2007 Panoramic Sunroof Wont Open
 

I am proud new owner of a 2007 ES350 UL edition. The car is great, but the panoramic sunroof is not working. Neither the slide button or tilt button works. When I press the button the sunroof will tilt a little bit and then makes a bad cranking/grinding noise. When I push the button to close it will close a little bit, and then make that same terrible sounding cranking noise. I also can not get the back sunshade to come out. Anybody know of a way I can fix this?

congratz and too bad for the roof. Maybe something here will help

Jammed
 

It sounds to me like either the sunroof cables are jammed and/or the motor is bad. Unfortunately it will probably need a mechanic to look at it.

If it is built the same way as the one in our Highlander, it is an expensive fix. There is a toothed belt (not cables) that move the glass panel, with one motor that is front and center right above the switches. If anything gets into the window track and obstructs the movement of the glass, then the motor tears the teeth off the belt, and you have to replace the entire belt. The guy that I use occasionally for repair work and inspections is Toyota certified, used to work for a dealer, and he said this happened occasionally in 4Runners and Camrys. The part was about $1500. The headliner has to come down, lots of labor, and it's very fussy getting back in place with everything looking correct and tight.

I know I can buy just the belt part for the Highlander, but even from the discount order places it is over $400. It's been broken for 2 years now, I just disconnected the motor when it first broke (with the roof all the way open). I'm trying to decide if I should fix it this Spring, we are going to be trading it for a 4Runner.