towing VOLVO XC90 2017 Owner´s Manual

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Related information
•Towing recommendations (p. 369)
Overheating the engine and transmission
In demanding driving conditions, such as when transporting heavy loads, driving in mountainousareas or in very hot weather there is a risk ofoverheating the engine or transmission.
• The engine's output may be slightly limited if there is a risk of overheating.
• Remove e.g., auxiliary lights mounted in frontof the grille in hot weather.
• If the temperature of the engine coolantbecomes too high, the warning symbol will illuminate and the message
Engine
temperature/Stop safely will be displayed.
Stop the vehicle as soon as possible in a safe place and let the engine idle for severalminutes.
• If the message
Engine temperature/High
temperature Turn off engine or Engine
coolant/Stop safely is displayed, stop
safely and turn off the engine.
• If the transmission begins to overheat, an alternative gear shifting program will beselected. An integrated protective functionwill also by activated, the warning symbol will illuminate and the message
Transmission
warmHigh temperature Reduce speed
or Transmission warmStop safely, wait
for cooling will be displayed in the instru-
ment panel. •
The air conditioning may be switched off temporarily.
• After a prolonged period of driving, do notturn off the engine immediately after stop-ping.
• The engine cooling fan commonly continuesto run for several minutes after the enginehas been turned off.
WARNING
The cooling fan (located at the front of the engine compartment, behind the radiator) maystart or continue to operate (for up to6 minutes) after the engine has beenswitched off.
Related information
•
Driving with a trailer (p. 376)
• Before a long distance trip (p. 363)

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Winter driving
Check your vehicle before the approach of cold weather.
The following advice is worth noting:
• Make sure that the engine coolant contains 50 percent antifreeze. Any other mixture willreduce freeze protection. This gives protec-tion against freezing down to –31 °F(–35 °C). The use of "recycled" antifreeze isnot approved by Volvo. Different types ofantifreeze must not be mixed.
• Volvo recommends using only genuine Volvoantifreeze in your vehicle's radiator.
• Try to keep the fuel tank well filled – thishelps prevent the formation of condensationin the tank. In addition, in extremely coldweather conditions it is worthwhile to addfuel line de-icer before refueling.
• The viscosity of the engine oil is important.Oil with low viscosity (thinner oil) improvescold-weather starting as well as decreasingfuel consumption while the engine is warm-ing up. Full synthetic 0W-30 oil is recom-mended for driving in areas with sustainedlow temperatures.
• The load placed on the battery is greater dur-ing the winter since the windshield wipers,lighting, etc., are used more often. Moreover,the capacity of the battery decreases as thetemperature drops. In very cold weather, apoorly charged battery can freeze and be damaged. It is therefore advisable to checkthe state of charge more frequently andspray an anti-rust oil on the battery posts.
• Volvo recommends the use of snow tires onall four wheels for winter driving.
• To prevent the washer fluid reservoir fromfreezing, add washer solvents containingantifreeze. This is important since dirt is oftensplashed on the windshield during winterdriving, requiring the frequent use of thewashers and wipers. Volvo Washer Solventshould be diluted as follows: Down to 14 °F(–10 °C): 1 part washer solvent and 4 partswater Down to 5 °F (–15 °C): 1 part washersolvent and 3 parts water Down to 0 °F(–18 °C): 1 part washer solvent and 2 partswater Down to –18 °F (–28 °C): 1 partwasher solvent and 1 part water.
• Use Volvo Teflon Lock Spray in the locks.
• Avoid using de-icing sprays as they cancause damage to the locks.
Related information
•Snow tires and chains (p. 459)
Towing eyelet
When used, the towing eyelet should always be securely attached in the openings on the rightside of the front and rear bumpers. There arecovers over these attachment points.
Using the towing eyelet
Take out the towing eyelet, which is stored under the floor in the cargo compartment.

