warning VOLVO XC90 TWIN ENGINE 2018 Owners Manual

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* Option/accessory.
438
Related information
• Rear Collision Warning (p. 347)
• BLIS* (p. 348)
• Brake functions (p. 429) Transmission
The transmission is part of the vehicle's driveline
(power transmission) between the engine and
the drive wheels. The function of the transmis-
sion is to change gears depending on speed
and power needs.
The vehicle has an 8-speed automatic transmis-
sion and an electric motor for rear-wheel drive.
The number of gears allows the engine's torque
and power band to be effectively utilized. Two of
the gears are overdrive gears that save fuel when
driving at a constant engine speed. The steering
wheel paddles* can be used to shift up or down
manually. The instrument panel shows the gear
currently in use.
CAUTION Check the operating temperature of the
transmission to help avoid damage to any of
the drive system components. If there is a risk
of overheating, a warning symbol will appear
in the instrument panel and a text message
will be displayed. Follow the recommenda-
tions given.
Symbols in the instrument panelIf a problem should occur with the transmission, a
symbol and a message will appear in the instru-
ment panel. Symbol
Meaning Information and messages related
to the transmission. Follow the rec-
ommendations provided.
Hot or overheated transmission.
Follow the recommendations provi-
ded.
Reduced performance/Acceler-
ation performance reduced
In the event of a temporary fault in
the driveline, the vehicle may go
into a "limp home" mode with
reduced power output to help avoid
damage to the driveline.
Related information
• Gear selector positions for automatic trans-
missions (p. 439)
• Gear indicator* (p. 442)

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439
Gear selector positions for
automatic transmissions
In vehicles with an automatic transmission, the
system selects the optimal gear for the current
driving conditions. The transmission also has a
manual mode.
The instrument panel shows which gear is cur-
rently in use:
P
, R, N, D or B.
For manual shifting, the gear indicator in the
instrument panel displays the gear currently
being used (1-8).
Selecting gearsThe gear selector is a shift-by-wire selector,
where shifting is done electronically instead of
mechanically. This makes shifting easier and the
gear positions more distinct. Select gears by moving the spring-loaded, non-
locking gear selector forward or backward.
Gear selector positions
Park - P
Park is activated using the P button located next
to the gear selector. Select P when the vehicle is parked or when star-
ting the engine. The vehicle must be stationary
when Park is selected.
To move to another gear from Park, the brake
pedal must be depressed and the ignition in
mode II.
When parking – apply the parking brake before
shifting to Park.
WARNING Always apply the parking brake when parking
on an incline. Selecting a gear or putting the
automatic transmission in P may not be suffi-
cient to keep the vehicle stationary in all sit-
uations.
NOTE The gear selector must be in the P position
before the vehicle can be locked and the
alarm set.

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* Option/accessory. 445
Drive modes
Drive modes affect the vehicle's driving charac-
teristics in different ways to enhance and sim-
plify the driving experience in certain types of sit-
uations. Drive modes enable easy access to the vehicle's
many functions and settings in different driving
situations. The following systems are adapted to
help optimize driving characteristics in each drive
mode:
• Steering
• Engine/transmission/all-wheel drive
• Brakes
• Pneumatic suspension* and shock absorbers
• Instrument panel
• Climate control settings
Select the drive mode that is best suited to the
current driving conditions. Keep in mind that not
all drive modes are available in all situations.
Available drive modes
WARNING Keep in mind that the vehicle does not emit
any engine noise when using the electric
motor and may therefore be difficult to detect
for children, pedestrians, cyclists or animals.
This is particularly true at low speeds, e.g. in
parking lots.
WARNING
Do not leave the vehicle in an unventilated
area with a drive mode activated and the com-
bustion engine switched off. The engine will
start automatically if the charge level in the
hybrid battery is low and the resulting exhaust
gases can be very harmful to people and ani-
mals.
HYBRID
•
This is the default mode in which the electric
motor and combustion engine work together.
The vehicle starts in Hybrid mode. The control
system uses both the electric motor and the gas-
oline engine - separately or in tandem - and cal-
culates optimal utilization with regard to perform-
ance, fuel consumption and comfort. At high
speeds, ground clearance is automatically low-
ered 4
to reduce air resistance. Driving capacity on
the electric motor alone is determined by factors such as the hybrid battery's charge level, the
need for heat/cooling in the passenger compart-
ment, etc.
If there is sufficient charge in the battery, it is
possible to drive solely on electric power. When
the accelerator pedal is pressed, only the electric
motor will be activated until the battery reaches a
certain charge level. Above this level, the current
in the battery cannot supply the power requested
by the accelerator pedal and the combustion
engine will start.
When the hybrid battery's charge level is low, the
combustion engine will start more frequently to
save the remaining current in the battery. Charge
the hybrid battery from a 120-240 volt outlet
using a charging cable, or activate
Charge in
Function view to reset the option of only using
the electric motor.
This drive mode is designed for low energy con-
sumption with an optimized mix between the
electric motor and gasoline engine, without com-
promising on climate comfort or driving experi-
ence. When faster acceleration is requested by
the driver, the electric driveline will be utilized to
help provide maximum additional power. The
vehicle also monitors the driving conditions and
automatically engages all-wheel drive if neces-
sary. All-wheel drive and extra electric power are
always available regardless of the battery's
charging status. 4
For vehicles with pneumatic suspension.

