The airbags are a pyrotechnic device and require current to deploy. No current source, no deployment. I'm not familiar with the GM connectors, but my guess would be they are of the self-shorting type. Which means, when they are disconnected from the vehicle harness, the leads are shorted together. This eliminates the possibility of a seperate power and ground path, making you safe from accidental deployment caused by a static charge.
John
