1998 Volvo S90
Chapter 1 - Occupant safety
Occupant safety pg. 1
Despite our strongest recommendations,
and your best intentions, not wearing a
seat belt is like believing "It'll never
happen to me!". Volvo, the inventor of
the three-point seat belt, urges you and
all adult occupants of your car to wear
seat belts and ensure that children are
properly restrained, using an infant, car
or booster seat determined by age,
weight and height.
Fact: In every state and province, some
type of child-restraint legislation has
been passed. Additionally, most states
and provinces have already made it
mandatory for occupants of a car to use
seat belts.
So, urging you to "buckle up" is not just
our recommendation - legislation in your
state or province may mandate seat belt
usage. The few seconds it takes to
buckle up may one day allow you to say,
"It's a good thing I was wearing my seat
belt".
Occupant
safety
Seat
belts pg. 2
Volvo
SRS pg. 4
SIPS air
bag pg. 8
Child
safety pg. 9
Occupant
safety pg. 13
Reporting
Safety
Defects pg. 13
Seat belts
pg. 2
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1998 Volvo S90
Center head restraint
The center head restraint can be adjusted
according to the passenger's height. The
restraint should be carefully adjusted to
support the occupant's head.
The head restraint can be raised by
pulling straight up or lowered by
grasping the restraint, pulling it slightly
forward and pushing down.
During pregnancy
Pregnant women should always wear seat
belts. Remember that the belt should
always be positioned in such a way as to
avoid any possible pressure on the
abdomen. The lap portion of the belt should
be located low, as shown in the above
illustration.
the back or
otherwise
out of
position.
Such use
could cause
injury in
event of
accident. As
the seat belts
lose much of
their
strength
when
exposed to
violent
stretching,
they should
be replaced
after any
collision,
even though
they may
appear to be
undamaged.
Never repair
the belt on
your own;
have this
done by an
authorized
Volvo
retailer only.
NOTE:
Legislation in
your state or
province may
mandate seat
belt usage.
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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
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
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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1998 Volvo S90
Chapter 5 - Wheels and tires
pg. 71
Wheels and tires
The handling and riding comfort of the vehicle is dependent on the infla\
tion
pressure and the type of tires fitted. Read the following pages carefull\
y.
General information, Wear indicator, Tire economy, Flat spots pg. 72
Snow chains, Winter tires pg. 73
Inflation pressure pg. 74
Uniform tire quality grading pg. 75
Wheels and tires
pg. 72
General information
Your vehicle is equipped with tires according
to the tire information label located on the rear
facing side of the right front door.
The following is an example of a tire designation
code:
195 = tire width in mm.
60 = tire profile. This is the relationship (in
percent) between the section height and the width
of the tire.
R= radial tires.
15 = diameter in inches on all four wheels.
The tires have good road holding characteristics
and offer good handling on dry and wet surfaces.
Your Volvo may be equipped with "all-season"
tires, which provide a somewhat higher degree
of winter roadholding on slippery surfaces
than tires without the "all-season" rating.
However, for optimum road holding on icy or
snow covered roads - we recommend suitable
winter tires. When replacing worn tires, it is recommended
that the tire be identical in type (radial) and size as
the one being replaced. Using a tire of the same
make (manufacturer) will prevent alteration of the
driving characteristics of the vehicle.
To improve tire economy:
l Maintain correct tire pressure.
l Drive smoothly: avoid fast starts, hard braking
and tire screeching.
l Tire wear increases with speed.
l Correct front wheel alignment is very
important. Unbalanced wheels impair tire
economy and driving comfort.
l If the wheels are rotated, they should be kept on
the same side of the car so that they revolve in the
same direction as prior to rotation.
l Hitting curbs or potholes can damage the tires
and/or wheels permanently.
Flat spots
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1998 Volvo S90
Chapter 6 - (cont.)
Replacing bulbs
pg. 81
Replacing bulbs
The method for replacement of bulbs in
the various lighting units is shown on the
following pages. Make sure when
installing bulbs, that the guide pin on the
socket fits into its corresponding recess.
