What maintenance step is essential before beginning work on any vehicle's airbag system?

Before beginning work on any vehicle's airbag system, it is essential to disconnect the vehicle's power source. This step is crucial for safety reasons, as the airbag system is designed to deploy in the event of a collision. By disconnecting the power source, you significantly reduce the risk of unintentionally triggering the airbags and causing injury or damage.

Disconnecting the power ensures that no electrical signals can reach the airbag system, making it safe for mechanics to handle the components. This precaution is a standard safety procedure in automotive repair, particularly with systems that have the potential for unexpected deployment.

While performing a system reset, checking for diagnostic codes, or removing the airbag module are related steps in the airbag repair process, they are not as critical as ensuring that the power is disconnected first. Without first removing the source of power, any subsequent actions could pose serious risks.