A valve timing control system for an internal combustion engine for
preventing dispersion of a control amount and unexpected release of a lock
pin is provided. The valve timing control system is provided with
actuators 15 and 16 connected to cam shafts 15C and 16C, hydraulic
pressure supply units 19 and 20 for driving the actuators, and a
controller 21A for controlling a hydraulic pressure for the actuators in
dependence on engine operation states while changing a relative phase of
the cam shafts relative to crank shafts. The actuator includes a locking
mechanism for setting the relative phase to a lock-up position, and an
unlocking mechanism for releasing the locking mechanism in response to a
predetermined hydraulic pressure. The controller makes a limit of control
range small when the controller drives the locking mechanism to control
the relative phase within a predetermined range of the lock-up position.