Hello All,

I own a 2016 XC90 T8 Inscription Hybrid Plug-In. The car is approaching 40,000 miles and per the owner's manual there are some required maintenance procedures, which include replacing the cabin filter and flushing the brake fluid.

Questions # 1 - How do you replace the cabin filter? Is there a "How to Video" I can watch? I have replaced the cabin filters on my 850 and I have replaced the cabin filters on Asian cars where the filter is located under the glove box. So I have some experience. Is this difficult to do?

Question #2 - Can I replace the brake fluid myself (using a Motive Power Bleeder) or should I bring it to the dealer? I don't know if this is a guide, but I have been advised that when I need to replace the coolant, I should have it done at the dealership because it uses a special vacuum device to remove all the coolant which is critical. This particular model has two cooling systems: one dedicated to the gas engine and the second to cooling the battery pack. My concern is, perhaps a special device is required to bleed the brakes properly, which only the dealer has. That is pure speculation on my part.

Thanks in advance to all who reply.

Hugh

Hugh,

Not sure if this will be of much help: The earlier XC70 and V70's are not too hard to access the cabin filter hidden beneath the glove box.
We have a 2014 XC90 with the filter hidden under the glove box. Clearing the access (a couple of dress panels) to get to the filter cover is easy. The
filter screws are awkward to get to as your are crammed between the seat and under the dash board. It's doable, but on the CX90 I will let my local mechanic do it..... in the future.
Art

Art,

Thank you for your reply. As I mentionde to James above, I found a video on YouTube that describes in detail how to replace the cabin filter on a 2016 XC90, just like mine. There are two torque screws that hold the panel in place just under the glove box. Then there are two twist clamps that your release to gain access to the filter. I looked at the video carefully, and I feel confident I can successfully replace the cabin filter.

I think when my XC90 hits 50,000 miles I will have the transmission fluid and the coolant replaced. Per the owners manual, it states the transmission fluid does not have to be replaced during the operational life of the car. Similar language, I believe is used with regard to replacing the coolant. A fellow Volvo owner who writes maintenance articles in the Volvo Club of America's magazine "Rolling", suggested I should replace both just as the factory warranty expires at 50,000 miles. He pointed out that Volvo warranties both items till that point, so you can probably be sure that replacing both items at that point would be prudent. Replacing coolant and ATF fluid ever 50,000 miles is not too burdensome or expensive. In my opinion.

Hugh

Hugh - Have you priced these jobs at a dealer?

I often try to combine several jobs in order to get the most from my money.

Have you searched YouTube?

My dealer does not charge much for waste disposal (Yet!).

I would be leery that something may have to be reset, etc.

Sorry that I do not have any real advice for you.

James,

Your reply has been helpful. I was able to find some information as follows:

Question # 1 - I did find a video on YouTube and by sheer luck it described how to replace in detail, the cabin filter. There are two tork screws that hold the panel under the glove box. Once you remove the panel there are two clips/fasteners that remove the cover over where the cabin filter slides into a receptacle. I feel confident I can do it.

Question #2 - I spoke with my private mechanic who specializes on Volvos. He said it does not take any special devices to flush the brake fluid on the 2016 XC90. With regard to flushing the coolant, he does have a machine which creates a vacuum to remove the coolant from the system. He will make inquiries (he has a friend who is a senior technician at a Volvo dealership) to confirm whether his machine is sufficient to properly replace the coolant on a 2016 XC90 T8 Inscription Pug-In Hybrid. If I get a definitive answer, I will post it.

Hugh