light VOLVO XC90 2006 Repair Manual

2006 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 147 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.
Emergency Brake Assistance (EBA)
EBA is designed to provide full brake effect immediately in the event of\
sudden, hard braking. The
system is activated 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. You must maintain full press\
ure on the brake pedal in
order to utilize the system completely. EBA is automatically deactivated\
when the brake pedal 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. 98 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,
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The button must be pressed for at least a half second to prevent SC from\
being switched off
inadvertently.
When the system has been switched off, the green indicator lamp in the b\
utton will go out and "DSTC
SPIN CONTROL OFF" will be displayed in the text window.
All DSTC functions are (re)activated each time the engine is started.
pg. 99 Starting and driving
Dynamic Stability Traction Control (DSTC) (contd)
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" will be displayed in the text window. If this occurs, stop the\
vehicle in a suitable place,
switch off and restart the engine. If the light remains on, an authorize\
d 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 again when the brakes have coole\
d.
pg. 100 Starting and driving
Park assist
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2006 VOLVO XC90

A-front (accessory as available), B-rear (option)
Front/rear park assist
The park assist system(s) are designed to assist you when driving into\
parking spaces, garages, etc. They
utilize ultrasound sensors located in the bumpers to measure the distanc\
e to a vehicle or other object, or
a person who may be close to the front or rear of the vehicle.
When is park assist active?
Front: the system is active from the time the engine is started until the car \
exceeds a speed of
approximately 10 mph (15 km/h).
Rear: when the engine is running and reverse gear is selected.
NOTE:
l If the vehicle is equipped with front and rear park assist, both systems\
will either be activated or
deactivated together. They cannot be used separately.
l The indicator light in the button (see the illustration on page 27) will light up to indicate that park
assist system(s) are activated.
When park assist is actively working:
1. The audio system's volume will be reduced.
2. An intermittent signal will be audible from the speakers to indicate \
that you are approaching a person,
object, parked vehicle, etc.
The signals begin when the distance between the bumper and the object is\
:
Rear: approximately 5 feet (1.5 meters)
Front: approximately 2.5 ft (0.8 meters).
3. At a distance of approximately 1 foot (30 cm), the signal will beco\
me constant.
Deactivating the system(s)
1. Press the Park assist button on the center console (see
page 27) to temporarily deactivate the system(s).
2. The indicator light in the button will go out when the system(s) ha\
ve been deactivated.
3. If the vehicle is equipped with front and rear park assist, both syst\
ems will be deactivated by pressing
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2006 VOLVO XC90
the button.
NOTE: It may be necessary to deactivate one or both of the park assist system\
s in certain cases.
l Rear park assist: towing a trailer, carrying bicycles in a rear-mounted carrier, etc, co\
uld trigger the
rear park assist system's sensors.
l Front park assist: it may not be possible to combine auxiliary headlights and front park \
assist since
these lights could trigger the system's sensors.
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 in the front and/or rea\
r bumpers should be kept clean.
They 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. 101 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).
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2006 VOLVO XC90
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
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 103).
- 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. 102 Starting and driving
Towing (contd)
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2006 VOLVO XC90
l Do not connect the trailer's brake system directly to the vehicle's brak\
e system.
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.
WARNING!
- Bumper-attached trailer hitches must not be used on Volvos, nor should\
safety 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 vehic\
le 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 fas\
tened to the hole or hook
provided in the trailer hitch on the vehicle. The safety wire should nev\
er be fastened to or wound
around the drawbar ball.
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. Always follow the trailer manufacturer's recommendations for whee\
l chocking.
- 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).
pg. 106 Starting and driving
Smoother starts with a trailer Models equipped with the V8-engine and the 6-speed automatic
transmission have a built-in function that reduces acceleration slightly\
in first gear when the vehicle is
towing a trailer. This is done to help avoid wheel spin and to make star\
ting off smoother.
l This function is activated when the trailer's electrical connector is pl\
ugged into the electrical socket
mounted near the trailer hitch.
l The function is automatically deactivated when the trailer's wiring is d\
isconnected from the socket.
The vehicle will then accelerate normally.
NOTE: Since this function is activated when a connector is plugged into the e\
lectrical socket near the
trailer hitch, it will be activated by any electrical equipment (e.g. b\
icycle racks with lighting, etc) that is
plugged in, and will remain active until the equipment is unplugged from\
the socket.
Leveling
If your vehicle is equipped with automatic levelling, the rear suspensio\
n always retains the correct ride
height regardless of the load.
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2006 VOLVO XC90
WARNING!
Loads carried on the vehicle's roof should not exceed 220 lbs (100 kg)\
, including the weight of the
load carriers and any other load carrying equipment (ski boxes, bicycle\
racks, etc.). Excessive loads
on the roof can adversely affect the handling and roadholding characteri\
stics of the vehicle.
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. 108 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\
.
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2006 VOLVO XC90
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
page 147 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 mode-enhanced 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 22).
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. 109 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.
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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.
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.
pg. 110 Starting and driving




Contents | Top of Page
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2006 VOLVO XC90
2 0 0 6
VOLVO XC90
Vehicle care

pg. 135 Vehicle care
Washing and cleaning the vehicle136
Paint touch up139
pg. 136 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.
CAUTION
If the vehicle is equipped with chromeplated aluminum wheels, use only s\
pecial car washing
detergents to clean the wheels. Wheel cleaning agents can permanently st\
ain chrome-plated wheels
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.). \
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