1998 Volvo S90
characteristic and does not
indicate fire. area above the glove
compartment) or the area
affected 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
side 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.
VOLVO SRS (cont.) pg. 7
NOTE:The information on this page does not pertain
to the Side Impact Protection System airbags.
When are the airbags deployed?
The SRS system is designed to deploy during certain
frontal or front-angular 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 forces generated by it and to
determine if the intensity of the collision is sufficient
for the airbags to be deployed.
WARNING! The SRS is designed to help prevent
serious injury. Deployment occurs very quickly
and with considerable force. During normal
deployment and depending on variables such as
seating position, one may experience abrasions,
bruises, swellings, or other injuries as a result of
airbag(s) deployment.
Seat belts - the heart of the Volvo safety
system
The heart of the Volvo safety system is the three-
point seat belt (a Volvo invention)! In order for the
SRS system to provide the protection intended, seat
belts must be worn at all times by everyone 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. soaked 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 the 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 override the shiftlock
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1998 Volvo S90
If the airbags have been deployed, we recommend
the following:
l Have the car towed to an authorized Volvo
retailer. Never drive with the airbags
deployed.
l Have an authorized Volvo retailer replace the
SRS system components.
l Use only new, Genuine Volvo Parts when
replacing SRS components (airbags, seat
belts, tensioners, etc.).
When are the airbags NOT deployed?
Not all frontal collisions activate the SRS system. If
the collision involves a non-rigid object (e.g., a snow
drift or bush), or a rigid, fixed object at a low speed,
the SRS system will not necessarily deploy. Airbags
do not normally deploy in a side impact collision, in
a collision from the rear or in a rollover situation.
The amount of damage to the bodywork does not
reliably indicate if the airbags should have deployed
or not.
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.
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 smoke and dust formed
when the airbags are deployed can cause skin and
eye irritation in the event of prolonged exposure.
Volvo Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) airbag pg. 8
WARNING!
l The SIPS airbag
system is a
supplement to the
Side Impact
Protection System
and the three-point
seat belt system. It
is not designed to
deploy during
collisions from the
front or rear of the
car or in rollover
situations.
l Only Volvo
approved seat
1- Airbag, 2 - cable, 3 - sensor
unit, 4 - gas generator
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1998 Volvo S90
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 airbag 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
certain side-impact collisions, depending on
the crash severity, angle, speed, and point of
impact. The airbags are not designed to
deploy in all side impact situations.
covers may be
used. The use of
non-approved
aftermarket seat
covers may impede
SIPS airbag
deployment.
l No objects,
accessory
equipment or
stickers may be
placed on, attached
to or installed near
the SIPS airbag
system or in the
area affected by
SIPS airbag
deployment (see
illustration to the
right above).
l Never try to open
or repair any
components of the
SIPS airbag system.
This should only be
done by an
authorized Volvo
service technician.
l For best protection
from the SIPS
airbag system, both
front seat occupants
should sit in an
upright position
with the seat belt
properly fastened.
NOTE: SIPS airbag
deployment (one airbag)
occurs only on the side of
the vehicle affected by the
impact.
WARNING!
l 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
smoke and dust
formed when the
airbags are deployed
can cause skin and eye
irritation in the event
of prolonged
exposure.
l If your car has been
subjected to flood
conditions (e.g.
soaked 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
the battery. This may
cause airbag
deployment which
could result in
personal injury. Have
the car towed to an
authorized Volvo
retailer for repairs.
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1998 Volvo S90
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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1998 Volvo S90
Interior light
1 Lights always on.
2 Lights always off.
3 Light is on when either of the
front or the rear doors are opened.
Atime-delay device keeps the
interior illuminated for approx. 30
seconds after closing the driver's
door. This facilitates finding the
starting (ignition) switch, etc., at
night.
Rear reading lights
Rear seat passengers can turn the
rear reading lights on or off by
using the adjacent switches. A ON
B OFF
To avoid battery drain
The interior light and the warning
lights in the rear of the doors come
on when a door is opened.
To avoid battery drain when the
doors are opened for prolonged
periods, these lights can be
switched off by pushing in and
turning the door light switches
slightly clockwise. When the door
is closed the switch will return to
its normal position.
Contents | Top of Page
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1998 Volvo S90
WARNING!
Always turn engine off and apply
parking brake when loading/
unloading the vehicle. Place
transmission selector in P (PARK)
position to help prevent
inadvertent movement of selector.
