So, I sold my 99 civic ex to a friend about a month ago. The timing belt broke Saturday morning. I had it replaced about 25k miles ago. He and his dad are starting to replace it now. My question is do they need to pull the head to check the valves or is it a noninterference motor?

 

It's an interference motor.

However, there is a method to test the valves without pulling the head. And that is by performing a leakdown test. If you have any bent valves, you will have severe pressure loss at TDC and will hear the air escaping into either the exhaust or the intake manifold.

 

And if you don't have an air compressor, you don't even need to do a leakdown. Just replace the timing belt and start it. Does it run right? Good, you didn't bend any valves.

 

Install new belt and then compression test the cylinders.