
2 0 0 6
VOLVO S60
Safety
pg. 1 Safety
Occupant safety, Reporting safety defects 2
Using seat belts3
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)5
Front airbags6
Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS)9
Side airbags (SIPS) airbags12
Volvo Inflatable Curtain (VIC)13
Inspecting SRS system components14
Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS)15
Child safety17
pg. 2 Safety
Occupant safety, Reporting safety defects
Volvo Concern for Safety
Safety is the Volvo 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: 800-458-1552 or in Canada at: 800-663-8255.
Occupant safety
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 tips listed below are suggestions 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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- If the SRS warning light stays on after the engine has started or if it illuminates while you are driving, have the
vehicle inspected by a trained and qualified Volvo service technician as soon as possible.
- Never try to repair any component or part of the SRS yourself. Any interference in the system could cause
malfunction and serious injury. All work on these systems should be performed by an authorized Volvo service
technician.
WARNING!
If your vehicle has been subjected to flood conditions (e.g. soaked carpeting/standing water on the floor of the
vehicle) or if your vehicle has become flood-damaged in any way, do not attempt to start the vehicle or put the key
in the ignition before disconnecting the battery (see below). This may cause airbag deployment which could result in
personal injury. Have the vehicle towed to a trained and qualified Volvo service technician for repairs.
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.
pg. 6 Safety
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.
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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- 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 page 20
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.
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 6
).
- 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. 9 Safety
Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS) indicator light
Disabling the passenger's side front airbag
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 side airbag, and be properly restrained for their size and weight.
See also the child safety recommendations on page 20
.
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 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 to the right.
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:
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The OWS indicator light will stay on
The SRS 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.
(contd. on following page)
pg. 10 Safety
WARNING!
If a fault in the system is detected and indicated as explained on the previous page, 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.
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:
In the USA:
Volvo Cars of North America
Customer Care Center
P.O. Box 914
Rockleigh, New Jersey 07647-0914
800-458-1552
In Canada:
Volvo Cars of Canada Ltd.
National Customer Service
175 Gordon Baker Road
North York, Ontario M2H 2N7
800-663-8255
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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.
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.
- 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.
pg. 11 Safety
WARNING!
Keep the following points in mind with respect to the OWS system. Failure to follow these instructions could
adversely affect the systemÕs function and result in serious injury to the occupant of the front passengerÕs 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 passengerÕs 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 20
).
- No objects should be placed under the front passengerÕs seat. This could interfere with the OWS systemÕs
function.
Contents | Top of Page
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WARNING!
If the fluid level is below the MIN mark in the reservoir or if a "Brake failure - Service urgent" message is displayed
in the text window: DO NOT DRIVE. Have the car towed to an authorized Volvo retailer and have the brake system
inspected.
If the brake fluid level is above the MIN mark, drive carefully to an authorized Volvo retailer and have the brake
system inspected.
pg. 27 Instruments and controls
Supplemental Restraint System SRS
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.
Generator warning light
If the light comes on while the engine is running, have the charging system checked.
Seat belt reminder
This symbol lights up to indicate that the driver has not fastened his/her seat belt.
Tire pressure monitoring light
See page 117
for more information on this function.
PARK BRAKE Parking brake applied
This light will be 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.
Rear fog light
This light indicates that the fog light is on.
Turn signal indicator - 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, neither the trailer's turn signals nor the car's turn signals are functioning.
Oil pressure warning light
If the light comes on while driving, stop the car and then stop the engine immediately and check the engine oil
level. See page 143
. R-models are also equipped with an oil level warning system. If the light stays on after restart,
have the car towed to the nearest authorized Volvo retailer. 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.
CHECK ENGINE Malfunction indicator light
On-Board Diagnostic II (OBDII): As you drive, a computer called "OBDII" monitors your car's engine, transmission,
electrical and emission systems. The CHECK ENGINE light will light up if the computer senses a condition that
potentially may need correcting. When this happens, please have your car checked by a Volvo retailer as soon as
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