ignition VOLVO 850 1996 Owner's Manual

1996 Volvo 850

A self-diagnostic system incorporated in the sensor monitors the SRS. Th\
is system does not, however,
monitor the SIPS airbags. If a fault is detected, the "SRS" warning ligh\
t will illuminate. The light is
included in the warning/indicator light cluster in the instrument panel.\
Normally, the SRS warning lamp
should light up when the ignition is switched on and should go out after\
10 seconds or when the engine
is started. Check that this light is functioning properly every time the\
car is started.

The following items are monitored by all the self-diagnostic system:
l Sensor unit
l Cable harness
l Gas generator ignitors
WARNING!
Never drive an SRS equipped car with your hands on the steering wheel pa\
d/airbag housing.
No objects, accessory equipment or stickers may be placed on, attached t\
o or installed near the SRS
cover in the center of the steering wheel, the SRS cover above the glove\
compartment or the area
affected by the airbag deployment.
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 retailer for inspection as\
soon as possible.

file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_304.htm (3 of 10)12/30/2006 \
9:59:29 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org

1996 Volvo 850
the SRS system warning light when starting and driving the car. Normally\
, this light will come on when
the ignition is switched on and should go out after approximately 10 sec\
onds or when the engine is
started. If this light should stay on or come on while you are driving, \
drive the car to an authorized
Volvo retailer for inspection as soon as possible.

Seat belts - the heart of the Volvo safety system

The heart of the Volvo safety system is the three-point seat belt! In or\
der for the SRS system to provide
the protection intended, seat belts must be worn at all times by everyon\
e in the car. The SRS system is a
supplement to the seat belts.
WARNING! If your car has been subjected to flood conditions (e.g. soake\
d carpeting/standing water
on the floor of the vehicle) or if your car has become flood-damaged in\
any way, do not attempt to
start the vehicle or put the key in the ignition before disconnecting th\
e battery (see below). This may
cause airbag deployment which could result in personal injury. Have the \
car towed to an authorized
Volvo retailer for repairs.
Automatic transmission only:
Before attempting to tow the car, use the following procedure to overrid\
e the shiftlock system to move
the gear selector to the neutral position.
l Disconnect the battery
l Wait at least one minute
l Insert the key in the ignition and turn it to position 1
l Press firmly on the shiftlock override button (located near the base of\
the gear selector).
l While holding the override button down, move the gear selector from the \
park position.
pg. 3:8 Volvo Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) airbag
file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_304.htm (8 of 10)12/30/2006 \
9:59:29 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org

1996 Volvo 850
Volvo allows the use of the following "oxygenated fuels"; however, the o\
ctane ratings listed on this page
must still be met.

Alcohol -- Ethanol

Fuels containing up to 10% ethanol by volume may be used.
Ethanol may also be referred to as Ethyl alcohol, or "Gasohol".
Ethers -- MTBE
Fuels containing up to 15% MTBE may be used.

Refueling

The fuel tank filler cap is located behind the door on the left rear fen\
der. Open cap slowly during hot
weather conditions.
When filling, position the cap in the special bracket on the door.

NOTE: Turn the ignition off or to position I when refueling. If the igni\
tion is on, an incorrect reading
could occur in the fuel gauge (low fuel will be indicated).

After filling the tank, install the cap and turn until a "click" is hear\
d.
The fuel tank is designed to hold approximately 19.3 US gals (73 liters\
) with sufficient volume left over
to accommodate possible expansion of the fuel in hot weather. The "usabl\
e" tank capacity will be
somewhat less than the specified maximum. When the fuel level is low, su\
ch factors as ambient
temperature, the fuel's "vapor pressure" characteristics, and terrain ca\
n affect the fuel pumps' ability to
supply the engine with an adequate supply of fuel. Therefore, it is advi\
sable to refuel as soon as possible
when the needle nears the red zone, or when the fuel warning light comes\
on.
CAUTION: Do not refuel with the engine running. After refueling, close t\
he fuel filler cap by turning
it clockwise until it clicks into place.

NOTE: if the filler cap is not closed tightly or if the engine is runnin\
g when the car is refueled, the
Malfunction Indicator Lamp may indicate a fault. Use only Volvo original\
or approved fuel filler caps.

file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_401.htm (4 of 8)12/30/2006 9\
:59:32 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org

1996 Volvo 850

Some of the above mentioned items and others are checked at the standard\
Maintenance Service
intervals.

