Halderman: I think the noise you were hearing was the tire rubbing in the wheel well. With five adults in a small sport utility vehicle, it is likely that you exceeded the gross vehicle weight (GVW) of the vehicle. Look at the tire inflation pressure placard on or near the driver’s door. There you will see the vehicle capacity including passengers and luggage. The amount of weight that a vehicle can carry is calculated by the vehicle manufacturer that for each passenger, which is a place with its own safety belt, times 150 pounds. If there are five seat belt positions then 5 times 150 pounds is 750 pounds. I looked up the CRV for the Honda CRV and it lists the passenger and luggage capacity to be 850 pounds, which means that it can carry five 150 pound passengers plus 100 pounds of luggage. Of course, most adults weigh more than 150 pounds each, and the passengers may include children, making the average lower. With 550 pounds just in the back seat plus the driver and front seat passenger, I am sure that the vehicle was overloaded. Thank goodness you did not drive very far because a tire failure could have resulted. The rear springs could also “take a set” and not restore the vehicle to its original height.
James D. Halderman is an ASE-certified master technician, a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and the author of 12 textbooks. Submit questions to jim@jameshalderman.com or follow him on Twitter @jameshalderman, or write him in care of: Wheels, Marketing Publications Department, Dayton Daily News, 1611 S. Main St., Dayton OH 45409.
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