1998 Volvo S90
Chapter 1 - (cont.)Child Safety
pg. 9
Child Restraint Anchorages
Volvo cars are fitted with Child
Restraint Top Tether Anchorages in the
rear seat. There are three anchorages
under the rear section of the car's rear
window shelf on sedans and on the back
rest on wagons. The backrest on wagons
must be folded down slightly to reach
the anchorages. When the car is
delivered, the holes for these anchorages
are covered by plastic covers. In cars
designated for Canada, one top tether
anchorage set will be in the glove box.
The top tether anchorage set includes the
top tether anchorage plate, an 5/16"
UNC bolt and a plastic trim cover. If
another set is needed, consult your
Volvo retailer. Installing the top tether
Remove the plastic cover on the
anchorage point you want to use. This
can be done with a suitable coin. The
cover is removed counter-clockwise.
Refer to the child seat manufacturer's
instructions for securing the seat.
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 harnesses. The
anchorages are not able to withstand
excessive forces on them in the event of
collision if full harness seat belts or
adult seat belts are installed to them. An
adult who uses a belt anchored in a
Child Restraint Anchorage runs a great
risk of suffering severe injuries should
a collision occur. Do not install rear
speakers which would require the
removal of the top tether anchors or
interfere with the proper use of the top
tether strap.
Child Safety (cont.) pg. 10
Sedans/Wagons
With the child properly seated on
the booster cushion (see
illustration), adjust the head
restraint to support the child's head
(see page 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 across the chest and
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1998 Volvo S90
shoulder (see illustration). The
shoulder belt must never be placed
behind the child's back or under the
arm. To fold down the booster
cushion:
l Pull the upper edge of the
cushion down
l Fold up the backrest
To fold up the booster
cushion:
l Fold down the booster
cushion backrest
l Fold up the entire booster
cushion unit
Integrated booster cushion (optional)
Volvo's own integrated booster cushion has
been specially designed to help safeguard a
child seated in the center position of the rear
seat. When using the integrated booster
cushion, the child must be secured with the
vehicle's three-point seat belt. The booster
cushion is approved for children weighing
between 22.7 and 36 kg (50 and 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. WARNING! Failure to follow
the instructions on this page will
increase the risk of your child
being injured during a sudden
stop or collision.
In the event of a collision while
the integrated booster cushion
was occupied, 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 should be cleaned while
in place in the vehicle if
possible. If not, please consult
your Volvo retailer. Auxiliary seat (optional)
If all the seats are occupied, a rear-facing
auxiliary seat in the cargo area of the
wagon models can be used. This seat is
designed for two children, each weighing
between 23 - 40 kg (50 - 88 lbs.) and up
to 150 cm (59 inches) in height.
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 auxiliary
seat.
Child Safety (cont.) pg. 11
The lap section of the seat belt cannot
be loosened as long as the red lock
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 after
being unbuckled. If necessary, guide
the belt back into the retractor slot.
When not in use, the child restraint Important!
Why Volvo believes no child should
sit in the front seat of a car.
It's quite simple really. A front air bag
is a very powerful device designed, by
law, to help protect an adult. Because of
the size of the air bag and its speed of
inflation, a child should never be placed
in the front seat, even if he or she is
properly belted or strapped into a child
safety seat. Volvo has been an
innovator in safety for over fifty years,
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Keeping child seats in place (spool-
out)
To make child restraint installation easier,
each seat belt buckle (except for the 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
restraint:
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
restraint according to the child
restraint manufacturer's instructions.
l Pull the lap section of the seat belt
taut.
should be secured with the seat belt to
help prevent movement during a
sudden stop.
WARNING! Do not use child
safety seats or child booster
cushions/backrests 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. and we'll continue to do our part. But
we need your help. Please remember to
put your children in the back seat, and
buckle them up.
Volvo has some very specific
recommendations:
l Always wear your seat belt.
l Air bags are a
SUPPLEMENTAL safety device
which when used in conjunction
with a three-point seat belt can
help reduce serious injuries
during certain types of severe
accidents. Please do not
disconnect the air bag system in
your vehicle.
l Volvo strongly recommends that
ALL children sit in the rear seat
of any vehicle and that they be
properly restrained.
l A child should NEVER sit in the
front passenger sit of any vehicle
equipped with a front passenger
side air bag.
l Volvo recommends that ALL
occupants (adults and children)
shorter than four feet seven
inches (140 cm) be seated in the
back seat of any vehicle with a
front passenger side air bag.
