service VOLVO S80 2008 User Guide

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

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 remote control into the ignition slot and press the Start button (without depressing brake pedal) to go to
ignition mode II. See page 80
for more information.
Press firmly on the brake pedal.
Move the gear selector from Park ( P) to the Neutral ( N) position. See page 111 for information on manually
overriding the shiftlock system.
19 01 Safety
Safety in the passenger compartment
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.
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,

1See also the Occupant Weight Sensor information on page 22.
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
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.
21 01 Safety
Safety in the passenger compartment
Airbag decals

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 33
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
page 19
).
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.
22 01 Safety
Safety in the passenger compartment
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
back seat of any vehicle with a front passenger side airbag, and be properly restrained for their size and weight. See
also the child safety recommendations on page 33
.
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.
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 18) will come on and stay on
The message PASS. AIRBAG OFF SERVICE URGENT will be displayed in the information display.
WARNING
If a fault in the system is detected and indicated as described, 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.
23 01 Safety
Safety in the passenger compartment
WARNING
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.
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.
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.
24 01 Safety

Safety in the passenger compartment
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 front, passenger's side airbag.
Do not place any type of object on the front passenger's seat in such a way that jamming, pressing, or squeezing
occurs between the object and the front seat, other than as a direct result of the correct use of the Automatic Locking
Retractor/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR) seat belt (see page 33
).
No objects should be placed under the front passenger's seat. This could interfere with the OWS system's function.
25 01 Safety
Safety in the passenger compartment
Side impact protection (SIPS) airbags

This SIPS airbag system consists of a gas generator, the side airbag modules built into
26 01 Safety
Safety in the passenger compartment
the outboard sides of both front seat backrests, and electronic sensors/wiring.
WARNING
The SIPS airbag system is a supplement to the structural Side Impact Protection System and the three-point seat
belt system. It is not designed to deploy during collisions from the front or rear of the vehicle or in rollover
situations.
The use of seat covers on the front seats may impede SIPS airbag deployment.
No objects, accessory equipment or stickers may be placed on, attached to or installed near the SIPS airbag system
or in the area affected by SIPS airbag deployment.
Never try to open or repair any components of the SIPS airbag system. This should be done only by a trained and
qualified Volvo service technician.
In order for the SIPS airbag to provide its best protection, both front seat occupants should sit in an upright
position with the seat belt properly fastened.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury to the occupants of the vehicle in the event of an accident.
27 01 Safety
Safety in the passenger compartment
Volvo Inflatable Curtain (VIC)
The Volvo Inflatable Curtain system
This system consists of inflatable curtains located along the sides of the roof liners, stretching from the center of both
front side windows to the rear edge of the rear side door windows. It is designed to help protect the heads of the
occupants of the front seats and the occupant of the outboard rear seating positions in certain side impact collisions.
In certain side impacts, both the Inflatable Curtain (VIC) and the Side Impact Airbag System (SIPS airbag) will
deploy. The VIC and the SIPS airbag deploy simultaneously.
NOTE
If the inflatable curtain deploys, it remains inflated for approximately 3 seconds.

WARNING
The VIC system is a supplement to the Side Impact Protection System. It is not designed to deploy during
collisions from the front or rear of the vehicle or in rollover situations.
Never try to open or repair any components of the VIC system. This should be done only by a trained and
qualified Volvo service technician.
Never hang heavy items from the ceiling handles. This could impede deployment of the Inflatable Curtain.
WARNING
In order for the VIC to provide its best protection, both front seat occupants and both outboard rear seat occupants
should sit in an upright position with the seat belt properly fastened; adults using the seat belt and children using the
proper child restraint system. Only adults should sit in the front seats. Children must never be allowed in the front
passenger seat. See page 33
for guidelines. Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury to the vehicle
occupants in an accident.
28 01 Safety
Safety in the passenger compartment
Whiplash Protection System - WHIPS
Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) - front seats only
The WHIPS system consists of specially designed hinges and brackets on the front seat backrests designed to help
absorb some of the energy generated in a collision from the rear (when the vehicle is rear-ended).
In the event of a collision of this type, the hinges and brackets of the front seat backrests are designed to change

position slightly to allow the backrest/head restraint to help support the occupant's head before moving slightly
rearward. This movement helps absorb some of the forces that could result in whiplash.
WARNING
The WHIPS system is designed to supplement the other safety systems in your vehicle. For this system to function
properly, the three-point seat belt must be worn. Please be aware that no system can prevent all possible injuries that
may occur in an accident.
The WHIPS system is designed to function in certain collisions from the rear, depending on the crash severity,
angle and speed.
WARNING
Occupants in the front seats must never 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.
WARNING
If your vehicle has been involved in a rear-end collision, the front seat backrests must be inspected by a trained
and qualified Volvo service technician, even if the seats appear to be undamaged. Certain components in the WHIPS
system may need to be replaced.
Do not attempt to service any component in the WHIPS system yourself.
29 01 Safety
Safety in the passenger compartment
WARNING
Boxes, suitcases, etc. wedged behind the front seats could impede the function of the WHIPS system.
If the rear seat backrests are folded down, cargo must be secured to prevent it from sliding forward against the
front seat backrests in the event of a collision from the rear. This could interfere with the action of the WHIPS
system.