1999 Volvo s80 Sedan

[FIREBUF162]

In your recent article on the Volvo s80 you show side impact sensors in the B & C posts. Can these be activated if a spreader is put against them when prying and if so would they be disabled if battery is disconnected ? Also are there any other new cars with these features? Thanks

[rmoore]

Posting from Ron Moore, Forum Moderator

A question has been asked about the Volvo side impact crash sensors shown in the January 1999 University of Extrication article. Specifically rescuers are interested in knowing if these sensors can be activated when a spreader is put against them during prying or spreading. Or do the sensors become 'inactive' when power to the battery is shut down and their capacitors drain.

The sensors are wired into the same system as all the S80's airbags. We all agree we must make the effort to shutdown the battery soon into our operation. Remember, the Volvo S80 battery is located in the floor of the trunk.

Once shutdown, the S80 airbag capacitor has an estimated drain time of 10 seconds.

At that point, we as rescuers have done all that we can to reduce the possibility of unwanted post-crash airbag deployment.

With a jammed driver's front or rear door, however, the possibility of our extrication work crushing the actual sensor unit becomes a reality. Cutting or sawing work could also slice into the wiring loop to the sensor or the side impact bags.

We should make the effort to AVOID contact with or damaging the side impact sensors as a general rule of extrication.

Although the automaker states that with the battery shutdown and the capacitor drained, the chances of deployment are very minute (as in one in a million), I don't want that one in a million to happen at my crash scene.

If you look closely at the S80 pictures, you'll note that we can force either door without crushing the sensors. Vertical crush technique, cutting the door off at the hinges, spreading above the Nader latch are all possible methods I recommend.

Regarding anyone's side impact crash sensors, I feel we should not get in the habit of thinking that electrical shutdown and capacitor drain makes the vehicle's airbags immune to deployment. I say let's avoid these sensors if at all possible. As professionals this work will minimize the risks we encounter at the crash scene.