Volvo XC90 Difficult driving conditions, Driving on rough/unpaved surfaces, Driving through water

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Difficult driving conditions

Driving on rough/unpaved surfaces

The Volvo XC90 is designed primarily for on- road driving, and it has excellent handling cha- racteristics on very rough or unpaved roads.

When driving on poorly maintained or unpaved roads, please keep the following in mind:

•Reduce speed on rough surfaces to mini- mize possible damage to the vehicle's underbody.

•When driving on soft surfaces such as dry sand or snow, try to avoid stopping if at all possible.

WARNING

Avoid driving diagonally across steep inclines as this could increase the risk of a roll-over. Try to drive straight up or down the slope.

•If the road is very steep, avoid turning the vehicle around to help avoid the risk of rolling over. Back the vehicle up or down the incline instead.

NOTE

Avoid driving on steep inclines if the fuel tank is nearly empty. If the flow of fuel to the engine is interrupted due to the vehicle's angle of inclination, this could result in dam- age to the three-way catalytic converter. We recommend keeping the fuel tank at least half full when driving on steep inclines.

Driving through water

The vehicle can be driven through water up to a depth of approximately 16 inches (40 cm), at a maximum speed of 6 mph (10 km/h).

Take particular care when driving through flow- ing water.

Clean the electrical connections for trailer wir- ing after driving in mud or water.

When driving through water, maintain low speed and do not stop in the water.

WARNING

After driving through water, press lightly on the brake pedal to ensure that the brakes are functioning normally. Water or mud can make the brake linings slippery, resulting in delayed braking effect.

CAUTION

•Engine damage will occur if water is drawn into the air cleaner.

•If the vehicle is driven through water deeper than 18 in (48 cm), water may enter the differential and the transmis- sion. This reduces the oil's lubricating capacity and may shorten the service life of these components.

•Do not allow the vehicle to stand in water up to the door sills longer than absolutely necessary. This could result in electrical malfunctions.

•If the engine has been stopped while the car is in water, do not attempt to restart the engine. Have the car towed out of the water.

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