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VOLVO S40
Chapter 2 - Safety
Occupant safety12
Seat belts14
Front airbags (Supplemental Restraint System - SRS)17
Occupant Weight Sensor - disabling the passenger's side front airbag19
Side impact protection (SIPS) airbags25
Volvo Inflatable Curtain (VIC)26
WHIPS28
Collision status30
Inspecting safety system components31
Child safety32
pg. 12 Safety
Occupant safety
Volvo's concern for safety
Safety is Volvo's cornerstone. 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 safety.
We also want to know if you ever have a safety concern with your car. Call us in the U.S. at: 1-800-458-1552 or in
Canada at: 1-800-663-8255.
Occupant safety reminders
How safely you drive doesn't depend on how old you are but rather on:
How well you see.
Your ability to concentrate.
How quickly you make decisions under stress to avoid an accident. The following suggestions are intended to help
you cope with the ever changing traffic environment.
Never drink and drive.
If you are taking any medication, consult your physician about its potential effects on your driving abilities.
Take a driver-retraining course.
Have your eyes checked regularly.
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Child seats
Please refer to page 35
for information on securing child seats with the seat belts.
Seat belt use during pregnancy
Pregnant women should always wear seat belts. Remember that the belt should be positioned in such a way as to avoid
any possible pressure on the abdomen. The lap section of the belt should be located low, as shown in the illustration.
pg. 16 Seat belts
Seat belt reminder light in ceiling console
Seat belt reminder
A light, located above the rear view mirror in the ceiling console, will light up if either of the front seat occupants has
not buckled his/her seat belt. A light will also illuminate in the instrument panel. If the car is not moving, the lights will
go out after approximately 6 seconds.
Front seats
The seat belt reminder lights will remain on until the driver and/or front seat passenger has buckled his/her seat belt.
There is also an audible tone that changes frequency, depending on the speed of the car.
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.
pg. 17 Front airbags (Supplemental Restraint System - SRS)
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NOTE: When the ignition is switched on, the OWS indicator light will go on for up to 10 seconds while the system
performs a self -diagnostic test and then go out.
However, if a fault is detected in the system:
The OWS indicator light will stay on
The safety system warning light (see page 22) will come on and stay on
The message PASS. AIRBAG OFF SERVICE URGENT will be displayed in the information display.
WARNING!
If a fault in the system is detected and indicated as explained above, be aware that the passenger's side front airbag
will not deploy in the event of a collision. In this case, the safety systems and Occupant Weight Sensor should be
inspected by an authorized Volvo retailer as soon as possible.
pg. 20 Front airbags (Supplemental Restraint System - SRS)
WARNING!
Never try to open, remove, or repair any components in the OWS system. This could result in system malfunction.
Maintenance or repairs should only be carried out by an authorized Volvo service technician.
WARNING!
Keep the following points in mind with respect to the OWS system. Failure to follow these instructions could
adversely affect the system's function and result in serious injury to the occupant of the front passenger's seat:
The full weight of the front seat passenger should always be on the seat cushion. The passenger should never lift
him/herself off the seat cushion using the armrest in the door or the center console, by pressing the feet on the floor,
by sitting on the edge of the seat cushion, or by pressing against the backrest in a way that reduces pressure on the
seat cushion. This could cause OWS to disable the front, passenger's side airbag.
The front passenger's seat should not be modified in any way. This could reduce pressure on the seat cushion, which
might interfere with the OWS system's function.
No objects should be placed under the front passenger's seat. This could interfere with the OWS system's function.
WARNING!
No objects that add to the total weight on the seat should be placed on the front passenger's seat. If a child is seated
in the front passenger's seat with any additional weight, this extra weight could cause the OWS system to enable the
airbag, which might cause it to deploy in the event of a collision, thereby injuring the child.
The seat belt should never be wrapped around an object on the front passenger's seat. This could interfere with the
OWS system's function.