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Front bumper: Carefully pry open the cover by inserting a small screwdriver or theremote key's removable key blade into thegroove on its left side.
> The cover turns along its center line andthen be removed.
Rear bumper: Remove the cover by pressing the mark with a finger and folding out theupper right corner with a coin, etc.
> The cover turns along its center line andthen be removed. 4. Screw the towing eyelet into place, first by
hand and then using the tire iron, etc. until it has been screwed into place as far as pos-
sible .
After use, the eyelet should be removed and returned to its storage location. Reinsert the cover into the bumper.
CAUTION
In certain conditions, the towing eyelet may be used to pull the vehicle onto aflatbed tow truck.
• The vehicle's position and ground clear-ance determine if it can be pulled up ontoa flatbed tow truck using the towing eye-let.
• If the angle of the tow truck

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Towing recommendations
Always check with state and local authorities before attempting to tow another vehiclebecause this type of towing is subject to regula-tions regarding maximum towing speed, lengthand type of towing device, lighting, etc.
Towing your vehicle behind another vehicle
1. After securely attaching the towing line to both vehicles, put the gear selector in posi- tion N and release the parking brake.
2. Put the ignition in mode II by turning the
start knob to START (without depressing
the brake pedal) and hold it in this position
for approx. 4 seconds. Release the knob.
3. Put the gear selector in position N and
release the parking brake.
4. The towing vehicle can now begin driving.
5. Keep the tow rope taut when the towing vehicle slows down by applying light pressure on the brake pedal. This will help prevent jar-ring movements of the vehicle being towed.
6. Be prepared to apply the brakes to stop the vehicle being towed.
CAUTION
General towing precautions:
• If the vehicle's battery is dead, an auxiliary battery will be necessary to provide cur-rent for releasing the electric parkingbrake and to move the gear selector from the
P position to N. If this is not possible,
use the shiftlock override procedure tomanually release the gear selector from P
and move it to N.
• Maximum speed: 50 mph (80 km/h). Do not exceed the maximum allowable tow-ing speed.
• Maximum distance with front wheels onground: 50 miles (80 km).
• The vehicle should only be towed in theforward direction.
WARNING
• When the vehicle is being towed, the igni- tion should be in mode
II (in mode I, all of
the vehicle's airbags are deactivated).
• The remote key must remain inside the vehicle.
• The power brakes and power steering willnot function when the engine is not run-ning. Approximately 5 times more pres-sure will be required on the brake pedaland the steering wheel will be considera-bly harder to turn.
• The towing eyelets must not be used forpulling the vehicle out of a ditch or forany similar purpose involving severestrain.

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370
Tow trucks
CAUTION
In certain conditions, the towing eyelet may be used to pull the vehicle onto aflatbed tow truck.
• The vehicle's position and ground clear-ance determine if it can be pulled up ontoa flatbed tow truck using the towing eye-let.
• If the angle of the tow truck

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Driving with a trailer
When towing a trailer, always observe the legal requirements of the state/province.
• All Volvo models are equipped with energy- absorbing shock-mounted bumpers. Trailerhitch installation should not interfere with theproper operation of this bumper system.
Trailer towing does not normally present any par-ticular problems, but take into consideration:
• Increase tire pressure to recommended fullpressure.
• When your vehicle is new, avoid towing heavytrailers during the first 620 miles (1,000 km).
• Maximum speed when towing a trailer:50 mph (80 km/h).
• Engine and transmission are subject toincreased loads. Therefore, engine coolanttemperature should be closely watched whendriving in hot climates or hilly terrain. Use alower gear and turn off the air conditioner ifthe temperature gauge needle enters the redrange.
• If the automatic transmission begins to over-heat, a message will be displayed in the textwindow.
• Avoid overload and other abusive operation.
• Hauling a trailer affects handling, durability,and economy. •
It is necessary to balance trailer brakes withthe towing vehicle brakes to provide a safestop (check and observe state/local regula-tions).
• Do not connect the trailer's brake systemdirectly to the vehicle's brake system.
• More frequent vehicle maintenance isrequired.
• Remove the ball holder when the hitch is notbeing used.
NOTE
•
When parking the vehicle with a trailer on a hill, apply the parking brake before put- ting the gear selector in
P. Always follow
the trailer manufacturer's recommenda- tions for wheel chocking.
• When starting on a hill, put the gear selector in
D before releasing the parking
brake.
• If you use the manual (Geartronic) shift positions while towing a trailer, make surethe gear you select does not put toomuch strain on the engine (using toohigh a gear).
• The drawbar assembly/trailer hitch maybe rated for trailers heavier than the vehi-cle is designed to tow. Please adhere toVolvo's recommended trailer weights.
• Avoid driving with a trailer on inclines ofmore than 15%.