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454
NOTE
When LSC with HDC is activated in the OFF
ROAD drive mode, the feel of the accelerator
pedal and engine response will change.
NOTE
This drive mode is not designed to be used
for normal street driving.
NOTE
The function is deactivated when driving at
high speeds and must be reactivated at lower
speeds if so desired.
Related information
•
Activating and deactivating Low Speed Con-
trol using the function button (p. 454)
• Changing drive mode (p. 449)
• Hill Descent Control (p. 454)
• All Wheel Drive (AWD) (p. 443) Activating and deactivating Low
Speed Control using the function
button
Vehicles that are not equipped with drive mode
controls in the tunnel console have a function
button for Low Speed Control with Hill Descent
Control in the center display's Function view.
Selecting Low Speed Control in the
center display's Function view
– Tap the Hill Descent Control button to
activate or deactivate the function. > An indicator light in the button will illumi-
nate when the function is activated.
When the engine is switched off, the function will
be automatically deactivated.
NOTE The function is deactivated when driving at
high speeds and must be reactivated at lower
speeds if so desired.
Related information
•
Low Speed Control (p. 453)
• Changing drive mode (p. 449) Hill Descent Control
The function for assisting when driving downhill,
Hill Descent Control (HDC), is a low-speed
function with increased engine braking. The
function makes it possible to increase or
decrease the vehicle's speed on steep downhill
gradients by only using the accelerator pedal,
without applying the brakes.
The function is included in the Off Road drive
mode.
HDC is designed for driving on rough roads at
low speeds and downhill gradients with slippery
or otherwise difficult road surfaces. The driver
does not need to use the brake pedal but can
instead focus on steering.
WARNING
HDC is only intended to be a supplementary
braking aid and it does not function in all sit-
uations.
The driver is always ultimately responsible for
operating the vehicle in a safe manner.
FunctionHill Descent Control allows the vehicle to move
forward or backward at very low speeds assisted
by the brake system. The driver can increase the
speed by pressing the accelerator pedal. When
the accelerator pedal is released, the vehicle will
return to very low speed regardless of how steep

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466
Minimum octane
Decals
Sample fuel pump octane label
6
. Decal on the inside of the fuel filler flap on cars that
require premium fuel
7
.TOP TIER Detergent GasolineVolvo endorses the use of "TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline" where available to help maintain
engine performance and reliability. TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline meets a new standard jointly
established by leading automotive manufactures
to meet the needs of today's advanced engines.
Qualifying gasoline retailers (stations) will, in
most cases, identify their gasoline as having met
the "TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline" standards.
NOTE Information about TOP TIER Detergent Gaso-
line is available at www.toptiergas.com.
NOTE
When switching to higher octane fuel or
changing gasoline brands, it may be neces-
sary to fill the tank more than once before a
difference in engine operation is noticeable.
Fuel FormulationsDo not use gasoline that contains lead or manga-
nese as a knock inhibitor, and do not use lead
additives. Besides damaging the exhaust emis-
sion control systems on your vehicle, lead has
been strongly linked to certain forms of cancer.Many fuels contain benzene as a solvent.
Unburned benzene has been strongly linked to
certain forms of cancer. If you live in an area
where you must fill your own gas tank, take pre-
cautions. These may include:
•
standing upwind away from the filler nozzle
while refueling
• refueling only at gas stations with vapor
recovery systems that fully seal the mouth of
the filler neck during refueling
• wearing neoprene gloves while handling a
fuel filler nozzle.
Use of AdditivesWith the exception of gas line antifreeze during
winter months, do not add solvents, thickeners, or
other store-bought additives to your vehicle's
fuel, cooling, or lubricating systems. Overuse may
damage your engine, and some of these additives
contain organically volatile chemicals. Do not
needlessly expose yourself to these chemicals.
WARNING Never carry a cell phone that is switched on
while refueling your vehicle. If the phone rings,
this may cause a spark that could ignite gaso-
line fumes, resulting in fire and injury.
6
AKI (Anti Knock Index) is an average value of RON (Research Octane Nu\
mber) and MON (Motor Octane Number) - (RON)+(MON)/2
7 For supplementary information - see the car's Service and Warranty Bo\
oklet.

