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Front Airbags

Driver airbag 

Fig 1: Identifying Driver Airbag Types
GLL146637Courtesy of VOLVO CARS CORPORATION

Front passenger airbag 

Fig 2: Front Passenger Airbag
GLL107630Courtesy of VOLVO CARS CORPORATION
WARNING:

Never use an ohmmeter or similar tool to test airbags, inflatable curtains, the adaptive steering column or seat belt tensioners. Disconnect airbags, inflatable curtains, the adaptive steering column or seat belt tensioners before testing them. Failure to do so may result in accidental deployment. This could result in serious injury or death.

For the XC90 in USA/CDN, the front airbags are:

For other models and markets, the front airbags are:

The driver's airbag is located in the steering wheel. The passenger airbag is located above the glove compartment in the dashboard.

Each airbag stage has a separate ignition section. These are electrically separated from each other. This means that the different ignition components have their own separate power supply and grounding points from the control module.

When activating the airbags electrical signals are transmitted from the supplemental restraint system module (SRS) to the relevant airbag stage.

Stage 1 

Stage 1 of the driver's airbag is pyrotechnic. In the event of activation the charge combusts and the gas which develops is blown into the airbag.

Stage 1 on the passenger airbag consists of a pyrotechnic component in combination with a reservoir which stores a gas. On activation the pyrotechnic charge and mixes with the stored gas. The gas mixture is blown into the airbag.

Stage 2 

Stage 2 of the driver's and passenger airbags is pyrotechnical. In the event of activation the charge combusts and the gas which develops is blown into the airbag.

The pace of the airbag 2 stage activation is dependent on collision type and seat belt use. Both stages activate but in the event of a lesser impact, there is a greater time delay between stage 1 and stage 2. For more serious impacts the time delay is shorter between stages 1 and 2.

Stage 3 (XC90 USA/CDN only) 

Stage 3 of the driver's and passenger airbags is pyrotechnical. A valve opens on the airbag during deactivation.

The control module uses information from the occupant weight sensor (OWS), seat position sensor and collision sensor to determine the size of the driver/passenger and the force of the collision. The control module adapts the volume of the airbag to the force of the collision. This is done using airbag ventilation.

WARNING:

Never use an ohmmeter or similar tool to test airbags, inflatable curtains, the adaptive steering column or seat belt tensioners. Disconnect airbags, inflatable curtains, the adaptive steering column or seat belt tensioners before testing them. Failure to do so may result in accidental deployment. This could result in serious injury or death.