1998 Volvo S90
Seat Belts
Always fasten the seat belts before you
drive or ride.
Two lights above the rear view mirror
will be illuminated for 4-8 seconds after
the starting (ignition) key is turned to the
driving position. A chime will sound at
the same time if the driver has not
fastened his seat belt. The rear seats are
provided with self-retracting inertia reel
belts. The front seats are provided with
single roller belts with tensioners.
To buckle:
Pull the belt out far enough to insert the
latch plate into the receptacle (buckle for
rear seats) until a distinct snapping
sound is heard. The seat belt retractor is
normally "unlocked" and you can move
freely, provided that the shoulder belt is
not pulled out too far. The retractor will
lock up as follows:
l if the belt is pulled out rapidly
l during braking and acceleration
l if the vehicle is leaning excessively
l when driving in turns
For the seat belt to provide maximum
protection in the event of an accident, it
must be worn correctly. When wearing
the seat belt remember:
l The belt should not be twisted or
turned.
l The lap belt must be positioned low
on the hips (not pressing against the
abdomen).
Make sure that the shoulder belt is rolled up
into its retractor and that the shoulder and
lap belts are taut.
Before exiting the car, check that the seat
belt retracts fully after being unbuckled. If
necessary, guide the belt back into the
retractor slot.
NOTE: Legislation in your state or
province may mandate seat belt usage.
WARNING!
Any device
used to
induce slack
into the
shoulder belt
portion of
the three-
point belt
system will
have a
detrimental
effect on the
amount of
protection
available to
you in the
event of a
collision.
The seat
back should
not be tilted
too far back.
The shoulder
belt must be
taut in order
to function
properly.
Spool-out
To make child
seat 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
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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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1998 Volvo S90
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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1998 Volvo S90
the above illustration.
The starting (ignition) switches must be ON
(position II) for the electrically operated windows
to function. The window is lowered if the rear part
of the switch is pressed and raised if the front part
of the switch is pressed.
NOTE: Driver's window only (AUTO): The
window can be opened completely by pressing the
rear part of the switch lightly and releasing it
immediately. The window can be stopped by
pressing the button again. If the button is held
down, the window will be lowered until the button
is released.
WARNING!Remove the starting (ignition)
key when children are left unattended in the
vehicle.
Make sure that children's hands are clear
before raising the windows. is positioned 90° in relation to the other switches.
ON The rear door windows can be raised or
lowered with the respective door switch as well as
the switch on the driver's door.
OFF The rear door windows cannot be raised or
lowered with the respective door switch but
instead only with the corresponding switch on the
driver's door.
NOTE: The power window motors have an
overload protecting circuit breaker which is
activated when an object blocks a window.
Should this occur, remove the object and wait 20
seconds for the circuit breaker to reset. The power
windows should then function.
Parking brake, Cigarette lighter, Ashtrays pg. 30
Parking brake (hand brake)
The lever is situated between
the front seats. The brake is
applied to the rear wheels.
Cigarette lighter/ashtrays
To operate, depress the knob
fully. When the knob
automatically releases, the
cigarette lighter is ready for use.
The starting (ignition) switch
must be switched on (to position
I or II) for the cigarette lighter
to function.
"OBD II"
A connector for on-board
diagnostics ("OBD II") is located
to the right of the parking brake.
This connector is intended for
use by authorized service
technicians only.
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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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1998 Volvo S90
Master key
This key operates all locks
Service key
Front doors, starting (ignition)
switch/steering wheel lock Number tag
The key number codes are
stamped on a separate tag supplied
with the keys. This tag should be
separated from the key ring and
kept in a safe place. In the event
the original keys are lost,
duplicates may be ordered from
your Volvo retailer.
Doors and locks
Your car is equipped with a central
locking system.
The key used on either of the front
doors will lock/unlock all doors and
trunk/tailgate.
Turn the key once in the driver's
door to unlock that door only.
Turn the key in the same direction
again (within 10 seconds) to unlock
all doors, trunk/tailgate.
One turn with the key towards
locking in either of the front doors
locks all doors, trunk/tailgate.
Use the switch on the instrument
panel (with the doors closed) to
lock/unlock the car from the inside.
Check the action of the buttons on
the other doors to verify their
correct function (lock/unlock). The
driver's door can be locked only by
using the key when outside the
vehicle.
On vehicles equipped with the
optional remote control locking
system, refer to the following
page.
WARNING!
The doors should not be locked
while driving. In case of an
accident, this may hinder rapid
access to the occupants of the
vehicle. (Also see information
on "child safety locks").
Remote keyless entry system pg. 33
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1998 Volvo S90
Electrically operated front seats
The front seats are electrically operated.
Using the switches on the sides of the seats
you can adjust:
-the height of the seat (rear)
-the height of the seat (front)
-the forward-backward movement
-the backrest tilt
NOTE:The electrically operated front
seats have an overload protector which
engages if an object blocks either of the
seats. If this happens remove the object
and wait 20 seconds. The overload
protector should then have cooled down
and the power seats should function
normally. Passenger's seat (option)
The STOP button (passenger
seat only) overrides the other
controls. To stop movement
of the seat, press and release
the STOP button. Press the
button again to reactivate the
seat controls.
A Seat front (raise/lower)
B Forward -rearward
C Seat rear (raise/lower)
D Backrest tilt
WARNING! Do not
adjust the seat while
driving. The seat should
be adjusted so that the
brake pedal can be
depressed fully. In
addition, position the seat
as far rearward as comfort
and control allow. The
seat rails on the floor must
not be obstructed in any
way when the seat is
moved.
Driver's seat
Movement of the driver's seat
can be STOPPED at any time
by pressing any button on the
seat's control panel.
WARNING!The driver's
seat is operable with the
ignition OFF.
Therefore, children should
never be left unattended in
the car.
Programming the memory
Three seat positions can be
programmed. To program a
seat position:
1. Adjust the seat to the
desired position.
2. Depress the MEM button.
3. Press button 1 to program
the current position of the
seat.
Buttons 2 and 3 can be
programmed in the same way
for two additional seat
positions. To move the seat to
a programmed position,
depress button 1, 2 or 3 until
the seat stops. If the button is
released before the seat has
the reached the programmed
position, it will stop as a
safety precaution.
Rear-/side-view mirrors, Vanity mirrors pg. 35
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