towing VOLVO XC90 TWIN ENGINE 2018 User Guide

STARTING AND DRIVING
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* Option/accessory. 453
Leveling control settings*
The vehicle can be lowered or raised to make it
easier to load or for passengers to get in and
out.
Turn off leveling control before lifting the vehicle
with a jack to help avoid problems with the
pneumatic suspension.
Adjusting loading mode Use the buttons in the cargo compartment to
raise or lower the rear section of the vehicle to
facilitate loading or unloading the vehicle or con-
necting or disconnecting a trailer.
Center display settings
Easy Entry and Exit Suspension Control
The vehicle can be lowered to make it easier to
get in and out.
Activating easy entry in the center display: 1.
Tap Settings in the Top view.
2.

Tap My Car Mirrors and Convenience
.
3. Select Easy Entry and Exit Suspension
Control.
>

When the vehicle is parked and the
engine is turned off, the level is lowered.
(Level adjustment will stop if a side door
is opened and will resume after a slight
delay when the door has been closed.)
When the engine is started and the vehi-
cle begins to move, the level will be raised
to the height set by the selected drive
mode.
Disable Leveling Control
In certain situations, this function must be turned
off, e.g. before the vehicle is raised using a jack*.
The level difference caused by raising the vehicle
with a jack could cause problems with the pneu-
matic suspension.
Turning off the function in the center display:
1. Tap Settings in the Top view.
2.

Tap My Car Parking Brake and
Suspension .
3. Select Disable Leveling Control.
Related information
•Leveling control* and suspension (p. 450)
• Loading recommendations (p. 586) Low Speed Control
The low-speed function, Low Speed Control
(LSC), facilitates and improves control and trac-
tion on rough roads and slippery surfaces, e.g.
when towing a trailer on grass or up boat ramps.
The function is included in the Off Road drive
mode.
Low Speed Control is designed for driving on
rough roads and when towing trailers at low
speeds, up to approximately 40 km/h (25 mph).
When driving at low speeds, LSC prioritizes low
gears and all-wheel drive to help avoid wheel spin
and improve traction on all wheels. The accelera-
tor pedal will be less responsive to improve trac-
tion and speed control at low speeds.
The function is activated together with Hill
Descent Control (HDC), which makes it possible
to control speed going down steep hills using the
accelerator pedal and reduces the need to use
the brake pedal. The system makes it possible to
maintain a low and uniform speed when driving
down steep hills.

||STARTING AND DRIVING
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).

STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.473
CAUTION•
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 vehicle brake sys-
tem, nor a trailer's lighting system directly
to the vehicle lighting system. Consult
your nearest authorized Volvo retailer for
correct installation.
• When towing a trailer, the trailer's safety
chains or wire must be correctly fastened
to the attachment points provided in the
trailer hitch on the vehicle. The safety
chain or wire must never be fastened to
or 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 are
factors that significantly increase a vehicle's
fuel consumption.
Trailer weights
WARNING Please adhere to the recommendations provi-
ded for trailer weight. If the recommendations
are not followed, the vehicle and trailer may
be difficult to control during evasive maneu-
vers and braking.
NOTE
The specified maximum trailer weights are
those permitted by Volvo. National vehicle
regulations may set additional restrictions on
trailer weight and speed. The trailer hitches
may be certified for higher towing weights
than 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 of
load (up to the maximum permitted weight).
When the vehicle is stationary, the rear end of the
vehicle 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 of
the engine and drive system is detected, a warn-
ing symbol will illuminate in the instrument panel
along with a message.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. 474)
• Checking trailer lights (p. 475)
• Towing capacity and tongue weight (p. 660)
• Overheating of engine and transmission
(p. 468)

STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.
474 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 have
begun 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 high
speeds. However, if the trailer is overloaded or
unevenly distributed, e.g. too far back, there is a
risk 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 an
uneven road or over a bump.
• Sudden movements of the steering wheel.
Once swaying has begun, it can be difficult or
impossible to stop it. This makes the vehicle and
trailer difficult to control and there is a risk of
swerving into oncoming traffic or driving off the
road.
Trailer Stability Assist functionTrailer Stability Assist continuously monitors the
vehicle's movements, particularly lateral move- ments. If swaying is detected, the brakes are
applied individually on the front wheels, which has
a stabilizing effect on the vehicle and trailer. This
is often enough to enable the driver to regain
control of the vehicle.
If the Trailer Stability Assist function's first
attempt is not adequate to stop the swaying
motion, the brakes are applied on all wheels and
engine power is temporarily reduced. As the
swaying motion begins to decrease and the vehi-
cle and trailer have once again become stable,
TSA stops regulating the brakes/engine power
and 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 motion
by moving the steering wheel rapidly, because
the system will then not be able to determine if it
is the trailer or the driver causing the swaying. When Trailer Stability Assist is
activated, the ESC symbol is
displayed in the instrument
panel.
Related information
•
Driving with a trailer (p. 472)
• Electronic Stability Control (p. 274) 8
Trailer Stability Assist
9 Electronic Stability Control

