1996 VOLVO 850 Owners Manual

1996 Volvo 850

There is no maintenance to perform on the SRS yourself. The only periodi\
c maintenance recommended
on the SRS is that the air bag modules and front seat belts (including \
tensioners) should be replaced
approximately every ten years and that the other components in the syste\
m (wiring, connectors, etc.)
should also be inspected at this time. The SRS decal on your car shows t\
he month and year servicing is
due. This service must be performed by an authorized Volvo retailer. Sho\
uld you have any questions
about the SRS system, please contact your authorized Volvo Retailer or V\
olvo Customer Support.
pg. 3:6 Volvo SRS
WARNING
This car is equipped with a full frontal Supplemental Restraint System (\
SRS) with AIRBAG in front of
the driver and front passenger.
*ALL OCCUPANTS MUST BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, ADULTS USING SEAT-BELTS
AND CHILDREN USING CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS.

*DO NOT INSTALL AND USE ANY CHILD RESTRAINTS IN THE FRONT SEAT.
We also recommend that children who have outgrown child restraint system\
s in the rear seat with the
seat-belt properly fastened. The safest place in the car for children is\
in the rear seat.
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAN RESULT IN INJURY TO THE VEHICLE\

OCCUPANTS IN AN ACCIDENT.
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1996 Volvo 850
For further information, see owner's manual.
VOLVO

SRS texts at far right on instrument panel
CAUTION
TO AVOID SERIOUS INJURY:
FOR MAXIMUM SAFETY PROTECTION IN ALL TYPES OF CRASHES, YOU MUST ALWAYS
WEAR YOU SAFETY BELT.
DO NOT INSTALL REARWARD-FACING CHILD SEATS IN ANY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT
POSITION.
DO NOT SIT OR LEAN UNNECESSARILY CLOSE TO THE AIR BAG.
DO NOT PLACE ANY OBJECTS OVER THE AIR BAG OR BETWEEN THE AIR BAG AND
YOURSELF.
SEE THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND EXPLANATIONS.
VOLVO

SRS texts on inside of both sun visors


SRS texts on outside of both sun visors

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1996 Volvo 850
WARNING! Do not use child safety seats or child boosters cushions/backre\
sts in the front passenger's
seat. We also recommend that children who have outgrown these devices si\
t in the rear seat with the
seat belt properly fastened.

NOTE: Deployment of SRS components occurs only one time during an accide\
nt. In a collision where
deployment occurs, the air bags and seat belt tensioners activate. Some \
noise occurs and a small amount
of powder is released. The release of the powder may appear as smoke-lik\
e matter. This is a normal
characteristic and does not indicate fire.
WARNING!
l Occupants in the front passenger's seat must never sit on the edge of th\
e seat, sit leaning toward the
instrument panel or otherwise sit out of position. The occupant's back m\
ust be as upright as comfort
allows and be against the seat back with the seat properly fastened.
l Feet must be on the floor, e.g. not on the dash, seat or out of the wind\
ow.
l Children must never be allowed to stand in front of the passenger seat. \
l No objects or accessory equipment, e.g. dash covers, may be placed on, a\
ttached to or installed near
the SRS hatch (the area above the glove compartment) or the area affec\
ted by air bag deployment (see
illustration).
l There should be no loose articles, e.g. coffee cups, on the floor, seat \
or dash area.
l Never try to open the SRS cover on the steering wheel or the passenger s\
ide SRS hatch. This should
only be done by an authorized Volvo service technician.
l Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury to the vehicle\
occupants in an accident.
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1996 Volvo 850
pg. 3:7 Volvo SRS
NOTE: The information on this page does not pertain to the Side Impact p\
rotection System airbags.

When are the airbags deployed?

The SRS system is designed to deploy during certain frontal or front-ang\
ular collisions, impacts, or
decelerations, depending in the crash severity, angle, speed, and object\
impacted. The SRS sensor is
designed to react to both the impact of the collision and the inertial f\
orces generated by it and to
determine if the intensity of the collision is sufficient for the airbag\
s to be deployed.

NOTE: The SRS system activates only once in a collision.

If the airbags have been deployed, we recommend the following:
Have the car towed to an authorized Volvo retailer. Even if it can be dr\
iven after an accident we do not
recommend driving the car with deployed airbags.
Have an authorized Volvo retailer replace the SRS system components.
Use only new, Genuine Volvo Parts when replacing SRS components (airbag\
s, seat belts, tensioners,
etc.)

When are the airbags NOT deployed?

Not all frontal collisions activate the SRS system. If the collision inv\
olves a non-rigid object (e.g., a
snow drift or bush), or a rigid, fixed object at a low speed, the SRS s\
ystem will not necessarily deploy.
Airbags do not normally deploy in a side impact collision, in a collisio\
n from the rear or in a rollover
situation. The amount of damage to the bodywork does not reliably indica\
te if the airbags should have
deployed or not.

Can the airbags deploy accidentally?