Alarm pg. 51
Alarm LED
Alarm
To lock: Press the lock/panic button
once to lock all doors and trunk/tailgate
and arm the security system. Lamps will
flash to acknowledge that the vehicle is
locked and the security system is armed.
To unlock: Press the unlock button once
to unlock the driver's door only and
disarm the security system.
Press the unlock button again (within 10
seconds) to unlock all doors and trunk/
tailgate.
Emergency function
To activate the " panic alarm
"function:
Press and hold lock/panic button for at
least 3 seconds. The car's lights will
flash and an alarm will sound for
approximately 30 seconds.
This function can be switched off at
any time by pressing either of the
buttons.
Programming a transmitter
New transmitters (max. 4) must be
programmed to function with your
alarm system. To do this:
l Make sure all doors, hood and
trunk/tailgate are closed.
l Turn the ignition on and off 5
times within 10 seconds. On the
fifth try, leave the ignition on.
l Press either button on the
transmitter. NOTE: The first transmitter must be
programmed within 15 seconds, the
others within 10 second intervals.
When the alarm system accepts the
codes from each transmitter, the
LED on the dash will glow steadily
for several seconds.
l Switch the ignition off and test the
transmitter(s).
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.
NOTE: If only the driver's door is
unlocked, the lock will automatically
reengage (re-lock) and the alarm will
reset after 30 seconds unless the
door has been opened.
If all of the doors were unlocked (by
pushing button 2 twice within 10
seconds) and no door/trunk/tailgate
was opened within two minutes, all
locks will reengage and the alarm
will reset. This is to prevent the
vehicle from being left unlocked if
the unlock button is inadvertently
pressed.
The lock/unlock and alarm features
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1998 Volvo S90
Shiftlock release
The gear selector is locked in
the P position. To manually
release the shift lock, turn the
starting (ignition) key to
position I and press firmly on
the "OVERRIDE" button
(located under the cover near
the base of the gear selector -
see illustration). While
holding the override button
down, move the gear selector
from the (P)ark position. Electrical system
When replacing the battery or
when carrying out work
involving the electrical
system, the following should
be observed:
l A battery connection to the
wrong terminal will damage
the diodes. Before
connections are made, check
the polarity of the battery
with a voltmeter.
l If booster batteries are used
for starting, they must be
properly connected to
minimize the risk of the diode
being damaged.
For correct connection, see
"Jump starting" section.
l Never disconnect the
battery circuit (for example,
to replace the battery) while
the engine is running, as this
will immediately ruin the
generator. Always make sure
that all the battery
connections are properly
tightened.
l If any electrical-welding
work is performed on the
vehicle, the battery's ground
lead (negative cable) and all
the connecting cables of the
generator must be
disconnected and the welder
cables placed as near the
welding point as possible.
l The radio must be turned
off before the battery is
disconnected.
l If the radio has an antitheft
code and the battery has been
WARNING!
The Supplemental Restraint
System is grounded under the
driver's seat. Do not loosen the two
screws grounding the unit. Do not
ground other electrical
components using these screws or
any other points near them. Faults
in the system could occur if it is
improperly grounded.
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1998 Volvo S90
Chapter 4 (cont)
Emergency towing (pulling of vehicles)
pg. 63
Precautionary steps to observe when car is in tow
l Steering must be unlocked.
l Please check with state and local authorities before attempting this typ\
e of towing, as vehicles being
towed are subject to regulations regarding maximum towing speed, length \
and type of towing device,
lighting, etc.
l Remember that power brake and power steering assists will not be availab\
le when engine is
inoperative. Brake pedal pressure required is 3 - 4 times above normal a\
nd greater steering effort must
be exerted.
l Gear selector in position N. Check transmission oil level (see section \
titled "Transmission oil").
l Maximum speed: 20 mph (30 km/h).
l Maximum distance with rear wheels on ground: 20 miles (30 km).
l If the battery is dead, it is not possible to release the gear selector \
by pressing the brake pedal.
Release the gear selector manually, see page 61.
Cars equipped with automatic transmission/three-way catalytic converters\
cannot be started by pushing
or pulling the car.
CAUTION: The towing eyelets must not be used for pulling another vehicle\
out of a ditch or any
similar purpose involving severe strain.
Do not attempt to start the car by pushing or pulling it as damage to th\
e three-way catalytic converter
can result.
Vehicle towing information pg. 64
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