tow VOLVO XC90 2003 Owner's Manual

2003 VOLVO XC90
Rear Parking Assistance (option) is used to assist you when backing in\
to parking spaces, etc by
providing an audible tone as you back up. The system is automatically ac\
tivated when you select reverse
gear.
It utilizes ultrasound sensors located in the rear bumper to measure the\
distance to a vehicle or other
object, or a person who may be behind the vehicle.
When the system is active:
1. The audio system's volume will be reduced.
2. An intermittent signal will be audible from the audio system's speake\
rs to indicate that as you back
up, you are approaching a person, object, parked vehicle, etc. The signa\
ls begin when the vehicle is at a
distance of approximately 5 feet (1.5 meters) from an object/person, e\
tc.
3. At a distance of approximately 1 foot (30 cm), the signal will beco\
me constant.
Switching off the system
Towing a trailer, carrying bicycles in a tailgate-mounted carrier, etc, \
could trigger the reverse warning
system.
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2003 VOLVO XC90
To temporarily off the system
l Press the button in the center control panel (see illustration above).\
The LED in the button will go out
to indicate that the system is not in active mode.
l Press the button again to reactivate the system.
Faults in the system
If a fault should occur in the system, the LED in the button will be swi\
tched off and a message will be
displayed in the text window.
Cleaning the sensors
For the system to function properly, the sensors should be kept clean. T\
hey can be cleaned with car
washing detergent and a sponge.
WARNING!
This system is designed to be a supplementary aid when the vehicle is ba\
cking up. It is not, however,
intended to replace the driver's attention and judgement.
pg. 100 Starting and driving
Towing

Positions for attaching towing eyelets
Emergency towing
The towing eyelet is located in the tool bag, under the floor of the car\
go area. This eyelet must be
screwed into the positions provided on the right sides of either the fro\
nt or rear bumper (see illustrations).
To attach the towing eyelet:
A Use a coin to pry open the lower edge of the cover (A).
B Screw the towing eyelet (C) in place (B), first by hand and then us\
ing the tire iron until it is securely
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2003 VOLVO XC90
in place.
After the vehicle has been towed, the eyelet should be removed and retur\
ned to the tool bag. Press the
cover back into position.
Precautions when the vehicle 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). Do not exceed the maximum allowable t\
owing speed.
l Maximum distance with front wheels on ground: 50 miles (80 km).
l While the vehicle is being towed, try to keep the tow rope taut at all t\
imes.
l The vehicle should only be towed in forward direction.
CAUTION
- Please check with state and local authorities before attempting this t\
ype of towing, as vehicles being
towed are subject to regulations regarding maximum towing speed, length \
and type of towing device,
lighting, etc.
- If the vehicle's battery is dead, do not attempt to start the vehicle \
by pushing 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 102).
- If the vehicle is being towed on a flat bed truck, the towing eyelets \
must not be used to secure the
vehicle on the flat bed. Consult the tow truck operator.
WARNING!
- Remember that the power brakes and power steering will not function wh\
en 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.
- The towing eyelets must not be used for pulling the vehicle out of a d\
itch or for any similar purpose
involving severe strain. Do not use the towing eyelets to pull the vehic\
le up onto a flat bed tow truck.
pg. 101 Starting and driving
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2003 VOLVO XC90
Towing vehicles with front wheel drive/All 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 vehicle. In
this case, the vehicle should be towed with the rear wheels on the groun\
d 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
Sling-type equipment applied at the front will damage radiator and air c\
onditioning lines.
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.
If the vehicle is being towed on a flat bed truck, the towing eyelets mu\
st not be used to secure the
vehicle on the flat bed. Consult the tow truck operator.
WARNING!
Do not use the towing eyelets to pull the vehicle up onto a flat bed tow\

truck.
pg. 102 Starting and driving
Jump starting
Jump starting
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2003 VOLVO XC90
pg. 103 Starting and driving
Towing a trailer
Volvo recommends the use of Volvo trailer hitches that are specially des\
igned for the vehicle.
l Maximum trailer weights recommended by Volvo are:
All models - trailers without brakes: 1,650 lbs (750 kg)
Models with all wheel drive - trailers with brakes: 4,960 lbs (2250 kg)\

Models with front wheel drive - trailers with brakes: 3,970 lbs (1800 k\
g)
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 vehicle is new, avoid towing heavy trailers during the first 6\
20 miles (1,000 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) - 198 lbs (90 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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2003 VOLVO XC90
WARNING!
Bumper-attached trailer hitches must not be used on Volvos, nor should s\
afety chains be attached to
the bumper.
Trailer hitches attaching to the vehicle rear axle must not be used.
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.
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 vehicle. The safety wire should never be fas\
tened to or wound around the
drawbar ball.
pg. 104 Starting and driving
Towing a trailer (contd)
NOTE!
- When parking the vehicle with a trailer on a hill, apply the parking b\
rake 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.
- If you use the manual (Geartronic) shift positions while towing a tr\
ailer, make sure the gear you select
does not put too much strain on the engine (using too high a gear).
- The drawbar assembly/trailer hitch may be rated for trailers heavier t\
han the vehicle is designed to tow.
Please adhere to Volvo's recommended trailer weights.
Leveling
If your vehicle is equipped with automatic levelling, the rear suspensio\
n always retains the correct ride
height regardless of the load. When the vehicle is stationary, the rear \
suspension lowers, which is
normal.
pg. 105 Starting and driving
Detachable trailer hitch - installing/removing
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2003 VOLVO XC90
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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2003 VOLVO XC90
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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2003 VOLVO XC90
Oil viscosity (stable ambient temperatures)
Operation in temperate climates
Incorrect viscosity oil can shorten engine life. Under normal use when t\
emperatures do not exceed 86° F
(30° C), SAE 5W-30 will provide good fuel economy and engine protec\
tion. See the viscosity chart at
right.
Extreme engine operation
Synthetic oils meeting SAE 10W-30 and complying with oil quality require\
ments are recommended for
driving in areas of sustained temperature extremes (hot or cold), when\
towing a trailer over long
distances, and for prolonged driving in mountainous areas.
Changing oil and oil filter
Oil and oil filter changes should be made at 7,500 mile (12,000 km) in\
tervals.
Volvo does not recommend the use of oil additives.
Synthetic oil is not used when the oil is changed at the normal maintena\
nce intervals except at
ower request and at additional charge. Please consult your Volvo retaile\
r.
l The API Service Symbol "donut" is divided into three parts:
l The top half describes the oil's performance level.
l The center identifies the oil's viscosity.
l The bottom half tells whether the oil has demonstrated energy-conserving\
properties in a standard test
in comparison to a reference oil.
pg. 130 Maintenance
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2003 VOLVO XC90
Replace : No fluid change required
NOTE: If a problem should occur in the power steering system or if the vehicle\
has no electrical current
and must be towed, it is still possible to steer the vehicle. However, k\
eep in mind that greater effort will
be required to turn the steering wheel.
pg. 133 Interior
Wiper blades
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