VOLVO 240 1990 Owner's Guide

Volvo 1990 240 Model




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Volvo 1990 240 Model
pg. 26 Child safety
Child safety

Volvo recommends the proper use of restraint systems for all occupants, \
including children. Remember
that regardless of age and size, a child should always be properly restr\
ained in a car. Restraint systems
for children are designed to be secured in the vehicle by lap belts or t\
he lap portion of a lap-shoulder
belt. Such child restraint systems can help protect children in cars in \
the event of an accident only if they
are used properly. However, children could be endangered in a crash if t\
he child restraints are not
properly secured in the vehicle. Failure to follow the installation inst\
ructions for your child restraint can
result in your child striking the vehicle's interior in a sudden stop.

Holding a child in your arms is NOT a suitable substitute for a child re\
straint system. In an accident, a
child held in a person's arms can be crushed between the vehicle's inter\
ior and an unrestrained person.
The child could also be injured by striking the interior, or by being ej\
ected from the vehicle during a
sudden maneuver or impact. The same can also happen if the infant or chi\
ld rides unrestrained on the
seat or in the cargo section of a station wagon. Other occupants should \
also be properly restrained to
help reduce the chance of injuring or increasing the injury of a child. \

All states and provinces have legislation governing how and where childr\
en should be carried in a car.
Recent accident statistics have shown that children are safer in rear se\
ating positions than front seating
positions when properly restrained.

A child restraint system can help protect a child in a vehicle. Here's w\
hat to look for when selecting a
child restraint system:
-- It should have a label certifying that it meets applicable Federal Mo\
tor Vehicle Safety Standards
(FMVSS 213-80) - or in Canada, CMVSS 213.
-- Make sure the child restraint system is appropriate for the child's h\
eight, weight and development - the
label required by the standard or regulation, or instructions for infant\
restraints, typically provide this
information.
-- In using any child restraint system, we urge you to carefully look ov\
er the instructions that are
provided with the restraint. Be sure you understand them and can use the\
device properly and safety in
this vehicle.
-- A misused child restraint can result in increased injuries for both t\
he infant or child and other
occupants in the vehicle.

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Volvo 1990 240 Model
When a child has outgrown the child safety seat (approximately 4-5 year\
s of age, depending on size) you
should use the rear seat with the standard seat belt fastened. The best \
way to protect the child here is to
place the child on a cushion so that the seat lap belt is as far down on\
the hips as possible.

A specially designed and tested safety cushion for this purpose can be o\
btained from your Volvo dealer.

If necessary, an extra seat is available for use in the luggage compartm\
ent of station wagon models. This
seat is designed for two children, each up to 80 lbs. in weight and up t\
o 53 inches in height. pg. 27 Child safety

Child Restraint Anchorages

Volvo cars are fitted with child restraint top tether anchorages in the \
rear seat.
There are three anchorages under the rear section of the car's rear wind\
ow shelf on sedans and in the
back of the rear seat in wagons. When the car is delivered, the holes fo\
r these anchorages are covered by
plastic screws. In cars designated for Canada, one top tether anchorage \
set will be in the glove box. The
top tether anchorage set includes the top tether anchorage plate, an M8 \
bolt (30 mm long) and a plastic
trim cover. If another set is needed, consult your Volvo dealer.

Installing the top tether

Remove the plastic screw covering the anchorage point you want to use. T\
his can be done with a
suitable coin. The screw is removed counterclockwise.
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Volvo 1990 240 Model
Place the top tether anchorage plate as shown in the illustration. Using\
the M8 bolt, tighten securely, to
16 i 2.5 ft. lbs. Place the plastic trim plate over the anchorage plate,\
if desired.
WARNING!
Child Restraint Anchorages are designed to withstand only those loads im\
posed by correctly fitted
Child Restraints. Under no circumstances are they to be used for adult s\
eat belts or harnesses.
The anchorages are not able to withstand excessive forces on them in the\
event collision if full harness
seat belts or adult seat belts are installed to them.
An adult who uses a belt anchored in a Child Restraint Anchorage runs a \
great risk of suffering severe
injuries should a collision occur.
pg. 28 Seat belts



Seat belts, retractable

Always fasten the seat belts before you drive or ride.
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Volvo 1990 240 Model
Two lights will be illuminated for 4-8 seconds after the starting (igni\
tion) key is turned to driving
position. One light is located in the instrument cluster and one in the \
console between the front seats.
A chime will sound at the same time if the driver has not fastened his s\
eat belt. The front and rear
outboard seats are provided with self-retracting inertia-reel belts.

To buckle:
Pull the belt out from the retractor far enough to insert the latch plat\
e into the buckle until a distinct
snapping sound is heard. The belt should not be twisted or turned.
Note: The lap belt should sit low and tight under
abdomen.

To unfasten, depress red push-button in buckle and let the belts rewind \
into their retractors.

Before exiting the car, check that the seat belt retracts fully after be\
ing unbuckled. If necessary, guide
the belt back into its retractor slot.

The seat belt retractors are normally "unlocked",. The retractors will l\
ock up as follows:
l if belt is pulled out rapidly
l during braking and acceleration
l if the vehicle is leaning excessively
l when driving in turns
Check seat belt mechanism function as follows:
1. Attach the seat belt. Pull rapidly on the strap.