Drive safely!
Child Safety (cont.) pg. 12
Child safety
Volvo recommends the proper use of
restraint systems for all occupants
including children. Remember that,
regardless of age and 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 of an accident only if they
Recent accident statistics have shown
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.
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
available in Canada) so that the seat belt
is properly located on the hips (see page
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
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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 restraint
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. The same can also
happen if the infant or child rides
unrestrained on the seat. Other
occupants should also be properly
restrained to help reduce the chance of
injuring or increasing the injury of a
child. All states and provinces have
legislation governing how and where
children should be carried in a car. Find
out the regulations existing in your state
or province. 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 vehicle. A misused child
restraint system can result in
increased injuries for both the
infant or child and other
occupants in the vehicle.
l If your child restraint requires a
top tether strap, consult your
authorized Volvo retailer for top
tether anchorage and installation
information.
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 lbs.) and up to 150 cm (59 inches) in
height.
WARNING!
l When using the auxiliary seat
for children, both sections of
the rear seat backrest must be
secured in the upright position
l Do not use a booster cushion or
child seat in conjunction with
the auxiliary seat.
Occupant Safety pg. 13
Seat belt maintenance
Check periodically that the anchor bolts
are secure and that the belts are in good
condition. Use water and a mild
detergent for cleaning. Check seat belt
mechanism function as follows: Attach
the seat belt and pull rapidly on the strap.
Volvo Concern for Safety
Safety is the cornerstone for Volvo. Our
concern dates back to 1927 when the
first Volvo rolled off the production line.
Three-point seat belts (a Volvo
invention), safety cages, and energy-
absorbing impact zones were designed
into Volvo cars long before it was
fashionable or required by government
regulation. We will not compromise our
commitment to safety. We continue to
seek out new safety features and to refine
those already in our cars. You can help.
We would appreciate hearing your
suggestions about improving automobile
Occupant safety
How safely you drive doesn't depend on
how old you are but rather on:
l how well you see
l your ability to concentrate
l how quickly you make decisions
under stress to avoid an accident.
The tips listed below are
suggestions to help you cope with
the ever changing traffic
environment.
l Never drink and drive.
l If you are taking any medication,
consult your physician about its
potential effects on your driving
abilities.
l Take a driver-retraining course
l Have your eyes checked regularly
l Keep your windshield and
headlamps clean.
l Replace wiper blades when they
start to leave streaks.
l Take into account the traffic,
Reporting Safety Defects in
the U.S.
If you believe that your vehicle has a
defect which could cause a crash or
could cause injury or death, you
should immediately inform the
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) in
addition to notifying Volvo Cars of
North America. If NHTSA receives
similar complaints, it may open an
investigation, and if it finds that a
safety defect exists in a group of
vehicles, it may order a recall and
remedy campaign. However,
NHTSA cannot become involved in
individual problems between you,
your retailer, or Volvo Cars of North
America. To contact NHTSA, you
may either call the Auto Safety
Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393
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1998 Volvo S90
Chapter 3 - Body and interior
pg. 31
Body and
interior
The seats,
doors, sun
roof, mirrors,
etc. are
described on
the following
pages.
Keys, Doors and Locks pg. 32
Remote keyless entry system pg. 32
Front seats pg. 34
Rear/side view mirrors, Vanity mirror pg. 35
Interior light, Rear reading lights pg. 36
Child safety locks, Trunk lid pg. 37
Passenger compartment storage spaces pg. 38
Hood pg. 39
Trunk light, spare tire, jack (sedan) pg. 40
Wagon tailgate/child safety lock pg. 41
Concealed storage bins, Folding rear seat (wagon) pg. 42
Removing seat cushions, Securing cargo (wagon) pg. 44
Cargo space lighting, spare tire, jack (wagon) pg. 45
Cargo space - loading pg. 46
Cargo barrier pg. 47
Luggage cover pg. 48
Sun roof pg. 49
Long load storage pg. 50
Alarm pg. 51
Keys, Doors and Locks pg. 32
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Remote keyless entry
system
As an option, your car can be
equipped with a remote
control transmitter. This
transmitter uses a radio
frequency which will allow
"keyless" entry into the
passenger compartment or the
trunk. You will be supplied
with two coded key ring
transmitters, which will
enable you to lock/unlock all
doors and the trunk/tailgate
from a distance of 10-15 feet
(3-5 meters).
