Just got an automatic 93 loyale 4 door sedan about a month ago. So far have done my best to repair some rust in the trunk (which I found strange but oh well) and had the 105,000 mile oil change done. Found records of all the Jiffy Lube work done on the car and everything they can do has been done on time in the past. Recently started having electrical problems:

 

The dashboard clock won't keep time (something I could care less about)

The stereo stops working but stays lighted when the headlights are on (wierd?)

 

Just tonight when parking the shifter was in "P" but the car began to roll backwards when I started to get out. Quickly re-started and put car back in place, put it in park again and it stayed. I used the parking brake tonight just to be sure.

 

Hopefully it isn't a transmission problem, but a major electrical problem wouldn't be good either.

 

I'm a complete noob to automotive work, so anyone got some ideas for me (other than just taking it in and getting an estimate)?

None of that really sounds serious to me.

 

Clock is normal - about 90% of these stop working I would say - it's a known problem. Actually easy to fix - you just pry the clock out, and remelt the solder on the circuit board and it should be good as new.

 

Aftermarket stereo? Sounds like a hack-job installer that wired up the illumination circuit incorrectly - either that or the stereo itself is messed up internally such that the illumination control (it's supposed to dim when you turn on the headlights) has gone tits up. Just have a stereo shop install an aftermarket deck for you - they can be had cheap and installation is like $35.

 

The park issue is probably just the shifter out of adjustment - the shifter is not "electric" it actually moves a rod connected directly to the transmission. If it's out of adjustment a little or the bushings are worn then you may have a situation where you have to jiggle it a bit or work it harder to "find" the park position. Not a really difficult fix anyway. For that matter you should be using the parking brake anyway (for your safety and mine), and you can just leave it in neutral if you like - the parking pawl in the transmission really isn't designed to hold the weight of the entire car anyway.

 

GD

Cool, thanks a bunch. I was getting nervous that there would be some major work needed. Overall I'm very happy with this little car. It's always run well, and sounds excellent since we got the oil change done. So I won't worry about the shifter until later then as I do need to get the brakes done first.

 

I'm totally hooked on Subarus now and so is my girlfriend. She points them out every time we go driving somewhere.