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VOLVO
V70
| Chapter 6 - Starting and driving |
Fuel requirements
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).
Deposit control gasoline (detergent additives)
Volvo recommends the use of detergent gasoline to control
engine deposits. Detergent gasoline is effective 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.
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 labelled "UNLEADED". Only these
pumps have nozzles which fit your car's filler inlet. It is unlawful to
dispense leaded fuel into a vehicle labelled "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.
NOTE: Some U.S. and Canadian gasolines contain an octane enhancing additive called methyl-cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT). If such fuels are used, your Emission Control System performance may be affected, and the Check Engine light (malfunction indicator lamp) located on your instrument panel may light. If this occurs, please return your vehicle to an authorized Volvo retailer for service.
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 alcohols 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 standards,
some areas require the use of "oxygenated" fuel.
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.
Carbon Monoxide - Important Warning
Carbon 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 compartment is ventilated, and immediately return the vehicle to your retailer for correction.
Fuel Formulations
Do not use gasoline that contains lead as a knock inhibitor, and do not use lead additives. Besides damaging the exhaust emission control systems on your car, 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 precautions. These may include:
Use of Additives
With the exception of gas line antifreeze during winter months, do not add solvents, thickeners, or other store-bought additives to your car'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.

Refueling
The fuel tank holds approximately:
Front wheel drive, non-turbo models - 18.5 US gal. (70 liters)
All turbo models - 18 US gal. (68 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 specified maximum.
When the fuel level is low, such factors as
ambient temperature, the fuel's "Reid vapor
pressure" characteristics, and terrain can affect
the fuel pump's 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.
Fuel filler door
Press the button on the light switch panel (see
illustration on page 37) when the car is at a
standstill to unlock the fuel filler door. Please
note that the fuel filler door will remain unlocked until the car begins to move forward. An audible click will be heard when the fuel filler door relocks.
If you intend to leave your car while it is being refueled, this features enables you to lock the door/tailgate while leaving the fuel filler door unlocked.
You can also keep the car locked if you remain inside it during refueling. The central locking button does not lock the fuel filler door.
Be sure the fuel filler door is not obstructed
and is completely closed after refueling.
Open the fuel filler cap slowly during hot
weather conditions.
NOTE: During a transitional period, a small number of service stations may still have fuel nozzles that are not compatible with the fuel filler neck on cars equipped with the evaporative control system. Please refer to page 147 for additional information.
WARNING! |
Starting the engine
1. Fasten the seat belt.
WARNING!
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2. Apply the parking brake, if not already set. The gear selector
(automatic transmission) is locked in the (P)ark position (SHIFT-LOCK).
Manual transmission: the clutch must be fully depressed.
3. Without touching the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key* to the starting position. Allow the starter to operate for up to 10 seconds. Release the key as soon as the engine starts. If the engine fails to start, repeat this step.
For cold starts at altitudes above 6000 ft (1800 meters), depress the accelerator pedal halfway and turn the key to the starting position. Release the pedal slowly when the engine starts.
NOTE:
On certain models, when the car is started,
idle speed may be noticeably higher than normal for a short period, depending on
the temperature of the engine.
This has been done to help bring components in the emission control system to their
normal operating temperature as quickly as
possible, which enables them to function normally.
For cold starts at altitudes above 6000 ft (1800 meters), depress the
accelerator pedal halfway and turn the key to the starting position. Release the pedal
slowly when the engine starts.
4. To release the gear selector from the (P)ark position, the engine must be running (or the ignition key must be in position II) and the brake pedal must be depressed. While keeping firm pressure on the brake pedal, release the parking brake.
5. Select the desired gear. The gear engages after a very slight delay which is especially noticeable when selecting R.
NOTE:
* Your car is equipped with an electronic start inhibitor (immobilizer). The keys you received with your car are specially coded. The code in the key is transmitted to an antenna in the ignition switch where it is compared to the code stored in the start inhibitor module. The car can only be started if a properly coded key is used.
If two of the keys to your car are close together, e.g., on the same key
ring, when you try to start the car, this could cause interference in the
immobilizer system and result in the car not starting. If this should
occur, remove one of the keys from the key ring before trying to start the
car again.
CAUTION:
WARNING!
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5-speed manual transmission
Depress the clutch pedal completely when changing gears*.
Remove your foot from the clutch pedal while driving.
The shift pattern should be followed.
Overdrive (5th gear) should be used as often as possible to help improve fuel
economy. This gear should be engaged at speeds
above approx. 50 mph (80 km/h).
* Clutch interlock
The clutch must be fully depressed before you
can start your car. If the clutch is not depressed,
it will not be possible to start the
engine.

