VOLVO XC90 2003 Owners Manual

2003 VOLVO XC90

A-ball holder, B-locking bolt, C-cotter pin, D-hitch assembly
Installing the ball holder
1. If necessary, remove the cotter pin from the locking bolt and slide t\
he locking bolt out of the hitch
assembly.
2. Slide the ball holder into the hitch assembly.
3. Align the hole in the ball holder with the one in the hitch assembly.\

4. Slide the locking bolt through the hitch assembly/ball holder.
5. Insert the cotter pin in the hole at the end of the locking bolt.
Removing the ball holder
1. Remove the cotter pin from the locking bolt and slide the locking bol\
t out of the ball holder/hitch
assembly.
2. Pull the ball holder out of the hitch assembly.
NOTE: A cover for the hitch assembly can be purchased from your Volvo retailer\
.
pg. 106 Starting and driving
Load carriers
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Positioning the load carriers
Make sure that the wing-shaped load carriers are installed on the roof r\
ails with the rounded edge
forward (see the inset illustration above). The load carriers are iden\
tical and can be placed anywhere
along the roof rails.
When not in use, we recommend that the front load carrier be placed appr\
oximately 2 inches (5 cm) in
front of the center roof rail anchorage point and the rear load carrier \
approximately 1.5 inches (3.5 cm)
in front of the rear rail anchorage. This will help to reduce wind noise\
.
NOTE: Volvo accessories mounted on these load carriers will require T-track mo\
unting hardware for
correct installation. Please consult your Volvo retailer.
Installing the load carriers
Make sure that the load carrier is pressed firmly out against the roof r\
ail. Screw the load carrier in place.
Use the supplied torque wrench and tighten to the mark on the wrench (c\
orresponding to 6 Nm). See
illustration.
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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. 107 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 section "Coolant".
The use of "recycled" antifreeze is not approved by Volvo. Different typ\
es 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 help protect your vehi\
cle 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 f\
uel line de-icer before refueling.
l The viscosity of the engine oil is important. Oil with low viscosity (thinner oil) improves cold-
weather starting as well as decreasing fuel consumption while the engine\
is warming up. For winter use,
5W-30 oil, particularly the synthetic type*, is recommended. Be sure to \
use good quality oil but do not
use cold-weather oil for hard driving or in warm weather. See section "E\
ngine 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 temperature drops. In very
cold weather, a poorly charged battery can freeze and be damaged. It is \
therefore advisable to check the
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
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2003 VOLVO XC90
page 128 for the location of the washer fluid reservoir).
This is important since dirt is often splashed on the windshield during \
winter driving, requiring the
frequent use of the washers and wipers. Volvo Washer Solvent should be d\
iluted 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.
W Winter/Wet driving modeÐenhanced 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 24).
l This mode may be selected for starting/moving off on slippery roads.
* Synthetic oil is not used when the oil is changed at the normal mainte\
nance intervals except at owner
request and at additional charge. Please consult your Volvo retailer.
pg. 108 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 p\
lugs 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 transmission oil level*.
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.
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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 \
vehicle's transmission fluid
yourself. Have your vehicle's transmission fluid level inspected by a qu\
alified Volvo service technician.



Contents | Top of Page
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2003 VOLVO XC90
2 0 0 3
VOLVO XC90
Vehicle care

