Before servicing an airbag, what is the recommended safety step?

• A. Remove the airbag from the vehicle
• B. Disconnect the battery to prevent deployment
• C. Disable the airbag warning light
• D. Put the vehicle in park

Answer: (B)

Airbag systems use fast-acting, energetic inflators triggered by electrical signals, and energy can remain stored in capacitors even when the vehicle is off. The safest first step before servicing is to disconnect the vehicle’s battery, removing power from the airbag module and inflator circuits to prevent any accidental deployment. After disconnecting, wait the recommended time for residual energy to dissipate before touching airbag components. This approach directly eliminates the risk of unintended deployment, which isn’t reliably addressed by simply turning off a warning light, parking the vehicle, or removing the airbag while still powered.