IAC
 

If the engine is not running, but the key is turned to on, should the IAC be making any noise?

The Idle Air Control valve? It makes noise? I didn't think they did, or if they did something would be wrong with it.

Mine is making a sound like morse code. I have never heard it before, but maybe I just didn't notice it.

They often get dirty from the intake. They shouldn't make noise. If it's clicking that may means it's jammed and won't go in and out and control the idle like it should.

No noise should be present. Remove and clean...reinstall. ;)

If you need one..holler..there's like 3 laying around here somewhere.

I pulled the IAC to clean it and it flew apart. The threaded shaft popped out under tension from the spring. Should it come apart like that ?

Nope. It was broke. Most likely the noise you were hearing. The shaft/pintle should never come out.

Make sure you clean out the seat and inwhere the IAC goes before you put the new one in. I use que-tips and carb cleaner until I get virtually not residue on the que-tip.

I pushed the pintle shaft back in and it clicked back in the hole. I reinstalled it until I could get a new one, and there seems to be no problems.

What problems would a bad IAC cause?

Poor idle mostly.