service VOLVO XC90 2003 User Guide

2003 VOLVO XC90
Acceleration
The air conditioning is momentarily disengaged during full-throttle acce\
leration.
Climate control maintenance
All maintenance on the climate control systems should be carried out by \
an authorized Volvo service technician only.
Refrigerant
Volvo cares about the environment. The air conditioning system in your v\
ehicle contains a CFC-free refrigerant - R134a.
This substance will not deplete the ozone layer. The system contains 2.2\
lbs (1000 g) R134a and uses PAG oil.
Passenger compartment blower
Approximately 50 minutes after the ignition is turned off, the blower ma\
y come on automatically, and run for seven
minutes, to remove condensation in the A/C evaporator.
Blower function to reduce battery drain
The climate system's blower functions normally while the engine is runni\
ng.
However, when the engine is switched off (even if the ignition is switc\
hed to positions I or II), the blower control will be
automatically switched off to avoid unnecessary battery drain. The follo\
wing points pertain if the ignition key is on but the
engine is not running:
l To restart the blower, turn the control knob to the setting of your choi\
ce.
l After approximately 2 minutes, the blower speed will be reduced to avoid\
battery drain.
You can reset the blower speed at any time. Please be aware that the sys\
tem has been designed to reduce the blower's speed
again after 2 minutes, until the engine is started. If the battery becom\
es drained:
l LOW BATTERY, FAN IS REDUCED will be displayed in the text window in the \
instrument panel.
l The yellow warning light in the instrument panel (see page 25) will also light up.
pg. 47 Climate control
Air distribution
Air distribution
The incoming air is distributed through the ventilation points in the pa\
ssenger compartment shown above.
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2003 VOLVO XC90
Keys
Two keys are provided with your vehicle; a master key and a service (va\
let) key. The master key, the
remote control, and the central locking button may all be used to lock a\
nd unlock all of your vehicle's
locks.
The service key will operate only the driver's door and the ignition swi\
tch. It is intended to help deter
unwanted entry into the glove compartment and tailgate.
To use your keys:
l Turn the key once to unlock the driver's door only.
l Turn the key again (within 10 seconds) to unlock all doors and the tai\
lgate.
l One turn with the key towards lock in the drivers door locks all doors, \
tailgate.
l Use the switch on the driver's door armrest to lock/unlock the vehicle f\
rom the inside.
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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
pg. 95 Starting and driving
Brake system
BRAKE Brake circuit malfunction
The brake system is a hydraulic system consisting of two master cylinder\
s and two separate brake
circuits. If a problem should occur in one of these circuits, it is stil\
l possible to stop the vehicle with the
other brake circuit.
If the brake pedal must be depressed farther than normal and requires gr\
eater foot pressure, the stopping
distance will be longer.
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 ch\
eck the brake fluid level in the
reservoir.
NOTE: Press the brake pedal hard and maintain pressure on the pedal - do not p\
ump the brakes.
WARNING!
If the fluid level is below the MIN mark in the reservoir or if a "Brake\
failure - Service urgent"
message is displayed in the text window: DO NOT DRIVE. Have the vehicle \
towed to a Volvo
retailer and have the brake system inspected.
NOTE: When the vehicle is at a standstill and the engine is idling, e.g. at a \
traffic light and the brake
pedal is depressed, the pedal may go down slightly. This is a normal fun\
ction of the power-assisted
brake system.
Power brakes function only when the engine is running
The power brakes utilize vacuum pressure which is only created when the \
engine is running. Never let
the vehicle roll to a stop with the engine switched off.
If the power brakes are not working, the brake pedal must be pressed app\
roximately four times harder
than usual to make up for the lack of power assistance. This can happen \
for example when towing your
vehicle or if the engine is switched off when the vehicle is rolling. Th\
e brake pedal feels harder than
usual.
Water on brake discs and brake pads affects braking
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2003 VOLVO XC90
If the BRAKE and ABS warning lights come on at the same time, this could\
indicate a fault in the brake
system.
l Stop the vehicle in a suitable place and switch off the engine.
l Restart the engine.
l If both warning lights go off, no further action is required.
l If both lights are still on after the engine has been restarted, switch \
off the engine again and check the
brake fluid level (see
page 128 for the location of the brake fluid reservoir).
l If the brake fluid level is above the MIN mark, drive carefully to an au\
thorized Volvo retailer and
have the brake system inspected.
WARNING!
If the fluid level is below the MIN mark in the reservoir or if a "Brake\
failure - Service urgent"
message is displayed in the text window: DO NOT DRIVE. Have the vehicle \
towed to a Volvo
retailer and have the brake system inspected.
pg. 97 Starting and driving
Dynamic Stability Traction Control (DSTC)
The DSTC system on the Volvo XC90 consists of a number of functions:
1. Traction control (TC)
This function is designed to help reduce wheel spin by transferring powe\
r from a drive wheel that begins
to lose traction to the wheel on the opposite side of the vehicle (on t\
he same axle). TC monitors and
compares the rotational speed of the drive wheels. If one of the drive w\
heels shows a tendency to spin,
the difference in speed is immediately detected. This triggers the Anti-\
lock Brake System, which brakes
the spinning wheel until the difference in rotational speed is corrected\
.
TC is most active at low speeds, and a pulsating sound will be audible w\
hen the system is regulating
wheel spin. This is quite normal.
This is one of the DSTC system's permanent functions and is not affected\
when the DSTC button on the
center control panel is pressed.
2. Spin control (SC)
The spin control function is designed to help prevent the drive wheels f\
rom spinning while the vehicle is
accelerating. This is done by temporarily reducing engine torque to the \
drive wheels, which helps
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2003 VOLVO XC90
All DSTC functions are (re)activated each time the engine is started.
The Stability Control indicator light
The Stability Control indicator light will come on for approximately 2 s\
econds when the ignition is
switched on as the system performs a self-diagnostic test.
The Stability Control indicator light will flash when:
l Traction Control is actively functioning to help avoid drive-wheel spin.\

