a strange ignition (switch) problem

ok, so my 90 lebaron 3.0 has had this problem since the idiot mechanic "fixed" the fuel pump. with the ignition wiring all normal, you turn the key and you get power but cant bump the starter. so to get the car back from the shop (after it sat for a year before they finaly admited they arent going to fix it and told us to come get it) i unpluged the "starter relay" (not sure of the proper name) located on the drivers side strut tower and used a bit of wire to make contact and bump the starter. so i figure the relay is bad, and tried replacing it, but that didnt do the trick. so then i thought ignition switch...but heres where it gets interesting: i decided to check the ignition switch by shorting wirs out at the starter relay plug, this time with the aim of seeing if i can get the ignition switch to bump the started dirrectly instead of bumping the relay, and it worked! so now i know i'm missing something. if no one has any ideas than i'm just gonna put a 15amp inline fuse in my patch wire and call it a night, although i would rather not have it jerry rigged like this.

thanx in advance