
2 0 0 8
VOLVO S80
VOLVO OWNER'S MANUAL S80
1
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING VOLVO
Welcome to the world-wide family of Volvo owners. We trust that you will enjoy many
years of safe driving in your Volvo, an automobile designed with your safety and
comfort in mind. To help ensure your satisfaction with this vehicle, we encourage you to
familiarize yourself with the equipment descriptions, operating instructions and
maintenance requirements/recommendations in this manual. We also urge you and your
passengers to wear seat belts at all times in this (or any other) automobile. And, of
course, please do not operate a vehicle if you may be affected by alcohol, medication or
any impairment that could hinder your ability to drive.
Your Volvo is designed to meet all applicable safety and emission standards, as
evidenced by the certification labels attached to the driver's door opening and on the left
wheel housing in the engine compartment. For further information please contact your
retailer, or:
In the USA :
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC
Customer Care Center
P.O. Box 914 Rockleigh, New Jersey 07647-0914

in our plants 50% since 1991.
Volvo was the first in the world to introduce into production a three-way catalytic converter with a Lambda sond, now
called the heated oxygen sensor, in 1976. The current version of this highly efficient system reduces emissions of
harmful substances (CO, HC, NOx) from the exhaust pipe by approximately 95-99% and the search to eliminate the
remaining emissions continues. Volvo is the only automobile manufacturer to offer CFC-free retrofit kits for the air
conditioning system of all models as far back as the 1975 model 240. Advanced electronic engine controls and cleaner
fuels are bringing us closer to our goal. After Volvo vehicles and parts have fulfilled their use, recycling is the next
critical step in completing the life cycle. The metal content is about 75% of the total weight of a vehicle, which makes
the vehicle among the most recycled industrial products. In order to have efficient and well-controlled recycling,
dismantling information is available for all Volvo models. For Volvo, all homogeneous plastic parts weighing more
than 3.4 oz. (100 grams) are marked with international symbols that indicate how the component is to be sorted for
recycling. In addition to continuous environmental refinement of conventional gasoline-powered internal combustion
engines, Volvo is actively looking at advanced technology alternative-fuel vehicles.
When you drive a Volvo, you become our partner in the work to lessen the car's impact on the environment. To reduce
your vehicle's environmental impact, you can:
Maintain proper air pressure in your tires. Tests have shown decreased fuel economy with improperly inflated tires.
Follow the recommended maintenance schedule in your Warranty and Service Records Information booklet.
Drive at a constant speed whenever possible.
See a trained and qualified Volvo service technician as soon as possible for inspection if the check engine (
malfunction indicator) light illuminates, or stays on after the vehicle has started.
Properly dispose of any vehicle-related waste such as used motor oil, used batteries, brake pads, etc.
When cleaning your vehicle, please use genuine Volvo car care products. All Volvo car care products are
formulated to be environmentally friendly.
WARNING
PROPOSITION 65 WARNING!
Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain or emit chemicals known to the
state of California to cause cancer, and birth defects or other reproductive harm. In addition, certain fluids contained
in vehicles and certain products of component wear contain or emit chemicals known to the State of California to
cause cancer, and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
10 Introduction
WARNING
Certain components of this vehicle such as air bag modules, seat belt pretensioners, adaptive steering columns, and
button cell batteries may contain Perchlorate material. Special handling may apply for service or vehicle end of life
disposal.
See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate
.
11 Introduction
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2 0 0 8
VOLVO S80
VOLVO OWNER'S MANUAL S80
1
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING VOLVO
Welcome to the world-wide family of Volvo owners. We trust that you will enjoy many
years of safe driving in your Volvo, an automobile designed with your safety and
comfort in mind. To help ensure your satisfaction with this vehicle, we encourage you to
familiarize yourself with the equipment descriptions, operating instructions and
maintenance requirements/recommendations in this manual. We also urge you and your
passengers to wear seat belts at all times in this (or any other) automobile. And, of
course, please do not operate a vehicle if you may be affected by alcohol, medication or
any impairment that could hinder your ability to drive.
Your Volvo is designed to meet all applicable safety and emission standards, as
evidenced by the certification labels attached to the driver's door opening and on the left
wheel housing in the engine compartment. For further information please contact your
retailer, or:
In the USA :
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC
Customer Care Center
P.O. Box 914 Rockleigh, New Jersey 07647-0914

in our plants 50% since 1991.
Volvo was the first in the world to introduce into production a three-way catalytic converter with a Lambda sond, now
called the heated oxygen sensor, in 1976. The current version of this highly efficient system reduces emissions of
harmful substances (CO, HC, NOx) from the exhaust pipe by approximately 95-99% and the search to eliminate the
remaining emissions continues. Volvo is the only automobile manufacturer to offer CFC-free retrofit kits for the air
conditioning system of all models as far back as the 1975 model 240. Advanced electronic engine controls and cleaner
fuels are bringing us closer to our goal. After Volvo vehicles and parts have fulfilled their use, recycling is the next
critical step in completing the life cycle. The metal content is about 75% of the total weight of a vehicle, which makes
the vehicle among the most recycled industrial products. In order to have efficient and well-controlled recycling,
dismantling information is available for all Volvo models. For Volvo, all homogeneous plastic parts weighing more
than 3.4 oz. (100 grams) are marked with international symbols that indicate how the component is to be sorted for
recycling. In addition to continuous environmental refinement of conventional gasoline-powered internal combustion
engines, Volvo is actively looking at advanced technology alternative-fuel vehicles.
When you drive a Volvo, you become our partner in the work to lessen the car's impact on the environment. To reduce
your vehicle's environmental impact, you can:
Maintain proper air pressure in your tires. Tests have shown decreased fuel economy with improperly inflated tires.
Follow the recommended maintenance schedule in your Warranty and Service Records Information booklet.
Drive at a constant speed whenever possible.
See a trained and qualified Volvo service technician as soon as possible for inspection if the check engine (
malfunction indicator) light illuminates, or stays on after the vehicle has started.
Properly dispose of any vehicle-related waste such as used motor oil, used batteries, brake pads, etc.
When cleaning your vehicle, please use genuine Volvo car care products. All Volvo car care products are
formulated to be environmentally friendly.
WARNING
PROPOSITION 65 WARNING!
Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain or emit chemicals known to the
state of California to cause cancer, and birth defects or other reproductive harm. In addition, certain fluids contained
in vehicles and certain products of component wear contain or emit chemicals known to the State of California to
cause cancer, and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
10 Introduction
WARNING
Certain components of this vehicle such as air bag modules, seat belt pretensioners, adaptive steering columns, and
button cell batteries may contain Perchlorate material. Special handling may apply for service or vehicle end of life
disposal.
See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate
.
11 Introduction
This page left intentionally blank.

