towing VOLVO XC90 2018 Owner´s Manual

STARTING AND DRIVING
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449
Installing the ball holder1. If necessary, remove the cotter pin from thelocking bolt and slide the locking bolt out of the towbar assembly.
2. Slide the ball holder into the towbar assem- bly.
3. Align the hole in the ball holder with the one in the towbar assembly.
4. Slide the locking bolt through the towbar 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/towbar assembly.
2. Pull the ball holder out of the towbar assem- bly.
Stowing the ball holder
WARNING
When not in use, the detachable ball holder should always be properly stowed in the des-ignated location under the floor of the cargocompartment.
Related information
• Driving with a trailer (p. 449)
• Towing capacity and tongue weight (p. 642)
Driving with a trailer
There are a number of things to consider when towing a trailer, such as the towbar, the trailerand how the load is distributed in the trailer.
Load-carrying capacity is determined by the vehi- cle's curb weight. The total weight of all passen-gers and any installed accessories, e.g. towbar,reduces the vehicle's load-carrying capacity bythe corresponding amount. • Towbars used on the vehicle must be approved for the applicable use.
• Distribute the load on the trailer so that theweight on the towbar complies with thespecified maximum towball weight. Thetongue weight is calculated as part of thevehicle's payload.
• Increase the tire pressure to the recom-mended pressure for a full load.
• The engine is subjected to more load thanusual when towing a trailer.
• Towing a trailer affects the vehicle's han-dling, durability and driving economy.
• Do not drive with a heavy trailer when thevehicle is very new. Wait until the mileagehas reached at least 1000 km (620 miles).
• On long and steep downgrades, the vehicle'sbrakes are subjected to much more loadthan usual. When manually shifting, down-shift and adapt speed accordingly.

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STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.
450 •
Follow applicable regulations regarding per- mitted speed and weight.
• Drive slowly when towing a trailer up a longand steep incline.
• The maximum trailer weights given only applyto altitudes up to 1000 meters (3280 feet)above sea level. At higher altitudes, enginepower (and thus the vehicle's climbing ability)is decreased due to the reduced air density,and the maximum trailer weight must there-fore be reduced. The weight of the vehicleand trailer must be decreased by 10% foreach additional 1000 m (3280 feet) or partthereof.
• Avoid driving with a trailer on inclines of morethan 12%.
• Avoid overloading and other incorrect use.
• The trailer's brakes must be balanced withthe vehicle's brakes to help ensure safestops (follow applicable local regulations).
CAUTION
•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.
NOTE
The optional detachable trailer hitch may not be available in all markets or on all models.Consult your Volvo retailer.
NOTE
Extreme weather conditions, towing a trailer, driving at high altitudes and fuel quality arefactors that significantly increase a vehicle'sfuel consumption.
Trailer weights
WARNING
Please adhere to the recommendations provi- ded for trailer weight. If the recommendationsare not followed, the vehicle and trailer maybe difficult to control during evasive maneu-vers and braking.
NOTE
The specified maximum trailer weights are those permitted by Volvo. National vehicleregulations may set additional restrictions ontrailer weight and speed. The trailer hitchesmay be certified for higher towing weightsthan the vehicle is permitted to tow.
Self-leveling suspension
*The vehicle's self-leveling system attempts to keep the vehicle at a constant level, regardless ofload (up to the maximum permitted weight).When the vehicle is stationary, the rear end of thevehicle will be slightly lowered, which is normal.
Driving in hilly terrain or hot weatherIn certain conditions, there is a risk of overheat-ing when driving with a trailer. If overheating ofthe engine and drive system is detected, a warn-ing symbol will illuminate in the instrument panelalong with a message.

