warning VOLVO XC90 2013 Owner´s Manual

06 Starting and driving
Difficult driving conditions
06
147 Driving on rough/unpaved surfaces
The Volvo XC90 is designed primarily for on-
road driving, and it has excellent handling cha-
racteristics on very rough or unpaved roads.
When driving on poorly maintained or unpaved
roads, please keep the following in mind:
•Reduce speed on rough surfaces to mini-
mize possible damage to the vehicle's
underbody.
•When driving on soft surfaces such as dry
sand or snow, try to avoid stopping if at all
possible.
WARNING
•Avoid driving diagonally across steep
inclines as this could increase the 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 avoid 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 result in dam-
age to the three-way catalytic converter. We
recommend keeping the fuel tank at least
half full when driving on steep inclines.
Driving through water
The vehicle can be driven through water up to
a depth of approximately 16 inches (40 cm), at
a maximum speed of 6 mph (10 km/h).
Take particular care when driving through flow-
ing water.
Clean the electrical connections for trailer wir-
ing after driving in mud or water.
When driving through water, maintain low
speed and do not stop in the water.
WARNING
After driving through water, press lightly on
the brake pedal to ensure that the brakes
are functioning normally. Water or mud can
make the brake linings slippery, resulting in
delayed braking effect.
CAUTION
•Engine damage will occur if water is
drawn into the air cleaner.
•If the vehicle is driven through water
deeper than 18 in (48 cm), water may
enter the differential and the transmis-
sion. This reduces the oil's lubricating
capacity and may shorten the service
life of these components.
•Do not allow the vehicle to stand in
water up to the door sills longer than
absolutely necessary. This could result
in electrical malfunctions.
•If the engine has been stopped while the
car is in water, do not attempt to restart
the engine. Have the car towed out of
the water.

06 Starting and driving
Automatic transmission
06
148
G026990
P (Park)Use this position when starting the engine or
parking the vehicle.
Never use P while the vehicle is in motion.
The parking brake should also be set whenever
the vehicle is parked.
The gear selector is mechanically locked in
the P position (SHIFTLOCK). To release the
gear selector from this position, the engine
must be running (or the ignition key must be in
position II) and the brake pedal must be
depressed.
N (Neutral)Neutral – no gear engaged. Use the parking
brake.
WARNING
Never leave the vehicle unattended when
the engine is running. If, by mistake, the gear
selector is moved from P, the vehicle may
start moving.
R (Reverse)Never engage R while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive)D is the normal driving position and should be
used as often as possible to help improve fuel
economy. The vehicle should not be moving
when shifting from R to the D position.
NOTE
The transmission has 6 forward speeds.
Automatic transmission – shift gate
positions
G020237
Shift gate positions
Depress the button on the front of the gear
selector knob to move between the R, N, D,
and P positions.
CAUTION
The transmission’s temperature is moni-
tored to help prevent damage to the trans-
mission or other drivetrain components. If
there is a risk of overheating, the warning
symbol on the instrument panel will illumi-
nate and a text message will be displayed.
Follow the instructions provided there.

06 Starting and driving
Jump starting
06
151
G030860
Follow these instructions to jump start your
vehicle's dead battery or to jump start another
vehicle's dead battery using your vehicle.
Although your vehicle's battery is located
under the floor of the cargo area, jumper cables
should be connected in the engine compart-
ment, to the points shown in the illustrations.
If the 12-volt auxiliary battery to be used is in
another vehicle, check that the vehicles are not
touching to prevent premature completion of a
circuit. Be sure to follow jump starting instruc-
tions provided for the other vehicle.
To jump start your vehicle:1. Switch off the ignition.2. First connect the auxiliary battery positive
(+) terminal (1) to the positive (+) terminal in
your vehicle's engine compartment (2),
located under a small black plastic cover
attached to the fuse box cover, marked
with a "+" sign. Remove the cover on the
main fuse box if necessary to access this
terminal. Then connect the auxiliary bat-
tery's negative (–) terminal (3) to the ground
point in your vehicle's engine compartment
(4).
3. Start the engine in the assisting vehicle,
then start the engine in the vehicle with
dead battery.
4. After the engine has started, first remove
the negative (–) terminal jumper cable.
Then remove the positive (+) terminal
jumper cable.
WARNING
PROPOSITION 65 WARNING!
Battery posts, terminals, and related acces-
sories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the state of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling.
WARNING
•Do not connect the jumper cable to any
part of the fuel system or to any moving
parts. Avoid touching hot manifolds.
•Never expose the battery to open flame
or electric spark.
•Do not smoke near the battery.
•Batteries generate hydrogen gas, which
is flammable and explosive.
•Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do
not allow battery fluid to contact eyes,
skin, fabrics or painted surfaces. If con-
tact occurs, flush the affected area
immediately with water. Obtain medical
help immediately if eyes are affected.
•Failure to follow the instructions for
jump starting can lead to personal
injury.

