diff --git a/firmware/controllers/electronic_throttle.cpp b/firmware/controllers/electronic_throttle.cpp
index cf845e697f..4cc9cbd2e0 100644
--- a/firmware/controllers/electronic_throttle.cpp
+++ b/firmware/controllers/electronic_throttle.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
  *
  * todo: make this more universal if/when we get other hardware options
  *
+ * Jan 2019 actually driven around the block but still need some work.
+ *
  * Jan 2017 status:
  * Electronic throttle body with it's spring is definitely not linear - both P and I factors of PID are required to get any results
  *  PID implementation tested on a bench only
@@ -86,8 +88,8 @@ static SimplePwm etbPwmUp("etbUp") CCM_OPTIONAL;
 static float valueOverride = NAN;
 /*
 static SimplePwm etbPwmDown("etbDown") CCM_OPTIONAL;
-static OutputPin outputDirectionOpen CCM_OPTIONAL;
 */
+static OutputPin outputDirectionOpen CCM_OPTIONAL;
 static OutputPin outputDirectionClose CCM_OPTIONAL;
 
 EXTERN_ENGINE;
@@ -157,7 +159,7 @@ static msg_t etbThread(void *arg) {
 		currentEtbDuty = pid.getValue(targetPosition, actualThrottlePosition);
 
 		etbPwmUp.setSimplePwmDutyCycle(PERCENT_TO_DUTY(currentEtbDuty));
-
+/*
 		if (CONFIGB(etbDirectionPin2) != GPIO_UNASSIGNED) {
 			bool needEtbBraking = absF(targetPosition - actualThrottlePosition) < 3;
 			if (needEtbBraking != wasEtbBraking) {
@@ -166,7 +168,7 @@ static msg_t etbThread(void *arg) {
 			}
 			outputDirectionClose.setValue(needEtbBraking);
 		}
-
+*/
 		if (engineConfiguration->isVerboseETB) {
 			pid.showPidStatus(&logger, "ETB");
 		}
@@ -295,8 +297,8 @@ void startETBPins(void) {
 			freq,
 			0.80,
 			applyPinState);
-	outputDirectionOpen.initPin("etb dir open", CONFIGB(etbDirectionPin1));
 */
+	outputDirectionOpen.initPin("etb dir open", CONFIGB(etbDirectionPin1));
 	outputDirectionClose.initPin("etb dir close", CONFIGB(etbDirectionPin2));
 }
 
diff --git a/firmware/controllers/system/DcMotor.cpp b/firmware/controllers/system/DcMotor.cpp
index 4337e20061..47fd37d085 100644
--- a/firmware/controllers/system/DcMotor.cpp
+++ b/firmware/controllers/system/DcMotor.cpp
@@ -15,19 +15,23 @@ TwoPinDcMotor::TwoPinDcMotor(SimplePwm* pwm, OutputPin* dir1, OutputPin* dir2)
 {
 }
 
+/**
+ * @param duty value between -1.0 and 1.0
+ */
 bool TwoPinDcMotor::Set(float duty)
 {
-    bool dir;
+    bool isPositiveOrZero;
 
     if(duty < 0)
     {
-        dir = false;
+    	isPositiveOrZero = false;
         duty = -duty;
     }
     else
     {
-        dir = true;
+    	isPositiveOrZero = true;
     }
+    // below here 'duty' is a not negative
 
     // Clamp to 100%
     if(duty > 1.0f)
@@ -47,8 +51,8 @@ bool TwoPinDcMotor::Set(float duty)
     }
     else
     {
-        m_dir1->setValue(dir);
-        m_dir2->setValue(!dir);
+        m_dir1->setValue(isPositiveOrZero);
+        m_dir2->setValue(!isPositiveOrZero);
     }
 
     m_pwm->setSimplePwmDutyCycle(duty);