The front passenger's seat belt should never be used in a way that exerts more pressure on the passenger than
normal. This could increase the pressure exerted on the weight sensor by a child, and could result in the airbag being
enabled, which might cause it to deploy in the event of a collision, thereby injuring the child.
pg. 21 Front airbags (Supplemental Restraint System - SRS)
When do the front airbags deploy?
The front airbags 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 SRS sensors are 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 seat belt
tensioners and/or airbags to be deployed. If the airbags have been deployed, we recommend the following:
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Have the vehicle 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.).
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.
Volvo's dual-threshold, dual-stage front airbags use special sensors that are integrated with the front seat buckles.
The point at which the airbag 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. If the impact is less severe, but
severe enough to present a clear injury risk, the dual-stage airbags are triggered at 70% of their total capacity. If the
impact is more severe, the dual-stage airbags are triggered at full capacity.
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.
Never drive with the airbags deployed. The fact that they hang out can impair the steering of your vehicle. 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.
When do the front airbags not deploy?
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.
pg. 22 Front airbags (Supplemental Restraint System - SRS)
Safety system warning light in the instrument panel
A self -diagnostic system incorporated in the sensor monitors certain safety system components. A check is performed
on components such as seat belt locks, SRS, SIPS, OWS, and/or the VIC system. 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
safety system warning lamp should light up when the ignition key is turned to positions I, II or III and should go out
after approximately 7 seconds or when the engine is started. Check that this light is functioning properly every time the
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1-800-458-15521-800-663-8255
SRS text on outside of both sun visors
SRS text on inside of both sun visors
WARNING!
Children must never be allowed in the front passenger's 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 35
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.
pg. 24 Front airbags (Supplemental Restraint System - SRS)
WARNING!
No objects or accessory equipment, e.g. dashboard 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 the illustration on page
17).
There should be no loose articles, e.g. coffee cups, on the floor, seat, or dashboard area.
Never try to open the SRS cover on the steering wheel or the passenger's side dashboard. This should only be done
by an authorized Volvo service technician. Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury to the vehicle
occupants.
Contents | Top of Page
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Brake fluid151
Bulbs155
C
Capacities, fluids186
Catalytic converter, three-way190
CD changer179
CD player177
Central locking system, remote controls88
Changing a tire135
Changing oil149
Charge air cooler188
Child restraint anchorages35
Child safety32
Clock setting button38
Cold weather precautions99
Collision status30
Collisions, driving after30
Compact disc care177
Compass in rearview mirror57
Coolant150
Courtesy lighting81
Cruise control49
D
Dimensions185
Disabling the passenger's side front airbag19
Display, instrument panel38
Dolby Surround Pro Logic II172
Door mirrors58
Door open warning42
Driving after a collision30
DSTC44
E
Economical driving98
Electrical current - conserving99
Electrical system189
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)112
Emergency Brake Assistance - EBA113
Engine compartment148
Engine oil, changing149
Engine specifications188
Environment3
Equalizer, audio system172
F
Federal Clean Air Act146
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Panic alarm, central locking system remote control89
Parking assist115
Parking brake54
Parking light bulb, replacing157
Parking lights45
Passenger's side front airbag, disabling19
Personal settings61
PI (Program Information) seek175
Polishing141
Power door mirrors58
Power front seats79
Power moonroof59
Power steering fluid151
Power windows55
PremAir ®4
Program Information seek175
Program type, audio system175
PROPOSITION 65 WARNING153
R
Radio Broadcast Data System - RBDS175
Radio functions174
Radio station formats176
Radio text175
Rain sensor52
Reading lights, rear81
Rear fog light46
Rear park assist115
Rear reading lights81
Rear seat backrests, folding down84
Rear seat head restraints84
Rearview mirror57
Rearview mirror with compass (option)57
Refueling102
Remote control functions89
Remote control, battery replacement91
Remote controls, central locking system88
Removing a wheel136
Replacing fuses161
Reporting safety defects12
Restraint anchorages35
S
Safety defects, reporting12
Safety locks, child93
Safety system components, inspecting31
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