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pg. 4:1
Starting and driving
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Starting and driving
This section on starting and driving contains items such as starting the engine, operating gear selector, towing, trailers.
| 4:2 | Fuel requirements, Refueling |
| 4:3 | Driving economy |
| 4:4 | Starting the engine |
| 4:5 | Transmission |
| 4:10 | Points to remember |
| 4:12 | Emergency towing |
| 4:13 | Vehicle Towing Information |
| 4:14 | Jump starting |
| 4:15 | Cold weather precautions |
| 4:16 | Towing a trailer |
| 4:17 | Brakes |
| 4:18 | Before a long distance trip |
| 4:19 | Vehicle storage |
| 4:20 | Three-way catalytic converter |
A new car should be broken-in!
Refrain from utilizing your car's full driving potential during the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km).
Automatic transmission
Do not use "kick-down" during the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km).
Unleaded Fuel
Each Volvo has a three-way catalytic converter and must use only unleaded gasoline. U.S. and Canadian regulations require that pumps delivering unleaded gasoline be labeled "UNLEADED". Only these pumps have nozzles which fit your car's filler inlet. It is unlawful to dispense leaded fuel into a vehicle labeled "unleaded gasoline only". Leaded gasoline damages the three-way catalytic converter and the heated oxygen sensor system. Repeated use of leaded gasoline will lessen the effectiveness of the emission control system and could result in loss of emission warranty coverage. State and local vehicle inspection programs will make detection of misfueling easier, possibly resulting in emission test failure for misfueled vehicles.
Octane Rating
Volvo engines are designed for optimum performance on unleaded premium gasoline with an octane rating, AKI of 91, or above. AKI (ANTI KNOCK INDEX) is an average of the Research Octane Number, RON, and the Motor Octane Number, MON, (RON + MON/ 2). The minimum octane requirement is AKI 87 (RON 91).
Gasoline Containing Alcohol and Ethers
"Oxygenated fuels"
Some fuel suppliers sell gasoline containing "oxygenates" which are usually alcohols or ethers. In some areas, state or local laws require that the service pump be marked indicating use of alcohol or ethers. However, there are areas in which the pumps are unmarked. If you are not sure whether there is alcohol or ethers in the gasoline you buy, check with the service station operator. To meet seasonal air quality restrictions, some states require the use of "oxygenated" fuel in certain areas.
Volvo allows the use of the following "oxygenated fuels"; however, the octane ratings listed on this page must still be met.
Alcohol -- Ethanol
Fuels containing up to 10% ethanol by volume may be used.
Ethanol may also be referred to as Ethyl alcohol, or "Gasohol".
Ethers -- MTBE
Fuels containing up to 15% MTBE may be used.
Refueling
The fuel tank filler cap is located behind the door on the left rear fender.
Open cap slowly during hot weather conditions.
When filling, position the cap in the special bracket on the door.
After filling the tank, install the cap and turn until a "click" is heard.
The fuel tank is designed to hold approximately 19.8 US gals (75 liters) with sufficient volume left over to accommodate possible expansion of the fuel in hot weather. Be aware that the "usable" tank capacity will be somewhat less than the 19.8 US gallons (75 liters) maximum. When the fuel level is low, such factors as ambient temperature, the fuel's "vapor pressure" characteristics, and terrain can affect the fuel pumps' ability to supply the engine with an adequate supply of fuel. Therefore, it is advisable to refuel as soon as possible when the needle nears the red zone, or when the fuel warning light comes on.
CAUTION:
Take care not to spill gasoline during refueling.
Gasolines containing alcohol can cause damage to painted surfaces, which may not be covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Do not use gasoline containing methanol (methyl alcohol, wood alcohol). This practice can result in vehicle performance deterioration and can damage critical parts in the fuel system.
Such damage may not be covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
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Economical driving does not necessarily mean driving slowly
Better driving economy may be obtained by thinking ahead, avoiding rapid starts and stops and adjusting the speed of your vehicle to immediate traffic conditions. Observe the following rules:
Bring the engine to normal operating temperature as soon as possible by driving with a light forot on the accelerator pedal for the first minutes of operation. A cold engine uses more fuel and is subject to increased wear.
Whenever possible, avoid using the car for driving short distances. This does not allow the engine to reach normal operating temperature.
Drive carefully and avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking.
Do not exceed speed limit.
Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra load) in the car.
Check tire pressure regularly (check when tires are cold).
Remove snow tires when threat of snow or ice has ended.
Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc., increase air resistance and thereby fuel consumption.
Turbo: try to keep the boost pressure gauge in the black range.
Utilize overdrive at speeds above approx. 45 mph (70 km/h)
Avoid using automatic transmission kick-down feature unless necessary.
Other factors which decrease gas mileage are:
Worn or dirty spark plugs
Incorrect spark plug gap
Dirty air cleaner
Incorrect valve clearance
Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter
Dragging brakes
Incorrect front end alignment
Low tire pressure
Some of the above mentioned items and others are checked at the standard Maintenance Service intervals.
Deposit control gasoline
Volvo recommends the use of gasoline containing deposit control additives. These additives have shown to be efficient in keeping injectors and intake valves clean. Consistent use of deposit control gasolines will help ensure good driveability and fuel economy. If you are not sure whether the gasoline contains deposit control additives, check with the service station operator.
Note:
Do not add additives yourself to the gasoline, unless you are recommended to do so by an authorized Volvo dealer.
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Starting and stopping a car equipped with automatic transmission
1 Fasten the seat belt.
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WARNING! Before starting, check that the seat is adjusted properly. Make sure the brake pedal can be depressed completely. Move the seat closer if necessary. Refer to section "Front seats".
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2 Apply the parking brake, if not already set. The gear selector is locked in the (P)ark position (
SHIFTLOCK
).
3
Without touching the accelerator pedal
, turn the ignition key to the starting position. Allow the starter to operate for 5-10 seconds. Release the key as soon as the engine starts. If the engine fails to start, repeat step 3.
Turbo only
: for cold starts at altitudes above 6000 ft (1800 m), depress the accelerator pedal halfway and turn the key to the starting position. Release the accelerator pedal slowly when the engine starts.
4 To release the gear selector,
depress the brake pedal
. See page 6:18 for instructions on
manually overriding the SHIFTLOCK system
if the lever cannot be moved. Do not race a cold engine immediately after starting. Oil flow may not reach some lubricating points fast enough to prevent engine damage.
5 Select desired gear. The gear engages after a slight delay, especially noticeable when selecting R.
CAUTION:
Engine should be idling; never accelerate until after you feel the gear engage! Too rapid acceleration immediately after selecting a gear will cause harsh engagement and premature transmission wear.
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6 Release the brakes and accelerate
To stop the car, release the accelerator pedal and apply the brakes.
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NOTE:
Your car is equipped with a
KEYLOCK
switch system. When the engine is switched off, the gear selector must be in the (P)ark position before the key can be removed from the ignition switch.
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WARNING!
Never leave car unattended with engine running.
Always open the garage doors fully before starting the engine inside a garage to ensure adequate ventilation. The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, which is invisible and odorless but very poisonous.
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WARNING!
Always place gear selector securely in Park, and apply parking brake before leaving vehicle. Never leave car unattended with engine running.
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Turbo caution
Never race the engine
immediately after starting
. Oil flow may not reach some lubricating points fast enough to prevent engine damage.
Do not race the engine just prior to switching off!
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