2. WARNING! Check other traffic before performing this
check.

Brake firmly from approximately 30 mph (50 km/h) or turn in a tight ci\
rcle while pulling on the belt.
In all the above checks you should not be able to pull the belt out.
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Volvo 1990 240 Model
pg. 29 Seat belts


Seat belts, manually adjustable

The center rear seat belt is manually adjustable. It should always be ad\
justed to the correct length.

To lengthen, angle the buckle as shown in the upper illustration and pul\
l the belt through.

To shorten, pull the upper part of the double webbing until snug.



During pregnancy

Pregnant women should always wear seat belts. The lap belt should be loc\
ated low on the hips, not
pressing against the abdomen.

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Volvo 1990 240 Model
WARNING: Never use any single seat belt for more than one occupant.
Never wear the shoulder portion of the belt under the arm or otherwise o\
ut of position. Such use could,
in event of accident, cause injury.
Volvo recommends that all occupants fasten their seat belts. Aftermarket\
devices used to induce slack
into the shoulder belt portion of Volvo's three-point belt system will h\
ave a detrimental effect on the
amount of protection available to you in the event of a collision
Note: Legislation in your state or province may mandate seat belt
usage.

Maintenance

Check periodically that the anchor bolts are secure and that the belts a\
re in good condition.
Use water and a mild detergent for cleaning.
As the seat belts lose much of their strength when stretched, they shoul\
d be replaced after collision, even
though they may appear to be undamaged.
Never modify or repair the belt on your own. If repair is required, have\
the work performed by an
authorized Volvo dealer.
pg. 30 Supplemental Restraint System (optional in Canada)

As an enhancement to the three-point seat belt system, your Volvo is equ\
ipped with a Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS). The Volvo SRS consists of a drivers side air b\
ag with a driver's side knee
bolster. The system is designed to supplement the protection provided by\
the three-point seat belt
system.
The interior of an SRS-equipped Volvo looks very much the same as any ot\
her. The only indications of
the system's presence are the "SRS" embossed on the steering wheel pad, \
and the knee bolster beneath
the steering column. Also, the SRS diagnostic receptacle is indicated on\
the center dash panel.
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Volvo 1990 240 Model
The air bag is folded and located in the center of the steering wheel. I\
t is released only during a frontal
or certain front-angular collision in which the forces sustained by the \
car are equivalent to an impact into
a rigid barrier of approximately 12 mph (19 kph).
WARNING! As its name implies, SRS is designed to be a SUPPLEMENT to - no\
t a replacement for -
the three-point belt system. The air bag is not designed to be released \
in the event of a protection, wear
seat belts at all times. Be aware that no system can prevent all possibl\
e injuries that may occur in an
accident.


The air bag system includes a gas generator (1), surrounded by the air\
bag itself (2). In the event of a
frontal or certain front-angular collision in which the forces sustained\
by the car are equivalent to an
impact into a rigid barrier of approximately 12 mph (19 kph)), the se\
nsor (3) activates the gas generator
causing the air bag to be inflated with nitrogen gas. As the movement of\
the driver compresses the air
bag, some of the gas is expelled at a controlled rate to provide better \
cushioning.
The entire process, including inflation and deflation of the air bag tak\
es approximately two-tenths of a
second.
WARNING:
When installing any accessories make sure that the SRS system is not dam\
aged. Do not attempt to
service any component of the SRS yourself. Attempting to do so may resul\
t in serious personal injury.
If a problem arises, take your car to the nearest authorized Volvo Deale\
r for inspection as soon as
possible.
pg. 31 Supplemental Restraint System
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Volvo 1990 240 Model

A self-diagnostic system incorporated in the sensor monitors the SRS. If\
a fault is detected, the "SRS"
warning light will illuminate. the light is included in the warning/indi\
cator light cluster in the instrument
panel. Normally, the SRS warning light will be illuminated along with th\
e other warning/indicator lights
when the ignition key is turned to the ON position (position II), and \
go out a short time after the engine
has been started. Check that this light is functioning properly every ti\
me the car is started.

The following items are monitored by the diagnostic system:
l Sensor unit electronics integrity.
l Reserve energy supply.
l Diagnostic output circuit.
l System voltage.
l Integrity of system connectors.
l Mercury switch closure.
l Gas generator ignitor
WARNING! If the SRS warning light stays on after the engine has started \
or if it comes on while you
are driving, drive the car to the nearest authorized Volvo Dealer for in\
spection as soon as possible.
ATTENTION! SRS VEHICLE!
THIS CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH A SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM. TO PROVIDE
CONTINUED RELIABILITY, CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM SHALL BE SERVICED OR REPLACED BY 1999. SEE OWNERS MANUAL FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION.
VOLVO

There is no maintenance to perform on the SRS yourself. The only periodi\
c maintenance recommended
on the SRS is that the air bag module and the sensor unit should be repl\
aced every ten years and that the
other components in the system (wiring, connectors, etc.) should also \
be inspected at this time. This
service must be performed by an authorized Volvo dealer.
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Volvo 1990 240 Model

Should you have any questions about the SRS system, please contact your \
authorized Volvo Dealer or
the Consumer Affairs Department:
In the U.S.A.
Volvo Cars of North
America
One Volvo Drive,
Rockleigh, New Jersey
07647 In Canada:
Volvo Canada Ltd.
175 Gordon Baker Road
Willowdale, Ontario M2H
2N7




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