To lock :
Press the lock button once to
lock all doors and trunk/
tailgate.
To unlock :
Press the unlock button once
to unlock the driver's door
only.
Press the unlock button again
(within 10 seconds) to unlock
all doors and trunk/tailgate.
Aim the base of the remote control unit at
the car to get the best range.
On vehicles equipped with an alarm, the
alarm will also be activated/deactivated by
this system.
As an extra security precaution in certain
situations (valet parking, etc.), Volvo
recommends that the transmitter not be
included when the keys are given to
anyone. The service key can be used
instead. If one of the transmitters is
misplaced, contact the nearest authorized
Volvo retailer for assistance.
Batteries
The remote transmitter is powered by 2
three-volt batteries, type CR 1220. If three
short signals are audible from the
transmitter each time you lock/unlock the
car, this indicates that the batteries are
weak.
Replacement: Remove the battery cover
on the back of the transmitter with a coin.
Replace the batteries. Reinstall the cover,
making sure it is secured tightly to help
protect the transmitter. New transmitters
If you purchase additional
transmitters, they must be
programmed to function with
your remote keyless entry
system. Please refer to page 49
for instructions.
This device complies with
FCC rules Part 15.
Operations is subject to the
following two conditions:
(1) This device may not
cause harmful interference
and (2) this device must
accept any interference that
may be received, including
interference that may cause
undesired operation.
WARNING! Volvo does
not recommend using the
transmitter to lock the doors
from inside the car. On cars
equipped with an alarm, the
alarm would be activated
and would sound when one
of the doors is opened. The
doors must not be locked
using the remote transmitter
while the vehicle is
occupied. In case of an
accident, this may hinder
rapid access to the
occupants of the vehicle.
The alarm will also sound
on models equipped with
this feature.
Front seats pg. 33
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swing the cushion up and toward the
back of the front seats.
Move the backrest release lever rearward
and fold the backrest down.
When the backrest is raised, the outboard
head restraints return to their normal
position and must be raised manually if
required.
The backrest must lock into place. The
red lock indicator will not be visible if
the seat has locked into place
correctly. seat is returned to normal position. WARNING! When the rear seat is
folded down, do not place heavy
objects against the backs of the front
seats. This places a severe strain on
the folded down backrest of the rear
seat. Be sure to secure cargo. Cargo
must not be stacked higher than the
top of seatbacks. This will reduce the
possibility of luggage, etc. becoming
projectiles during sudden maneuvers,
rapid braking or an accident. The red
lock indicator is visible when the
backrest is NOT locked in position
and not visible when the backrest is
correctly locked in place. When the
backrest is in the upright position, it
must always be correctly locked in
place.
Removing seat cushions, Tool box, Securing cargo (wagon) pg. 44
Lift the seat cushion part way and
remove the seat.
Removing seat cushions
The seat cushion can be easily removed
to provide a slightly larger cargo storage
area. To remove, lift the seat cushion out
of the hinges.
Tool box
Tool box
The tool box can be released by turning
the catch.
WARNING! Do not place extremely
heavy articles the front seats, as the
backrest which is folded down is then
placed under severe strain.
Be sure to secure cargo. Hard and sharp
articles could otherwise damage the
frontseat backrest and/or cause injury to
passengers in the event of rapid braking
or a collision.
Always secure cargo
Securing cargo
As a safety precaution, the cargo space
is equipped with six eyelets to which
straps can be attached to secure
luggage.
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WARNING! The eyelets are not to
be used as passenger restraints or as
anchorages for child restraints. See
page 9.
Wagons only:
Unless the station wagon is
equipped with Volvo's auxiliary seat
for children (option) passengers
should not ride in the rear cargo
area.
Cargo space lighting, Spare tire and jack (wagon) pg. 45
Cargo space lighting
There is an extra courtesy light at the rear of the cargo space.
1 Light comes on when the tailgate is opened
2 The light is always OFF
3 The light is always ON Spare tire and jack
The spare tire and the jack are located beneath the floor mat
in the large storage bin. Always secure the spare tire and the
jack to prevent them from rattling.
NOTE: See pages 78-79 for information on how the jack
should be used.
Cargo space (wagon), loading pg. 46
Load the cargo against the backrest
Load both sections of the backrest
Tie down the cargo
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