Your Volvo is designed to meet all applicable safety and emission standards, as indicated by the certification labels
attached to the driver's door opening, and on the underside of the hood.
For further information please contact your retailer, or:
In the USA: Volvo Cars of North America
Customer Care Center
P.O. Box 914 Rockleigh, New Jersey 07647-0914
1-800-458-1552
http://www.volvocars.us
In Canada:Volvo Cars of Canada Ltd.
Customer Care Center
175 Gordon Baker Road
North York, Ontario M2H 2N7
1-800-663-8255
http://www.volvocanada.com
2005 © Volvo Cars of North America, LLC
Introduction
General information
Shiftlock
When your car is parked, the gear selector is locked in the (P)ark position. To release the selector from this position,
turn the ignition key to position II (or start the engine), depress the brake pedal, press the button on the front side of the
gear selector and move the selector from (P)ark.
Keylock
When the ignition is switched off, the gear selector must be in the (P)ark position before the key can be removed from
the ignition switch.
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
The ABS system in your car performs a self -diagnostic test when the vehicle first reaches the speed of approximately
12 mph (20 km/h). The brake pedal will pulsate several times and a sound may be audible from the ABS control
module. This is normal.
Fuel filler door
Press the button on the light switch panel when the car is at a standstill to unlock the fuel filler door.
Fuel filler cap
After refueling, close the fuel filler cap by turning it clockwise until it clicks into place. If this cap is not closed tightly
or if the engine is running when the car is refueled, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp ("Check Engine" light) may
indicate a fault.
Points to keep in mind
Before you operate your vehicle for the first time, please familiarize yourself with the new-engine oil consumption
information on page 187
. You should also be familiar with the information found in the chapters "Instruments and
controls", and "Starting and driving".
Information contained in the balance of the manual is extremely useful and should be read after operating the vehicle
for the first time.
The manual is structured so that it can be used for reference. For this reason, it should be kept in the vehicle for
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2 0 0 5
VOLVO S40
Chapter 1 - Instrument overview
pg. 8 Instrument overview
pg. 9 Instrument overview
1. Steering wheel adjustment
2. Hood opener
3. Controls in driver's door
4. Turn signals, high beams, trip computer
5. Lighting panel, fuel filler door opener
6. Central locking button, door open handle
7. Climate system air vents
8. Side window air vent
9. Cruise control
10. Horn, airbag
11. Main instrument panel
12. Audio controls (option)
13. Windshield wipers and washers, headlight washers (certain models)
14. Ignition key
15. Rear-view mirror and optional compass
16. Seat belt reminder
17. Driver's side reading light
18. Movement detector (option), alarm
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19. Courtesy lighting switch
20. Position for accessory switch
21. Passenger's side reading light
22. Moonroof control (option)
23. Display for climate control and audio systems
24. Audio system
25. Controls for audio system
26. Climate control system
27. Gear selector
28. Side window air vent
29. Central locking button, door open handle
30. Glove compartment
31. Controls in passenger's door
32. Parking brake
33. 12-volt socket
34. Stability system STC/DSTC switch
35. Switch for optional equipment
1. Power window lockout button
2. Power windows
3. Door mirror button, driver's side
4. Door mirror adjustment control
5. Door mirror button, passenger's side
Contents | Top of Page
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Keep your windshield and headlights clean.
Replace wiper blades when they start to leave streaks.
Take into account the traffic, road, and weather conditions, particularly with regard to stopping distance.
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 (or 202-366-0123 in Washington, D.C. area) or
write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington D.C. 20590. You can also obtain other information
about motor vehicle safety from the Hotline.
Volvo strongly recommends that if your vehicle is covered under a service campaign, safety or emission recall or
similar action, it should be completed as soon as possible. Please check with your local retailer or Volvo Cars of North
America, LLC if your vehicle is covered under these conditions. NHTSA can be reached at:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov
or by phone at:
pg. 13 Occupant safety
1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327- 4236) (toll free)
1-800-424-9393 (toll free)
1-202-366-0123 (in the Washington DC area)
pg. 14 Seat belts
Seat belts
Using seat belts
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 occupants of your vehicle 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 vehicle.
Most states and provinces make it mandatory for occupants of a vehicle to use seat belts.
So, urging you to buckle up is not just our recommendation. The few seconds it takes to buckle your seat belt may one
day allow you to say "It's a good thing I was wearing my seat belt."
The outboard seat belts are equipped with tensioners that reduce slack in the belts.
These tensioners are triggered in situations where the airbags deploy. The front seat belts also include a tension
reducing device which, in the event of a collision, limits the peak forces exerted by the seat belt on the occupant.
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 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.
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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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bruises, swellings, or other injuries as a result of airbag(s) deployment.
When installing any accessory equipment, make sure that the SRS system is not damaged. Any interference in the
system could cause malfunction.
Never try to repair any part of the SRS or SIPS bag systems yourself. Any interference in the system could cause
malfunction and serious injury. All work on these systems should be performed by an authorized Volvo retailer.
pg. 19 Occupant Weight Sensor - disabling the passenger's side front airbag
Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS) indicator light
Disabling the passenger's side front airbag
The passenger's side front airbag is automatically enabled/disabled by the Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS), a system
that monitors the weight of the person or object in the front passenger's seat. The system consists of a silicon-filled bag
located under the padding in the front passenger's seat cushion, a control module located under this seat, and a seat belt
tension sensor, located on the outboard side of the seat.
If the system is functioning normally, the status of the front passenger's side airbag (enabled/disabled) will be shown
by the OWS indicator light as explained in the table above.
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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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