06 Starting and driving
Brake system
06
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.153 BRAKE Brake circuit malfunction
The brake system is a hydraulic system con-
sisting of two master cylinders and two sepa-
rate brake circuits. If a problem should occur in
one of these circuits, it is still possible to stop
the vehicle with the other brake circuit.
If the brake pedal must be depressed farther
than normal and requires greater 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 check the brake fluid
level in the reservoir.
NOTE
Press the brake pedal hard and maintain
pressure on the pedal – do not pump the
brakes.
WARNING
If the fluid level is below the MIN mark in the
reservoir or if a BRAKE FAILURE STOP
SAFELY message is displayed in the text
window: DO NOT DRIVE. Have the vehicle
towed to a trained and qualified Volvo serv-
ice technician 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 function of
the power-assisted brake system.
Brake pad inspectionOn vehicles equipped with a jack*, the condi-
tion of the brake pads can be checked by rais-
ing the vehicle (see page 195 for information
about using the jack and removing a wheel)
and performing a visual inspection of the brake
pads.
WARNING
•If the vehicle has been driven immedi-
ately prior to a brake pad inspection, the
wheel hub, brake components, etc., will
be very hot. Allow time for these com-
ponents to cool before carrying out the
inspection.
•Apply the parking brake and put the
gear selector in the Park (P) position.
•Block the wheels standing on the
ground, use rigid wooden blocks or
large stones.
WARNING
•Use the jack intended for the vehicle
when changing a tire. For any other job,
use stands to support the vehicle.
•The jack should be kept well-greased
and clean, and should not be damaged.
•Be sure the jack is on a firm, level, non-
slippery surface.
•No objects should be placed between
the base of jack and the ground, or
between the jack and the attachment
bar on the vehicle.
•The jack must correctly engage the jack
attachment.
•Never allow any part of your body to be
extended under a vehicle supported by
a jack.
Power brakes function only when the
engine is running
The power brakes utilize vacuum pressure
which is only created when the engine is run-
ning. Never let the vehicle roll to a stop with the
engine switched off.
If the power brakes are not working, consider-
ably higher pressure will be required on the
brake pedal to compensate for the lack of
power assistance. This can happen for exam-
ple when towing your vehicle or if the engine is

06 Starting and driving
Brake system
06
154
switched off when the vehicle is rolling. The
brake pedal feels harder than usual.
Water on brake discs and brake pads
affects braking
Driving in rain and slush or passing through an
automatic car wash can cause water to collect
on the brake discs and pads. This will cause a
delay in braking effect when the pedal is
depressed. To avoid such a delay when the
brakes are needed, depress the pedal occa-
sionally when driving through rain, slush etc.
This will remove the water from the brakes.
Check that brake application feels normal. This
should also be done after washing or starting
in very damp or cold weather.
Severe strain on the brake systemThe brakes will be subject to severe strain
when driving in mountains or hilly areas, or
when towing a trailer. Vehicle speed is usually
slower, which means that the cooling of the
brakes is less efficient than when driving on
level roads. To reduce the strain on the brakes,
shift into a lower gear and let the engine help
with the braking. Do not forget that, if you are
towing a trailer, the brakes will be subjected to
a greater than normal load.
Anti-lock brakes (ABS)If the ABS warning lamp lights up there is a
malfunction in the ABS system (the standardbraking system will however function) and the
vehicle should be driven cautiously to a trained
and qualified Volvo service technician for
inspection. The Anti-lock Braking System
(ABS) helps to improve vehicle control (stop-
ping and steering) during severe braking con-
ditions by limiting brake lockup. When the sys-
tem "senses" impending lockup, braking pres-
sure is automatically modulated in order to help
prevent lockup, which could lead to a skid.
The system performs a self-diagnostic test
when the engine is started and when the
vehicle first reaches a speed of approxi-
mately 12 mph (20 km/h). The brake pedal will
pulsate several times and a sound may be
audible from the ABS control module. This is
normal.
To obtain optimal effect from the ABS system,
constant pressure should be kept on the brake
pedal. Do not pump the brake pedal.
The switching of the ABS modulator will be
audible and the brake pedal will pulsate during
braking. Please be aware that ABS does not
increase the absolute braking potential of the
vehicle. While control will be enhanced, ABS
will not shorten stopping distances on slippery
surfaces.
ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake Force
Distribution)
EBD is an integrated part of the ABS system.
EBD regulates the hydraulic pressure to the
rear brakes to help provide optimal braking
capacity. The brake pedal will pulsate during
braking, which is normal.
If the BRAKE and ABS warning lights come on
at the same time, this could indicate a fault in
the brake system.
1. Stop the vehicle in a suitable place and
switch off the engine.
2. Restart the engine.
•If both warning lights go off, no further
action is required.
•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 223 for the location of the brake fluid
reservoir).
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 trained and qualified Volvo serv-
ice technician and have the brake system
inspected.