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467
WARNINGCarbon monoxide is a poisonous, colorless,
and odorless gas. It is present in all exhaust
gases. If you ever smell exhaust fumes inside
the vehicle, make sure the passenger com-
partment is ventilated, and immediately return
the vehicle to a trained and qualified Volvo
service technician for correction.
Demanding drivingIn demanding driving conditions, e.g. when driving
in a hot climates, driving with a trailer or driving
for longer periods at higher altitudes (mountain
landscapes) than normal, it is recommended
switching to a higher octane fuel than AKI 91
6
or
changing gasoline brand to take full advantage of
your car's engine capacity and obtain the opti-
mum driving force.
Related information
• Fuel (p. 464)
• Emission controls (p. 467) Emission controls
Three-way catalytic converter
•
Keep your engine properly tuned. Certain
engine malfunctions, particularly involving the
electrical, fuel or distributor ignition systems,
may cause unusually high three-way catalytic
converter temperatures. Do not continue to
operate your vehicle if you detect engine
misfire, noticeable loss of power or other
unusual operating conditions, such as engine
overheating or backfiring. A properly tuned
engine will help avoid malfunctions that
could damage the three-way catalytic con-
verter.
• Do not park your vehicle over combustible
materials, such as grass or leaves, which can
come into contact with the hot exhaust sys-
tem and cause such materials to ignite under
certain wind and weather conditions.
• Excessive starter cranking (in excess of one
minute), or an intermittently firing or flooded
engine can cause three-way catalytic con-
verter or exhaust system overheating.
• Remember that tampering or unauthorized
modifications to the engine, the Engine Con-
trol Module, or the vehicle may be illegal and
can cause three-way catalytic converter or
exhaust system overheating. This includes:
altering fuel injection settings or compo-
nents, altering emission system components or location or removing components, and/or
repeated use of leaded fuel.NOTE Unleaded fuel is required for vehicles with
three-way catalytic converters.
Heated oxygen sensorsThe heated oxygen sensors monitor the oxygen
content of the exhaust gases. Readings are fed
into a control module that continuously monitors
engine functions and controls fuel injection. The
ratio of fuel to air into the engine is continuously
adjusted for efficient combustion to help reduce
harmful emissions.
Related information
•
Octane rating (p. 465)
• Fuel (p. 464) 6
AKI (Anti Knock Index) is an average value of RON (Research Octane Nu\
mber) and MON (Motor Octane Number) - (RON)+(MON)/2

STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.
468 Overheating of engine and
transmission
In demanding driving conditions, such as driving
in mountainous areas or hot weather, there is a
risk of the engine or transmission overheating,
especially when carrying heavy loads.
• Engine power may be temporarily limited.
• Remove any auxiliary lights mounted in front
of the grille when driving in hot weather.
• If the temperature in the engine's cooling
system becomes too high, a warning symbol
will appear in the instrument panel along with
the message Engine temperature High
temperature Stop safely. Pull over to a safe location and let the engine idle for a few
minutes to cool down.
• If the message
Engine temperature High
temperature Turn off engine or Engine
coolant Level low, turn off engine is dis- played, stop the vehicle and turn off the
engine.
• If the transmission begins to overheat, an
alternative gear shifting program will be
selected. An integrated protective function
will also be activated, the warning symbol will
illuminate and the message Transmission
warm
Reduce speed to lower
temperature or Transmission hot Stop
safely, wait for cooling will be displayed in the instrument panel. Follow the recommen-
dations given by reducing speed or stopping the vehicle safely and letting the engine idle
for a few minutes to let the transmission
cool.
• If the vehicle begins to overheat, the air con-
ditioning may be temporarily switched off.
• After a prolonged period of driving in
demanding conditions, do not turn off the
engine immediately after stopping.
NOTE It is normal for the engine's cooling fan to
operate for a short time after the engine is
switched off.
Symbols in the instrument panel
Symbol
Meaning High engine temperature. Follow
the recommendations provided.
Low coolant level. Follow the rec-
ommendations provided.
Transmission hot/overheated/cool-
ing. Follow the recommendations
provided.
Related information
•
Refilling coolant (p. 612)
• Driving with a trailer (p. 472)
• Preparing for a long trip (p. 460)
• Gear indicator* (p. 442)

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470
1.
Put the ignition in mode 0.
2. Make sure the auxiliary battery (the battery used to jump start the discharged battery)
has a voltage of 12 volts.
3. If the auxiliary battery is in another vehicle, turn off that vehicle's engine and make sure
that the vehicles are not touching each other.
4. Clamp the red jumper cable onto the auxiliary battery's positive (+) terminal (1).
CAUTION Connect the jump cable carefully to prevent
short circuits with other components in the
engine compartment.
5. Fold back the cover over your vehicle's posi-
tive (+) jump start terminal (2).
6.