l Spin Control is actively functioning to help avoid loss of traction duri\
ng acceleration.
l Active Yaw Control is actively functioning to help avoid skids or latera\
l slides.
l Roll Stability Control is actively functioning to help avoid a roll-over\
situation.
The warning symbol in the instrument panel
A steady yellow glow indicates:
l That the system has been automatically disengaged due to a fault. "ANTI \
SKID SERVICE
REQUIRED" be displayed in the text window. An authorized Volvo retailer \
should check the system.
l In the event of high brake temperature, "TRACTION CONTROL TEMPORARILY OF\
F" will be
displayed in the text window. The system will automatically switch on ag\
ain when the brakes have
cooled.
Emergency Brake Assistance (EBA)
The EBA function is an integrated part of the DSTC system. EBA is design\
ed to provide full brake
effect immediately in the event of sudden, hard braking. The system is a\
ctivated by the speed with which
you depress the brake pedal.
NOTE:
l When the EBA system is activated, the brake pedal will go down and press\
ure in the brake system
immediately increases to the maximum level. Maintain full pressure on th\
e brake pedal in order to utilize
the system completely. EBA is automatically deactivated when the brake p\
edal is released.
l When the vehicle has been parked for some time, the brake pedal may sink\
more than usual when the
engine is started. This is normal and the pedal will return to its usual\
position when it is released.
pg. 99 Starting and driving
Rear Parking Assistance
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2003 VOLVO XC90
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
Maintenance

pg. 123 Maintenance
Volvo maintenance124
Working on your vehicle126
Engine compartment128
Oils and fluids129
Battery maintenance134
Bulbs137
Fuses145
pg. 124 Maintenance
Volvo Maintenance
Maintenance Volvo advises you to follow the maintenance program outlined\
in the Warranty and
Service Records Information booklet. This maintenance program contains i\
nspections and services
necessary for the proper function of your vehicle. The maintenance servi\
ces contain several checks
which require special instruments and tools and therefore must be perfor\
med by a qualified technician.
To keep your Volvo in top condition, specify time-tested and proven Genu\
ine Volvo Parts and
Accessories.
The Federal Clean Air Act - U.S.
The Federal Clean Air Act requires vehicle manufacturers to furnish writ\
ten instructions to the ultimate
purchaser to assure the proper servicing and function of the components \
that control emissions. These
services, which are listed in the "Warranty and Service Records Informat\
ion booklet," are not covered
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