You cannot cut the cable off the IMRC it senses tension on the line and if it doesn't have any tension on it normally and when it pulls it will pop a CEL. I normally hook them up to a spring mounted near the driver's side strut tower when a chip isn't sourced right away.

As far as having a hybrid keep the IMRC for now unless you want to gut your lower intake manifold and weld the holes up.

1999 3.0L Cougar: 220fwhp and 200tq 2003 VW Passat W8 with 4 Motion AWD http://www.cardomain.com/ride/300644 PM for intrest in 3L SVT Contours, 3L swaps into your current car, Prepped 3L engines, or anything 3L related.