6-speed manual transmission (option on certain models)
Fifth and sixth gears should be used as often as possible to help improve fuel economy.
WARNING!
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Engaging reverse gear
Never engage R while the car is moving.
CAUTION: Be careful that you do not inadvertently engage reverse while
moving forward.

P (Park)
Use this position when starting the engine or
parking the car.
Never use P while the car is in motion.
The parking brake should be set whenever the car is parked.
The gear selector is mechanically locked in the P position (SHIFTLOCK). To release the gear selector from this position, the engine must be running (or the ignition key must be in position II) and the brake pedal must be depressed.
WARNING!
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R (Reverse)
Never engage R while the car is moving.
N (Neutral)
Neutral - no gear engaged. Use the parking
brake.
D (Drive)
D is the normal driving position and should be
used as often as possible to help improve fuel
economy. The car should not be moving when
shifting from R to the D position.
4 (Intermediate gear)
The transmission will shift automatically
between gears 4, 3, 2 or 1 from this position.
The transmission cannot shift up to (D)rive
from fourth gear.
3 (Intermediate gear)
The transmission will shift automatically
between gears 3, 2 and 1 from this position.
The transmission cannot shift up to fourth
gear or (D)rive from third gear.
L (Low gears)
The transmission is locked in gears 1 and 2
when the selector is in this position.
NOTE:
Automatic transmission - adaptive
system
The automatic transmission is controlled by an
adaptive control system that constantly
monitors the way in which the transmission
functions. It senses and adapts each gear shift
for optimal performance.

Automatic transmission - shift
gate positions
The gear selector can be moved freely between
N and D.
Depressing the button on the front of the gear
selector knob enables you to move the gear
selector to positions P, R, N, D, 4, 3 and L.

W Winter/Wet driving mode - enhanced
vehicle traction
NOTE: R-models are not equipped with this button.
Kickdown
Automatic shift to a lower gear (kickdown) is
achieved by depressing the accelerator pedal
fully and briskly. An upshift will occur when
approaching the top speed for a particular gear
or by releasing the accelerator pedal slightly.
Kickdown can be used for maximum acceleration
or when passing at highway speeds.
Cold starts
When driving before the engine has reached its
normal operating temperature, the transmission
will shift up at slightly higher engine
speeds to heat the three-way catalytic converter as quickly as possible.

P (Park)
Use this position when starting the engine or
parking the car.
Never use P while the car is in motion. The parking brake should be set whenever the car is parked.
The gear selector is mechanically locked in the P position (SHIFTLOCK). To release the gear selector from this position, the engine must be running (or the ignition key must be in position II) and the brake pedal must be depressed.
WARNING!
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R (Reverse)
Never engage R while the car is moving
forward.
N (Neutral)
Neutral - no gear engaged. Use the parking
brake.
D (Drive)
D is the normal driving position and should be
used as often as possible to help improve fuel
economy. The car should not be moving when
shifting from R to the D position.
Kickdown
Automatic shift to a lower gear (kickdown) is
achieved by depressing the accelerator pedal
fully and briskly. An upshift will occur when
approaching the top speed for a particular gear
or by releasing the accelerator pedal slightly.
Kickdown can be used for maximum acceleration
or when passing at highway speeds.
Kickdown does not function when the
transmission is in the manual shift
(geartronic) mode (see next page).
Automatic transmission - adaptive
system
The automatic transmission is controlled by an
adaptive control system that constantly
monitors the way in which the transmission
functions. It senses and adapts each gear shift for optimal performance.

Automatic transmission - shift
gate positions
You can move the gear selector freely between
the (MAN)ual and (D)rive positions while
driving.
Depress the button on the front of the gear selector knob to move between the R, N, D, and P positions.
Please see the following page for information
on using the Geartronic manual shift
mode.
Manual shifting - Geartronic
You can move the gear selector freely between
the (MAN)ual and (D)rive positions while
driving. Gears 2, 3, and 4 have a "lock-up"
function which reduces engine speed and helps
save fuel.
The currently selected gear will be displayed
in the instrument panel (see page 29).
While driving
If you select the (MAN)ual position while
driving, the gear that was being used in the
(D)rive position will also initially be selected
in (MAN)ual position.
NOTE: Kickdown (see previous page) does not function when the transmission is in the manual shift (geartronic) mode. The gear selector must be in the D (Drive) position.
W Winter/Wet driving mode - enhanced vehicle traction
Please refer to the information on page 95 .

