fuel VOLVO XC90 2003 User Guide

2003 VOLVO XC90
Heated front seats (option)
l The front seat heating can be switched on and off as required.
l Press the switch once for maximum seat heating. Both LED's in the switch\
will be lit.
l Press the switch a second time for comfort heating. One LED in the switc\
h will be lit.
l Press the switch a third time to turn the heating off completely.
The seat heating for the passenger seat should be switched off when the \
seat is not occupied.
pg. 36 Instruments and controls
Trip computer (option)
The trip computer stores information gathered from several systems in yo\
ur vehicle and has four menus
that can be displayed in the text window.
l Driving distance on current fuel reserve
l Average fuel consumption
l Current fuel consumption
l Average speed
l Current speed in mph (Canadian models only)
NOTE: Warning messages from the vehicle's monitoring systems will override the\
trip computer
function. If a warning message is displayed in the text window while you\
are using the trip computer,
you must acknowledge the message by pressing button A. Press button A ag\
ain to return to the trip
computer function.
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2003 VOLVO XC90
Trip computer controls and functions.
The four* trip computer functions can be accessed by twisting control B \
one step at a time in either
direction. Twisting a fifth** time returns you to the original function.\
The trip computer can be reset (current data will be erased from system\
memory) by pressing RESET
(button C).
1. Driving distance on current fuel reserve
This function shows the approximate distance that can be driven on the f\
uel remaining in the tank. This
calculation is based on average fuel consumption during the last 12 mile\
s (20 km) of driving and the
amount of fuel remaining in the tank when the reading was taken.
When the driving distance on current fuel reserve is less than 12 miles \
(20 km), "----" will be displayed
in the text window.
2. Average fuel consumption
This value indicates fuel consumption since the last time the trip compu\
ter was reset (by pressing
RESET, button C). When the engine is switched off, information on fuel \
consumption is stored and
remains in system memory until the RESET (button C) is pressed again.
3. Current fuel consumption
This value indicates the current fuel consumption, based on readings tak\
en once per second. When the
vehicle is not moving, "----" will be displayed.
4. Average speed
This value indicates average speed since the last time the trip computer\
was reset (by pressing RESET,
button C). When the engine is switched off, information on average spee\
d is stored and remains in
system memory until the RESET (button C) is pressed again.
5. Current speed in miles per hour (Canadian models only)
This function provides the driver with an instantaneous conversion of th\
e vehicle's current speed from
km/h to mph.
* Five functions on Canadian models
** A sixth time on Canadian models
pg. 37 Instruments and controls
Cruise control
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2003 VOLVO XC90
Remote controls
Your vehicle is equipped with a remote control transmitter. This transmi\
tter uses a radio signal to allow
"keyless" entry into the passenger compartment or the tailgate. You will\
be supplied with two coded key
ring transmitters, which will enable you to lock/unlock all doors and th\
e tailgate from a distance of 10-
15 feet (3- 5 meters).
On vehicles equipped with an alarm, the alarm will also be activated/dea\
ctivated by this system.
The vehicle can also be locked/unlocked with the key.

Buttons in remote control:
1-Lock, 2-Unlock, 3-Unlock tailgate,
4-"Panic" function,*, 5-Approach lighting
As an extra security precaution in certain situations (valet parking, e\
tc.), Volvo recommends that the
transmitter not be included when the keys are given to anyone. The servi\
ce key can be used instead. If
one of the transmitters is misplaced, contact the nearest authorized Vol\
vo retailer for assistance.
Using the remote control
l Press the LOCK button once to lock all doors and tailgate.
l Press the UNLOCK button once to unlock the driver's door and fuel filler\
door. Wait for at least 1
second and press this button again (within 10 seconds) to unlock all d\
oors and the tailgate.
l To unlock the tailgate (without unlocking the doors), press the Unlock\
tailgate button twice within 3
seconds.
NOTE:
l Airbag deployment will automatically unlock the doors.
l The keys may also be used to lock and unlock the doors, and to activate \
and deactivate the alarm
system.
l To avoid leaving your keys in the vehicle, make a habit of always lockin\
g the vehicle with the remote
control.
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2003 VOLVO XC90
2 0 0 3
VOLVO XC90
Starting and driving

pg. 83 Starting and driving
Refueling84
Starting the vehicle87
General information89
Automatic transmission with Geartronic91
All Wheel Drive94
Brake system95
Dynamic Stability Traction Control (DSTC)97
Rear Parking Assistance99
Towing 100
Jump starting 102
Towing a trailer 103
Detachable trailer hitch - installing/
removing 105
Load carriers 106
Cold weather precautions 107
Before a long distance trip108
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2003 VOLVO XC90
pg. 84 Starting and driving
ENGINE OIL
Although some oil consumption occurs during normal engine operation, mor\
e oil is consumed when the
engine is new as the internal parts generate higher friction while weari\
ng-in to each other. From the time
the engine is new until the first maintenance is performed, the oil cons\
umption could be higher than
normal. For this reason, it is especially important to check the oil eve\
ry time you refuel your vehicle
during this period. See
page 130.
