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VOLVO S80
Chapter 1 - Safety
pg. 1 Safety
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. Volvo also believes no child should sit in the front
seat of a car.
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."
Seat belts
2
Center head restraint3
Front airbags (SRS)4
Side impact airbags (SIPS)8
Volvo Inflatable Curtain (VIC)9
Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS)10
Occupant safety11
Child safety12
Brake system16
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)17
Stability Traction Control (STC)18
Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC)18
pg. 2 Seat belts
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Seat belts
Always fasten the seat belts before you drive or ride. A chime will sound several times if the driver has not
fastened his seat belt.
To buckle:
Pull the belt out far enough to insert the latch plate into the receptacle until a distinct click 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:
if the belt is pulled out rapidly
during braking and acceleration
if the vehicle is leaning excessively
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:
The belt should not be twisted or turned.
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.
Adjusting shoulder belt
Lap portion of the belt should sit low
Child seats: Please refer to page 14
for information on securing child seats with the seat belts.
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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.
pg. 3 Seat belts, Center head restraint
WARNING!
Never use a seat belt for more than one occupant.
Never wear the shoulder portion of the belt under the arm, behind the back or otherwise out of position. Such use
could cause injury in the event of an accident.
As the seat belts lose much of their strength when exposed to violent stretching, they should be replaced after any
collision, even if they appear to be undamaged.
Never repair the belt on your own; have this work done by an authorized Volvo retailer only.
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.
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.
Adjust head restraint height
Center head restraint
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WARNING!
Do not use child safety seats or child booster cushions/backrests in the front passenger's seat. We also recommend
that children under 4 feet 7 inches (140 cm) in height who have outgrown these devices sit in the rear seat with the
seat belt fastened.
NOTE: Deployment of SRS components occurs only one time during an accident. In a collision where deployment
occurs, the airbags and seat belt tensioners activate. Some noise occurs and a small amount of powder is released. The
release of the powder may appear as smoke-like matter. This is a normal characteristic and does not indicate fire.
NOTE: Volvo's dual-threshold airbags use special sensors that are integrated with the front seat buckles. The point
at which the air bag deploys is determined by whether or not the seat belt is being used, as well as, the severity of the
collision. Collisions can occur where only one of the airbags deploys.
NOTE: Volvo's dual-stage airbags: If the impact is less severe, but severe enough to present a clear injury risk, the
dual-stage airbags are triggered at just 70% of its total capacity. If the impact is more severe, the dual-stage airbags are
triggered with full capacity.
WARNING!
Children must never be allowed in the front passenger seat. Volvo recommends that ALL occupants (adults and
children) shorter than 4 feet 7 inches (140 cm) be seated in the back seat of any vehicle with a front passenger -side
front airbag. See page 14
for guidelines.
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NOTE: IC system deployment occurs only on the side of the vehicle affected by the impact.
In certain side impacts, BOTH the Inflatable Curtain (IC) and the Side Impact Airbag System (SIPS-bag) will deploy,
whereas, in some cases, ONLY the Inflatable Curtain (IC) will deploy. In cases where BOTH the IC and the SIPS -bag
deploy, deployment will occur simultaneously.
If the inflatable curtain deploys, it remains inflated for approximately 3 seconds.
WARNING!
The IC system is a supplement to the Side Impact Protection System. It is not designed to deploy during collisions
from the front or rear of the car or in rollover situations.
Never try to open or repair any components of the IC system. This should only be done by an authorized Volvo
service technician.
The inflatable curtains are designed to deploy only during certain side-impact collisions, depending on the crash
severity, angle, speed and impact. The inflatable curtains are not designed to deploy in all side impact situations.
In order for the IC to provide its best protection, both front seat occupants and both outboard rear seat occupants
should sit in an upright position with the seat belt properly fastened; adults using the seat belt and children using the
proper child restraint system. Only adults should sit in the front seats. Children must never be allowed in the front
passenger seat. See page 14
for guidelines. Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury to the vehicle
occupants in an accident.
Contents | Top of Page
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A
Locking and unlocking the car63/64
Alarm65
Power windows39
Sideview mirror controls40
B
Glove compartment55
C
Automatic transmission74
Geartronic76
Parking brake38
Center console switches29
D
Power seat adjustment52
Heated seats (option)37
Cleaning upholstery113
E
Folding rear seat58
Panel for long loads56
Folding down head restraint29
Adjusting center head restraint3
Child safety locks67
Integrated booster cushion13
pg. 23 Exterior
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Move the seat as far rearward as possible for easiest access to the lumbar support control.
Electrically operated seats with memory function (option)*Power seat control panel
A Front edge of seat (raise/lower)
B Forward - rearward
C Rear edge of seat (raise/lower)
D Backrest tilt
WARNING!
Because the driver's seat can be adjusted with the ignition off, children should never be left unattended in the car.
Movement of the seat can be STOPPED at any time by pressing any button on the power seat control panel.
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 in motion.
Programming the memory
Three seat positions can be programmed. To program a seat position:
1 Adjust the seat to the desired position.
2 Hold down the MEM button.
3 While holding down the MEM button, press button 1 to program the current position of the seat.
Buttons 2 and 3 can be programmed in the same way.
To move the seat to a programmed position, press and hold down button 1, 2 or 3 until the seat moves to the preset
position and stops.
As a safety precaution, the seat will stop automatically if the button is released before the seat has reached the
programmed position.
NOTE: The seat has an overload protector which engages if an object blocks the movement of the seat. If this
happens, remove the object and wait 20 seconds before operating the seat again.
* This option is only available on the driver's seat.
pg. 53 Front seats, Coat hanger
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Press button A to pop open the cup holder.
Press button B to open the storage space in the center console for cassettes, change holder, etc.
Secure long loads with the seat belt
Carry long loads
The center backrest cushion folds forward, allowing you to transport long, light cargo such as skis in the trunk of your
car. To lower the backrest:
Pull the right release control handle in the trunk to release the backrest (see page 54).
From the rear seat, fold down the right section of the backrest slightly *.
Release the flap by pushing the catch (located on the rear side of the backrest) upward and pulling the flap forward.
Return the backrest to the upright position.
* If your car is equipped with the optional integrated child booster cushion, this cushion must be folded down before
you fold down the backrest (see page 13
).
pg. 57 Spare tire, Cargo net in trunk
Spare tire
The spare tire, jack and tool bag are located under the floor of the trunk. To access the spare tire:
Raise the rear edge of the floor of the trunk and fold it back toward the rear seat backrest.
Lift out the trunk floor support (certain models) from the spare tire securing bracket.
Release the strap to lift out the jack and tool bag.
Unscrew the securing bracket and lift out the spare tire.
To return the spare tire to the trunk, follow the reverse procedure.
WARNING!
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