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.

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 gasoline fumes, resulting in fire and injury.

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Fuel filler door
Press the button on the light switch panel (see illustration on page 32) 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 feature enables you to lock the doors/trunk while leaving the fuel filler door unlocked.

You can also keep the car locked if you remain inside 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.

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.

Refueling
The fuel tank holds approximately 18 US gal. (68 liters) with sufficient volume left over to accommodate possible expansion of the fuel in hot weather. 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.

* If the fuel filler cap is not closed tightly or if the engine is running when the car is refueled, the Check Engine Light (malfunction indicator lamp) may indicate a fault. However, your vehicle's performance will not be affected. Use only Volvo original or approved fuel filler caps.

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Starting the car

Starting the engine
1. Fasten the seat belt.

WARNING! Before starting, check that the seat, steering wheel and mirrors are adjusted properly. Make sure the brake pedal can be depressed completely. Adjust the seat if necessary. See pages 58, 60.

2. Apply the parking brake (hand brake) if not already set. The gear selector (automatic transmission) is locked in the (P)ark position (SHIFTLOCK).
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.

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.

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 a KEYLOCK system (automatic transmission). 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.
When starting in cold weather, the transmission may shift up at slightly higher engine speeds than normal until the automatic transmission fluid reaches normal operating temperature.

WARNING! Always place the gear selector in Park or in reverse on models with a manual transmission, and apply the parking brake before leaving the vehicle. Never leave the car unattended with the engine running. Always open 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

Do not race a cold engine immediately after starting.

* 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.

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Starting the car (contd)

Ignition switch and steering wheel lock
0 - Locked position:
Remove the key to lock the steering wheel*.

WARNING! Never turn the key to position O while driving or when the car is being towed.

I - Intermediate position** - "radio position":
Certain accessories, radio, etc. on, daytime running lights off.

II - Drive position: The key position when driving. The car's entire electrical system is connected.

III - Start position: Release the key when the engine starts. The key returns automatically to the Drive position.

A chime will sound if the key is left in the ignition and the driver's door is opened.

Steering wheel lock
The steering wheel lock might be under tension when the car is parked.
Turn the steering wheel slightly to free the ignition key.

In order to help reduce car theft, make sure the steering wheel lock is engaged before leaving the car.

WARNING! Never switch off the ignition (turn the ignition key to position 0) or remove the key from the ignition switch while the car is in motion. This could cause the steering wheel to lock, which would make the car impossible to steer

* The gear selector must be in the (P)ark position (automatic transmission).

** Please be aware that leaving the key in this position will increase battery drain.

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General information

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:

Some of the above mentioned items and others are checked at the standard Maintenance Service intervals.

NOTE: Vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions should use (D)rive as often as possible and avoid using "kickdown" to help improve fuel economy.

WARNING! Driving with the trunk open: Driving with the trunk open could lead to poisonous exhaust gases entering the passenger compartment. If the trunk must be kept open for any reason, proceed as follows - Close the windows - Set the ventilation system control to air flow to floor, windshield and side windows and blower control to its highest setting.

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General information (contd)

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 in the trunk (max. 220 lbs, 100 kg), the less the tendency to understeer.

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.

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Manual transmission

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.

* 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! An extra mat on the driver's floor can cause the accelerator pedal and/or the clutch pedal to catch. Check that the movement of these pedals is not impeded. Not more than one protective floor covering may be used at one time.

Engaging reverse gear
Never engage R while the car is moving.

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Automatic transmission (option)

Automatic transmission AW55- 50 (option)
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! Never leave the car unattended when the engine is running. If, by mistake, the gear selector is moved from P, the car may start moving.

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: Gears 4, 3, or L can be used if you are driving in a mountainous area, towing a trailer or to increase engine braking effect.
The transmission has a built-in limiter designed to help prevent excessive engine speeds (high rpm) when gears 4, 3 or L are selected.

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W - Winter/Wet driving mode - enhanced vehicle traction

Automatic transmission AW55- 50 - 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.

"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 a slightly higher engine speeds to heat the three-way catalytic converter as quickly as possible.

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Geartronic (option)

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 also 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! Never leave the car unattended when the engine is running. If, by mistake, the gear selector is moved from P, the car may start moving.

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.

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. The system also monitors your particular driving style and adapts gear shifting accordingly.

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.

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Manual shifting - Geartronic
You can move the gear selector freely between the (MAN)ual and (D)rive positions while driving. Gears 3, 4 and 5 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 24).

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 does not function when the transmission is in the manual shift (Geartronic) mode.The gear selector must be in the D(Drive) 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.

W - Winter/Wet driving mode - enhanced vehicle traction

Please refer to the information on page 91.

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.

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All Wheel Drive (option)

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 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-size tire as soon as possible. Do not drive on the temporary spare at speeds above 50 mph (80 km/h) or for distances greater than 50 miles (80 km.)

Never install snow chains on a temporary spare.

