
1996 Volvo 850
pg. 1:19 Heating, ventilation and air conditioning
Heating and air conditioning
Volvo cares about the environment. Your Volvo is equipped with a heating\
system combined with air
conditioning. Depending on which function you select, warm or cool/cold \
air is distributed to the
different parts of the passenger compartment. A slight amount of condens\
ation may be emitted from the
air vents when the air conditioning is initially switched on. This can o\
ccur when both humidity and
ambient temperature are high and is normal.
Refrigerant
Volvo cares about the environment. The air conditioning system in your c\
ar contains a CFC-free
refrigerant -R134a. This substance will not deplete the ozone layer. The\
system contains 1.65 lbs (0.75
kg) R134a and uses ZXL 100PG (type PAG) oil.
file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_119.htm (1 of 10)12/30/2006 \
9:59:03 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org

1996 Volvo 850
Air vents (dash)
A Closed
B Open
C Directing air flow horizontally
D Directing air flow vertically
Air mix
The center panel vents have an air mix function which allows fresh air t\
o enter the passenger
compartment when the vents are open (position B). This function is des\
igned to allow you to direct cool
air toward you face while directing warmer air to the rest of the passen\
ger compartment.
To warm the compartment as quickly as possible, the air mix control shou\
ld be in the closed position. pg. 1:20 Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (standard unit)
Temperature dial
Driver's side
Set desired
temperature Function selector
Set desired function Temperature dial
Passenger's side
Set desired
temperature
file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_119.htm (2 of 10)12/30/2006 \
9:59:03 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org

1996 Volvo 850
Blower
0 = Blower (and A/C)
Off
4 = Highest blower
speed
Air in the passenger
compartment
recirculates - will not
function in defrost
setting. The light is ON
when the function is
engaged.
The A/C
system is ON when the
light in ON.
Function selector
Air through panel vents
Defrost. Air to windshield and side windows.
Air to floor, windshield and side windows.
Air through floor vents.
Bi-level. Air through floor and panel vents. Air supplied from panel ve\
nts is slightly colder than air
released at foot level.
NOTE: If your windows begin to fog or mist, check that the recirculation\
function is NOT engaged.
pg. 1:21 Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (standard unit)
Maximum heating:
file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_119.htm (3 of 10)12/30/2006 \
9:59:03 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org

1996 Volvo 850
Additional information
l The air conditioning system will function best if it is used regularly (\
at least once a month).
l Water under the vehicle in hot weather can be the result of condensation\
from the air conditioning
system and is quite normal.
l The air conditioning system functions only at temperatures above 32° \
F (0° C).
l Choose this position if the outside air is contaminated with exhaust ga\
ses, smoke, etc or to heat/
cool the car quickly. In this position, very little air is drawn into th\
e passenger from the outside. Do not
leave the system in this mode for more than 10-15 minutes since the air \
inside the car will become stale.
The temperature can be controlled with the temperature selectors.
l If the panel vents are open, a certain amount of air will always flow th\
rough, regardless of the position
the function selector is in. To increase the flow of air to either the f\
loor or the windows, close the panel
vents. The outer vents can be opened to avoid mist on the side windows. \
l The panel vents may emit some condensation when the air conditioning is \
initially switched on and is
quite normal. This may occur if the ambient temperature and humidity are\
high.
l The air conditioning is momentarily disengaged during full-throttle acce\
leration.
pg. 1:22 Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (Electronic Climate \
Control) - option
Temperature dial
Driver's side
Set desired temperature Function selector
Set desired function Temperature dial
Passenger's side
Set desired
temperature
file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_119.htm (5 of 10)12/30/2006 \
9:59:03 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org

1996 Volvo 850
Blower
AUT=Blower speed
automatically regulated
0=OFF
Move the knob to the
right to increase blower
speed. REC
Air in the passenger
compartment
recirculates - will not
function in defrost
setting. The light is
ON when the function
is engaged. AC
The light ON
indicates that the A/C
is OFF. When the
function selector is in
the defrost setting,
the A/C system is ON
regardless of the
button position. The
button must be in the
AUT position for
cooling.
Function selector
AUT Air distribution automatically regulated
Air through panel vents
Defrost. Air to windshield and side windows.
Air to floor, windshield and side windows.
Air through floor vents
Bi-level. Air through floor and panel vents.
NOTE: If your windows begin to fog or mist, check that the recirculation\
function is NOT engaged.
pg. 1:23 Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (Electronic Climate \
Control) - option
Automatic setting
file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_119.htm (6 of 10)12/30/2006 \
9:59:03 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org

1996 Volvo 850
Set the mode selector to AUT and select the desired temperature. If the \
driver's side temperature selector
is set to either the max heating or max cooling position, the blower wil\
l run at its maximum speed.
Optimum defrosting
Set the function selector to
. and move the blower control to the position AUT (as far to the left \
as
possible). The A/C system will be on at this time regardless of the A/C\
button's position and the blower
will run at its maximum speed. When the windows have cleared, set the fu\
nction selector in the AUT
position.
Additional information
l The air conditioning system will function best if it is used regularly (\
at least once a month).
l Always keep the air intake grille at the base of the windshield free of \
snow.
l Water under the vehicle in hot weather can be the result of condensation\
from the air conditioning
system and is quite normal.
l The air conditioning is disengaged when the blower is set at 0 and the s\
peed of the vehicle is less than
20 mph (30 km/h).
l The air conditioning system functions only at temperatures above 32°F\
(0°C).
l Recirculation (REC): Choose this position if the outside air is contam\
inated with exhaust gases,
smoke etc. or to heat/cool the car quickly. In this position, very littl\
e air is drawn into the passenger
file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_119.htm (7 of 10)12/30/2006 \
9:59:03 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org

1996 Volvo 850
compartment from outside. Do not leave the system in this mode for more \
than 10-15 minutes, since the
air inside the car will become stale and condensation will form on the w\
indows.
NOTE: To help maintain stable passenger compartment temperature when dri\
ving with the sun roof or
windows open, place the blower control in position "0" and adjust the de\
sired temperature manually.
l If the panel vents are open, a certain amount of air will always flow th\
rough, regardless of the position
the function dial is in. To increase the flow of air to either the floor\
or the windows, close the panel
vents. The outer vents can be opened to avoid mist on the side windows. \
l The panel vents may emit some condensation when the air conditioning is \
initially switched on and is
quite normal. This may occur if the ambient temperature and humidity are\
high.
l The sunlight sensor (located at the top center of the dashboard) shoul\
d not be covered in any way as
this could cause incorrect information to be sent to the ECC system.
l The air conditioning is momentarily disengaged during full-throttle acce\
leration.
Difficult weather conditions
When driving in very humid conditions, heavy rain, sleet, etc., it may b\
e better to use the manual rather
than the automatic setting to defrost the windows. Set the mode selector\
to "Defrost"
or "Defrost/
floor" and the fan speed to 3 or higher. Also shut the middle air vents.\
Faults in the ECC system
The REC and AC OFF lights will flash for approximately 20 seconds if a f\
ault is detected in the ECC
system.
If this flashing recurs the next time the system is switched on, the cli\
mate control unit should be checked
by an authorized Volvo retailer.
pg. 1:24 Electrically-operated windows
file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_119.htm (8 of 10)12/30/2006 \
9:59:03 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org

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
file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_304.htm (8 of 10)12/30/2006 \
9:59:29 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org