NOTE: ( D )rive or 5th gear (manual transmissions) should be used as\
often as possible to help improve
fuel economy. pg. 4:5 Starting the engine
Starting and stopping

1. Fasten the seat belt.
WARNING! Before starting, check that the seat and steering wheel are adj\
usted properly. Make sure
the brake pedal can be depressed completely. Move the seat closer if nec\
essary. Refer to section "front
seats".

2. Apply the parking brake, if not already set. The gear selector ( aut\
omatic transmission ) is locked in
the ( P )ark position ( SHIFT LOCK ).

3. Without touching the accelerator pedal , turn the ignition key to the\
starting position. Allow the starter
to operate for 5-10 seconds (turbo: 10 seconds). Release the key as so\
on as the engine starts. If the
engine fails to start, repeat step 3.
For cold starts at altitudes above 6000 ft (1800 m), depress the accel\
erator pedal halfway and turn the
key to the starting position. Release the accelerator pedal slowly when \
the engine starts.

4. To release the gear selector from the (P)ark position (automatic t\
ransmission), the ignition key must
be in position II and the brake pedal must be depressed.
See page 6:18 for instructions on manually
overriding the SHIFTLOCK system.

Do not race a cold engine immediately after starting. Oil flow may not r\
each some lubricating points fast
enough to prevent engine damage.

NOTE: (Automatic transmission only)
file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_401.htm (6 of 8)12/30/2006 9\
:59:32 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org

1996 Volvo 850
Your car is equipped with a KEYLOCK system. When the engine is switched \
off, the gear selector must
be in the ( P )ark position before the starting key can be removed fro\
m the ignition switch.

5. Select desired gear. The gear engages after a slight delay (automati\
c transmission) which is especially
noticeable when selecting R.
CAUTION: (Automatic transmission only) The engine should be idling; ne\
ver accelerate until after
you feel the gear engage! Too rapid acceleration immediately after selec\
ting a gear will cause harsh
engagement and premature transmission wear.

NOTE: Selecting P or N (automatic transmission) when idling at a stand\
still for prolonged periods of
time will help prevent overheating of transmission oil.
WARNING! Always place the gear selector (automatic transmission) in Pa\
rk and apply the parking
brake before leaving the vehicle. Never leave the car unattended with th\
e engine running.
Always open the garage doors fully before starting the engine inside a g\
arage to ensure adequate
ventilation. The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, which is invisib\
le and odorless but very
poisonous.
TURBO CAUTION:
Never race the engine immediately after starting. Oil flow may not reach\
some lubricating points fast
enough to prevent engine damage.
Do not race the engine just prior to switching off!

Hydraulic valve lifters

This engine features hydraulic valve lifters which means that valve clea\
rance is adjusted automatically.
It is possible that the valve lifters will produce a ticking sound for t\
he first few seconds after the engine
is started, while the oil pressure is increasing.
If the car has not been used for a long period of time, this ticking sou\
nd may last for up to 15 minutes.
This is entirely normal.
Do not exceed 300 rpm until the ticking sound disappears.



file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_401.htm (7 of 8)12/30/2006 9\
:59:32 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org

1996 Volvo 850
WARNING!
l To reduce the possibility of explosion, never expose battery to open fla\
me or electric spark.
l Do not smoke near battery.
l Batteries generate hydrogen gas which is flammable and explosive.
l Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not allow battery fluid to cont\
act eyes, skin, fabrics or
painted surfaces. If contact occurs, flush affected area immediately wit\
h water. Obtain medical
attention immediately if eyes are affected.
Failure to follow the instructions for jump starting can lead to persona\
l injury.
pg. 4:15 Three-way catalytic converter

Three-way catalytic converter cautions

l Keep your engine properly tuned. Certain engine malfunctions, particular\
ly involving the electrical,
fuel or distributor ignition systems, may cause unusually high three-way\
catalytic converter
temperatures. Do not continue to operate your vehicle if you detect engi\
ne misfire, noticeable loss of
power or other unusual operating conditions, such as engine overheating \
or backfiring. A properly tuned
engine will help avoid malfunction that could damage the three-way catal\
ytic converter.
l Do not park your car over combustible materials, such as grass or leaves\
, which can come into contact
with the hot exhaust system and cause such materials to ignite under cer\
tain wind and weather
conditions.
l Excessive starter cranking (in excess of one minute), with an intermit\
tently firing or flooded engine,
file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_412.htm (4 of 10)12/30/2006 \
9:59:35 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org

1996 Volvo 850
can cause three-way catalytic converter or exhaust system overheating.
l Remember that tampering or unauthorized modification to the engine or th\
e vehicle may be illegal
and can cause three-way catalytic converter or exhaust system overheatin\
g. This includes:
- Altering fuel injection settings or components.
- Adjusting distributor ignition timing beyond specified limits.
- Altering emission system components or location or removing components\

- Repeated use of leaded fuel.