Fuel requirements
Octane rating
Volvo engines are designed for optimum performance on unleaded premium g\
asoline with an AKI
octane rating of 91 or above. AKI (ANTI KNOCK INDEX) is an average of \
the Research Octane
Number, RON, and the Motor Octane Number, MON. ((RON + MON)/2). The \
minimum octane
requirement is AKI 87 (RON 91).
Deposit control gasoline (detergent additives)
Volvo recommends the use of detergent gasoline to control engine deposit\
s. Detergent gasoline is
effective in keeping injectors and intake valves clean. Consistent use o\
f deposit control gasolines will
help ensure good driveability and fuel economy. If you are not sure whet\
her the gasoline contains
deposit control additives, check with the service station operator.
NOTE: Volvo does not recommend the use of external fuel injector cleaning syst\
ems.
Unleaded fuel
Each Volvo has a three-way catalytic converter and must use only unleade\
d gasoline. U.S. and Canadian
regulations require that pumps delivering unleaded gasoline be labelled \
"UNLEADED". Only these
pumps have nozzles which fit your vehicle's filler inlet. It is unlawful\
to dispense leaded fuel into a
vehicle labelled "unleaded gasoline only". Leaded gasoline damages the t\
hree-way catalytic converter
and the heated oxygen sensor system. Repeated use of leaded gasoline wil\
l lessen the effectiveness of
the emission control system and could result in loss of emission warrant\
y coverage. State and local
vehicle inspection programs will make detection of misfueling easier, po\
ssibly resulting in emission test
failure for misfueled vehicles.
NOTE: Some U.S. and Canadian gasolines contain an octane enhancing additive ca\
lled methyl-
cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT). If such fuels are used, \
your Emission Control System
performance may be affected, and the Check Engine Light (malfunction in\
dicator lamp) located on your
instrument panel may light. If this occurs, please return your vehicle t\
o an authorized Volvo retailer for
maintenance.
Gasoline containing alcohol and ethers
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2003 VOLVO XC90
"Oxygenated fuels"
Some fuel suppliers sell gasoline containing "oxygenates" which are usua\
lly alcohols or ethers. In some
areas, state or local laws require that the service pump be marked indic\
ating 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 operat\
or. To meet seasonal air quality
standards, some areas require the use of "oxygenated" fuel.
Volvo allows the use of the following "oxygenated" fuels; however, the o\
ctane ratings listed on this page
must still be met.
Alcohol - Ethanol: Fuels containing up to 10% ethanol by volume may be u\
sed. Ethanol may also be
referred to as Ethyl alcohol, or "Gasohol".
Ethers - MTBE: Fuels containing up to 15% MTBE may be used.
pg. 85 Starting and driving
Carbon Monoxide - Important Warning
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, colorless, and odorless gas. It is prese\
nt in all exhaust gases. If you
ever smell exhaust fumes inside the vehicle, make sure the passenger com\
partment is ventilated, and
immediately return the vehicle to your retailer for correction.
Fuel Formulations
Do not use gasoline that contains lead as a knock inhibitor, and do not \
use lead additives. Besides
damaging the exhaust emission control systems on your vehicle, lead has \
been strongly linked to certain
forms of cancer. Many fuels contain benzene as a solvent. Unburned benze\
ne 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:
l standing upwind away from the filler nozzle while refueling
l refueling only at gas stations with vapor recovery systems that fully se\
al the mouth of the filler neck
during refueling
l wearing neoprene gloves while handling a fuel filler nozzle.
Use of Additives
With the exception of gas line antifreeze during winter months, do not a\
dd solvents, thickeners, or other
store-bought additives to your vehicle's fuel, cooling, or lubricating s\
ystems. Overuse may damage your
engine, and some of these additives contain organically volatile chemica\
ls. Do not needlessly expose
yourself to these chemicals.
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2003 VOLVO XC90
pg. 86 Starting and driving
Fuel filler door
Press the button on the light switch panel (see illustration on
page 31) when the vehicle is at a standstill
to unlock the fuel filler door. Please note that the fuel filler door wi\
ll remain unlocked until the vehicle
begins to move forward. An audible click will be heard when the fuel fil\
ler door relocks.
If you intend to leave your vehicle while it is being refueled, this fea\
ture 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 refu\
eling. 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 st\
ill have fuel nozzles that
are not compatible with the fuel filler neck on vehicles equipped with t\
he evaporative control system.
Refueling
The fuel tank is designed to hold approximately 19 US gals (72 liters)\
, with sufficient volume left over
to accommodate possible expansion of the fuel in hot weather. Be aware t\
hat the"usable" tank capacity
will be somewhat less than the specified maximum. When the fuel level is\
low, such factors as ambient
temperature, the fuel's "Reid vapor pressure" characteristics, and terra\
in can affect the fuel pump's
ability to supply the engine with an adequate supply of fuel. Therefore,\
it is advisable to refuel as soon
as possible when the needle nears the red zone, or when the fuel warning\
light comes on.
