From dealerships, rental agencies and repair shops (and more), the Canadian automotive industry provides numerous fulfilling and long-lasting career opportunities. In fact, the Canadian automotive industry is the sixth largest on the planet, accounting for 25% of the country’s entire merchandise exports. According to the Automotive Industries Association of Canada, direct employment in the aftermarket (which deals with the manufacture, remanufacture, distribution, wholesaling and retailing of replacement parts, accessories, tools, equipment, accessories, chemicals and services) totaled 410,700 jobs in 2009.

Despite these numbers, you would be perfectly reasonable to assume that the industry’s job prospects have taken a hit in the last few years. The economic downturn in 2008, along with accelerated automation and global warming posed tough challenges and led to a 21% drop in new car sales…which obviously had a trickle down effect in all areas of automotive manufacturing, sales and repairs.

However, the industry has bounced back in the last two years, and as Windsor Star reporter Grace Macaluso recently reported, Canada’s share of North American light-vehicle production is now at an all-time high (the number now stands at 17.3% of North American vehicle production, which is up from pre-recession levels of 16.8%). Automotive Training Center director Zyg Strecha believes this increased production points to improved job opportunities, adding that, “New vehicle sales are also up a few percentage points over last year, so the economics and employment opportunities are there”.

Adding another extra boost is Canada’s Economic Action Plan, which has helped firms modernize their operations to create and maintain jobs. This follows the restructuring assistance the Canadian government provided to prevent the collapse of large companies, including Chrysler and GM, both of whom have repaid those loans in full. The rejuvenated strength of the industry’s biggest players, coupled with technological advances and the looming retirement of baby boomers, indicate that there are very bright job prospects in many segments of the vast auto industry.

If you are passionate about cars, therefore, now is the time to act on your dreams. To best prepare for these tremendous career opportunities, interested candidates should enroll in automotive training programs at auto repair schools with the best and most cutting edge training facilities. In order to step directly into the automotive workforce, students should look for automotive training programs that allow them to spend the maximum amount of time in real, industry standard auto repair shop environments. The best of these auto schools, for example, will use modern classrooms, bays, hoists, scanners for vehicle diagnostics and emissions testing, welding equipment, alignment hoists, modern paint booths and mixing rooms (for auto body repair) and much more.

Don’t be scared off by the news. Your career in the automotive industry is still within reach.

The brake pads are a very important piece of equipment on any car, as they allow the brakes to do their job smoothly, without jerking or grinding. This piece of your car’s system is what makes it possible to go very fast and then safely slow down and come to a stop.

When they start to wear out it is usually easy to tell that you need new brake pads. First you will notice that when you press the brake pedal it seems spongy. The point where you feel the brakes touch and the point where you have pushed it all the way are very far apart.

You may also notice that you need a longer distance to stop your car. Needing more time to stop your car is a definite sign you need new brake pads. Next will come the grinding, when you need new pads eventually they will begin to grind when your press the brake pedal. This means you have almost no pad left and you are grinding the parts of the brake together every time you try to stop.

The final and most dangerous stage of worn out brake pads is when the front end of your car literally hops as you grind the parts of your braking system together. When this begins to occur you are now damaging the entire system and the result of this is that you will need to completely replace rotors and the other parts of your braking system.

So what do you do when you need new brake pads? The answer to that one is easy, head to your local shop or auto mechanic. Getting new pads is simple and fast. A few screws on each pad and presto! Your car is safe to drive again.

Not replacing them when you need to is very dangerous and can and will cause damage to the other parts of the braking system, so look for the signs because not replacing this essential car part when you need to, really does not make any sense.

The procedure for replacing your pads is far too simple to not do it, and remember every second you drive with them worn, it will cost you more money. The starting price at most brake shops is very reasonable as long as all they have to do is install new brake pads, once they have to start dealing with the other parts of the braking system the price starts to go up considerably.

It is never a good idea to let your need for new brake pads get to the point where your car becomes dangerous to drive.

The most popular accessory that people put in their cars is a new car stereo. Having your car stereo professionally installed can be expensive. If you are already spending hundreds of dollars on your stereo deck, the idea of spending up to three hundred dollars more to have it installed can be intimidating. Not to worry, though. Installing your own car stereo can save you a lot of money, and it can look just as nice as a professional installation. All you need is a couple of tools, a few parts, and a little time.

Let’s go down the list of the things you will need to install your own car stereo.