Clamp the other end of the red jumper cable
to your vehicle's positive (+) jump start termi-
nal (2).
7. Clamp the black jumper cable onto the auxili- ary battery's negative (-) terminal (3).
8. Clamp the other end of the black jumper cable to your vehicle's negative (-) ground
point (4).
9. Make sure the jumper cables are securely attached to help prevent sparks while jump
starting. 10. Start the engine of the assisting vehicle and
let it run for a few minutes at a higher idling
speed than normal, about 1500 rpm.
11. Start your vehicle's engine. If the engine does not start, allow an additional 10
minutes of charging time and then try to start
the engine again.
NOTE When the engine is started under normal
conditions, the vehicle's electrical drive motor
is prioritized – the gasoline engine remains
off. This means that the electric motor has
"started" and the vehicle is ready to be driven
once the start knob has been turned clock-
wise. Start of the electric motor is indicated
by the indicator lights on the instrument panel
going out and its preselected theme illuminat-
ing.
CAUTION
Do not touch the connections between the
cable and the vehicle during the start attempt.
Risk of sparking. 12. Remove the jumper cables in the reverse
order ‒ first the black cables and then the
red cables.
Make sure that none of the clamps of the
black jumper cables come into contact with
either vehicle's positive (+) jump start termi-
nals or either of the red jumper cable's con-
nected clamps.
WARNING PROPOSITION 65 VARNING!WARNING!
Battery posts, terminals, and related accesso-
ries contain lead and lead compounds, chemi-
cals known to the state of California to cause
cancer and reproductive harm. Wash hands
after handling.
WARNING
•
Batteries generate hydrogen gas, which
is flammable and explosive.
• Do not connect the jumper cable to any
part of the fuel system or to any moving
parts. Avoid touching hot manifolds.
• Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow battery fluid to contact eyes, skin,
fabrics or painted surfaces.

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* Option/accessory. 471•
If contact occurs, flush the affected area
immediately with water. Obtain medical
help immediately if eyes are affected.
• Never expose the battery to open flame
or electric spark. Do not smoke near the
battery. Failure to follow the instructions
for jump starting can lead to injury.
NOTE The vehicle cannot be started if the hybrid
battery is discharged.
Related information
•
Starting the vehicle (p. 424)
• Ignition modes (p. 427)
• Adjusting the steering wheel (p. 199)
• Selecting ignition mode (p. 428) Detachable towbar*
Volvo recommends the use of Volvo towbars
that are specially designed for the vehicle.
NOTE The optional detachable trailer hitch may not
be available in all markets or on all models.
Consult your Volvo retailer.
Ball holder
Cotter pin
Towbar assembly
Locking bolt
Safety wire attachment bracket
Installing the ball holder1. If necessary, remove the cotter pin from the
locking 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 wire
securely to the towbar's safety wire
attachment bracket.
Removing the ball holder1. Remove the cotter pin from the locking bolt
and slide the locking bolt out of the ball
holder/towbar assembly.
2. Pull the ball holder out of the towbar assem- bly.

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472
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 cargo
compartment.
Related information
•
Driving with a trailer (p. 472)
• Towing capacity and tongue weight (p. 660) Driving with a trailer
There are a number of things to consider when
towing a trailer, such as the towbar, the trailer
and 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 by
the corresponding amount.
• Towbars used on the vehicle must be
approved for the applicable use.
• Distribute the load on the trailer so that the
weight on the towbar complies with the
specified maximum towball weight. The
tongue weight is calculated as part of the
vehicle's payload.
• Increase the tire pressure to the recom-
mended pressure for a full load.
• The engine is subjected to more load than
usual 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 the
vehicle is very new. Wait until the mileage
has reached at least 1000 km (620 miles).
• On long and steep downgrades, the vehicle's
brakes are subjected to much more load
than usual. When manually shifting, down-
shift and adapt speed accordingly. •
Follow applicable regulations regarding per-
mitted speed and weight.
• Drive slowly when towing a trailer up a long
and steep incline.
• The maximum trailer weights given only apply
to altitudes up to 1000 meters (3280 feet)
above sea level. At higher altitudes, engine
power (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 vehicle
and trailer must be decreased by 10% for
each additional 1000 m (3280 feet) or part
thereof.
• Avoid driving with a trailer on inclines of more
than 12%.
• Avoid overloading and other incorrect use.
• The trailer's brakes must be balanced with
the vehicle's brakes to help ensure safe
stops (follow applicable local regulations).