When installing Halogen bulbs, do not
touch the glass with your fingers because
grease, oil or any other impurities can be
carbonized onto the bulb and damage the
reflector.
Use bulbs of correct type and voltage.
Failure to do so could cause the bulb
failure warning light to activate.
NOTE: Turn the ignition and light
switch off before replacing any bulbs.
Headlights (high/low beams)
1. Press the protruding tabs on the plastic
cover and pull out towards the fender.
2. Turn the bulb and connector 1/4 turn
counterclockwise and remove.
3. Remove the connector from the bulb.
4. Press a new bulb into the connector
without touching the bulb itself.
5. Reinsert the bulb into the headlight
housing and turn 1/4 turn clockwise until
the unit seats properly.
6. Reinstall the plastic cover.
Bulb Power US Bulb No.
High beam 70W HB3/9005
Low beam 60W HB4/9006
Headlight adjustment
The height of the headlight beams can be
adjusted according to vehicle load. The
headlights should be re-aimed if heavy
loads are carried in the trunk/cargo area or
rear seat, or when towing a trailer.
To adjust the headlights:
Park the car on a level surface and open
the hood.
The headlights are equipped with a level
which can be seen by looking through the
clear "window" on the top of the headlight
lens.
Turn the height adjustment knob (A) until
the bubble in the level aligns with within
the marking lines on the level.
Lateral headlight adjustment (B) should
only be carried out by an authorized
Volvo retailer. This setting should be
preset to "0".
Replacing bulbs pg. 82
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1998 Volvo S90
Replacing tail light bulbs (sedan
models)
All tail lamp bulbs are replaced from inside of
trunk. To avoid confusion, replace the bulbs one
at a time.
l Switch off the lights and ignition.
l Outboard lights: Unscrew screw A and turn
down the cover panel.
l Trunk lid: Lift the catch and fold down the
cover panel.
l Remove the bulb holder.
l Remove bulb by pressing and turning 1/4
turn counterclockwise.
l Insert a new bulb and fit the bulb holder in
the tail light cluster. One of the plugs on the
bulb holder is slightly wider than the other two.
l Turn the bulb holder clockwise to secure it.
Check that the bulb lights and refit the cover. Bulbs / Power CP(W) / Socket / US Bulb No
1,4 Tail light / 4(5) / BA 15s / 67
2 Rear turn signal / (21) / BAU 15s / –
3 Brake light / 32 / (21) / BA 15s / 1156
5 Back-up light / 32 (21) / BA 15s / 1156
6 Rear foglamp* 32 (21) / BA 15s / 1156
*Left (driver's) side only
Replacing bulbs, Sedans pg. 84
Light / Power CP(W) / Socket / US Bulb
No.
1 Fog light* / 32(21) / BA 15s / 1156
2 Back-up lights / 32(21) / BA 15 s / 1156
3 Turn signals / (21) / BAU 15 s / -
4 Brake light and tail light / 32/3(21/5) /
BAZ 15 d / 1157
*One light only, on driver's side
21 W 21 W 21/5 W
BA 15 s BAU 15 s BAY 15 d
Replacing tail light bulbs
(wagon models)
l Turn off the lights.
l Remove the cover with a screw driver.
l Rotate the bulb holder about 1/4" (0.6
cm) counterclockwise and remove the
holder from the tail light cluster.
l Gently press the bulb into the holder,
then rotate the bulb counterclockwise in
order to release it.
l Install a new bulb in the holder and
replace the bulb holder in the tail light
cluster. One of the guide lugs on the bulb holder
is slightly wider than the other two and,
thus, this lug fits into the widest recess
only.
l Turn the bulb holder clockwise
l Check that the bulb lights
l Re-install cluster cover
Two types of bulbs are in use
The guide lugs on the twin-pole bulb are
at different heights, and it is only possible
to fit these bulbs in one way. Try at first to
turn the bulb gently. Do not use force. If
this does not work, take out the bulb and
turn it half a turn and try again.
Replacing bulbs (cont.) pg. 85
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