Sport mode (R-models only)
R-models are equipped with a (S)port button that can be used to engage/disengage the
Sport shifting mode. An indicator light in the
button will go on when Sport mode is engaged.
With Sport mode engaged, the transmission will shift up at higher rpm in first and
second gears, and will also shift down at higher
rpm for more immediate engine response during acceleration
and deceleration.
All Wheel Drive (AWD) - general information
Your Volvo can be equipped with
permanent All Wheel Drive, which means that power
is distributed automatically between the front and rear wheels. Under normal
driving conditions, most of the engine's power is directed to the front wheels. However, if
there is any tendency for the front wheels to spin,
an electronically controlled coupling distributes power to the wheels that have the best traction.
Tire dimensions
Volvo recommends that you always drive on tires of the same brand, size,
construction (radial), tread pattern, load-, speed-,
traction-, temperature-, and treadwear rating.
Never drive on mixed tires, except for brief
periods when the temporary spare tire is in use.
Always use properly inflated tires of correct dimensions. Tire size and inflation pressures are shown on the tire inflation pressure placards, located on the driver's side B-pillar (the structural member at the side of the vehicle, at the rear of the driver's door opening), or on the inside of the fuel filler door on Canadian models.
Temporary Spare
The temporary spare tire is for temporary, low-speed, short-distance use only.
Replace it with a full-sized tire as soon as
possible. Do not drive on the temporary spare at speeds
above 50 m.p.h. (80km/h) or for distances greater than 50 miles (80 km).
Never install snow chains on a temporary spare.

