VOLVO C70 2008 User Guide
Manufacturer: VOLVO, Model Year: 2008, Model line: C70, Model: VOLVO C70 2008Pages: 246, PDF Size: 5.14 MB
Page 11 of 246

 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.
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.
 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.
15 01 Safety
Seat belts
Seat belt guides
These guides are designed to help provide easier access to the seat belts. A belt can be  taken out of the guide and  slid
to the rearmost part of the lower seat belt anchorage rod to make it easier for passengers to enter or exit the rear seat.
 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
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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  insure  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
16 01 Safety
Seat belts
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 33
 for information on securing child seats  with the seat belts.
Seat belt reminder
The seat belt reminder consists of an  audible  signal, an  indicator light above the rearview mirror, and  a  symbol  in the
instrument panel (see page 51
) that alert the driver and  front  seat passenger  if their seat belts are not fastened.
 NOTE 
The function is active for a  total of 6 minutes from  the time the ignition is switched on.
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During the first minute:
The seat belt reminder function only reacts if the driver has not fastened his/her seat belt.
 The indicator light above the mirror and  the symbol  in the instrument panel will light up and  stay lit until the seat
belt has been fastened.
 A chime  will sound for 6 seconds. The frequency of the chiming increases with the speed of the car.
After one minute has  elapsed:
The seat belt reminder reacts if the driver and/or the front  seat passenger  have not fastened their seat belts.
 The indicator light above the mirror and  the symbol  in the instrument panel will light up and  stay lit until the seat
belt(s) have been fastened, or until the remaining 5 minutes of the 6-minute cycle have elapsed.
 The chime  will sound for 6 seconds, at 30-second intervals.  The frequency of the chiming increases with the speed
of the car.
After 6 minutes, the chime  will no longer sound and  the indicator lights will go out.
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 function as follows: attach the seat belt and  pull rapidly on the strap.
17 01 Safety
Supplemental Restraint System
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
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, the 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 key  is turned to position I, II, or III, and  will
normally go out after approximately 7 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  either SRS AIRBAG SERVICE
URGENT  or SRS AIRBAG SERVICE REQUIRED  will be  displayed.
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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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As the movement of the seats' occupants compresses the airbags, some of the gas is expelled at a  controlled rate to
provide better cushioning. Both  seat belt pretensioners also deploy, minimizing seat belt slack. The entire process,
including inflation and  deflation of the airbags, takes approximately one  fifth of a  second.
The location of the front  airbags is indicated by "SRS AIRBAG" embossed  on the steering wheel pad  and  above the
glove compartment, and  by decals on both sun visors and  on the front  and  far right side of the dash.
 The driver's side front  airbag is folded and  located in the steering wheel hub.
 The passenger's  side front  airbag is folded behind a  panel located above the glove compartment.
 WARNING 
 The airbags in the vehicle are designed to be  a  SUPPLEMENT  to-not a  replacement  for-the three-point seat belts.
For maximum protection, wear  seat belts at all times. Be aware  that no system can prevent all possible injuries that
may occur in an  accident.
 Never  drive a  vehicle with a  steering wheel-mounted airbag with your hands on the steering wheel pad/airbag
housing.
 The front  airbags are designed to help prevent serious injury. Deployment  occurs very quickly and  with
considerable force. During normal deployment and  depending on variables such as seating position, one  may
experience abrasions, bruises, swellings, or other injuries as a  result from  deployment of one  or both of the airbags.
 When installing any  accessory  equipment, make sure that the front  airbag system is not damaged. Any interference
in the system could cause malfunction.
19 01 Safety
Front airbags
Front  airbag deployment
 The front  airbags are designed to deploy during certain frontal or front -angular collisions, impacts, or decelerations,
depending on the crash severity, angle, speed and  object  impacted. The airbags may also deploy in certain non-frontal
collisions where  rapid deceleration  occurs.
 The SRS sensors,  which  trigger the front  airbags, are designed to react  to both the impact of the collision  and  the
inertial forces  generated  by it, and  to determine if the intensity  of the collision  is sufficient for the seat belt
pretensioners and/or airbags to be  deployed.
However, not all frontal collisions activate the front  airbags.
 If the collision  involves a  nonrigid object  (e.g., a  snow drift or bush), or a  rigid, fixed object  at a  low speed, the
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front  airbags will not necessarily  deploy.
 Front airbags do not normally deploy in a  side impact collision,  in a  collision  from  the rear or in a  rollover situation.
 The amount of damage to the bodywork does not reliably indicate if the airbags should have deployed or not.
 NOTE 
 Deployment  of front  airbags occurs only one  time during an  accident. In a  collision  where  deployment occurs, the
airbags and  seat belt pretensioners activate. Some noise occurs and  a  small amount of powder is released. The release
of the powder may appear as smoke-like matter. This is a  normal characteristic and  does not indicate fire.
 Volvo's  front  airbags use special sensors  that are integrated with the front  seat buckles. The point at which  the
airbag deploys is determined by whether or not the seat belt is being used, as well as the severity of the collision.
 Collisions can occur where  only one  of the airbags deploys. If the impact is less severe, but severe enough  to
present a  clear  injury risk, the airbags are triggered at partial capacity. If the impact is more severe, the airbags are
triggered at full capacity.
Should you have questions about any  component  in the SRS system, please contact a  trained and  qualified Volvo
service technician or Volvo Customer Support:
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
www.volvocars.us
In  Canada :
Volvo Cars of Canada Corp.
National  Customer Service
175 Gordon Baker Road
North York, Ontario M2H 2N7
1-800-663-8255
www.volvocanada.com
 WARNING 
 Do not use child safety seats  or child booster  cushions/backrests in the front  passenger's  seat. We also recommend
that occupants under 4 feet 7 inches (140 cm) in height who have outgrown these devices sit  in the rear seat with the
seat belt fastened
1.
 Never  drive with the airbags deployed. The fact that they hang  out can impair the steering of your vehicle. Other
safety systems can also be  damaged.
 The smoke and  dust formed when the airbags are deployed can cause skin and  eye irritation in the event of
prolonged exposure.
1See also the Occupant Weight  Sensor information on page 21.
20 01 Safety
Front airbags
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 WARNING 
 Children must  never be  allowed in the front  passenger's  seat. Volvo recommends that ALL  occupants (adults and
children) shorter than 4 feet 7 inches (140 cm) be  seated in the back seat of any  vehicle with a  passenger -side front
airbag. See  page 32
 for guidelines.
 Occupants in the front  passenger's  seat must  never sit  on the edge of the seat, sit  leaning  toward the instrument
panel or otherwise sit  out of position.
 The occupant's back must  be  as upright as comfort allows and  be  against the seat back with the seat belt properly
fastened.
 Feet must  be  on the floor,  e.g.,  not on the dash, seat or out of the window.
 WARNING 
 No objects or accessory  equipment, e.g.  dashboard covers, may be  placed on, attached to, or installed near the air
bag  hatch (the area above the glove compartment) or the area affected by airbag deployment (see the illustration on
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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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