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
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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1996 Volvo 850
pg. 3:10 Child safety
Integrated booster cushion (certain models)
Volvo's own integrated booster cushion has been specially designed to he\
lp safeguard a child seated in the center position of the rear
seat. When using the integrated booster cushion, the child must be secur\
ed with the vehicle's three-point seat belt. The booster
cushion is approved for children weighing between 22.7 and 36 kg (50 an\
d 80 lbs) and between 117 and 137 cm (46 and 54 in ) in
height. It is not intended for children under 3 years of age.
With the child properly seated on the booster cushion (see illustration\
), adjust the head restraint to support the child's head (
see page
3:3). The hip section of the three-point seat belt must fit snugly across \
the child's hips, not across the stomach.
The shoulder section of the three-point seat belt should be positioned a\
cross the chest and shoulder (see illustration). The shoulder
belt must never be placed behind the child's back or under the arm.
WARNING! Failure to follow the instructions on this page will increase t\
he risk of your child being injured during a sudden stop
or collision.
In the event of a collision while the integrated booster cushion was occ\
upied, the entire booster cushion and center seat belt must
be replaced. The booster cushion should also be replaced if it is badly \
worn or damaged in any way. This work should be
performed by an authorized Volvo retailer only. The booster cushion shou\
ld be cleaned while in place if the vehicle if possible. If
not, please consult your Volvo retailer.
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1996 Volvo 850
WARNING! Both rear seat backrests must be up when the auxiliary seat is \
being
used.
Do not use a booster cushion or child seat in conjunction with the auxil\
iary seat.
Spool-out
To make child seat installation easier, each seat buckle (except for th\
e driver's belt) is equipped with a locking mechanism to help
keep the lap section of the seat belt taut.
When attaching the seat belt to a child seat:
l Make sure the red lock button is moved to the right (see illustration A\
). A coin, etc. can be used to move the button.
l Attach the seat belt to the child seat according the child seat manufact\
urer's instructions.
l Pull the lap section of the seat belt taut.
The lap section of the seat belt cannot be loosened as long as the red l\
ock button is in the right position.
The lap section of the seat belt can be adjusted when the lock button is\
in the left position (see illustration B).
NOTE: Before exiting the car, check that the seat belt retracts fully af\
ter being unbuckled. If necessary, guide the belt back into the
retractor slot. When not in use, the child restraint should be secured w\
ith the seat belt to help prevent movement during a sudden
stop.
WARNING! Do not use child safety seats or child booster cushions/backres\
ts in the front passenger's seat. We also recommend
that children who have outgrown these devices sit in the rear seat with \
the seat belt properly fastened.
pg. 3:12 Child safety
Child safety
Volvo recommends the proper use of restraint systems for all occupants i\
ncluding children. Remember that, regardless of age and
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1996 Volvo 850
size, a child should always be properly restrained in a car.
Restraint systems for children are designed to be secured in the vehicle\
by lap belts or the lap portion of a lap-shoulder belt. Such
child restraint systems can help protect children in cars in the event o\
f an accident only if they are used properly. However, children
could be endangered in a crash if the child restraints are not properly \
secured in the vehicle. Failure to follow the installation
instructions for your child restraint can result in your child striking \
the vehicle's interior in a sudden stop.
Holding a child in your arms is NOT a suitable substitute for a child re\
straint system. In an accident, a child held in a person's arms
can be crushed between the vehicle's interior and an unrestrained person\
. The child could also be injured by striking the interior, or
by being ejected from the vehicle during a sudden maneuver or impact. Th\
e same can also happen if the infant or child rides
unrestrained on the seat. Other occupants should also be properly restra\
ined to help reduce the chance of injuries or increasing the
injury of a child.
All states and provinces have legislation governing how and where childr\
en should be carried in car. Find out the regulations
existing in your state or province. Recent accident statistics have show\
n that children are safer in rear seating positions than front
seating positions when properly restrained. A child restraint system can\
help protect a child in a vehicle. Here's what to look for
when selecting a child restraint system:
l It should have a label certifying that it meets applicable Federal Motor\
Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS 213-80) - or in Canada,
CMVSS 213.
l Make sure the child restraint system is approved for the child's height,\
weight and development - the label required by the
standard or regulation, or instructions for infant restraints, typically\
provide this information.
l In using any child restraint system, we urge you to look carefully over \
the instructions that are provided with the restraint. Be sure
you understand them and can use the device properly and safely in this v\
ehicle. A misused child restraint system can result in
increased injuries for both the infant or child and other occupants in t\
he vehicle.
l If your child restraint requires a top tether strap, consult your author\
ized Volvo retailer for top tether anchorage and installation
information.
When a child has outgrown the child safety seat, you should use the rear\
seat with the standard seat belt fastened. The best way to
help protect the child here is to place the child on a cushion (not ava\
ilable in Canada) so that the seat belt is properly located on the
hips (
see page 3:10).
A specially designed and tested booster cushion for children between 22.\
7 - 36 kg (50 - 80 lbs) and 117 - 137 cm (46 - 54") can be
obtained from your Volvo retailer.
If necessary, an auxiliary seat for children is available for use in the\
luggage compartment of station wagon models. This seat is
designed for two children, each weighing between 23 - 40 kg (50 - 88 lb\
s.) and up to 150 cm (59 inches) in height.
WARNING!
l When using the auxiliary seat for children, both sections of the rear se\
at backrest must be secured in the upright
position
l Do not use a booster cushion or child seat in conjunction with the auxil\
iary seat.
pg. 3:13 Occupant safety
Seat belt maintenance
Check periodically that the anchor bolts are secure and that the belts a\
re in good condition. Use water and a mild detergent for
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