how can i tell if my engine is interference or non-interference?

also, my check engine light is off it does not light up with the rest of the instrument lights on the panel. is this serious?

It is most definitely an interference engine, and as many people stated keep UP on your timing belt, mine blew 2k miles before I was going to change it and a new engine and $2k later I was up and running.

--Erik

The check engine light (cel) is needed if you live in an emission testing state. Otherwise, it is nice to know when the cel is telling you that something is/was wrong. If you change the bulb, change ALL of the dash lights. The bulbs are available at autoparts stores and the dash removal instructions are on volvospeed.com
Your engine is an interference type of engine.

Klaus
--
98 V70Rawd(101Kmi), 95 854T(85K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)

All the FWD/AWD white engine volvos have interference engine.

Which means, you better replace the t-belt when is due or you'll be SOL.
--
'88 240, '92 745, '98 v70 -John, Tampa Bay

I always thought any overhead cam engine was an interference engine.
--
Geo

nope see the b230...

maybe the bulb has blown.....you can read the codes anyway and it will tell you if any are stored. Not serious really.

You might as well get in there and change out the bulb as well as all of the illumination bulbs while you are at it. While the lack of a CEL will probably not be critical it would be nice to know if a fault code has been stored and when it was stored. Yes, you can still check for the presence of a fault code without it, however you will not know when the code is there nor how long it has been there. All of the white engines (850, 960, S40 etc.) are interference motors. Alot of you OHC motors are interference but just because they are OHC doesn't mean that they are automatically inerference, i.e. B230s and the like.

Mark