What is this part?

Hey all,
I don't know much about cars and was hoping for a little help. My '93 Cadillac's battery is getting drained. When everything is set to "off" and the car is totally shut off, there is a small motorlike device next to the big round thing that says 4.9 liter (told you i know very little!) that makes a ticking sound when I wiggle the positive battery node. I don't know what this part is, what it does, or how to fix it and was hoping that someone had a little advice to offer.
Thanks,
CaddyGirl

you must be talking about the auto leveling motor. does it run for a bit then shut off for a while then start again?

It could be. The other thing I've notice is that I have to give my car gas to get it started, once it's started, it runs fine. I have recently had a problem with squirrels chewing on the wires under the hood, I'm really hoping that's not the case again, but I am afraid it is. Any other ideas?

kill those darn squirrels, their rats with bushy tails