1998 saturn sl2 battery doesn't hold charge. I replaced the altinator after diconnecting the pos terminalon the battery and the engine cut off. at this point the battery still will not hold enough juice to start the engine. My ignition chime will continue to chime after the key is removed. With some manipulation the chime will stop. I have charged my battery and the engine will start when jumped.

SOURCE: dead battery---key chime---no horn on lock

Thanks for your help Gerred.
I ended up taking the car into the dealer last week and they found a "broken switch" in the drivers door. This was causing a very slight drain on the battery that over time would drain it, it also made the car think the drivers door was open, this explains the constant chime as well as the horn not honking when using the remote to lock the doors.
The total bill was about $110.00 including the labor and switch. Not to painfull I thought.

SOURCE: engine diagram for saturn sl2 1998

Try pulling the engine coolant temp sensor, They often crack not sure why but the ceramic tip cracks makes the car hard to start, the car's idle may race while shifting gears, and often smokes. The sensor is on the right side of the engine when looking at it on the head. Easy to change and get too

SOURCE: starter

if by bypass you mean the ignition switch. jump it at the relay, find the starter relay the relay should have a diagram on the side and numbered posts on the bottom with a jumper wire you can jump the post in the power distribution. look at the diagram there should be a switch which shows normally open you need to jump the posts that would close this switch and this will jump you starter make sure you key is on to start the vehicle. hope this helps some

SOURCE: Chime always "dings"

take fuse out

SOURCE: 2000 Saturn SL2 - replaced ignition then BCM failed. Related?

the problem is not the bcm. the passlock security sensor is in the cylinder and housing, if the cyl and or housing was replaced the system must be relearned. if you replace the bcm you still need to relearn the system or it still will not start.