The SRS system is designed to deploy during certain frontal or front-ang\
ular collisions, impacts, or
decelerations, depending on the crash severity, angle, speed and object \
impacted. The SRS system has
its own diagnostic unit which continuously monitors and inspects the sys\
tem. Make a habit of checking
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1996 Volvo 850
the SRS system warning light when starting and driving the car. Normally\
, this light will come on when
the ignition is switched on and should go out after approximately 10 sec\
onds or when the engine is
started. If this light should stay on or come on while you are driving, \
drive the car to an authorized
Volvo retailer for inspection as soon as possible.

Seat belts - the heart of the Volvo safety system

The heart of the Volvo safety system is the three-point seat belt! In or\
der for the SRS system to provide
the protection intended, seat belts must be worn at all times by everyon\
e in the car. The SRS system is a
supplement to the seat belts.
WARNING! If your car has been subjected to flood conditions (e.g. soake\
d carpeting/standing water
on the floor of the vehicle) or if your car has become flood-damaged in\
any way, do not attempt to
start the vehicle or put the key in the ignition before disconnecting th\
e battery (see below). This may
cause airbag deployment which could result in personal injury. Have the \
car towed to an authorized
Volvo retailer for repairs.
Automatic transmission only:
Before attempting to tow the car, use the following procedure to overrid\
e the shiftlock system to move
the gear selector to the neutral position.
l Disconnect the battery
l Wait at least one minute
l Insert the key in the ignition and turn it to position 1
l Press firmly on the shiftlock override button (located near the base of\
the gear selector).
l While holding the override button down, move the gear selector from the \
park position.
pg. 3:8 Volvo Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) airbag
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1996 Volvo 850

SIPS airbag decal*

SIPS airbag (front seats only)

As an enhancement to the structural Side Impact Protection System built \
into your car, your car is also
equipped with Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) airbags. The SIPS a\
irbag system consists of airbag
modules built into the sides of both front seat backrests (1), cables \
(2) from these modules to the
mechanical sensor units (3) and gas generators (4).
The SIPS airbag system is designed to help increase occupant protection \
in the event of certain side
impact collisions. The SIPS airbags are designed to deploy only during c\
ertain side-impact collisions,
depending on the severity, angle, speed, and point of impact. The airbag\
s are not designed to deploy in
all side impact situations.

NOTE: SIPS airbag deployment (one airbag) occurs only on the side of t\
he vehicle affected by the
impact.

* A SIPS airbag warning decal is located at the end of the instrument pa\
nel on the driver's side of the
car.

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1996 Volvo 850
WARNING!
l The SIPS airbag system is a supplement to the Side Impact Protection Sys\
tem and the three-point
seat belt system. It is not designed to deploy during collisions from th\
e front or rear of the car or in
rollover situations.
l Only Volvo approved seat covers may be used. The use of non-approved aft\
ermarket seat covers
may impede SIPS airbag deployment.
l No objects, accessory equipment or stickers may be placed on, attached t\
o or installed near the SIPS
airbag system or in the area affected by SIPS airbag deployment (see il\
lustration to the right above).
l Never try to open or repair any components of the SIPS airbag system. Th\
is should only be done by
an authorized Volvo service technician.
l For best protection from the SIPS airbag system, both front seat occupan\
ts should sit in an upright
position with the seat belt properly fastened.

WARNING! Never drive with the airbags deployed. The fact that they hang \
out can impair the
steering of your car. Other safety systems can also be damaged. The smok\
e and dust formed when the
airbags are deployed can cause skin and irritation in the event of prolo\
nged exposure.




Contents | Top of Page
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1996 Volvo 850
pg. 3:9 Child safety

Child Restraint Anchorages

Volvo cars can be fitted with Child Restraint Top Tether Anchorages in t\
he rear seat.
Sedans: There are three pre-drilled anchorage points under the rear wind\
ow shelf which are not visible from the passenger
compartment.
Wagons: The anchorage points are on the rear seat backrest and are hidde\
n by plastic covers. The backrest must be folded down to
access the center anchorage point.

In cars designated for Canada, one top tether anchorage set will be in t\
he glove box.

Installing the top tether

Sedans: The pre-drilled holes for the child restraint anchorages are und\
erneath the rear window shelf and can be accessed from the
trunk or by lowering the rear seat backrests.
Wagons: Remove the plastic cover on the anchorage point you intend to us\
e.

On either model, refer to the child seat manufacturer's instructions for\
securing the seat.

An additional bolt may be required. This may be obtained from your autho\
rized Volvo retailer.
WARNING! Child Restraint Anchorages are designed to withstand only those\
loads imposed by correctly fitted Child Restraints.
Under no circumstances are they to be used for adult seat belts or harne\
sses. The anchorages are not able to withstand excessive
forces on them in the event of collision if full harness seat belts or a\
dult seat belts are installed to them. An adult who uses a belt
anchored in a Child Restraint Anchorage runs a great risk of suffering s\
evere injuries should a collision occur. Do not install rear
speakers which would require the removal of the top tether anchors or in\
terfere with the proper use of the top tether strap.
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