Parking heater*

Updated 03/05/2021

The parking heater heats the passenger compartment as necessary before driving if the car's preconditioning is activated.

The parking heater is one of two subfunctions of the car's heater. The heater is fitted in the front right-hand wheel housing.

P6-XC40-1746-Tell tale symbol pre-heater in driver display

When this symbol illuminates in the driver display, the parking heater may be active.

Note

When the heater is running, smoke may be emitted from the right-hand front wheel housing and a low hum may be heard. A ticking sound from the fuel pump may also be heard from the rear section of the car. This is perfectly normal.

The parking heater starts automatically if the parking climate's preconditioning is activated and the passenger compartment needs to be heated up.

Depending on factors such as fuel availability, battery level, passenger compartment temperature and ambient temperature, the heater has different running times, but never longer than 30 minutes.

Note

Make sure there is enough fuel in the car's fuel tank if the parking heater needs to be used.

Make sure that there is enough charge in the starter battery if the parking heater needs to be used.

Important

Repeated use of the parking heater combined with short journeys may discharge the battery and impair starting.

If the heater is used on a regular basis, then the car should be driven for the same amount of time that the heater is used in order to ensure that the car's battery is recharged with the same amount of energy as consumed by the parking heater. In cold climates or if the battery is older, a longer mileage may be required to charge the battery.

Warning

Do not use preconditioning if the car is equipped with a heater*:

In unventilated spaces indoors. Exhaust gases are emitted if the heater starts.
In locations with combustible or flammable material nearby. Fuel, gas, long grass, sawdust, etc. may ignite.
When there is a risk that the heater’s exhaust line may be blocked. For example, deep snow inside the front right-hand wheel housing can obstruct the heater’s ventilation.

Remember that the preconditioning can be started by a timer that has been set for a long time in advance.

Warning

If there is a smell of fuel, unusual amounts of smoke, black smoke, or unusual sounds coming from the parking heater, switch off the heater and, if possible, pull out its fuse. Volvo recommends that an authorised Volvo workshop should be contacted for repair.