NOTE: Unleaded fuel is required for cars with three-way catalytic conver\
ters. A label on the instrument
panel and inside fuel tank filler door will remind owners and filling st\
ation attendants of this
requirement.

Important! It is unlawful to dispense leaded fuel into any vehicle label\
ed "unleaded gasoline only".
pg. 4:16 Brake system


Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)

If the warning lamp lights up there is a malfunction of the ABS system (\
the standard braking system will
however function) and the vehicle should be driven to a Volvo retailer \
for inspection. The Anti-lock
Braking System (ABS) helps to improve vehicle control (stopping and s\
teering) during severe braking
conditions by limiting brake lock-up. When the system "senses" impending\
lock-up, braking pressure is
automatically modulated in order to help prevent lockup, which could lea\
d to a skid.
The system performs a self-diagnostic test when the vehicle first reache\
s a speed of approximately 12
mph (20 km/h). The brake pedal will pulsate several times and a sound \
may be audible from the ABS
control module. This is normal.
To obtain optimal effect from the ABS system, constant pressure should b\
e kept on the brake pedal
while the system is modulating the brakes. Do not pump the brake pedal. \

The switching of the ABS modulator will be audible and the brake pedal w\
ill pulsate at this time. Please
be aware that ABS does not increase the absolute braking potential of th\
e vehicle. While control will be
enhanced, ABS will not shorten stopping distances on slippery surfaces. \

file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_412.htm (5 of 10)12/30/2006 \
9:59:35 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org

1996 Volvo 850
pg. 6:5 Replacing bulbs
Replacing bulbs

Make sure when installing bulbs, that the guide pin on the socket fits i\
nto its corresponding recess.
When installing Halogen bulbs, do not touch the glass with your fingers \
because grease, oil or any other
impurities can be carbonized onto the bulb and damage the reflector. Use\
bulbs of correct type and
voltage. Failure to do so could cause the bulb failure warning light to \
activate.

NOTE: Turn the ignition and the light switch off before replacing any bu\
lbs.



Parking light/direction indicator

1. Loosen the spring which retains the lamp housing.
2. Withdraw the entire lamp housing; separate the bulb holder from the l\
amp unit.
3. Leave the connector with its wires in the bulb holder.
4. Remove the bulb from the holder by pressing in and turning counter-cl\
ockwise.
5. Insert a new bulb and reinstall the unit in the reverse order. pg. 6:6 Replacing bulbs
file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_605.htm (1 of 13)12/30/2006 \
9:59:43 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org

1996 Volvo 850
2. Brake light
3. Tail light
4. Back-up light
5. Tail light / Rear fog light (left side only)

All the bulbs in the tail light unit are replaced from inside the cargo \
space as follows:
l Turn the ignition key to position 0 and switch off the lights.
l Remove the upper panel of the tail light unit by using a screwdriver and\
/or the lower panel by first
removing the side floor cover and then the panel.
l Press in the plastic catches (A or B) and take out the bulb holder.
l Remove the speaker (optional) from the upper section of the tail light\
unit.
l Leave the connector and cables connected to the bulb holder.
l Remove the bulb by pressing it inwards and turning it slightly counter-c\
lockwise.
l Insert a new bulb into the bulb holder and reinstall the holder in the t\
ail light assembly.
l Check that the bulb works. Reinstall the cover.
pg. 6:9 Replacing bulbs Depress the catches (sedans)

Press sides and pull out/down (wagons)

file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_605.htm (6 of 13)12/30/2006 \
9:59:43 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org

1996 Volvo 850

Press in the springs (sedans) Remove the cover (wagons)

High-mounted brake light

Sedans:
l Turn off the ignition.
l Press in the springs on both sides of the holder.
l Pull the cover towards you.
l Depress the catches on both sides of the reflector and withdraw it from \
the holder.
l Replace the bulb.
l Reinstall the reflector.
l Press the cover into place.

Wagons:
l Turn off the ignition.
l Press the sides of the cover using both hands and pull it out and down. \
l Remove the inner protective cover from the bulb.
l Remove the bulb by pressing in and turning slightly counter-clockwise.
l Replace the bulb.
l Reinstall the protective cover over the bulb.
l Press the cover into place.
pg. 6:10 Replacing bulbs
file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_605.htm (7 of 13)12/30/2006 \
9:59:43 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org