Will not start

It all started with my vehicle not starting, it would turn and just clunk. Would not start. Checked the battery, it is good. Someone thought it could be the starter. My brother in law came out and was fiddling with it and crossed a connection that knocked the dash lights out. So he replaced the main fuse but the dashboard lights would not come back on and of course would not start. Trying to jump and him fiddling with the battery cables and such, finally get it he dashboard lights to come on and get it started. Now it does not want to stay started, once you start going it cuts off and the dashboard lights are gone and it needs a jump. When we did get it started we took the battery cables off to check to see if it was the alternator, and it did stay running. We thought at first it was not starting because of fuel fuse, filter or relay. But we are able to get it started it dose have a higher than usual idle than it did before it would not start. There is a crack in the intake valve that could be making it shut off, but what makes it need a jump start every time?