Recently picked up from e-bay a sound bar & tonnaeu cover for my mk2.5. Question is how does the tonnaeu cover fit correctly?: obviously the press studs & rear rail fixings are self explanitary but where do the 2 extra straps go that are sewn into the underneath?
I would not worry about the two straps if they are difficult/impossible to fit with the windblocker. You should find that the security and visual effect of fitting the tonneau without them makes very little difference. Certainly that is the way it is on the MK1
Had the same query with mine.
When Ive fitted it I have found it works fine without them attached.
Other than to cover up the hood when the hardtop is on I don’t bother with it to be honest - in soft top mode its great to be able to pop the hood back within seconds if needed.
Depends a lot on your intended journeys, weather permitting.
I spent a few hours clening out the inside folds & mechanisms after a few summer back road forays…until I decided 5 minutes popping the cover on was a better idea.
It’s surprising how much road grit etc gets sucked in…which is why I guess the things exist.
The loop around one of the folded roof links on each side then back to the cover to keep it tight across the car.
Well apart from Robbie...bad advice![]()
The straps go around the lowest piece of hood frame. As Robbie said, they keep it tight axross the back and stop it flapping.
The hood cover is designed to keep the lowered hood from bouncing as you drive, particularly important if you have a Mohair hood, as it stops the wear marks of the hood rubbing together. It also stops the fading of the inside.
Surprisingly the owners manual, that came with the car, states "do not drive without the hood cover, when hood is down"
Trouble fitting it READ THIS
Keep calm & carry on Richard…I never mentioned straps myself.
But yes, always use them…again they are there for good reason.
Thanks for the info, that keeps things nice & tight now. Though with the qenuine Mazda style bars fitted there is no provision for one of the press studs where the bar now fits.
I don’t use the tonneau cover on my MK1 very often so as new.
Just tested it fitted at up to 75mph with straps fitted and not fitted.
There is billowing in both situations but definitely less with straps fitted. The billowing focus is in the middle of the cover and the loose fitting straps are at the sides so If this billowing bothers you the straps will limit it but not stop it. I would suggest something heavy placed in the middle would have more of an impact.
The other point about roof movement whilst down and no cover has never been a problem for me on my MK1. I had the original Mazda vinyl hood followed by the replacement BAS vinyl with a glass window. Never noticed any problem with the roof moving around whilst down - perhaps the mohair roof acts differently?
Most tonneau cover owners rarely or never use them and drive with the roof down with no apparent issue.
You don’t notice the wear marks on vinyl, but they show white on mohair.
The straps should pull tight, if they don’t take an extra loop around the frame.
You make good points Richard but it does not matter how tight the side straps are, the billowing to one degree or another will still occur in the centre.
Perhaps someone who cares has found a way around this?
These semi - elasticated straps are one of the first parts of a tonneau to get damaged so a lot will not have the facility. One other common sign of damage is missing or damaged poppers on the cover. I find that lifting the poppers off square using both hands minimises the chance of these problems.
If the roof material moves and rubs when the roof is down, it will likely be suspension movement rather than airflow that would cause this. The tonneau cover would not stop this.
From my experience Vinyl tops tend to die because of shrinkage and splits. Cloth roofs expire because of failed stitching or if not looked after, rot.
Most are used extensively in the reclined position without a tonneau cover - isn’t that the point?
Dunno about the practical aspect of the cover but the car looks so much neater with it in place. Maybe that’s just me becoming a bit picky in my old age!!
Dunno about the practical aspect of the cover but the car looks so much neater with it in place. Maybe that’s just me being sad & picky in my old age!!
Strictly speaking we’re talking about a hood cover here, not a tonneau cover. A tonneau covers the whole of the cockpit area when the roof is lowered, right to the base of the windscreen. They’re pretty rare for a Mk1/Mk2, but do pop up on eBay occasionally - generally for very silly money.
And yes, the hood cover just makes the rear end so much neater with the top down.
The hood cover was primarily intended to stop the roof inadvertently rising. There were 6 suppliers to Mazda for the covers, and some fit better than others. Not all of them had straps; all of my 91-93 Roadsters had them, my 96 does not.
Mazda instructions for the straps:
Straps controversy:
http://dommelen.net/miata/goodies/straps.htm
https://www.miata.net/garage/boot.html
I found that on my son’s Eunos the hood cover would not stay attached at speeds over 80 mph. The billowing loosened off the side plastic mouldings. My NB does not have this problem . In both cases I use the fixing straps