2 0 0 8
VOLVO S80
12 01 Safety
Occupant safety 14
Reporting safety defects15
Safety in the passenger compartment16
Crash mode30
Child safety31
Child restraint systems34
Infant seats36
Convertible seats38
Booster cushions41
ISOFIX lower anchors42
Top tether anchors43
Child restraint registration and recalls44
Integrated booster cushion45
Child safety locks48
13 01 Safety
14 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
vehicles 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

If you believe your vehicle has a defect that could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should
immediately inform Transport Canada in addition to notifying Volvo Cars of Canada Corp.
To contact Transport Canada, call (800) 333- 0510, or (613) 993-9851 if you are calling from the Ottawa region.
16 01 Safety
Safety in the passenger compartment
Seat belts
Using seat belts
Seat belts should always be worn by all occupants of your vehicle. Children should be 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.
Seat belt pretensioners
All seat belts are equipped with pretensioners that reduce slack in the belts. These pretensioners are triggered in
situations where the front or side impact airbags deploy, and in certain impacts from the rear. 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.
Buckling a seat belt
Pull the belt out far enough to insert the latch plate into the receptacle until a distinct click is heard. The seat belt
retractor is normally "unlocked" and you can move freely, provided that the shoulder belt is not pulled out too far.
The retractor will lock up as follows:
if the belt is pulled out rapidly
during braking and acceleration
if the vehicle is leaning excessively
when driving in turns.
To make child seat installation easier, each seat belt (except for the driver's belt) is equipped with a locking mechanism
to help keep the seat belt taut. See page 33
for more information regarding the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR).
When wearing the seat belt remember:
The belt should not be twisted or turned.

The lap section of the belt must be positioned low on the hips (not pressing against the abdomen).
Make sure that the shoulder belt is rolled up into its retractor and that the shoulder and lap belts are taut.
Seat belt reminder
The seat belt reminder consists of an audible signal and a symbol in the instrument panel that alert the driver if his/her
seat belt is not fastened.
Unbuckling the seat belt
To remove the seat belt, press the red section on the seat belt receptacle. Before exiting the vehicle, check that the seat
belt retracts fully after being unbuckled. If necessary, guide the belt back into the retractor slot.
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
17 01 Safety
Safety in the passenger compartment
function as follows: attach the seat belt and pull rapidly on the strap.
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.
WARNING
Never repair the belt yourself; have this work done by a trained and qualified Volvo service technician only.
Any device used to induce slack into the shoulder belt portion of the three-point belt system will have a
detrimental effect on the amount of protection available to you in the event of a collision.
The seat back should not be tilted too far back. The shoulder belt must be taut in order to function properly.
Do not use child safety seats or child booster cushions/backrests in the front passenger's seat. We also recommend
that children who have outgrown these devices sit in the rear seat with the seat belt properly fastened.
Seat belt use during pregnancy
The seat belt should always be worn during pregnancy. But it is crucial that it be worn in the correct way. The diagonal
section should wrap over the shoulder then be routed between the breasts and to the side of the belly. The lap section

should lay flat over the thighs and as low as possible under the belly. It must never be allowed to ride upward. Remove
all slack from the belt and ensure that it fits close to the body without any twists.
As a pregnancy progresses, pregnant drivers should adjust their seats and steering wheel such that they can easily
maintain control of the vehicle as they drive (which means they must be able to easily operate the foot pedals and
steering wheel). Within this context, they should strive to position the seat with as large a distance as possible between
their belly and the steering wheel.
Child seats
Please refer to page 34
for information on securing child seats with the seat belts.
18 01 Safety
Safety in the passenger compartment
Supplemental restraint system
Warning symbols in the instrument panel
As an enhancement to the three-point seat belts, your Volvo is equipped with a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS).
Volvo's SRS consists of seat belt pretensioners, front airbags, side impact airbags, a front passenger occupant weight
sensor, and inflatable curtains. All of these systems are monitored by the SRS control module. An SRS warning light
in the instrument panel (see the illustration) illuminates when the ignition is in modes I, II, or III, and will normally go
out after approximately 6 seconds if no faults are detected in the system.
Where applicable, a text message will also be displayed when the SRS warning light illuminates. If this warning
symbol is not functioning properly, the general warning symbol illuminates and a text message will be displayed. See
also pages 75 and 76
for more information about indicator and warning symbols.
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 insert the
remote control into the ignition slot before disconnecting the battery (see below). This may cause airbag deployment