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2003 VOLVO XC90
CAUTION
- Do not refuel with the engine running *. Turn the ignition off or to p\
osition I. If the ignition is on,
an incorrect reading could occur in the fuel gauge
- After refueling, close the fuel filler cap by turning it clockwise unt\
il it clicks into place*.
- Allow for fuel expansion by not overfilling the tank. Overfilling coul\
d also cause damage to the
emission control systems.
- Avoid spilling gasoline during refueling. In addition to causing damag\
e to the environment,
gasolines containing alcohol can cause damage to painted surfaces, which\
may not be covered under
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
- Do not use gasolines containing methanol (methyl alcohol, wood alcoho\
l). This practice can result
in vehicle performance deterioration and can damage critical parts in th\
e fuel system. Such damage
may not be covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
* If the fuel filler cap is not closed tightly or if the engine is runni\
ng when the vehicle is refueled, the
Check Engine Light (malfunction indicator lamp) may indicate a fault. \
However, your vehicle's
performance will not be affected. Use only Volvo original or approved fu\
el filler caps.
pg. 87 Starting and driving
Starting the engine
1. Fasten the seat belt.
WARNING!
Before starting, check that the seat, steering wheel and mirrors are adj\
usted properly. Make sure the
brake pedal can be depressed completely. Adjust the seat if necessary. S\
ee
pages 54, 56.
2. Apply the parking brake if not already set. The gear selector is lock\
ed in the (P)ark position
(Shiftlock).
Manual transmission: the clutch must be fully depressed.
3. Without touching the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key* to the\
starting position. Allow the
starter to operate for up to 10 seconds. Release the key as soon as the \
engine starts. If the engine fails to
start, repeat this step.
NOTE:
- On certain models, when the vehicle is started, idle speed may be noti\
ceably higher than normal for a
short period, depending on the temperature of the engine.
This has been done to help bring components in the emission control syst\
em to their normal operating
temperature as quickly as possible, which enables them to function norma\
lly.
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2003 VOLVO XC90
WARNING!
Never switch off the ignition (turn the ignition key to position 0) or\
remove the key from the ignition
switch while the vehicle is in motion. This could cause the steering whe\
el to lock, which would make
the vehicle impossible to steer.
* The gear selector must be in the (P)ark position (automatic transmission).
** Please be aware that leaving the key in this position will increase b\
attery drain.
pg. 89 Starting and driving
General information
Economical driving conserves natural resources
Better driving economy may be obtained by thinking ahead, avoiding rapid\
starts and stops and
adjusting the speed of your vehicle to immediate traffic conditions. Obs\
erve the following rules:
l Bring the engine to normal operating temperature as soon as possible by \
driving with a light foot on
the accelerator pedal for the first few minutes of operation. A cold eng\
ine uses more fuel and is subject
to increased wear.
l Whenever possible, avoid using the vehicle for driving short distances. \
This does not allow the engine
to reach normal operating temperature.
l Drive carefully and avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking.
l Use the transmission's (D)rive position as often as possible and avoid using "kickdown" to help
improve fuel economy.
l Do not exceed posted speed limits.
l Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra load) in the vehicle.
l Maintain correct tire pressure. Check tire pressure regularly (when tir\
es are cold).
l Remove snow tires when threat of snow or ice has ended.
l Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc, increase air resistance and also f\
uel consumption.
l At highway driving speeds, fuel consumption will be lower with the air c\
onditioning 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 others are checked at the standard\
Maintenance intervals.
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2003 VOLVO XC90
WARNING!
Avoid driving diagonally across steep inclines as this could increase th\
e 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 avoi\
d 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 res\
ult in damage to the three-way
catalytic converter. We recommend keeping the fuel tank at least half fu\
ll when driving on steep inclines.
Driving through water
l The vehicle should not be driven through water that is deeper than 18 in\
ches (48 cm). Driving through
deeper water could result in damage to transmission components or the di\
fferential, or to the engine if
excess water is drawn in through the air intake system.
l Drive slowly and avoid stopping when driving through water.
l After having driven through water, apply the brakes lightly several time\
s to remove water, mud, etc
from the brake discs.
l Never allow the vehicle to stand in water above the door sills. This cou\
ld result in damage to the
electrical system.
Conserving electrical current
Keep the following in mind to help minimize battery drain:
l When the engine is not running, avoid turning the ignition key to positi\
on II (see page 88). Many
electrical systems (the audio system, the optional infotainment/navigat\
ion systems, power windows, etc)
will function with the ignition key in position I. This position reduces\
drain on the battery.
l Please keep in mind that using systems, accessories, etc that consume a \
great deal of current when the
engine is not running could result in the battery being completely drain\
ed.
NOTE: A warning message will be displayed in the text window in the instrument\
panel when the
battery charge is low.
pg. 91 Starting and driving
Automatic transmission with Geartronic
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