In 1987, Levell Gilliland opened Moody Auto Services. His son, Tim Gilliland worked alongside him in the shop since it’s opening. When Levell retired in 2013, the auto shop went to Tim.

Tim is a certified mechanic from Bessemer State Technical College. His expertise with cars was not something that was learned exclusively in school, though.

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For more information on Moody Auto Service, call the shop today at (205) 640-7100 or find the auto shop on Facebook at Facebook.com/MoodyAutoService.

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“No school can teach you what experience can,” Tim’s daughter and office manager Anna Shoop said. “Working here with my granddad since the shop opened is what has made him the expert he is.”

While Shoop accredits some of her father’s success to his education, she believes the relationships her father built through his longevity — two decades in Moody — is what has made the business so reputable. Instinct is something that Shoop believes cannot be taught in a classroom.

“He knows cars, and that is the most important thing a mechanic can know,” Shoop said. “He uses that experience to help him diagnose cars quickly and efficiently.”

As the ownership at the shop has evolved over the years, so has the technology used in assessing cars. One recent addition that the staff believes to be the most beneficial is a wireless diagnostic machine.

The device scans a car and can perform a full diagnostic test in mere seconds. What makes this even more customer-friendly is the fact that it’s wireless. The device can scan a car while it’s running in the parking lot. The car doesn’t have to be taken into the garage.

“This is another way we try to have our customers best interests in mind,” Shoop said. “They are our first priority and we want to make this process as simple as possible for them.”

Customer satisfaction is a big part of Moody Auto Services’ business model. The staff believes that the key is building important relationships, based on trust and honesty.

“We value our customers and want to give them what they want,” Shoop said. “I find that what’s most important is a true, honest work and a reliable staff.”

The staff works to keep each other accountable for remaining reliable and cooperative with customers. It is the staff’s desire to understand what a customer needs, what their budget is, and what the shop can do to make sure their car is properly cared for.

“Our main priority is working with our customers,” Shoop said. “We stand behind our work 100 percent, and if a customer isn’t satisfied we will do whatever we can to make sure their needs are met.”

• 3-mile radius free towing

• A/C repair

• Tune-ups

• Engine repair

• Brakes

• Tires

• Fluids

• Classic car overhaul and preventative maintenance

• Honda specialist technician