The other day I blew out the hose that goes from the water pump back to the engine, but I was able to get it home without overheating.

Now, as long as the battery is connected there is an intermittent clicking sound that I used to only hear when shutting off the engine. What ever this sound is, it drains the battery if left connected overnight.

In addition, when changing out the hose I shocked my arm on something near the throttle body twice so something is electrically live that should not be.

After searching around it seems like it might be some kind of idle air control motor that is malfunctioning but it seems like there is more to it due to the high voltage that coursed through my forearm with the key off and engine off.

Has anyone run into this issue?

My car is a 1995 XJ6.

I really appreciate the assistance

 

I guess I will try to narrow down the issue by pulling fuses and relays until that sound stops.

At least I will find out which circuit the problem is on.

...suggestions still very welcome

 

Update:

So there are actually two sounds I am hearing. The first is a steady but very faint 'tick, tick, tick, tick, tick' that is almost inaudible. I have very good hearing so a lot of folks might not be able to hear it.

The second sound is more of a 'click ... clack ........................click ....... clack' that sounds like a motor opening and closing a dry metal valve.

I disconnected the plug in the picture with the blue weatherproof gasket and both sounds go away.

Does this give anyone any ideas?



Diconnected plug with the blue gasket/ seal

 

That's the IACV which is designed to control idle. Try replacing it if both sounds disappear when you unplug it...

 

That's the idle air control valve, the wires could have possibly been burned by coolant when your hose busted and may be shorted to voltage causing it to consistently open or close. I would follow the wires and make sure they are intact and fix if necessary before replacing the valve.

 

Yes, I definitely want to find the root cause before I start replacing parts at random (dartboard method)

I should add that when I was replacing the busted hose my right arm was shocked by something in this area. Whatever it was that jolted my tapeworm must be on the ignition side of things as there's no way what I felt was 12 volts ... at least I don't think it was.

I will be tracing wires as soon as I get rid of the Black Widow spider nests in the engine compartment.

 

To add, the car does surge a little while idling.

 

Mikepickard, were you able to find out exactly what it is that gave you a jolt?

And did you try to leave the Idling air control valve socket wire disconnected overnight and see if it still drains your battery ?

 

No on both of those, but my guess is the cylindrical component to the left of the blue plug is what zapped me.

I have been disconnecting the battery so it doesn't die but will instead disconnect the blue plug overnight as a test.

Luckily the old girl is no longer my daily driver.

 

The sound has mysteriously disappeared. My guess is water from the broken hose was shorting something out and that water finally evaporated