wheel alignment VOLVO XC70 2003 Owners Manual

2003 VOLVO XC70
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
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2003/2003_XC70/03xc70_06a.htm (17 of 22)12/30/20\
06 4:18:00 PM

2003 VOLVO XC70

pg. 105 Long distance trips
Before a long distance trip
It is always worthwhile to have your car checked at a Volvo retailer bef\
ore driving long distances. Your
retailer will also be able to supply you with bulbs, fuses, spark plugs \
and wiper blades 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 condition of accessory drive belts.
l Check transmission oil level*.
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 legal requirement in some countries.
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.
* To prevent injury from contact with hot surfaces, do not inspect your \
car's transmission fluid yourself.
Have your car's transmission fluid level inspected by a qualified Volvo \
service technician.

pg. 106 Three-way catalytic converters


file:///K|/ownersdocs/2003/2003_XC70/03xc70_06b.htm (9 of 10)12/30/200\
6 4:18:00 PM

2003 VOLVO XC70
four wheels. When replacing tires, be sure that the new tires are the same dimensio\
ns, type (radial) and
preferably from the same manufacturer, on all four wheels. Do not use bi\
as ply tires. Otherwise there is a
risk of altering the car's roadholding and handling characteristics.
NOTE: When storing wheel/tire assemblies (e.g. snow tires and wheels), eith\
er stand the assemblies
upright, or suspend them off the ground. Laying wheel/tire assemblies on\
their sides for prolonged
periods can cause wheel and/or tire damage.
Wear indicator
The tires have wear indicator strips running across or parallel to the t\
read. When approx. 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 have very poor grip in rain \
or snow.
To improve tire economy:
l Maintain correct tire pressure. See the tire pressure label on the insid\
e of the fuel filler door.
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 Volvo does not recommend rotating the tires. However, if tires are rotat\
ed, they must be kept on the
same side of the car so that they revolve in the same direction as befor\
e rotation.
l Hitting curbs or potholes can damage the tires and/or wheels permanently\
.
Flat spots
All tires become warm during use. After cooling, when the vehicle is par\
ked, the tires have a tendency to
distort slightly, forming flat spots. These flat spots can cause vibrati\
ons similar to the vibrations caused
by unbalanced wheels. They do, however, disappear when the tire warms up\
. The degree to which flat
spots form depends on the type of cord used in the tire. Remember that, \
in cold weather, it takes longer
for the tire to warm up and consequently longer for the flat spot to dis\
appear.
CAUTION: The car must not be driven with wheels of different dimensions/specific\
ations or with a
spare tire other than the one that came with the car. The use of differe\
nt size wheels can seriously
damage your car's transmission or driveline.

pg. 109 Wheels and tires
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2003/2003_XC70/03xc70_07.htm (2 of 10)12/30/2006\
4:18:01 PM

2003 VOLVO XC70
Distributor ignition system
Firing order: 1-2-4-5-3
Electronic ignition setting: Not adjustable
Spark plugs: Champion RC8PYP 8 (or equivalent)
Spark plug gap: 0.028-0.032" (0.7-0.8 mm)
Tightening torque: 18.4 ft. lbs. (25 Nm) WARNING!
The ignition system operates at very high voltages. Special safety preca\
utions must be followed to
prevent injury. Always turn the ignition off when:
l Replacing ignition components e.g. plugs, coil, etc.
l Do not touch any part of the ignition system while the engine is running\
. This may result in a shock
and bodily injury.
Front suspension
Spring strut suspension with integrated shock absorbers and control arms\
linked to the support frame.
Power-assisted rack and pinion steering. Safety type steering column. Th\
e alignment specifications
apply to an unladen car but include fuel, coolant and spare wheel.
Rear suspension
Individual rear wheel suspension with longitudinal support arms, double \
link arms and track rods.
All specifications are subject to change without prior notice.

pg. 148 Electrical system
Electrical system
12 Volt, negative ground.
Voltage-controlled generator. Single-wire system with chassis and engine\
used as conductors. Grounded
on chassis.
Battery
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2003/2003_XC70/03xc70_09.htm (9 of 11)12/30/2006\
4:18:05 PM