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Four-C active chassis system

Four-C active chassis
The FOUR-C (Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept) active chassis system, consisting of Comfort and Sport modes, is available as an option.

NOTE:
The S60 R has a standard FOUR-C system consisting of Comfort, Sport, and Advanced sport modes. The buttons for controlling these driving modes are located in center instrument panel, above the ventilation system panel vents, see the illustration below. These buttons can be pressed at any time to change driving modes. An indicator light in the selected button will come on to indicate the driving mode that is currently selected.

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.

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. The indicator light in the button will be off when this mode is selected.

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. The indicator light in the button will come on to indicate that Sport mode has been selected.

If this setting was selected when the engine was switched off, Sport mode will still be active when the engine is restarted.

S60 R buttons on the dashboard

Advanced Sport (S60R only)
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.

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Brake system

BRAKE Brake circuit malfunction
The brake system is a hydraulic system consisting of two master cylinders and two separate brake circuits. If a problem should occur in one of these circuits, it is still possible to stop the car with the other brake circuit.

If the brake pedal must be depressed farther than normal and requires greater foot pressure, the stopping distance will be longer.

A warning light in the instrument panel will light up to warn the driver that a fault has occurred.

If this light comes on while driving or braking, stop immediately and check the brake fluid level in the reservoir.

NOTE: Press the brake pedal hard and maintain pressure on the pedal - do not pump the brakes.

WARNING! If the fluid level is below the MIN mark in the reservoir or if a "Brake failure - Service urgent" message is displayed in the text window: DO NOT DRIVE. Have the car towed to a Volvo retailer and have the brake system inspected.

NOTE: When the car is at a standstill and the engine is idling, e.g. at a traffic light and the brake pedal is depressed, the pedal may go down slightly. This is a normal function of the power-assisted brake system.

Power brakes function only when the engine is running
The power brakes utilize vacuum pressure which is only created when the engine is running. Never let the vehicle roll to a stop with the engine switched off.

If the power brakes are not working, the brake pedal must be pressed approximately four times harder than usual to make up for the lack of power assistance. This can happen for example when towing your vehicle or if the engine is switched off when the vehicle is rolling. The brake pedal feels harder than usual.

Water on brake discs and brake pads affects braking
Driving in rain and slush or passing through an automatic car wash can cause water to collect on the brake discs and pads. This will cause a delay in braking effect when the pedal is depressed. To avoid such a delay when the brakes are needed, depress the pedal occasionally when driving through rain, slush etc. This will remove the water from the brakes. Check that brake application feels normal. This should also be done after washing or starting in very damp or cold weather.

Severe strain on the brake system
The brakes will be subject to severe strain when driving in mountains or hilly areas or towing. Vehicle speed is usually slower, which means that the cooling of the brakes is less efficient than when driving on level roads. To reduce the strain on the brakes, shift into a lower gear and let the engine help with the braking. Do not forget that, if you are towing a trailer, the brakes will be subjected to a greater than normal load.

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Anti-lock brakes (ABS)
If the warning lamp lights up there is a malfunction of the ABS system (the standard braking system will however function) and the vehicle should be driven cautiously to a Volvo retailer for inspection. The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) helps to improve vehicle control (stopping and steering) during severe braking conditions by limiting brake lockup. When the system "senses" impending lockup, braking pressure is automatically modulated in order to help prevent lockup, which could lead to a skid.

The system performs a self-diagnostic test when the engine is started and when the vehicle first reaches a speed of approximately 12 mph (20 km/h). The brake pedal will pulsate several times and a sound may be audible from the ABS control module. This is normal.

To obtain optimal effect from the ABS system, constant pressure should be kept on the brake pedal. Do not pump the brake pedal.

The switching of the ABS modulator will be audible and the brake pedal will pulsate during braking. Please be aware that ABS does not increase the absolute braking potential of the vehicle. While control will be enhanced, ABS will not shorten stopping distances on slippery surfaces.

ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution)
EBD is an integrated part of the ABS system. EBD regulates the hydraulic pressure to the rear brakes to help provide optimal braking capacity. The brake pedal will pulsate during braking, which is normal.

If the BRAKE and ABS warning lights come on at the same time, this could indicate a fault in the brake system.

WARNING! If the fluid level is below the MIN mark in the reservoir or if a "Brake failure - Service urgent" message is displayed in the text window: DO NOT DRIVE. Have the car towed to a Volvo retailer and have the brake system inspected.

Emergency Brake Assistance (EBA)
The EBA function is designed to provide full brake effect immediately in the event of sudden, hard braking. The system is activated by the speed with which you depress the brake pedal.

When the EBA system is activated, the brake pedal will go down and pressure in the brake system immediately increases to the maximum level. You must maintain full pressure on the brake pedal in order to utilize the system completely. EBA is automatically deactivated when the brake pedal is released.

When the car has been parked for some time, the brake pedal may sink more than usual when the engine is started. This is normal and the pedal will return to its usual position when it is released.