[biederboat]

Just replaced the timing belt on my 2000 ZTEC. The timing belt "spun" in the driveway on a start attempt and sat for a couple months before I finally got it on today. I wanted to make sure it was "okay" so I just installed the valve cover and front motor mount hardware and started it (no accessory belt to drive water pump, alternator, etc.). It started after a few seconds, sounded "reasonably okay" (ran rough for a few seconds). I didn't want to run it for very long but did a couple of short restarts but, after that, it doesn't seem to want to start.

Any thoughts on why it won't start? I understand there's no alternator providing a battery charge and no water circulating but I was only running it for about 10-15 seconds at the most. I haven't cranked it but a few times for a few seconds. Oh yeah, before I started it I did crank over a couple times to verify the camshaft/crankshaft timing (pin and bar fit perfect).

Thanks,
BB