Volkswagen Repair in Sarasota

At Starlight Automotive, Volkswagen has been one of our mainstays for years — from older Mk4/Mk5 Golfs and Jettas to the latest Tiguan, Atlas, ID.4, and everything in between. If your VW is leaking coolant, hesitating on shifts, throwing a P0300 misfire code, or just needs its next service, we know these cars inside out.

VW Group cars are solid when maintained right, but they have their signature weak spots that show up predictably: timing chain tensioner stretch and failure on EA888 engines (common in 2.0T Tiguan, Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, and even some Audis), high-pressure fuel pump wear leading to rough idle or limp mode, PCV valve failures causing oil consumption and smoke, water pump leaks (plastic impeller cracks are notorious), thermostat housing failures, DSG transmission mechatronic issues (shuddering, harsh shifts, or getting stuck in gear on DQ250/DQ381 boxes), carbon buildup on intake valves in direct-injection engines, and the classic ABS module failures or wheel speed sensor glitches that light up the dash. We see these every week, so we skip the guesswork and go straight to what fixes it.

• Engine repairs — timing chain tensioner and guide replacements (many without full timing cover removal on EA888 Gen 1–3), high-pressure fuel pump swaps, PCV system overhauls, carbon cleaning (walnut blasting or chemical)
• Cooling system work — water pump/thermostat housing replacements, radiator fan control fixes, coolant leaks from turbo lines or expansion tanks
• Transmission service — DSG fluid/filter changes, mechatronic rebuilds or adaptations, dual-mass flywheel checks on manuals, Haldex AWD fluid service
• Suspension and steering — control arm bushings, sway bar links, electric power steering calibration, wheel bearing replacements
• Brakes — full ABS/ESP diagnostics, electronic parking brake resets, rotor/pad jobs
• Electrical and module diagnostics — using VCDS/ODIS full access (factory-level tools), battery registration, key coding, infotainment reboots, adaptive cruise/radar calibration

We follow VW factory specs for oil (VW 502.00/508.00/509.00 approvals), filters, and fluids — no cheap substitutes that’ll cause issues down the line. Parts are genuine VW or trusted OE equivalents (always run by you first).

• Straightforward quotes — we lock in the price before starting, and extras only with your go-ahead
• Proper diagnostics with VCDS/ODIS — catching adaptations, pending codes, and software quirks that basic scanners overlook
• Efficient work — sensor swaps, fluid services, or minor chain tensioners often done same-day
• We respect how VW builds cars — no half-fixes or shortcuts that come back to haunt you
• Neighborhood shop vibe — we’re local in Sarasota, know your car when it rolls in again, and treat it like our own

Whether it’s a simple oil change/Service, a check engine light that’s been bugging you, DSG shudder, or a bigger timing chain job, we’ve got the tools, experience, and parts to get your Volkswagen reliable and back on the road.

Give us a call or book online — we’ll get you scheduled fast and handle it right.