Car Stereo Installation Tool Kit: You can pick one of these up for under fifty bucks. You can probably get them for as low as twenty dollars, depending on where you buy it from. Make sure it has a DIN tool or pick one up separately. Without a DIN tool, you aren’t going to be able to pull your original head unit out. Also, make sure your tool kit has a multimeter, wire strippers and crimpers, splicing connectors, and electrical tape. It is also a good idea to get one that includes the tools you need to remove the pieces of your dash’s trim safely. (The DIN tool is the most common tool for pulling out your stereo deck. Your car may need a different tool. Ask your stereo salesman about your car.)

In-Dash Receiver Kit: You need to pick this up especially made for your car. You can get universal ones if you have an older car, but if you have a newer car with climate controls or any other controls built into the stereo’s trim, you will need to order one specifically made for your car. You can usually pick these up for under thirty dollars from online retailers like JC Whitney or Crutchfield.

Wiring Harness Adapter: Most cars today have a simple plastic connection that plugs in all of your stereo wires. Your speakers, antenna, power controls, and auxiliary hook-ups are usually all bundled into one or two connections. With a wiring harness adapter made specifically for your car, hooking up all of your wires can literally be as simple as a snap.

Your Car Stereo: If you haven’t already got a car stereo you want to install or you are still undecided on what to buy, be sure you check with the retailer to make sure that it can fit in your car’s dash. Most stereos are compatible with most cars, but some stereos are oversized and made to fit only a few cars.

Time: Be sure you start this project on a day where you have a few hours. Once you get started, you will not be able to stop until you are finished. It may not even take a few hours, but you should still set aside the time so you can enjoy your new tunes.

When you are installing a car stereo, there are a few safety measures we need to go over. You want to make sure that you are doing this in a dry area. Water and electronics don’t mix. You also need to disconnect your negative battery cable under the hood. You disconnect this to protect your car, your new stereo, and yourself from electrical current and shorts while you are working. In my younger days, I did burn up a stereo by being hasty and skipping this important step. Now I make sure that the battery is disconnected before I work on any electrical component of the car.

Now that we have all the tools and parts we need and we know all about safety concerns, we can get to work on installing your new car stereo.

Disconnect the Battery: You should loosen and disconnect your NEGATIVE battery cable. Disconnecting the positive cable is not necessary.

Remove the old car stereo: Use your DIN tools to remove the old car stereo. There are holes on the sides for you to insert the tools into. Once you have them all the way in, put outwards pressure on the tools and pull gently, but firmly. Once you have it a little out, you should be able to grab the sides and support the weight of the old stereo while you pull it all the way out. Once you have it out, unhook all of the connections and set your old stereo to the side. (If you are using something other than the DIN tool, these work in the same fashion.)

Install Wiring Harness Adapters: Now that your stereo is out, all of your wires are exposed. This is the time to hook up the adapters you got for your car. Your wiring harness adapter probably has instructions designed just for your car. If you need to do any splicing, be sure you use splice connectors, electrical tape, or heat shrink tube. If you leave any exposed wire, it can cause your sound to be distorted, or even worse, short out your new stereo.

Install Your In-Dash Receiver Kit: If your car needs a kit, follow the supplied instructions carefully. Use the trim removal tools to disassemble the areas around your stereo. Your new pieces should snap in easily. You would need one of these in case your car has anything molded into the stereo’s faceplate, like climate controls. Most newer cars would probably use this kit.

Install Mounting Sleeve: Your car should be ready to have the mounting sleeve installed. This is a little “cage” type thing that locks into your dash. Simply slide it in and bend the appropriate tabs to lock it into place. Once you are done with that, it is a good idea to get your wires organized and easily accessible. Next, you are going to put your new stereo in!

Install Your New Stereo: By this time, your dash should look normal, except for a big rectangle hole in it. Take your new wiring harness adapter and plug it into the back of your stereo. There may be a couple of different connections and your antenna. Once those are all plugged in, tuck the excess wire neatly into the dash and then slide in your new stereo until it locks.

Hook Up Your Battery: Be sure and reconnect the battery cable. Be sure you tighten it up really snug, too. Loose battery connections are a leading cause of electrical problems.

Now it is time to take your new car stereo out for a spin. Well, it may be a better idea to sit in the driveway for a bit and get used to the controls. A lot of people spend hundreds of dollars to have their car stereo professionally installed. Now you can save a bundle by installing your own car stereo on a Saturday afternoon.