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CAUTION
The maximum trailer weights listed are only applicable for altitudes up to 3,280 ft(1000 m) above sea level. With increasingaltitude the engine power and therefore thecar's climbing ability are impaired because ofthe reduced air density, so the maximumtrailer weight has to be reduced accordingly.The weight of the vehicle and trailer must bereduced by 10% for every further 3,280 ft(1,000 m) (or part thereof). When towing5,000 lbs (2,250 kg) hill inclination is restric-ted to 14%.
WARNING
•Bumper-attached trailer hitches must not be used on Volvos, nor should safetychains be attached to the bumper.
• Trailer hitches attaching to the vehiclerear axle must not be used.
• Never connect a trailer's hydraulic brakesystem directly to the vehicle brake sys-tem, nor a trailer's lighting system directlyto the vehicle lighting system. Consultyour nearest authorized Volvo retailer forcorrect installation.
• When towing a trailer, the trailer's safetychains or wire must be correctly fastenedto the attachment points provided in thetrailer hitch on the vehicle. The safetychain or wire must never be fastened toor wound around the towing ball.
Trailer turn signals and brake lightsIf one (or more) of the bulbs on a trailer is defec-tive, a symbol and a message will be displayed inthe instrument panel. The other lights on the trailer must be checked manually by the driver before the vehicle is driven.See the subsection "Manual check" in the follow-ing section "Trailer lamp check".
Symbol
Message
•Trailer turn indicator Right
turn indicator malfunction
•Trailer turn indicator Left
turn indicator malfunction
•Trailer brake light Malfunc-
tion
If one of the trailer's turn signal bulbs is defective, the turn signal symbol in the instrument panel forthe respective sides of the vehicle will also flashfaster than normal.

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3. Align the hole in the ball holder with the one
in the hitch assembly.
4. Slide the locking bolt through the hitch assembly/ball holder.
5. Insert the cotter pin in the hole at the end of the locking bolt.
WARNING
• Be sure the towbar is securely locked in position before attaching anything to it.
• Always attach the trailer's safety wiresecurely to the towbar's safety wireattachment bracket.
Removing the ball holder1. Remove the cotter pin from the locking bolt
and slide the locking bolt out of the ballholder/hitch assembly.
2. Pull the ball holder out of the hitch assembly.
NOTE
A cover for the hitch assembly is also included in the kit.
Stowing the ball holder
WARNING
When not in use, the detachable trailer hitch should always be properly stowed under thecargo compartment floor.
Related information
• Driving with a trailer (p. 376)
• Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) (p. 379)
Trailer Stability Assist (TSA)
Trailer Stability Assist is a system designed to help stabilize a vehicle that is towing a trailerwhen the vehicle and trailer have begun to swayand is part of the Electronic Stability Control sys-tem.
FunctionA vehicle towing a trailer may begin to sway for various reasons. Normally this only occurs at highspeeds but, for example, if the trailer is overloa-ded or if the load is unevenly distributed in thetrailer, there is risk of swaying. Swaying may be caused by factors such as:
• The vehicle and trailer are hit by a sudden, strong crosswind
• The vehicle and trailer are traveling on anuneven road surface or drive over a bump
• Sudden movements of the steering wheel
Facts about TSA
• The stability system symbol in the instrumentpanel will flash when TSA is working
• If the driver switches off the stability system'sSpin Control function, TSA will also beswitched off (but will be on again the nexttime the engine is started)
• TSA may not intervene when the vehicle andtrailer begin to sway if the driver tries to com-pensate for the swaying motion by movingthe steering wheel rapidly

