar\
e heavier than the car is
designed to tow. Please adhere to Volvo's recommended trailer weights.
* When driving for prolonged periods at temperatures above 86° F (30\
° C), the maximum recommended
weight is 2000 lbs (900 kg).

pg. 102 Detachable trailer hitch (accessory) - installing/removing


A - ball holder, B - locking bolt, C - cotter pin, D - hitch assembly
Installing the ball holder
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l Remove the connector (2).
l Loosen the retaining spring (3) by first moving it to the right and th\
en moving it down, out of the way.
l Pull out the defective bulb. Note the position of the guide lug on the b\
ase of the bulb (4).

Installing a new bulb
To install a new low beam bulb (H7):
l Insert the new bulb, without touching the glass, with the guide lug upwa\
rd (1). The bulb will only seat
properly in this position.
l Move the retaining spring up and push it slightly to the left until it s\
eats properly (2).
l Press the connector into place on the bulb (3).
l Reinstall the plastic cover and turn it clockwise until it is correctly \
in place (4). "TOP" must be
upward.
NOTE: If the vertical aim of your headlights needs to be adjusted for any reas\
on (e.g., towing a trailer
for extended periods), this should be done by an authorized Volvo retai\
ler.

pg. 121 Replacing bulbs

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several thin paint coats and let dry after each application.
3. If there is a longer scratch, you may want to protect surrounding pai\
nt by masking it off.

pg. 127 Washing the car
Washing the car
l The car should be washed at regular intervals since dirt, dust, insects \
and tar spots adhere to the paint
and may cause damage. It is particularly important to wash the car frequ\
ently in the wintertime to
prevent corrosion, when salt has been used on the roads.
l When washing the car, do not expose it to direct sunlight. Use lukewarm \
water to soften the dirt
before you wash with a sponge and plenty of water, to avoid scratching. \
l Bird droppings: Remove from paintwork as soon as possible. Otherwise the finish may be\

permanently damaged.
l A detergent can be used to facilitate the softening of dirt and oil.
l A water-soluble grease solvent may be used in cases of sticky dirt. Howe\
ver, use a wash place
equipped with a drainage separator.
l Remove dirt from the drain holes in the doors and rocker panels.
l Dry the car with a clean chamois.
l Tar spots can be removed with kerosene or tar remover after the car has \
been washed.
l A stiff-bristle brush and lukewarm soapy water can be used to clean the \
wiper blades. Frequent
cleaning improves visibility considerably.
l Wash off the dirt from the underside (wheel housings, fenders, etc.). \
l In areas of high industrial fallout, more frequent washing is recommende\
d.
CAUTION:
During high pressure washing, the spray mouthpiece must never be closer \
to the vehicle than 13" (30
cm). Do not spray into the locks.
Special sun roof cautions:
- Always close the sun roof and sun shade before washing your vehicle. \
- Never use abrasive cleaning agents on the sun roof.
- Never use wax on the rubber seals around the sun roof.
l When washing or steam cleaning the engine, avoid spraying water or steam\
directly on the electrical
components or toward the rear side of the engine.
l After cleaning the engine, the spark plug wells should be inspected for \
water and blown dry if
necessary.
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