airbag VOLVO 850 1996 Owners Manual

1996 Volvo 850
pg. 3:4 Volvo SRS


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 airbags (2) and kn\
ee bolsters (5) on both the driver's
and passenger's sides and seat belt tensioners in both front door pillar\
s (4). The system is designed to
supplement the protection provided by the three-point seat belt system. \

The SRS system is indicated by the "SRS" embossed on the steering wheel \
pad and above the glove
compartment, the knee bolsters beneath the steering column and the glove\
compartment and decals on
both sun visors and on the far right side of the dash.

The airbags are folded and located in the center of the steering wheel a\
nd above the glove compartment.
They are designed to deploy during certain frontal-angular collisions, i\
mpacts, or decelerations,
depending on the crash severity, angle, speed and object impacted. Both \
air bags and seat belt tensioners
will deploy, even if the passenger seat is not occupied.
WARNING! As its name implies, SRS is designed to be a SUPPLEMENT to - no\
t a replacement for -
the three-point belt system. The airbag is designed not to be released i\
n the event of a side or rear-end
collision, or during a rollover situation. For maximum protection, wear \
seat belts at all times. Be aware
that no system can prevent all possible injuries that may occur in an ac\
cident.

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1996 Volvo 850

The airbag system includes gas generators (1) surrounded by the airbag\
s (2) and front seat belt
tensioners for both of the front seats (4). To deploy the system, the \
sensor (3) activates the gas
generators causing the airbags to be inflated with nitrogen gas. As the \
movement of the seat's 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 any seat belt slack.

The entire process, including inflation and deflation of the airbags, ta\
kes approximately two-tenths of a
second.
WARNING! When installing any optional equipment make sure that the SRS s\
ystem is not damaged.
Do not attempt to service any component of the SRS yourself. Attempting \
to do so may result in
serious personal injury. If a problem arises, take your car to the neare\
st authorized Volvo Retailer for
inspection as soon as possible.
pg. 3:5 Volvo SRS
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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.

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1996 Volvo 850

There is no maintenance to perform on the SRS yourself. The only periodi\
c maintenance recommended
on the SRS is that the air bag modules and front seat belts (including \
tensioners) should be replaced
approximately every ten years and that the other components in the syste\
m (wiring, connectors, etc.)
should also be inspected at this time. The SRS decal on your car shows t\
he month and year servicing is
due. This service must be performed by an authorized Volvo retailer. Sho\
uld you have any questions
about the SRS system, please contact your authorized Volvo Retailer or V\
olvo Customer Support.
pg. 3:6 Volvo SRS
WARNING
This car is equipped with a full frontal Supplemental Restraint System (\
SRS) with AIRBAG in front of
the driver and front passenger.
*ALL OCCUPANTS MUST BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, ADULTS USING SEAT-BELTS
AND CHILDREN USING CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS.

*DO NOT INSTALL AND USE ANY CHILD RESTRAINTS IN THE FRONT SEAT.
We also recommend that children who have outgrown child restraint system\
s in the rear seat with the
seat-belt properly fastened. The safest place in the car for children is\
in the rear seat.
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAN RESULT IN INJURY TO THE VEHICLE\

OCCUPANTS IN AN ACCIDENT.
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1996 Volvo 850
pg. 3:7 Volvo SRS
NOTE: The information on this page does not pertain to the Side Impact p\
rotection System airbags.

When are the airbags deployed?

The SRS system is designed to deploy during certain frontal or front-ang\
ular collisions, impacts, or
decelerations, depending in the crash severity, angle, speed, and object\
impacted. The SRS sensor is
designed to react to both the impact of the collision and the inertial f\
orces generated by it and to
determine if the intensity of the collision is sufficient for the airbag\
s to be deployed.

NOTE: The SRS system activates only once in a collision.

If the airbags have been deployed, we recommend the following:
Have the car towed to an authorized Volvo retailer. Even if it can be dr\
iven after an accident we do not
recommend driving the car with deployed airbags.
Have an authorized Volvo retailer replace the SRS system components.
Use only new, Genuine Volvo Parts when replacing SRS components (airbag\
s, seat belts, tensioners,
etc.)

When are the airbags NOT deployed?

Not all frontal collisions activate the SRS system. If the collision inv\
olves a non-rigid object (e.g., a
snow drift or bush), or a rigid, fixed object at a low speed, the SRS s\
ystem will not necessarily deploy.
Airbags do not normally deploy in a side impact collision, in a collisio\
n from the rear or in a rollover
situation. The amount of damage to the bodywork does not reliably indica\
te if the airbags should have
deployed or not.

Can the airbags deploy accidentally?

The SRS system is designed to deploy during certain frontal or front-ang\
ular collisions, impacts, or
decelerations, depending on the crash severity, angle, speed and object \
impacted. The SRS system has
its own diagnostic unit which continuously monitors and inspects the sys\
tem. Make a habit of checking
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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
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1996 Volvo 850

SIPS airbag decal*

SIPS airbag (front seats only)

As an enhancement to the structural Side Impact Protection System built \
into your car, your car is also
equipped with Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) airbags. The SIPS a\
irbag system consists of airbag
modules built into the sides of both front seat backrests (1), cables \
(2) from these modules to the
mechanical sensor units (3) and gas generators (4).
The SIPS airbag system is designed to help increase occupant protection \
in the event of certain side
impact collisions. The SIPS airbags are designed to deploy only during c\
ertain side-impact collisions,
depending on the severity, angle, speed, and point of impact. The airbag\
s are not designed to deploy in
all side impact situations.

NOTE: SIPS airbag deployment (one airbag) occurs only on the side of t\
he vehicle affected by the
impact.

* A SIPS airbag warning decal is located at the end of the instrument pa\
nel on the driver's side of the
car.

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1996 Volvo 850
WARNING!
l The SIPS airbag system is a supplement to the Side Impact Protection Sys\
tem and the three-point
seat belt system. It is not designed to deploy during collisions from th\
e front or rear of the car or in
rollover situations.
l Only Volvo approved seat covers may be used. The use of non-approved aft\
ermarket seat covers
may impede SIPS airbag deployment.
l No objects, accessory equipment or stickers may be placed on, attached t\
o or installed near the SIPS
airbag system or in the area affected by SIPS airbag deployment (see il\
lustration to the right above).
l Never try to open or repair any components of the SIPS airbag system. Th\
is should only be done by
an authorized Volvo service technician.
l For best protection from the SIPS airbag system, both front seat occupan\
ts should sit in an upright
position with the seat belt properly fastened.

WARNING! Never drive with the airbags deployed. The fact that they hang \
out can impair the
steering of your car. Other safety systems can also be damaged. The smok\
e and dust formed when the
airbags are deployed can cause skin and irritation in the event of prolo\
nged exposure.




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