Looking at buying a 92 loyale

lifter tick is fairly normal with the hydraulic valve lash adjusters in the ej22 motors that came in those cars, only time I've had check engine lights come on in my 93 Legacy (basically the same car) is for an o2 sensor. if you want to know if the 4wd is engaging in it find some gravel turn on the 4wd and lay the hammer down.

These Loyales have the ea82 motor not the ej22 motors, As these cars only had a 1.8L boxer not the 2.2 like those in the early Legacy. The ea82 have valve lash adjusters too, and are well known to ticking. But when they tick it will stop and start and be louder or very quite depending on its mood haha. I've had a few subys and the older they are the louder they tick.Don't worry about the check engine light either, so long as it isn't a major sensor. When you hit the 4wd switch the pic of the car on the dash will light up green. These are awesome cars in winter, i have a soft spot for these.