Hi,

My car will not start any more. When I turn the key, the indicators don't move as normal (gas gauge, temp, etc.), radio doesn't work. The doors have to be opened manually but the door lock buttons inside the door still work. Someone told me I'd need a new battery. The battery cover looks to be a pain to remove and the posts are these screw in types I've never seen before. Finally, while looking under the hoold, I've noticed an odd noise coming from the area of the fuse box in front of the battery, its not always there and sounds like this odd thump-type sound. I was going to get a jump from someone but he never shows up when promised.

Do I need a new battery?
If so, has anyone changed the battery and had a problem? There are seconadry cables coming off the battery connections that appear connected to the car's frame. And if I have to change battery's, I want as much chance to avoid sparks as possible, I get antsy dealing with electrical equipment.

Thanks for any help.

the battery may simply be drained, the design of automotive style batterys makes it so they usilly are worthless after fully draining down to nothing two or three times(that reminds me, i need to charge a few batterys...). thats why some people say if the battery goes dead, it needs replaced. the thumping nosie is probilly a relay, its like a switch but for parts that pull a lot of current. it normally makes one quick thump whenever it is turned on or off, if the battery is low, it doesn't have enough power to stay on, the rapid thump is the relay turning on and off trying to stay on.

try and see if a jump start helps before replacing the battery, or remove the battery and take it to autozone or another autopart store, most places test batterys for free.

replaceing the battery is easy, i prefer the side-terminal style to the post style anyday of the week. removing the intake tube may make it easier.
there are a few 10 MM bolts for the holddown. to avoid sparks disconnect the negitive cable first and reconnect it last. 99% of vehicles are negitive grounded, meaning everything negitive is connected to the frame, so don't touch the positive side to the frame. the only car i have seen myself that was positive grounded was in a junkyard with a nice underhood warning sticker

Thanks. I've managed to get almost finished with no problems until now.

The new battery is in and I just need to hook up the negative lead. However, every time I go to connect it, the horn starts going off almost making me jump and unable to concentrate. I went to the car manual looking for the fuse to pull so the horn will not sound. But while it identifies the fuse as a 10 Amp red in the Underhood Fuse Box, it does not say which one is it out of the 8-12 10Amp reds in there (plus the fuse puller in there seems to be a pain to pull fuese with). Does anyone know where I can identify which 10Amp red fuse to pull so that blasted horn doesn't sound while I connect the negative lead?

each fuse in the underhood fuse box should be labeled, or it is on the earlier saturns, check the back side of the fuse box cover, sometime they mold a diagram in there. if the horn is going off, the switch may be stuck, there is a short in the circurt, or the dead battery set off the securty system(if you have one). if you can't find the fuse and/or relay(if you have one some s-series don't) your need chouse may be to disconnect the horn itself, its hidden inside the bumper.