2003 VOLVO XC90
pg. 10 Safety
Side airbags (SIPS airbags)
SIPS airbag*
SIPS airbag (front seats only)
As an enhancement to the structural Side Impact Protection System built \
into your vehicle, the vehicle is
also equipped with Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) airbags. The S\
IPS airbag system consists of
airbag modules built into the sides of both front seat backrests, wires \
and gas generators/sensor units
(see illustration on next page).
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 c\
ertain side-impact collisions,
depending on the crash severity, angle, speed and point of impact. The a\
irbags are not designed to
deploy in all side impact situations.
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2003 VOLVO XC90
NOTE: SIPS airbag deployment (one airbag) occurs only on the side of the ve\
hicle affected by the
impact.The airbags are not designed to deploy in all side impact situati\
ons.
*A SIPS airbag ' decal is also located at the end of the instrument pane\
l on the driver's side of the
vehicle.
WARNING!
l The SIPS airbag system is a supplement to the Side Impact Protection Sys\
tem and the three-point
seat belt system. It is not designed to deploy during collisions from th\
e front or rear of the vehicle,
and will only deploy in certain rollover situations.
l The use of seat covers on the front seats may impede SIPS airbag deploym\
ent.
l No objects, accessory equipment or stickers may be placed on, attached t\
o or installed near, the
SIPS airbag system or in the area affected by SIPS airbag deployment (s\
ee illustration in the center
column above).
l Never try to open or repair any components of the SIPS airbag system. Th\
is should be done only
by an authorized Volvo service technician.
l 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.
l Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury to the occupan\
ts of the vehicle in the event
of an accident.
pg. 11 Safety
The SIPS airbag system
This system consists of a gas generator (1), the side airbags (2), a\
nd electronic sensors/cables (3).
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2003 VOLVO XC90
pg. 12 Safety
Inflatable Curtain (IC)
7-seat model shown
Volvo Inflatable Curtain (IC)
This system consists of Inflatable Curtains located along the sides of t\
he roof liners, stretching from the
front side windows to the rear edge of the rear side windows. It is desi\
gned to help protect the heads of
the occupants of the front seats and the occupant of the outboard rear s\
eating positions, including the
outboard passenger in the optional third row of seats in certain side im\
pact collisions. The Inflatable
Curtains in the Volvo XC90 are also designed to help protect the occupan\
ts of the vehicle in a roll-over
situation, and to help prevent them from being thrown from the vehicle i\
f a roll-over occurs.
NOTE:
In 5-seat models, the Inflatable Curtains extend to protect both rows of\
seats. 7-seat models, they extend
to protect all three rows.
By design, the IC system deploys only on the side of the vehicle affecte\
d by the impact. However, in
certain side impacts, or in a rollover situation, BOTH the Inflatable Curtains (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\
5 seconds.
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2003 VOLVO XC90
Inspection of airbags, Inflatable Curtains and seat belt
pretensioners
The year and month specified on the decal in the door pillar(s) is the\
date when you should contact your
Volvo retailer to inspect and, if necessary, replace the airbags and sea\
t belt pretensioners. If you have
any questions concerning either system, contact an authorized Volvo reta\
iler.
pg. 15 Safety
Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS)
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2003 VOLVO XC90
Why Volvo believes no child should sit in the front seat of a vehicle
It's quite simple really. A front airbag is a very powerful device desig\
ned, by law, to help protect an
adult. Because of the size of the airbag and its speed of inflation, a c\
hild should never be placed in the
front seat, even if he or she is properly belted or strapped into a chil\
d safety seat. Volvo has been an
innovator in safety for over fifty years, and we'll continue to do our p\
art. 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 Airbags are a SUPPLEMENTAL safety device which, when used with a three-p\
oint seat belt can help
reduce serious injuries during certain types of accidents. Volvo recomme\
nds that you do not disconnect
the airbag 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 seat of any vehicle equi\
pped with a passenger-side
front airbag.
