Side Air bag quesiton, 1995 850 GLT

Wes850GLT · Post by **Wes850GLT** » 24 Apr 2007, 21:24

I just realized the other day that my model has the SIPS airbags. Was this standard for the 850's or was it an option? If it was an option I bet it was pricey. Side airbags weren't that prevalent in 95 I don't think.

ALSO, is there anyway for the Volvo dealer to test the airbags to make sure they are functional (i know they can't deploy them!). I'm sure they are OK as none of the airbag warning lights are on, I just wonder somtimes if they would work when needed after sitting idle for 12 years!

Thanks,

wes

zenmervolt · Post by **zenmervolt** » 24 Apr 2007, 23:28

Are you sure there are airbags?

There was an early SIPS system that did not use side airbags. It was simply a strengthened B-pilar with special attention paid to energy dissipation in the event of a side impact.

From the original Volvo SIPS press release in 1992:

"The solution, while largely invisible, consists of a further strengthening of the B-pillar, a reinforced door sill and roof rail, and strengthening of the floor members. These changes play an important role in dissipating the crash forces throughout the car's body by redirecting them around the safety cage. The B-pillar reinforcement also reduces the passenger compartment intrusion. The standard interior door panel on the car is sufficiently flexible to provide additional crash energy absorption."

Link to press release: http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/press/pdf/S ... ct1991.pdf

Link for info on the non-airbag SIPS in the 850 cars: http://au.geocities.com/OZBRICK850/safety.html

EDIT: Upon further investigation, it seems that the airbags were an option starting in '95. If your car has them, they will be listed on the airbag sticker in the driver's doorjam. The embossed "SIPS" logo on the frame and the "SIPS" tag on the seat are not indicators of the airbags, only the airbag sticker itself. I believe that the dealer can, in fact, run a diagnostic on the airbag system to ensure that they are still functional.

Post by **kelvin6** » 25 Apr 2007, 00:28

The side and front airbags label on the car has been superceded:

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/chat/p ... highlight=

The lifespan of the side and front airbags has been extended to 15 years instead of 10. As for the older 2xx/7xx series, 20 years. Apparently they do last that long...

On my old car, the car was 12 years old and the airbag did deploy in a accident... so it still worked properly... (this was a Mazda 626).

Wes850GLT · Post by **Wes850GLT** » 25 Apr 2007, 08:35

I just checked for stickers and there is one on the side of the dash (driver's side) warning me about installing seat covers that can block the airbag in the seat.

There is also a big black sticker on the door jam that lists 4 airbags (2 front, 2 side) and it states that I should have the bags serviced or replaced in Oct. 2005 (which is ten years because it's a 95 model)

I see in Kelven's post that they have extended this 5 years so I guess I've got till 2010!

Wes

Post by **HareBall** » 25 Apr 2007, 09:16

kelvin6 wrote:The side and front airbags label on the car has been superceded:

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/chat/p ... highlight=

The lifespan of the side and front airbags has been extended to 15 years instead of 10. As for the older 2xx/7xx series, 20 years. Apparently they do last that long...

On my old car, the car was 12 years old and the airbag did deploy in a accident... so it still worked properly... (this was a Mazda 626).

I work for ARC Automotive and what we do is make airbag inflators. Drivers, passengers and side impact. We run them through a mass spectrometer that will detect a leak as small as a 25 year leak. In other words a leak so small it would take 25 years to leak all the gas out. The gas is mostly argon. It has a 4% mixture of helium. The helium is what we detect and is the only reason for it being there.
Everything that is welded together leaks to some degree, but at least what we build is extremely small. I don't think we built the ones for Volvo, but we might have. I didn't work there then(mid 90's). I'm real sure we don't make them now. At least not here in Knoxville. We have a plant in Mexico and another in China. Used to be one in Italy.