Originally Posted by kannibul

As I understand it, the throttle body is basically wide open all the time, and the engine is controlled completely by the VVEL system - where the intake timing/lift/duration is varied to increase/decrease to increase or decrease RPM and/or power.

So...with that, the VVEL system is powered by a DC motor...one for each bank of cylinders, where it controls the lift/duration/timing part of the whole equation (I there's an eccentric shaft that replaces the camshaft, I know...)

What happens if one (or both) DC Motor(s) fails and locks up, and say you're going 75MPH down the highway?