Engine starts with 3 wire jumper but not with good relay

[Flathed]

Hi, as the title states, my car won't stay running for more than 3 seconds at a time. With the 3-wire jumper trick, it runs fine. I have 3 relays, the original, one from a wrecker, and a brand new one from Pelican, I took the first 2 apart to resolder them. From what I've read here and at Clark's is that the relay should be the problem if the 3 wire works. Any Ideas?

[nynor]

sometimes, the connections in the relay block get spread too far apart, due to using the jumpers. then, when the relay is plugged in, the contacts are not touching the terminals of the relay.