STARTING AND DRIVING
476Towing using a towline
This section refers to one vehicle being towed
behind another using a towline.
Twin Engine vehicles may not be towed behind
another vehicle due to the risk of damage to the
electric motor. If the vehicle cannot be driven and
needs to be moved, it must be transported on a
tow truck with all four wheels on the bed of the
truck.
Towing another vehicleTowing another vehicle requires a lot of power -
use the AWD drive mode. This helps charge the
hybrid battery and improve the vehicle's driving
and roadholding characteristics.
Before towing another vehicle, check applicable
speed limit regulations.
Jump startingDo not tow the vehicle to start the engine. Use an
auxiliary battery if the start battery's charge level
is so low that the engine cannot be started.
CAUTION Attempts to tow-start the vehicle could cause
damage to the electrical drive motor and
three-way catalytic converter.
Related information
•
Attaching and removing the towing eyelet
(p. 476)
• Hazard warning flashers (p. 161)
• Recovery (p. 477)
• Jump starting using another battery (p. 469)
• Selecting ignition mode (p. 428) Attaching and removing the towing
eyelet
Use the towing eyelet to tow another vehicle.
Screw the towing eyelet securely into place in
the threaded outlet behind the cover on the
right-hand side of the rear bumper.
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 cargo
compartment.

STARTING AND DRIVING
}}
* Option/accessory. 477Remove the cover - press the marker with
your finger while prying open the opposite
side/corner open with a coin or similar.
>

The cover turns along its center line and
can then be removed. 3. 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.
Related information
• Towing using a towline (p. 476)
• Recovery (p. 477)
• Tool kit (p. 564) 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.
CAUTION Note that vehicles with Twin Engine must
always be towed raised with all wheels on the
tow truck.
For vehicles equipped with leveling control*:
If the vehicle is equipped with pneumatic suspen-
sion, this feature must be turned off before the
vehicle is lifted onto a tow truck. Turning off the
function in the center display.
1. Tap Settings in the Top view.
2.

Tap My Car Parking 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. 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 may result in damage. In
this case, the vehicle should only be lifted with
the tow truck's lifting equipment.

||STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.
478
WARNING No person or object should be behind the tow
truck when the vehicle is lifted onto the bed
of the truck.
Related information
•
Attaching and removing the towing eyelet
(p. 476) 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 and
indoor lighting, etc.) and thereby replace the
remote controls for these.
General The illustration is generic – the design may vary.
Button 1
Button 2
Button 3
Indicator lightHomeLink
®
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 is
also advisable to delete the button programming
if the vehicle is sold.
Related information
• Using HomeLink (p. 480)
• Programming HomeLink ®
* (p. 479)
• Type approval for HomeLink ®
* (p. 481) 10
Certain markets only.
11 HomeLink and the HomeLink house symbol are registered trademarks of Gent\
ex Corporation.

||WHEELS AND TIRES
* Option/accessory.
564
Related information
• Recommended tire pressure (p. 559)
• Adjusting tire pressure (p. 558)
• Calibrating the tire pressure monitoring sys-
tem* (p. 561)
• Viewing tire pressure status in the center
display* (p. 562)
• Tire pressure monitoring system* (p. 559)
• Inflate tires with the compressor included in
the tire sealing system (p. 577) When changing wheels
The wheels can be changed, e.g. to switch to
snow tires or spare tires. Follow the applicable
instructions for removing and installing the
wheel.
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 the
vehicle's software. A software update may be
necessary when changing to tires of larger/
smaller dimensions or when changing to or from
snow tires.
Related information
• Removing a wheel (p. 566)
• Installing a wheel (p. 568)
• Tool kit (p. 564)
• Snow tires (p. 571)
• Spare wheel (p. 569)
• Wheel bolts (p. 565) 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 sealing
system, the tool for removing plastic wheel bolt
covers and the tool for removing the locking
wheel 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 damaged
wheel are also provided.
Related information
• When changing wheels (p. 564)
• Jack* (p. 565) 10
Not available on all models.

WHEELS AND TIRES
}}
* Option/accessory. 567
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 large
stones. 5.
Using the lug wrench*, screw the towing eye
into place as far as possible according to the
instructions.
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 cover
indicate where the jack attachment points/
lifting points are located. There are two jack
attachment points on each side of the vehi-
cle. There is a groove for the jack at each
attachment point. 9. Position the jack under the attachment point
being used, ensuring that the surface is firm,
flat and not slippery.

WHEELS AND TIRES
578Determining the vehicle's permitted
weight
Properly loading your vehicle will provide maxi-
mum return of vehicle design performance.
Weight designationsBefore loading your vehicle, familiarize yourself
with the following terms for determining your
vehicle's weight ratings, with or without a trailer,
from the vehicle's Federal/Canadian Motor Vehi-
cle Safety Standards (FMVSS/CMVSS) label, and
the vehicle's tire information placard:
Curb weight
The weight of the vehicle including a full tank of
fuel and all standard equipment. It does not
include passengers, cargo, or optional equipment.
Capacity weight
All weight added to the curb weight, including
cargo and optional equipment. When towing, tow-
bar weight is also part of cargo weight.
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 Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS/CMVSS) label.
The total load on each axle must never exceed its
maximum 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 weight of 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 your
vehicle.
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 equals
1400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lb. pas-
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of availa-
ble cargo and luggage load capacity is 650
lbs. (1400 - 750 (5 × 150) = 650 lbs.)
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated
in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be transferred to your
vehicle. Consult this manual to determine
how 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 weight
rating limits can cause tire overheating
resulting in permanent deformation or
catastrophic failure.
• Do not use replacement tires with lower
load carrying capacities than the tires that
were original equipment on the vehicle
because this will lower the vehicle's GVW
rating. Use only tires with the correct load
carrying capacity. Consult your Volvo
retailer for information.
Related information
• Loading recommendations (p. 586)