My 1997 Saturn sl2 has a problem with the battery dead after sitting for a month. I charged the battery and took the positive cable off and let it sit for a month and it still had a full charge. Something is draining the battery. I touched the cable to the battery and I hear a click noise along with a small spark.

No the computer doesn't need to be reset . Your saying the starter does not spin the engine over , or not fast enough ? Testing the starter electrical circuit would be the proper first step . Testing the battery cables an connections . A bad positive battery cable could cause your problem . Starter Voltage Drop

How to voltage drop test starter motor circuit

Charging voltage should be around 14 volts or more for battery to be properly charged. If significantly below that the alternator is not working properly.

auto door lock systems are great for draining batteries while the car sits. so are trunk, glove box, and other interior lights. someone is going to have to figure what is draining the battery while the car is off by troubleshooting it and eliminating things.

In order for the battery to charge, the alternator has to be good and keep the battery charged. If the car has been sitting, the battery is most likely dead, and you may be able to jump start it, but even if it starts, the alternator will need to be changed. When you say "it won't start" do you mean the engine will turn over but not start or it won't turn over at all?

Sounds exactly like my 1999 SL2 which had "burning and arching" in the fuse box. Car one day be fine the next I'd take it to the store, come back in 10 minutes and wouldn't start, no radio, no power windows, no keyless entry remote, no rear defrost and even locking doors from inside power buttons it sounded odd. This fixed the problem by replacing the fuse box.

Check positive cable at battery for corrossion between cable and battery,probably leaking acid at post.

had a similar problem with one i owned, you might want to look at the solenoid in the alternator it may be bad!

warriorangel
have a 97 sl1 which was very hard to start and when it would it ran rough and stalled out easily. sometimes no start. It turned out to be the heater sensor on the engine block (right side as you face the hood. just under the heater hose. the part was 17.00 or 27.00
I don't remember which but it ultimately was sending misinformation to the computer module and it always "thought" it was too hot and would adjust incorrectly. the major clue was therm
indicator read hot even when cold and just started. took me 2 days
to figure it out before spending money. good luck.

check the starter

I had something similar to this and found that all it was was the copper plate on the ground lead to the battery was caked with corosion...