Ummmm, why would transmission fluid not make your car start?
Coils/distributors going out sooner then they should is a good sign to ditch the car cause the cars probably gonna go sooner then it should.
As far as the fluid goes... even if you drain it, and let it drain for weeks you are only getting rid of about 40-50% of the fluid in the transmission. In order to get rid of it all you need to have it "running" - which you can not do as even a casual mechanic. Take it to like a Jiffylube or something, they can hook it upto a machine that cleans out like 90-100% of the fluid
