cassette player in car radio makes clicking sound?

I have a clicking noise and was told by a mechanic it was from the cassette tape player trying to start------it does this even when the radio is turned off.

Initially I thought it was my climate control (93 Lincoln Town Car) making the clicking noise but a mechanic told me it was the tape player.

Have you heard of this before? Is there a way I can fix it? Or, do I need to get a complete new car radio?