Hello!

As a new Škoda owner I thought I'd take on changing the timing belt on my Octavia mk2 4x4 2.0 fsi from 2006 (engine code BVX). However, when I had dismantled most of the stuff and gotten the engine mount off, I simply could not get the engine bracket off. The ac lines seem to be too much in the way and I did not feel comfortable jacking up the engine far enough to clear them.

Is this a common problem and does anyone have some suggestions for how I could proceed? I haven't found much regarding this, some people claim you can leave it dangling and work around it but that seems insane... Surely there is a better way intended by the manufacturer to change the timing belt that doesn't include removing the entire engine? 😅

I ended up putting it all back together and sadly I didn't take any pictures during but I try to show on the pictures below in red how the ac line goes and in green the bracket. The ac line is so high up that it seems impossible to go above and there is not even close to enough clearance since the bracket has this metal piece that goes a few cm deep into the engine.

Thanks in advance for any tips or experiences you may share!

Well, turns out you can lift the engine really far up and eventually it will be barely possible to push it behind the engine. Also this video is really nice to see every step of the process for anyone else finding this in the future. https://youtu.be/-PK2lm4kcEU?si=RxRyZM2fZqTgRsqH