06 Starting and driving
Parking brake
06
156
G026992
Parking brake pedal
Handle for releasing the parking brake
The parking brake pedal is located under the
dashboard, to the left of the brake pedal.
NOTE
The indicator light will light up even if the
parking brake has only been partiallyap-
plied.
When applying the parking brake
1. Press firmly on the brake pedal.
2. Press down pedal (1) firmly to its full extent.3. Release the brake pedal and ensure that
the vehicle is at a standstill.
4. If the vehicle rolls, the parking brake pedal
must be pushed down more firmly.
5. When parking a vehicle always put the gear
selector in P.
Parking on a hill
•If the vehicle is pointing uphill, turn the front
wheels so that they point away from the
curb.
•If the vehicle is pointing downhill, turn the
front wheels so that they point toward the
curb.
Releasing the parking brake
1. Press firmly on the brake pedal.
2. Pull handle (2).
NOTE
If you inadvertently pull the plastic cover, it
can be pressed back into place.
WARNING
Press down the parking brake pedal firmly
to its full extent.

06 Starting and driving
Stability system
06
157 Dynamic Stability Traction Control
(DSTC)
The stability system consists of a number of
functions designed help reduce wheel spin,
counteract skidding, and to generally help
improve directional stability.
NOTE
A pulsating sound will be audible when the
system is actively operating and is normal.
Traction control (TC)This function is designed to help reduce wheel
spin by transferring power from a drive wheel
that begins to lose traction to the wheel on the
opposite side of the vehicle (on the same axle).
TC is most active at low speeds.
This is one of DSTC's permanent functions and
cannot be switched off.
Spin control (SC)The spin control function is designed to help
prevent the drive wheels from spinning while
the vehicle is accelerating.
Under certain circumstances, such as when
driving with snow chains, or driving in deep
snow or loose sand, it may be advisable to
temporarily switch off this function for maxi-
mum tractive force.
Temporarily switching off Spin control1. Turn the thumbwheel (1) on the left-side
steering wheel lever until the DSTC menu
is displayed.
2.
Hold down the RESET button (2) to toggle
between
DSTC ON or DSTC SPIN
CONTROL OFF.
NOTE
•The message DSTC SPIN CONTROL
OFF indicates that the stability sys-
tem's spin control function has tempo-
rarily been switched off.
•The stability control indicator light will
illuminate and remain on until spin con-
trol has been reactivated.
•The spin control function is automati-
cally enabled each time the engine is
started.
•DSTC ON indicates that all system
functions are active.
Active Yaw Control (AYC)This function helps maintain directional stabil-
ity, for example when cornering, by braking
one or more of the wheels if the vehicle shows
a tendency to skid or slide laterally.
This is one of DSTC's permanent functions and
cannot be switched off.
WARNING
The car's handling and stability characteris-
tics will be altered if the DSTC system func-
tions have been disabled.

