My furnace has an electric lite and the ignitor gets red but my furnace won't lite

Sounds like the gas valve isn`t opening up, either it's the valve or something not telling it to open, the wires going to valve, test with meter at the time it should be opening and see if low voltage power is going to the gas valve telling it to open,, let us know

Do the burners even attempt to light, just for a second or two?

I have to go get a volt meter. When I shake the wires it lites up and it works for a while and I have to shake the wires again

Which wires?

Having to shake wires to make something work sounds like a loose connection somewhere. I suggest that you move each connection individually, while trying to not move any other connection, then if you do something to make it start working that should give you a clue that you have maybe found the problem.

Shaky wire syndrome can be a simple sickness, just take your time and go through one wire at a time, slowly and carefully,the only cure is patients.