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VOLVO S40
Chapter 2 - Safety
Occupant safety10
Seat belts11
Supplemental Restraint System - SRS14
Front airbags15
Occupant Weight Sensor - disabling the passenger's side front airbag18
Side impact protection (SIPS) airbags21
Volvo Inflatable Curtain (VIC)22
Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS)23
Collision status25
Inspecting SRS system components26
Child safety27
pg. 10 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.
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Automatic transmission:
Before attempting to tow the vehicle, 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. See page 105 for information on manually overriding
the shiftlock system.
pg. 15 Front airbags
Front airbags
The front airbag system
The front airbags supplement the three-point seat belts. For these airbags to provide the protection intended, seat belts
must be worn at all times.
The front airbag system includes gas generators (1) surrounded by the airbags (2) and a deceleration sensor (3) that
activates the gas generators, causing the airbags to be inflated with nitrogen gas.
Location of the passenger's side front airbag
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 seat belt slack. The entire process,
including inflation and deflation of the airbags, takes approximately one fifth of a second.
The location of the front airbags is indicated by "SRS AIRBAG" 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 driver's side front airbag is folded and located in the steering wheel hub.
The passenger's side front airbag is folded behind a panel located above the glove compartment.
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airbag. See page 31 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.
Airbag decal on passenger's side dashboard
WARNING!
No objects or accessory equipment, e.g. dashboard covers, may be placed on, attached to, or installed near the air
bag hatch (the area above the glove compartment) or the area affected by airbag deployment (see the illustration on
page 14
).
There should be no loose articles, e.g. coffee cups, on the floor, seat, or dashboard area.
Never try to open the airbag cover on the steering wheel or the passenger's side dashboard. This should only be
done by a trained and qualified Volvo service technician.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury to the vehicle occupants.
pg. 18 Occupant Weight Sensor - disabling the passenger's side front airbag
Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS) indicator light
Disabling the passenger's side front airbag
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 front passenger side airbag, and be properly restrained for their size and weight. See
also the child safety recommendations on page 31
.
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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 silicone-filled
bag located under the padding in the front passenger's seat Occupant Weight Sensor - disabling the passenger's side
front airbag cushion, a control module located under this seat, and a seat belt tension sensor, located on the outboard
side of the seat.
The OWS system continuously monitors the pressure on the front passenger's seat cushion and the tension applied to
the seat belt. Based on this data, OWS assesses the weight of the occupant or object in the front passenger's seat. This
information is transmitted to the SRS system control module, which enables or disables the passenger's side front
airbag accordingly, as indicated in the table below.
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 right. 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 SRS warning light (see page 14) will come on and stay on
The message PASS. AIRBAG OFF SERVICE URGENT will be displayed in the information display.
pg. 19 Occupant Weight Sensor - disabling the passenger's side front airbag
WARNING!
If a fault in the system is detected and indicated as explained on the preceding page, be aware that the passenger's
side front airbag will not deploy in the event of a collision. In this case, the SRS system and Occupant Weight
Sensor should be inspected by a trained and qualified Volvo service technician as soon as possible.
Modifications
If you are considering modifying your vehicle in any way to accommodate a disability, for example by altering or
adapting the driver's or front passenger's seat(s) and/or airbag systems, please contact Volvo at:
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In the USA
Volvo Cars of North America
Customer Care Center
P.O. Box 914 Rockleigh, New Jersey 07647- 0914
1-800-458-1552
In Canada
Volvo Cars of Canada Ltd.
National Customer Service
175 Gordon Baker Road
North York, Ontario M2H 2N7
1-800-663-8255WARNING!
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 a trained and qualified Volvo service technician.
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.
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. 20 Occupant Weight Sensor - disabling the passenger's side front airbag
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.
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 the front seat, other than as a direct result of the correct use of the ALR/ELR seat belt
(see page 31
).
No objects should be placed under the front passenger's seat. This could interfere with the OWS system's function.
Contents | Top of Page
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6. Fuel level warning light
When this light comes on, there are approximately 2.1 US gallons (8 liters) of fuel remaining in the tank.
pg. 37 Symbols on the right side of the instrument panel
Symbols - right side of instrument panel
1. Turn signal indicator for trailer (certain models)
If you are towing a trailer, this light will flash simultaneously with the turn signals on the trailer. If the light
does not flash when signaling, one of the turn signals on the trailer or on the car are not functioning properly.
2. Parking brake applied
This light is on when the parking brake (hand brake) is applied. The parking brake lever is situated between
the front seats.
Canadian models are equipped with this symbol
.
3. SRS warning light
If this light comes on while the car is being driven, or remains on for longer than approximately 10 seconds
after the car has been started, the SRS system's diagnostic functions have detected a fault in a seat belt lock or
tensioner, a front airbag, side impact airbag, and/or an inflatable curtain. Have the system(s) inspected by a trained and
qualified Volvo service technician as soon as possible.
4. Oil pressure warning light
If the light comes on while driving, stop the car, stop the engine immediately, and check the engine oil level.
If the oil level is normal and the light stays on after restart, have the car towed to the nearest trained and qualified
Volvo service technician. After hard driving, the light may come on occasionally when the engine is idling. This is
normal, provided it goes off when the engine speed is increased.
5. Seat belt reminder This symbol (and the seat belt reminder light above the rear view mirror) will light up if either front seat
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rearm after 2 minutes unless a door or the trunk has been opened.
Automatic locking: When the car starts to move, the doors and trunk can be locked automatically. This feature can
be turned on or off, see Personal settings on page 56
for more information.
Airbag deployment will automatically attempt to unlock the doors.
3. Approach lighting - As you approach the car:
Press the yellow button on the remote control to light the interior lighting, position/parking lamps, license plate
lighting and the lights in the door mirrors (option). These lights will switch off automatically after 30, 60 or 90
seconds. See the Personal settings on page 56
for information about adjusting the time setting.
4. Unlock trunk - Press the button once to disarm the alarm system and unlock only the trunk. After closing, the trunk
will not automatically relock. Press Lock to relock it and rearm the alarm.
5. Panic alarm : - This button can be used to attract attention during emergency situations.
To activate the panic alarm, press and hold the red button for at least 3 seconds or press it twice within 3 seconds. The
turn signals and horn will be activated. The panic alarm will stop automatically after 30 seconds. To deactivate, wait
approximately 5 seconds and press the red button again.
NOTE: This button will NOT unlock the car.
pg. 84 Remote control and key blade
Removing the key blade
Key blade
The key blade can be removed from the remote control. When removed, the key blade can be used as follows:
To lock/unlock the driver's door
To lock/unlock the glove compartment (see page 87)
For valet locking (see the explanation in below)
Removing the key blade
Slide the spring loaded catch (1 in the illustration shown) to the side and pull the key blade (2) out of the remote
control.
Reinserting the key blade in the remote control
Hold the remote control with the pointed end down.
Carefully slide the key blade into its groove.
Gently press the key blade in the groove until it clicks into place.
Unlocking the doors with the detached key blade
Insert the key blade as far as possible in the driver's door lock. Turn the key blade clockwise approximately one -
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