Volvo V50 Owner's Manual page 18

SRS system
SRS system, left-hand drive.
The system consists of airbags and sensors.
A sufficiently violent collision trips the sen-
sors and the airbag(s) are inflated with hot
gas. To cushion the impact, the airbag de-
flates when compressed. When this occurs,
smoke escapes into the car. This is com-
pletely normal. The entire process, including
inflation and deflation of the airbag, occurs
within tenths of a second.
SRS system, right-hand drive.
NOTE
The sensors react differently depending on
the course of the collision and whether the
seatbelts on the driver and passenger side
are used. It is therefore possible that only
one (or none) of the airbags may inflate in a
collision. The SRS system senses the force
of the collision on the car and adapts ac-
cordingly so that one or more airbags is de-
ployed.
NOTE
The airbags have a function whereby their
capacities are adapted to the collision force
to which the car is subjected.
01 Safety
Airbags (SRS)
WARNING
Repairs must only be performed by an au-
thorised Volvo workshop.
Unauthorised work on the SRS system
could cause malfunction and result in seri-
ous injury.
01
17