STARTING AND DRIVING
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* Option/accessory.451
The automatic transmission selects the optimal gear for the current load and engine speed.
Steep inclines
Do not lock the automatic transmission into a higher gear than what the engine can handle
‒ it
is not always preferable to drive in high gears at low rpm.
Parking on a hill
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Apply the parking brake.3. Put the gear selector in P.
4. Release the brake pedal.Put chocks behind the wheels when the vehicle is parked on a hill with a trailer attached.
Starting on a hill
1. Depress the brake pedal. 2. Put the gear selector in D.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Release the brake pedal and start driving.
Related information
• Trailer Stability Assist
* (p. 451)
• Checking trailer lights (p. 452)
• Towing capacity and tongue weight (p. 642)
• Overheating of engine and transmission (p. 446)
Trailer Stability Assist
*
Trailer Stability Assist (TSA 8
) is a function
designed to help stabilize a vehicle that is tow- ing a trailer when the vehicle and trailer havebegun to sway. The function is part of the Elec- tronic Stability Control system ESC 9
.
Reasons for swayingA vehicle towing a trailer may begin to sway for various reasons. Normally this only occurs at highspeeds. However, if the trailer is overloaded orunevenly distributed, e.g. too far back, there is arisk of swaying even at low speeds. 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 or over a bump.
• Sudden movements of the steering wheel.
Once swaying has begun, it can be difficult orimpossible to stop it. This makes the vehicle andtrailer difficult to control and there is a risk ofswerving into oncoming traffic or driving off theroad.
Trailer Stability Assist functionTrailer Stability Assist continuously monitors thevehicle's movements, particularly lateral move- ments. If swaying is detected, the brakes areapplied individually on the front wheels, which hasa stabilizing effect on the vehicle and trailer. Thisis often enough to enable the driver to regaincontrol of the vehicle. If the Trailer Stability Assist function's first attempt is not adequate to stop the swayingmotion, the brakes are applied on all wheels andengine power is temporarily reduced. As theswaying motion begins to decrease and the vehi-cle and trailer have once again become stable,TSA stops regulating the brakes/engine powerand the driver regains control of the vehicle.
NOTE
Trailer Stability Assist is deactivated if the driver selects the sport mode by deactivating
ESC in the center display's menu system.
Trailer Stability Assist may not intervene if the driver tries to compensate for the swaying motionby moving the steering wheel rapidly, becausethe system will then not be able to determine if itis the trailer or the driver causing the swaying.
8
Trailer Stability Assist
9 Electronic Stability Control

STARTING AND DRIVING
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453
Disabling the automatic check
The automatic light check can be disabled in the center display. 1.Tap
Settings in the Top view.
2. Tap
My CarLights and Lighting.
3. Deselect
Automatic Trailer Lamp Check.
Manual check
If the automatic check has been disabled, the check can be started manually. 1.Tap
Settings in the Top view.
2. Tap
My CarLights and Lighting.
3. Select
Manual Trailer Lamp Check.
> The light check will begin. Get out of the vehicle to perform the check.
Related information
• Driving with a trailer (p. 449)
Towing using a towline
This section refers to one vehicle being towed behind another using a towline.
Before towing another vehicle, check applicable speed limit regulations.
Preparations and towing
CAUTION
Note that the vehicle must always be towed with the wheels rolling forward.
• Do not tow a vehicle with automatictransmission at a speed greater than80 km/h (50 mph) or for a distancegreater than 80 km (50 miles).
WARNING
•
Ignition mode
II must be active – all air-
bags are deactivated in ignition mode I.
• Always have the remote key in the vehicle when it is towed.
WARNING
The brake and steering servos do not work when the engine is off – it takesabout 5 times more pressure on the brakepedal and steering requires much more effortthan normal. 1. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
2. Attach the towline to the towing eyelet.3.
Put the vehicle in ignition mode II – without
pressing the brake pedal, turn the start knob clockwise and hold it there for about4 seconds. Release the knob, which willautomatically return to its original position.
4. Move the gear selector to neutral ( N) and
release the parking brake. If the battery charge level is too low, it may not be possible to release the parking brake.Connect an auxiliary battery to the vehicle ifthe battery is discharged.
> The towing vehicle can now start driving.
5. Keep the towline taut when the towing vehi- cle slows down by applying light pressure to the brake pedal. This will help avoid jarringmovements.
6. Be prepared to apply the brakes to stop the vehicle.
Jump startingDo not tow the vehicle to start the engine. Use anauxiliary battery if the start battery's charge levelis so low that the engine cannot be started.

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STARTING AND DRIVING
454
CAUTION
Attempting to tow with the engine running could result in damage to the three-way cata-lytic converter.
Related information
•Attaching and removing the towing eyelet (p. 454)
• Hazard warning flashers (p. 164)
• Recovery (p. 455)
• Jump starting using another battery (p. 447)
• Selecting ignition mode (p. 408)
Attaching and removing the towingeyelet
Use the towing eyelet when towing. Screw the towing eyelet securely into place in the threadedoutlet behind the cover on the right-hand side ofthe front and rear bumpers.
NOTE
If the vehicle is equipped with a towbar, there is no rear attachment for the towing eye.
Attaching the towing eyelet
Take out the towing eyelet, which is stored in a foam block under the floor in the cargocompartment.
Front: Remove the cover by pressing on the mark with a finger.
> The cover turns along its center line and can then be removed.
Rear: Remove the cover - press the marker with your finger while prying open the oppo-site side/corner open with a coin or similar.
> The cover turns along its center line andcan then be removed.