pg. 109 Vehicle care
Washing and cleaning the vehicle110
Paint touch up112
pg. 110 Vehicle care
Washing and cleaning the vehicle
l The vehicle should be washed at regular intervals since dirt, dust, inse\
cts and tar spots adhere to the
paint and may cause damage. It is particularly important to wash the veh\
icle frequently in the wintertime
to prevent corrosion, when salt has been used on the roads.
l When washing the vehicle, do not expose it to direct sunlight. Use lukew\
arm 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 Dry the vehicle with a clean chamois and remember to clean the drain hol\
es in the doors and rocker
panels.
l Tar spots can be removed with kerosene or tar remover after the vehicle \
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.
l After cleaning the engine, the spark plug wells should be inspected for \
water and blown dry if
necessary.
Suitable detergents: Special vehicle washing detergents should be used. A suitable mixture i\
s about 2.5
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fl. oz. (8.5 cl) of detergent to 2.6 US gal. (10 liters) of warm wat\
er. After washing with a detergent the
vehicle should be well rinsed with clean water.
Bumpers: Wash the bumpers with the same cleaning agent used on the rest of the v\
ehicle. Never clean
the bumpers with gasoline or paint thinner. Difficult spots can be remov\
ed with denatured alcohol. To
avoid scratches, do not dry the bumpers with paper.
NOTE: When washing the vehicle, remember to remove dirt from the drain holes i\
n the doors and sills. CAUTION
- During high pressure washing, the spray mouthpiece must never be close\
r to the vehicle than
13" (30 cm). Do not spray into the locks.
- When washing or steam cleaning the engine, avoid spraying water or ste\
am directly on the electrical
components or toward the rear side of the engine.
Special moonroof cautions:
- Always close the moonroof and visor before washing your vehicle.
- Never use abrasive cleaning agents on the moonroof.
- Never use wax on the rubber seals around the moonroof.
WARNING!
When the vehicle is driven immediately after being washed, apply the bra\
kes several times in order to
remove any moisture from the brake linings.
Engine cleaning agents should not be used when the engine is warm. This \
constitutes a fire risk.
pg. 111 Vehicle care
Automatic washing - simple and quick
l We do NOT recommend washing your vehicle in an automatic wash during the\
first six months
(because the paint will not have hardened sufficiently).
l An automatic wash is a simple and quick way to clean your vehicle, but i\
t is worth remembering that
it may not be as thorough as when you yourself go over the vehicle with \
sponge and water. Keeping the
underbody clean is most important, especially in the winter. Some automa\
tic washers do not have
facilities for washing the underbody.
l Before driving into an automatic car wash, make sure that side view mirr\
ors, auxiliary lamps, etc, are
secure, and that any antenna(s) are retracted or removed. Otherwise th\
ere is risk of the machine
dislodging them.
Polishing and Waxing
l Normally, polishing is not required during the first year after delivery\
, however, waxing may be
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beneficial.
l Before applying polish or wax the vehicle must be washed and dried. Tar \
spots can be removed with
kerosene or tar remover. Difficult spots may require a fine rubbing comp\
ound.
l After polishing use liquid or paste wax.
l Several commercially available products contain both polish and wax.
l Waxing alone does not substitute for polishing a dull surface.
l A wide range of polymer-based waxes can be purchased today. These waxes \
are easy to use and
produce a long-lasting, high-gloss finish that protects the bodywork aga\
inst oxidation, road dirt and
fading.
l Do not polish or wax your vehicle in direct sunlight (the surface of th\
e vehicle should not be warmer
than 113° F (45° C).
Cleaning the upholstery
l The fabric can be cleaned with soapy water or a detergent. For more diff\
icult spots caused by oil, ice
cream, shoe polish, grease, etc., use a clothing/fabric stain remover.
l The plastic in the upholstery can be cleaned with a soft cloth and mild \
soap solution.
l Leather upholstery/suede-like upholstery (alcanteraTM) can be cleaned with a soft cloth and mild soap
solution. For more difficult spots, Volvo offers a leather care kit.
l Under no circumstances should gasoline, naphtha or similar cleaning agen\
ts be used on the plastic or
the leather since these can cause damage.
Cleaning the seat belts
Clean only with lukewarm water and a mild soap solution.
Cleaning floor mats
The floor mats should be vacuumed or brushed clean regularly, especially\
during winter when they
should be taken out for drying. Spots on textile mats can be removed wit\
h a mild detergent.
Bear in mind
l Take extra care when removing stains such as ink or lipstick since the c\
oloring can spread.
l Use solvents sparingly. Too much solvent can damage the seat padding.
l Start from the outside of the stain and work toward the center.
pg. 112 Vehicle care
Paint touch up
Paint damage requires immediate attention to avoid rusting. Make it a ha\
bit to check the finish regularly
- when washing the vehicle for instance. Touch-up if necessary.
Paint repairs require special equipment and skill. Contact your Volvo re\
tailer for any extensive damage.
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Minor scratches can be repaired by using Volvo touch-up paint.
NOTE: When ordering touch-up paint from your Volvo retailer, use the paint cod\
e indicated on the
model plate. The plate is located in the engine compartment.
Color code
Make sure you have the right color. The color code number is on the data\
plate in the engine
compartment.
Minor stone chips and scratches
Material:
l Primer - can
l Paint - touch-up pen
l Brush
l Masking tape
l If the stone chip has not gone down to the bare metal and an undamaged c\
olor coat remains, you can
add paint immediately after removing dirt.
NOTE: When touching up the vehicle, it should be clean and dry. The surface te\
mperature should be
above 60° F (15° C).
Minor scratches on the surface
If the stone chip has not penetrated down to the metal and an undamaged \
layer of paint remains, the
touch-up paint can be applied as soon as the spot has been cleaned.
Deep scratches
1. Place a strip of masking tape over the damaged surface. Pull the tape\
off so that any loose flakes of
paint adhere to it.
2. Thoroughly mix the primer and apply it with a small brush.
When the primer surface is dry, the paint can be applied using a brush. \
Mix the paint thoroughly; apply
several thin paint coats and let dry after each application.
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3. If there is a longer scratch, you may want to protect surrounding pai\
nt by masking it off.




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