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Selecting a drive mode
1.Press the DRIVE MODE control in the tun-
nel console.
> A pop-up menu will open in the center display.
2. Roll the control upward or downward to scroll to the desired drive mode.
3. Press the control again to select it. A drive mode can also be selected by tapping its button on the center display.
> The selected drive mode will be displayedin the instrument panel.
When a drive mode cannot be selected, one of the following messages may be displayed:
•
Not possible to select due to gear in manual
•Not possible to select due to low battery
•Not possible to select due to low temperature
•Not possible to select due to limitations
•Not possible to select due to high speed.
Available drive modes
COMFORT
This is the default mode. When the engine is started, COMFORT drive mode will be selected and the Start/Stop func-tion will be activated. This setting offers drivingcomfort, light steering and relatively soft suspen-sion.
ECO
ECO drive mode is designed to help promote fuel-efficient driving. In this mode, Start/Stop is activated, ground clearance is lowered to help reduce wind resis-tance and certain climate system functions willbe reduced. There is an ECO gauge in the instrument panel to indicate the current level of fuel-efficiency. Seealso the article "ECO drive mode."
OFF ROAD
This mode helps maximize the vehicle's capacity to traverse difficult terrain or poor roads. In OFF ROAD, ground clearance is maximized, the steering is light, and All Wheel Drive and Hill Descent Control are activated.
Start/Stop is
deactivated. This drive mode can only be activated at low speeds (the permissible speed range will beshown on the speedometer). At higher speeds,OFF ROAD mode will be cancelled and anotherdrive mode will be activated. In OFF ROAD mode, a compass will be displayed in the instrument panel. This drive mode is not intended for normal street driving.
CAUTION
OFF ROAD drive mode may not be used if the vehicle is towing a trailer without an elec-trical connection. This could result in damageto the pneumatic suspension system's bel-lows.
Due to the increased ground clearance, if the OFF ROAD mode was selected when the enginewas switched off, the suspension will lower whenthe engine is restarted.

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Loading specifications Properly loading your vehicle will provide maxi- mum return of vehicle design performance.
Weight designations
Before loading your vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms for determining yourvehicle's weight ratings, with or without a trailer,from the vehicle's Federal/Canadian Motor Vehi-cle Safety Standards (FMVSS/CMVSS) label, andthe vehicle's tire information placard:
Curb weight
The weight of the vehicle including a full tank of fuel and all standard equipment. It does notinclude passengers, cargo, or optional equipment.
Capacity weight
All weight added to the curb weight, including cargo and optional equipment. When towing,trailer hitch tongue load is also part of cargoweight.
Permissible axle weight
The maximum allowable weight that can be car- ried by a single axle (front or rear). These num-bers are shown on the Federal/Canadian MotorVehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS/CMVSS) label.The total load on each axle must never exceed itsmaximum permissible weight.
Gross vehicle weight (GVW)
The vehicle's curb weight + cargo + passengers.
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
1. Locate the statement "the combined weightof occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs." on your vehicle's plac-ard.
2. Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will be riding in yourvehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.For example, if the "XXX" amount equals1400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lb. pas-sengers in your vehicle, the amount of availa-ble cargo and luggage load capacity is650 lbs. (1400 – 750 (5 × 150) = 650 lbs.)
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. Thatweight may not safely exceed the availablecargo and luggage load capacity calculatedin Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be transferred to yourvehicle. Consult this manual to determinehow this reduces the available cargo and lug-gage load capacity of your vehicle.
WARNING
• Exceeding the permissible axle weight, gross vehicle weight, or any other weightrating limits can cause tire overheatingresulting in permanent deformation orcatastrophic failure.
• Do not use replacement tires with lowerload carrying capacities than the tires thatwere original equipment on the vehiclebecause this will lower the vehicle's GVWrating. Use only tires with the correct loadcarrying capacity. Consult your Volvoretailer for information.
Related information
• Label information (p. 532)
• Weights (p. 537)