STARTING AND DRIVING
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* Option/accessory.455
4. Screw in the towing eyelet until it reaches its
stop. Fasten the eyelet securing by, for exam- ple, inserting a lug wrench * through it and
using this as a lever.
CAUTION
It is important that the towing eye is screwed in securely as far as possible.
Removing the towing eyelet:
–After use, unscrew the towing eyelet and return it to its storage location. Replace the cover on the bumper.
In certain conditions, the towing eyelet may be used to pull the vehicle onto a flatbed tow truck.The vehicle's position and ground clearancedetermines if this is possible. If the incline of the tow truck is too steep or if the ground clearance under the vehicle is insufficient, attempting to pull it up using the towing eyeletmay result in damage. If necessary, lift the vehicle using the tow truck's lifting device instead of using the towing eyelet.
WARNING
No person or object should be behind the tow truck when the vehicle is lifted onto the bedof the truck.
CAUTION
The towing eyelet is only intended for towing on roads, and must
not be used to pull vehi-
cles from ditches or any similar purpose involving severe strain. Call a tow truck forprofessional assistance.
Related information
• Towing using a towline (p. 453)
• Recovery (p. 455)
• Tool kit (p. 542)
Recovery
This section refers to transporting the vehicle with a tow truck or similar vehicle.
Call a professional towing service for assistance. In certain conditions, the towing eyelet can be used to pull the vehicle onto a flatbed tow truck. For vehicles equipped with leveling control *:
If the vehicle is equipped with pneumatic suspen- sion, this feature must be turned off before thevehicle is lifted onto a tow truck. Turning off thefunction in the center display. 1. Tap
Settings in the Top view.
2. Tap
My CarParking Brake and
Suspension.
3. Select
Disable Leveling Control.
The vehicle's location and ground clearance determine if it can be lifted onto a tow truck. Ifthe incline of the tow truck is too steep or if theground clearance under the vehicle is insufficient,attempting to pull it up may result in damage. Inthis case, the vehicle should only be lifted withthe tow truck's lifting equipment.
WARNING
No person or object should be behind the tow truck when the vehicle is lifted onto the bedof the truck.

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STARTING AND DRIVING
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CAUTION
The towing eyelet is only intended for towing on roads, and must not be used to pull vehi-
cles from ditches or any similar purpose involving severe strain. Call a tow truck forprofessional assistance.
CAUTION
Note that the vehicle must always be towed with the wheels rolling forward.
Related information
• Attaching and removing the towing eyelet (p. 454)
HomeLink®
*10
HomeLink ®
11
is a programmable remote control,
integrated in the vehicle electrical system, that can control up to three different devices (e.g.garage door opener, alarm system, outdoor andindoor lighting, etc.) and thereby replace theremote controls for these.
General
The illustration is generic – the design may vary.
Button 1
Button 2
Button 3
Indicator light HomeLink
®
is delivered integrated in the rearview
mirror. The HomeLink ®
panel consists of three
programmable buttons and an indicator light in the mirror. For more information about HomeLink ®
, please
visit www.HomeLink.com, www.youtube.com/ HomeLinkGentex or call 1-800-355-3515. Save the original remote controls for future pro- gramming (e.g. for use in another vehicle). It isalso advisable to delete the button programmingif the vehicle is sold.
Related information
• Using HomeLink (p. 458)
• Programming HomeLink ®
* (p. 457)
• Type approval for HomeLink ®
* (p. 459)
10
Certain markets only.
11 HomeLink and the HomeLink house symbol are registered trademarks of Gentex Corporation.