06 Starting and driving
Stability system
06
158
DSTC-related messages in the text
window
•TRACTION CONTROL TEMPORARILY
OFF : The system has been temporarily
switched off due to high brake temperature
and will automatically switch on again
when the brakes have cooled.
•ANTI-SKID SERVICE REQUIRED: The
system has been automatically disen-
gaged due to a fault. A trained and qualified
Volvo service technician should check the
system.
Symbols in the instrument panel
The Stability Control indicator lightThis light indicates different condi-
tions, depending on how it illumi-
nates.
The Stability Control indicator light
illuminates for approximately 2 seconds
This indicates that the system is performing a
self-diagnostic test when the ignition is
switched on.
The Stability Control indicator light
flashes
This indicates that the stability system is
actively functioning to help counteract wheel
spin and/or a skid.
The Stability Control indicator light
glows steadily
ANTI-SKID SERVICE REQUIRED will be dis-
played in the text window at the same time.
A fault is indicated in the stability system.
•Stop the vehicle in a safe place and switch
off the engine.
•Restart the engine.
•If the indicator light goes out, the fault was
temporary and no further action is
required.
•If the indicator light remains on, drive to an
authorized Volvo workshop as soon as
possible to have the system checked.
The Stability Control indicator light
glows steadily
If DSTC SPIN CONTROL OFF is displayed in
the text window at the same time, this is a
reminder that spin control has been disabled
by the driver.
The warning symbolThe warning symbol glows
steadily yellow
The system has been temporarily switched off
due to high brake temperature. TRACTIONCONTROL TEMPORARILY OFF
will be dis-
played. The system will automatically switch
on again when the brakes have cooled.
WARNING
The stability system is intended to help
improve driving safety. It supplements, but
can never replace, the driver's judgement
and responsibility when operating the vehi-
cle. Speed and driving style should always
be adapted to traffic and road conditions.

06 Starting and driving
Front/rear park assist*
06
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.159
Front/rear park assist
The park assist system is designed to assist
you when driving into parking spaces, garages,
etc. It utilizes four ultrasound sensors located
in one or both bumpers to measure the dis-
tance to a vehicle, object, or a person who may
be close to the front or rear of your vehicle.
Park assist is available in two versions:
•Rear bumper only
•Front and rear bumpers
WARNING
Park Assist is an information system, NOT a
safety system. This system is designed to
be a supplementary aid when parking the
vehicle. It is not, however, intended to
replace the driver's attention and judge-
ment.
Function
The system is activated automatically when the
vehicle is started. The indicator light in the but-
ton in the center console illuminates.
•The front park assist system is active from
the time the engine is started until the vehi-
cle exceeds a speed of approximately
10 mph (15 km/h). It is also active when the
vehicle is backing up.
•Rear park assist is active when the engine
is running and reverse gear has been
selected.
Rear park assistThe distance monitored behind the vehicle is
approximately 5 ft (1.5 m). The signal comes
from the rear speakers.
The system must be deactivated when towing
a trailer, carrying bicycles in a rear-mounted
carrier, etc, which could trigger the rear park
assist system's sensors.
NOTE
Rear park assist is deactivated automati-
cally when towing a trailer if Volvo genuine
trailer wiring is used.
Front park assistThe distance monitored in front of the vehicle
is approximately 2.5 ft (0.8 m). The audible sig-
nal comes from the audio system's front
speakers.
•It may not be possible to combine auxiliary
headlights and front park assist since
these lights could trigger the system's sen-
sors.
Activating/deactivating park assist
The system is activated automatically when the
vehicle is started.
•Press the Park assist button on the center
console (see page 65) to temporarily deac-
tivate the system(s). The indicator light in
the button will go out when the system has
been deactivated.
•Park assist will be automatically reactiva-
ted the next time the engine is started, or if
the button is pressed (the indicator light in
the button will illuminate).

06 Starting and driving
Front/rear park assist*
06
160* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
NOTE
•Front park assist is disengaged auto-
matically when the parking brake is
applied.
•If the vehicle is equipped with front and
rear park assist, both systems will be
deactivated by pressing the button.
Audible signals from the park assist
system
The Park Assist system uses an intermittent
tone that pulses faster as you come close to an
object, and becomes constant when you are
within approximately 1 ft (30 cm) of an object
in front of or behind the vehicle. If the volume
of another source from the audio system is
high, this will be automatically lowered.
If there are objects within this distance both
behind and in front of the vehicle, the signal
alternates between front and rear speakers.
Faults in the system
If the yellow warning symbol illu-
minates and PARK ASSIST
SERVICE REQUIRED is shown
on the information display, this
indicates that the system is not
functioning properly and has been disengaged.
Consult a trained and qualified Volvo service
technician.
CAUTION
In certain circumstances, the park assist
system may give unexpected warning sig-
nals that can be caused by external sound
sources that use the same ultrasound fre-
quencies as the system. This may include
such things as the horns of other vehicles,
wet tires on asphalt, pneumatic brakes,
motorcycle exhaust pipes, etc. This does
not indicate a fault in the system.
Cleaning the sensors
G026946
Park assist sensors
The sensors must be cleaned regularly to
ensure that they work properly. Clean them
with water and a suitable car washing deter-
gent.
Ice and snow covering the sensors may cause
incorrect warning signals.
NOTE
If the sensors are obstructed by e.g., dirt,
snow, or ice, this could result in false warn-
ing signals from the park assist system.