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VOLVO C70
10 01 Safety
Occupant safety 12
Seat belts14
Supplemental Restraint System17
Front airbags18
Occupant Weight Sensor21
Side impact protection airbags24
Door mounted inflatable curtains25
Whiplash Protection System26
Roll-over Protection System28
Crash mode29
Child safety30
Child restraint systems33
Infant seats35
Convertible seats37
Booster cushions39
ISOFIX lower anchors40
Child restraint registration and recalls41
11 01 Safety
12 01 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
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WARNING
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 a trained and qualified 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 Park ( P) to the Neutral ( N) position. See page 146
for information on manually
overriding the shiftlock system.
18 01 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 surrounded by the airbags, and deceleration sensors that activate the
gas generators, causing the airbags to be inflated with nitrogen gas.
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page 18).
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.
21 01 Safety
Occupant Weight Sensor
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 rear
seat of any vehicle with a passenger's side front airbag, and be properly restrained. Children should always be seated
in child restraints appropriate for their size and weight. See also the child safety recommendations beginning on page
30.
The Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS) is designed to meet the regulatory requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard (FMVSS) 208 and is designed to disable (will not inflate) the passenger's side front airbag under certain
conditions.
The OWS works with sensors that are part of the front passenger's seat and seat belt. The sensors are designed to
detect the presence of a properly seated occupant and determine if the passenger's side front airbag should be enabled
(may inflate) or disabled (will not inflate).
The OWS will disable (will not inflate) the passenger's side front airbag when:
the front passenger's seat is unoccupied, or has small/medium objects in the front seat,
the system determines that an infant is present in a rear-facing infant seat that is installed according to the
manufacturer's instructions,
the system determines that a small child is present in a forward-facing child restraint that is installed according to
the manufacturer's instructions,
the system determines that a small child is present in a booster seat,
a front passenger takes his/her weight off of the seat for a period of time,
a child or a small person occupies the front passenger's seat.
The OWS uses a PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp which will illuminate and stay on to remind you that the
passenger's side front airbag is disabled. The PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp is located in the overhead
console, near the base of the rearview mirror.
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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.
However, if a fault is detected in the system:
The OWS indicator light will stay on
The SRS warning light (see page 17) will come on and stay on
The message PASS. AIRBAG OFF SERVICE URGENT will be displayed in the information display.
22 01 Safety
Occupant Weight Sensor
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.
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.
The OWS is designed to disable (will not inflate) the passenger's side front airbag when a rear facing infant seat, a
forward-facing child restraint, or a booster seat is detected. The PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp will
illuminate and stay on to remind you that the passenger's side front airbag is disabled (see the following table).
1Volvo recommends that children always be properly restrained in appropriate child restraints in the rear seats. Do not assume that the passenger's
side front airbag is disabled unless the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp is lit. Make sure the child restraint is properly installed. If there
is any doubt as to the status of the passenger's side front airbag, move the child restraint to the rear seat.
The OWS is designed to enable (may inflate) the passenger's side front airbag anytime the system senses that a person
of adult size is sitting properly in the front passenger's seat. The PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp will be
off and remain off.
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If a person of adult size is sitting in the front passenger's seat, but the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp is
on, it is possible that the person isn't sitting properly in the seat. If this happens:
Turn the vehicle off and ask the person to place the seatback in an upright position.
Have the person sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion, with the person's legs comfortably extended.
Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in this position for about two minutes. This will allow the system to
detect that person and enable the passenger's frontal airbag.
If the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp remains on even after this, the person should be advised to ride
in the rear seat.
This condition reflects limitations of the OWS classification capability. It does not indicate OWS malfunction.
23 01 Safety
Occupant Weight Sensor
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, LLC
Customer Care Center
P.O. Box 914 Rockleigh, New Jersey 07647-0914
1-800-458-1552
In Canada :
Volvo Cars of Canada Corp.
National Customer Service
175 Gordon Baker Road
North York, Ontario M2H 2N7
1-800-663-8255
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
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 passenger's side front airbag.
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There are three main types of child restraint systems: infant seats, convertible seats, and booster cushions. They are
classified according to the child's age and size.
The following section provides general information on securing a child restraint using a three-point seat belt. Refer to
page 40
for information on securing a child restraint using ISOFIX lower anchors.
WARNING
A child seat should never be used in the front passenger seat of any vehicle with a front passenger airbag - not even
if the "Passenger airbag off" symbol near the rear-view mirror is illuminated (on vehicles equipped with Occupant
Weight Sensor). If the severity of an accident were to cause the airbag to inflate, this could lead to serious injury or
death to a child seated in this position.
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2. Attach the seat belt to the infant seat according to the manufacturer's instructions.
3. Fasten the seat belt by inserting the latch plate into the buckle (lock) until a distinct click is audible.
WARNING
A child seat should never be used in the front passenger seat of any vehicle with a front passenger airbag - not even
if the "Passenger airbag off" symbol near the rear-view mirror is illuminated (on vehicles equipped with Occupant
Weight Sensor). If the severity of an accident were to cause the airbag to inflate, this could lead to serious injury or
death to a child seated in this position.
36 01 Safety
Infant seats
4. Pull the shoulder section of the seat belt out as far as possible to activate the belt's automatic locking function.
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4. Pull the shoulder section of the seat belt out as far as possible to activate the belt's automatic locking function.
5. Press the convertible seat firmly in place, let the seat belt retract and pull it taut. A sound from the seat belt
retractor's automatic locking function will be audible at this time and is normal. The seat belt should now be locked in
place.
6. Push and pull the convertible seat to ensure that it is held securely in place by the seat belt.
NOTE
The locking retractor will automatically release when the seat belt is unbuckled and allowed to retract fully.
WARNING
It should not be possible to move the child restraint more than 1 in. (2.5 cm) in any direction.
The convertible seat can be removed by unbuckling the seat belt and letting it retract completely.
WARNING
A child seat should never be used in the front passenger seat of any vehicle with a front passenger airbag - not even
if the "Passenger airbag off" symbol near the rear-view mirror is illuminated (on vehicles equipped with Occupant
Weight Sensor). If the severity of an accident were to cause the airbag to inflate, this could lead to serious injury or
death to a child seated in this position.
39 01 Safety
Booster cushions
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