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WHEELS AND TIRES
* Option/accessory.
542
Related information
• Recommended tire pressure (p. 537)
• Adjusting tire pressure (p. 536)
• Calibrating the tire pressure monitoring sys- tem
* (p. 539)
• Viewing tire pressure status in the centerdisplay
* (p. 540)
• Tire pressure monitoring system
* (p. 537)
• Inflate tires with the compressor included in the tire sealing system (p. 555)
When changing wheels
The wheels can be changed, e.g. to switch to snow tires or spare tires. Follow the applicableinstructions for removing and installing thewheel.
Changing to tires of another dimensionMake sure that the tire dimension is approved for use on the vehicle. If you change to tires of another dimension, con- tact an authorized Volvo workshop to update thevehicle's software. A software update may benecessary when changing to tires of larger/smaller dimensions or when changing to or fromsnow tires.
Related information
• Removing a wheel (p. 544)
• Installing a wheel (p. 546)
• Tool kit (p. 542)
• Snow tires (p. 549)
• Spare wheel (p. 547)
• Wheel bolts (p. 543)
Tool kit Tools for e.g. towing or changing wheels are provided in the vehicle's cargo compartment.
The foam block under the cargo compartment floor contains the towing eyelet, the tire sealingsystem, the tool for removing plastic wheel boltcovers and the tool for removing the lockingwheel bolts. If the vehicle is equipped with a spare wheel
*10
, a
jack, lug wrench, and a package with disposable gloves and a bag for the damagedwheel are also provided.
Related information
• When changing wheels (p. 542)
• Jack
* (p. 543)
10
Not available on all models.

WHEELS AND TIRES
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* Option/accessory.545
1. Turn on the vehicle's hazard warning flashers
if a wheel change must be performed in an area with traffic.
2. Apply the parking brake and put the gear selector in P.
For vehicles with
Leveling Control* : If the
vehicle is equipped with pneumatic suspen- sion, this must be switched off before the vehicle is lifted with the jack *.
3. Take out the jack *, lug wrench * and tool for
removing the plastic covers, which are stowed in the foam block.
Tool for removing the plastic covers on the wheel bolts.
4. Place chocks in front of and behind the wheels that are still on the ground. For exam- ple, use heavy wooden blocks or largestones. 5.
Using the lug wrench *, screw the towing eye
into place as far as possible according to theinstructions.
CAUTION
The towing eyelet must be screwed into the lug wrench * as far as possible.
6. Remove the plastic covers from the wheel
bolts using the designated tool.
7. With the vehicle still on the ground, use the lug wrench/towing eye to loosen the wheel bolts ½-1 turn by pressing downward (coun-terclockwise). 8. When hoisting the vehicle, it is important that
the jack * or garage lift arms are positioned
on the designated points under the vehicle.The triangle markings on the plastic coverindicate where the jack attachment points/lifting points are located. There are two jackattachment points on each side of the vehi-cle. There is a groove for the jack at eachattachment point.
9. Position the jack under the attachment point being used, ensuring that the surface is firm, flat and not slippery.

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WHEELS AND TIRES
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WARNING
•The vehicle must never be driven with more than one "Temporary spare" tiremounted.
• Driving with a spare wheel may alter thedriving characteristics of the vehicle.Replace the spare wheel with a normalwheel as soon as possible.
• The spare wheel is smaller than the nor-mal wheel, which affects the vehicle'sground clearance. Watch for high curbsand do not wash the vehicle in an auto-matic car wash when a spare wheel ismounted.
• Follow the manufacturer's recommendedtire inflation pressure for the spare wheel.
• On all-wheel drive vehicles, the drive onthe rear axle can be disconnected.
• If the spare wheel is mounted on thefront axle, snow chains must not be used.
• The spare wheel must not be repaired.
CAUTION
The vehicle must not be driven with wheels of different dimensions or with a spare tire otherthan the one that came with the vehicle. Theuse of different size wheels can seriouslydamage your vehicle's transmission.
This illustration is general. The shape and design of the foam block may vary depending on vehicle model.
The spare wheel is located in the spare wheel well with the outside of the wheel facing down-ward. The same bolt runs through both the sparewheel and foam block to hold them into place.The foam block contains all tools needed tochange a wheel.
Related information
•When changing wheels (p. 542)
• Recommended tire pressure (p. 537)
Accessing the spare wheel
Follow these instructions regarding handling the spare wheel.
1. Lift the rear edge of the cargo compartment floor.
2. Unscrew the retaining bolt.
3. Lift out the foam block containing the tools.
4. Lift out the spare wheel.
Stowing a flat tire1. Take out the package containing the wheel bag from the foam block and put the wheel in the bag.
2. Return the tools to their correct positions in the foam block and put the foam block backin the vehicle.
3. Screw down the foam block with the retain- ing bolt and lower the cargo compartmentfloor.
4. Put the flat tire in the trunk/cargo compart- ment.
Related information
• Spare wheel (p. 547)