Tonneau cover fitting probs.

Hi all,
Today I tried fitting a Tonneau cover that I purchased from eBay a week or two ago, but to my annoyance it doesn't want to play ball!
It's for a 91 GTI and the hood is electrically operated.
I can fit the hooks from the cover into the loops at the back of the hood (just above the boot) and the prestuds on the elastics from the hood reach down to the prestuds down the sides of the rear seats.
The straps go down behind the rear seats and Velcro to the underside of the rear shelf via reaching in through the boot, BUT the prestuds on the sides of the cover are about 3 inch short, and will not meet up with the prestuds on the plastic cover either side of the rear seats (that face the rear side windows)
I know that the hood frames were changed about three times during the mk1 lifetime, but this wouldn't affect the fitting of the cover would it?
The car was stripped down and resprayed by the previous owner, so could the hood have been refitted incorrectly, although it doesn't leak, and seems to be a good snug fit.
The only fix I can think of is to make up two small straps that have prestuds on each end, but on either side of each other, and use these as extensions.
Is there anything I can adjust before I go down this path?
Hoping that someone out there can help…..ta!

First of all you need to check what year its from as there are 3 different covers.
Early ones 79-81 have a row of press studs that go onto the parcel shelf edge. They are different in size for later cabbies. see pics below.




82-93 will fit but there are differences in them also.

90-93 have an extra dog ear flap that goes to the studs on the inner plastic trim by the rear windows, this interupts the supply to the hood so you don't raise it with the cover in place.

Lower the top fully, open boot and pull the rear seat release knob, pull on the strap top right of the seat so it folds down.
Locate the rear hooks on the tabs, pull forward and make sure the fold of the frame is covered correctly, locate the two outer studs to the outer trims by the hood/side windows. PUll elastic straps and locate onto the studs on the seat side trims, some were fitted with hooks so these connect into the triangle cut out.
Connect the dog ear studs to the side inner trims (if fitted). Wrap the velcro straps under the parcel shelf. Put seat in upright position.

If the frame isn't sitting right either then that may cause an issue. It may now be sitting to high when down.
Have you checked the fluid levels and bled the system etc?

cheers

chortle

Chortle, thanks for the detailed reply.
I last checked the fluid level about 3 weeks ago, and it was ok, but this brings up my next question.
How do I drain the fluid off?
Do I have to syphon the fluid out?
The hood does seem to sit low when down, so I wouldn't have thought this was the problem.
I think your 1st photo shows me the way to go, and that is to get 2 studs and screw them to each side of the car onto the plastic hinge cover via the screws already there, as this is where the studs on the cover come to.
Will let you know how I get on…also must find out how to put photo's on so I can show the car off!

Okay it sounds like you were trying to attatch the outer snaps to the inside side trims.
I presume then the outer cover trims are missing the stud bases then? Get some off Ebay etc 15mm size they are.

Have a look at the top sections on the forum categories there is a guide for uploading photos there for you.

You must always check the fluid in the roof down position.
Undo the side boot card on the left hand side. These are held in with push pin clips. Find a thin nail and locate the centre of the clip and push the pin out, don't lose any.
This will give you acsess to the pump motor and reservoir.
Lower hood fully. Check fluid it should. Be half way between min and max. If its over filled you can withdraw some using a medicine syringe from the chemists. Undo the hex nut on top of the motor housing. To bleed undo the thumb screw a it clockwise fully and raise the hood up and down three times. Re tighten the hex nut, but not fully just enough to let any air out, re tighten thumbscrew and operate electrically then fully tighten hex nut

Cheers

Chortle