irritation in the event of prolonged exposure.
pg. 8 Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS)*
Disabling the passenger's side front airbag
Volvo recommends ALL occupants (adults and children) shorter than four feet seven inches (140 cm) be seated in the
back of any vehicle with a front passenger side airbag, and be properly restrained for their size and weight. See also
the child safety recommendations on page 16
.
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.
*NOTE: Not available on the V70R.
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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 to the left. The OWS indicator light is separate and in addition to
the SRS warning light in the instrument panel.
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 5)
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.
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pg. 9 Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS)*
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.
*NOTE: Not available on the V70R. 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.
Do not place any type of object on the front passenger's seat in such a way that jamming, pressing, or squeezing
occurs between the object and hte front seat, other than as a direct result of the correct use of the ALR/ELR seat belt
(see page 16)
.
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. 10 Side impact airbags (SIPS)
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