Four-C
R-models are equipped with the Four-C (Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept) system.
This system is based on a number of sensors that continuously monitor factors such as the car's lateral and vertical movements, speed, and movements of the wheels. The sensors receive data up to 500 times per second, which is used to provide extremely fast and precise adjustment of each shock absorber. The system adjusts the stiffness of the shock absorbers approximately 100 times per second.
The buttons in the center of the dashboard (see the illustration above) can be used at any time to switch between three driving modes: Comfort, Sport, or Advanced sport.
The system then adjusts the stiffness of the shock absorbers accordingly, for example when the type of road changes, or if the driver wishes to change driving style. This adjustment takes place instantaneously.
The effect of pressure on the throttle pedal is linked to the selected mode, where the Advanced sport setting provides the most immediate throttle response.
Comfort
The Comfort mode chassis setting offers the greatest amount of shock absorption and
the softest ride. This mode is recommended for long-distance driving, or when driving
in slippery conditions.
If Comfort mode was selected when the engine was switched off, this mode will still be active when the engine is restarted.
Sport
In this mode, shock absorption is stiffer to reduce the car's body sway during
cornering and to provide more immediate steering response.
If this setting was selected when the engine was switched off, Sport mode still will be active when the engine is restarted.
Advanced sport
In this mode, movement of the shock absorbers is minimal, response from pressure on
the throttle pedal is more direct, and body sway
in curves or when cornering is sharply reduced.
If Advanced sport mode was selected when the engine was switched off,
Sport mode will be active when the engine is restarted.
Front/rear park assist
The park assist system(s) are designed to
assist you when driving into parking spaces,
garages, etc. They utilize ultrasound sensors located
in the bumpers to measure the distance to a vehicle or other object, or a person who
may be close to the front or rear of the vehicle.
When is park assist active?
Front: the system is active from the time the engine is started until the car exceeds a
speed of approximately 10 mph (15 km/h).
Rear: when the engine is running and reverse gear is selected.
NOTE:
When park assist is actively working:
1. The audio system's volume will be reduced.
2. An intermittent signal will be audible
from the speakers to indicate that you are approaching a person, object,
parked vehicle, etc.
The signals begin when the distance between the bumper and the object is:
Rear: approximately 5 feet (1.5 meters)
Front: approximately 2.5 ft (0.8 meters)
3. At a distance of approximately 1 foot
(30 cm), the signal will become constant.
Deactivating the system(s)
NOTE:
It may be necessary to deactivate one or both of the park assist systems in certain cases.
Faults in the system
If a fault should occur in the system, the LED in the button will be switched off and
a message will be displayed in the text window.
Cleaning the sensors
For the system to function properly, the sensors in the front and/or rear bumpers
should be kept clean. They can be cleaned with car washing detergent and a sponge.
WARNING! |
Economical driving conserves natural
resources
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:
Other factors that decrease gas mileage are:
NOTE: Vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions should use (D)rive as often as possible and avoid using "kick-down" to help improve fuel economy. Vehicles equipped with manual transmissions should use fifth gear at highway speeds. At other times, choose the highest gear that still allows smooth acceleration.
Handling, roadholding
Vehicle load, tire design and inflation pressure all affect vehicle
handling. Therefore, check that the tires are inflated to the recommended
pressure according to the vehicle load. See "Tire pressure" section.
Loads should be distributed so that capacity weight or maximum
permissible axle loads are not exceeded.
Speed-sensitive power steering
(Option on certain models)
With this feature, the steering is most responsive at lower speeds
to make parking, driving in city traffic, etc., easier. The effect of the
power steering diminishes as you accelerate for greater stability at
highway speeds.
Weight distribution affects handling
At the specified curb weight your car has a tendency to understeer,
which means that the
steering wheel has to be turned more than might seem appropriate for
the curvature of a bend. This ensures good stability and reduces the risk
of rear wheel skid. Remember that these properties can alter with the
vehicle load. The heavier the load on the rear of the vehicle (e.g.,
heavily loaded (max. 220 lbs, 100 kg) cargo area or when towing a
trailer, the less the tendency to understeer.
Cooling system
The risk for engine overheating is greatest,
especially in hot weather, when:
When the risk of overheating is imminent, or in the event of overheating (the temperature gauge goes repeatedly into, or stays continually in, the red section), the following precautions should be taken:
WARNING! If necessary, see page 148 and 151 for information on checking and topping-up the coolant level.
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CAUTION: Drive slowly and carefully if going through standing water (i.e. flooded roadways, etc.). Damage to the engine could result if excess water is drawn in through the air intake system. Never drive the vehicle in water deeper than 1 foot (300 mm). See the flood warning on page 7.
WARNING! If the tailgate must be kept open for any reason, proceed as follows: - Close the windows. - Set the ventilation system to air flow to floor, windshield and side windows and blower control to its highest setting.
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Electrical system
When replacing the battery or when carrying
out work involving the electrical system, the
following should be observed:
Load carriers (accessory)
Load carriers are available as Volvo accessories.
Observe the following points when in
use:

Attaching load carriers
(models without rails)
The attachment brackets for the load carriers
are located under the roof molding.
1 Make sure that the load carriers are placed
in the right direction. See the mark on the
decal under the cover.
2 Press the guide lugs into the holes (1).
3 Carefully lower the opposite side of the
load carrier to the roof.
4 Loosen the tightening wheel slightly.
Slide the hook on the load carrier attachment
into the attachment bracket under the
roof molding.
5 Turn the tightening wheel to secure the
load carrier in the attachment bracket.
6 Repeat this procedure for the other load
carrier attachments.
7 Check that the hooks on all four load
carrier attachments are securely tightened
in the respective attachment brackets on
the roof of the car.
8 Press down the covers.
Check periodically that the load carriers and load are properly secured.
Reducing wind noise and improving fuel economy
To maximize fuel efficiency and
minimize wind noise, Volvo recommends that load carriers be removed when not in use.
WARNING! |

Position of load carriers
Make sure that the wing-shaped load carriers
are installed on the roof rails with the rounded
edge forward (see the inset illustration above).
The load carriers are identical and can be
placed anywhere along the roof rails.
Reducing wind noise
and improving fuel economy
To maximize fuel efficiency and
minimize wind noise, Volvo recommends that load carriers be removed when not in use.

Fitting the load carriers
(accessory)
Make sure that the load carrier is pressed
firmly out against the roof rail. Screw the load
carrier in place. Use the supplied torque
wrench and tighten to the mark on the wrench
(corresponding to 6 Nm). See illustration.

Load carrier cover
The car's ignition key or the stud on the edge
of the supplied torque wrench can be used to
undo or tighten the cover. Turn a quarter turn
(90 degrees). See illustration.