I just leave my optimate plugged in when using Tune ECU and have never had a problem. It doesn't take that long to read and upload the maps. Remove the headlight fuses as it tells you in the instructions and all will be well. Has the cat been removed? Im not sure if they are in the exhausts on your particular model or still in the cross over box. That would be my first removal before I started messing with the tuning as that's a good power gain over stock for little effort. Im not sure how much of a power gain you would get using tune ECU with everything stock..im sure someone will be here soon to tell you.