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VOLVO V70
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
Child safety11
Occupant safety17
Brake system18
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)19
Stability Traction Control (STC)20
Dynamic Stability Traction Control (DSTC)20
pg. 2 Seat belts
Seat belts
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injuries that may occur in an  accident.
 When installing any  accessory  equipment, make sure that the SRS system is not damaged. Do not attempt to
service any  component  of the SRS yourself. Attempting to do so may result in serious personal injury. If a  problem
arises, take your car to the nearest authorized Volvo retailer for inspection as soon as possible.
pg. 4 Front  airbags - SRS
Driver's side airbag - in  steering wheel hubPassenger's side airbag - above  glove compartment
As an  enhancement to the three-point seat belt system, your Volvo is equipped with a  Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS).  The Volvo SRS consists of an  airbag (2) on both the driver's and  passenger's  sides and  seat belt tensioners in
both front  door pillars (4). The system is designed to supplement the protection provided by the three-point seat belt
system. All three rear seat belts are also equipped with tensioners.
The SRS system is indicated by the "SRS" embossed  on the steering wheel pad  and  above the glove compartment, and
by decals on both sun visors and  on the front  and  far right side of the dash.
The airbags are folded and  located in the steering wheel hub and  above the glove compartment. They are designed to
deploy during certain frontal or front -angular collisions, impacts, or decelerations, depending on the crash severity,
angle, speed and  object  impacted. The airbags may also deploy in certain non-frontal collisions where  rapid
deceleration  occurs.
The airbag system includes gas generators (1) surrounded by the airbags (2) and  front  seat belt tensioners for both of
the front  seats  (4). To deploy the system, the sensor (3) activates the gas generators causing the airbags to be  inflated
with nitrogen gas. As the movement of the seats' occupants compresses the airbags, some of the gas is expelled at a
controlled rate to provide better cushioning. Both  seat belt tensioners also deploy, minimizing any  seat belt slack.
The entire process, including inflation and  deflation of the airbags, takes approximately two-tenths of a  second. 
WARNING!
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As its  name implies,  SRS is designed to be  a  SUPPLEMENT  to -not a  replacement  for - the three-point belt
system. For maximum protection, wear  seat belts at all times. Be aware  that no system can prevent all possible
injuries that may occur in an  accident.
When installing any  optional equipment, make sure that the SRS system is not damaged. Do not attempt to service
any  component  of the SRS yourself. Attempting to do so may result in serious personal injury. If a  problem arises,
take your car to the nearest authorized Volvo retailer for inspection as soon as possible.
pg. 5 Front  airbags - SRS
A self -diagnostic system incorporated in the sensor monitors the SRS. This system does not, however,  monitor the
Side Impact Protection System  (SIPS) airbags. If a  fault is detected, the warning light will illuminate. The light is
included  in the warning/indicator light cluster in the instrument panel. Normally, the SRS warning lamp should light
up when the ignition key  is turned to positions I, II or III and  should go out after 7 seconds or when the engine is
started. Check that this  light is functioning properly every time the car is started.
The following items are monitored by the self -diagnostic system:
Sensor unit
Cable harness
Gas generator igniters
WARNING!
Never  drive an  SRS equipped car with your hands on the steering wheel pad  / airbag housing.
No objects, accessory  equipment or stickers may be  placed on, attached to or installed near the SRS cover in the
center  of the steering wheel, the SRS cover above the glove compartment or the area affected by airbag deployment.
If the SRS warning light stays on after the engine has started or if it comes on while you are driving, drive the car
to the nearest authorized Volvo retailer for inspection as soon as possible.
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There is no maintenance to perform on the SRS yourself. The month and  year shown on the decal on the door pillar
indicate when you should contact your Volvo retailer for specific servicing or replacement  of airbags and  seat belt
tensioners. This service must  be  performed by an  authorized Volvo retailer.
Should you have any  questions about the SRS system, please contact your authorized Volvo retailer or Volvo
Customer Support:In  the USA: In  Canada:
Volvo Cars of North America Volvo Cars of Canada Ltd.
Customer Relations 175 Gordon Baker Road
P.O. Box 914 North York, Ontario M2H 2N7
Rockleigh, New Jersey 07647-0914 800-663-8255
800-458-1552
pg. 6 Front  airbags - SRS
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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 occupants 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 air bags 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  passenger -side front
airbag. See  page 14
 for guidelines.
Occupants in the front  passenger's  seat must  never sit  on the edge of the seat, sit  leaning  toward the instrument
panel or otherwise sit  out of position. The occupant's back must  be  as upright as comfort allows and  be  against the
seat back with the seat belt properly fastened.
Feet must  be  on the floor,  e.g.  not on the dash, seat or out of the window.
No objects or accessory  equipment, e.g.  dash covers, may be  placed on, attached to or installed near the SRS hatch
(the area above the glove compartment) or the area affected by airbag deployment (see illustration on page 4
 ).
There should be  no loose articles, e.g.  coffee cups, on the floor,  seat or dash area.
Never  try to open  the SRS cover on the steering wheel or the passenger  side dash. This should only be  done  by an
authorized Volvo service technician.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury to the vehicle occupants.
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pg. 7 Front  airbags - SRS
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 on 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.
If the airbags have been deployed, we recommend the following:
Have the car towed  to an  authorized Volvo retailer. Never  drive with the airbags deployed.
Have an  authorized Volvo retailer replace  the SRS system components.
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  nonrigid object  (e.g., a  snow drift or
bush), or a  rigid, fixed object  at a  low speed, the SRS system will not necessarily  deploy. Front 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.
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:
Before attempting to tow the car, use the following procedure to override the shiftlock system to move the gear
selector to the neutral position.
Switch off the ignition for at least 10 minutes and  disconnect the battery
Wait  at least one  minute
Insert the key  in the ignition and  turn it to position II
Press firmly on the brake pedal.
Move the gear selector from  (P)ark to the (N)eutral position.
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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.
pg. 8 Side  impact airbags (SIPS)
SIPS  airbag *
SIPS airbag (front seats only)
As an  enhancement to the structural Side Impact Protection System  built into your car, the 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), wires (2) and  gas generators/sensor units  (3). 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.WARNING!
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.
The use of seat covers on the front  seats  may impede  SIPS  airbag deployment.
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 below).
Never  try to open  or repair any  components of the SIPS  airbag system. This should be  done  only by an  authorized
Volvo service technician.
In order for the SIPS  airbag to provide its  best protection, 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.
*A SIPS  airbag warning decal is also located at the end  of the instrument panel on the driver's side of the car. 
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1 - Airbag, 2 - wire, 3 - gas generator/sensor unit
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.
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.
pg. 9 Volvo Inflatable Curtain (VIC)
Volvo Inflatable Curtain (VIC)
This system consists of inflatable curtains located along the sides of the roof liners, stretching  from  the center  of both
front  side windows to the rear edge of the rear side door windows. It is designed to help protect the heads of the
occupant of the front  seat and  the occupant of the outboard rear seat position in certain side impact collisions.
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. 
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