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 si\
de airbag.
Drive safely!
* Automatic Locking Retractor/Emergency Locking Retractor
pg. 21 Safety
Occupant safety, Reporting safety defects
Seat belt maintenance
Check periodically that the seat 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 Volvo's cornerstone. Our concern dates back to 1927 when the f\
irst Volvo rolled off the
production line. Three-point seat belts (a Volvo invention), safety ca\
ges, and energy-absorbing impact
zones were designed into Volvo vehicles long before it was fashionable o\
r 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 vehicles. You can help. We w\
ould appreciate hearing your
suggestions about improving automobile safety. We also want to know if y\
ou ever have a safety concern
with your vehicle. Call us in the U.S. at: 800-458-1552 or in Canada at:\
800-663-8255.
Occupant safety
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2003 VOLVO XC90
Remote controls
Your vehicle is equipped with a remote control transmitter. This transmi\
tter uses a radio signal to allow
"keyless" entry into the passenger compartment or the tailgate. You will\
be supplied with two coded key
ring transmitters, which will enable you to lock/unlock all doors and th\
e tailgate from a distance of 10-
15 feet (3- 5 meters).
On vehicles equipped with an alarm, the alarm will also be activated/dea\
ctivated by this system.
The vehicle can also be locked/unlocked with the key.
Buttons in remote control:
1-Lock, 2-Unlock, 3-Unlock tailgate,
4-"Panic" function,*, 5-Approach lighting
As an extra security precaution in certain situations (valet parking, e\
tc.), Volvo recommends that the
transmitter not be included when the keys are given to anyone. The servi\
ce key can be used instead. If
one of the transmitters is misplaced, contact the nearest authorized Vol\
vo retailer for assistance.
Using the remote control
l Press the LOCK button once to lock all doors and tailgate.
l Press the UNLOCK button once to unlock the driver's door and fuel filler\
door. Wait for at least 1
second and press this button again (within 10 seconds) to unlock all d\
oors and the tailgate.
l To unlock the tailgate (without unlocking the doors), press the Unlock\
tailgate button twice within 3
seconds.
NOTE:
l Airbag deployment will automatically unlock the doors.
l The keys may also be used to lock and unlock the doors, and to activate \
and deactivate the alarm
system.
l To avoid leaving your keys in the vehicle, make a habit of always lockin\
g the vehicle with the remote
control.
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2003 VOLVO XC90
2 0 0 3
VOLVO XC90
Index
pg. 183-186 Index
12-volt sockets
39
A
A/C (air conditioning)
50
ABS
ii, 25, 96
Adjustable steering wheel
30
Advanced user functions
172
Air bags - dual threshold/stage
5
Air cleaner
128
Air distribution
47, 50
Air Quality sensor
51
Air vents
47
Airbag - Side Impact (SIPS)
10
Airbags (front)
4
Alarm
73, 80
All Wheel Drive
94
All Wheel Drive - towing
101
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
ii, 25
Approach lighting
33
Ashtray
39, 64
Audio
159
AUTO (climate control)
49
Automatic climate control, ECC
48
Automatic gearbox
89
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2003 VOLVO XC90
Service 124
Service key
74
Service reminder
27
SERVICE REQUIRED
28
SERVICE URGENT
28
Shiftlock
ii, 87
Side airbags
10
Sideview mirrors
42
SIPS airbags
10
Snow chains
115
Snow tires
115
Spare tire - accessing
119
Spare tires
116
Spark plugs
155
Specifications
149
Speedometer
24
Spoiler lights
31
SRS
4
Start inhibitor (immobilizer)
74
Starting the car
87
Steering
88
Steering wheel adjustment
30
Steering wheel lock
88
Stone chips
112
STOP
28
STOP ENGINE
28
Storage compartments
64
Studded tires
115
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
4
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) - warning light
27
Suspension
153, 155
Switches in the center console
29
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