Brownish fluid leaking from the small mannifold on the passenger side of the car in front of the radiator...is this transmission fluid?

Determine where the fluid is coming from. Start with checking the transmission lines going to the front of the vehicle. There should be 2 that connect to a transmission cooler or to the radiator, typically on the passenger side. If one of these started leaking it may have sprayed transmission fluid onto your engine, causing the smoke.

check trance fluid level. Go check the trance radiator for a hole small hole about the size of a penny or smaller if nothing there follow the steel line's from radiator to the transmission.

Hi Sarah, I'm glad to help!

Lets address your question first. No it can't be any type of fluids from the Transmission or Engine. The reason the fluid is a brownish color is because the water coming in is washing dirt and debris into the vehicle. NOTE: If you did not notice any leak during the hot weather when your were running the A/C I'd say it's not due to the A/C System. If it were the A/C drain hole plugged up then you would here water sloshing around in the A/C housing close to the blower motor. It seems to me sense it was in the rain and we have had some really hard rain lately that's its most likely due to an outside leak. Here's how you can find the leak if its an outside leak. Close all the windows and run water over the passenger side windshield open the drivers door and get inside and see if you see water coming in, if you do that where your leak is. If you don't then move the water hose to another area and check again until you find it. Hope this helps and have an awesome day Sarah.

The car is probably an automatic transmission? If that is the case the radiator has a built in transmission cooler contained in the side tanks of the radiator, usually on the passenger side. That tank is cracked and leaking into the cooling fins of the radiator, or vice versa.

Your coolant is that color. Pressure test the cooling system and look closely for leaks.

you can undo the two hose going to heater core and join together.milky brown oil is sign of head gasket,check oil level and condition.over ful and milky means head gasket.

The transmission fluid is not coming out of your A/C Condenser for that only carries freon through it on the High side of your A/C System. I may be mistaken, but the condenser is mounted on the right front side (or passenger side) of your vehicle. Insofar as your transmission fluid leaking, there are two lines that go directly to your Radiator, either bolted straight in or at times, have a hose with clamps going down one of the tanks of the Radiator. Usually it's on the Driver's side front. This enables the transmission fluid to cool within the radiator before it returns to the transmission pan. It's a sealed "little radiator" within your Radiator, so if it's not leaking from one of the lines, then follow the lines (through the grille), and see if you have an "air-cooled" transmission cooler in front of the Radiator or Condenser. If your vehicle came with a Trailer Towing Package, then this "cooler" will be in front of the Radiator or Condenser at the lowest point. (it also goes through the radiator as I explained above). If the rubber lines are leaking, then it's pretty simple to replace, BUT you have to use Hoses that are meant for carrying oil or transmission fluid. "Normal" hoses will work for a while and then deteriorate causing the leaking problem again. The last thing to check is your transmission's dip-stick. Yes, if that's pulled up and not seated fully, one of your fans could be spraying the transmission fluid everywhere. Also note, that there's a "vent" in the transmission's dipstick that can be cleaned with compressed air. The purpose of the dipstick having a vent on it is to allow built up pressures to vent to atmosphere
(like your PCV system does for the Engine).

I hope somewhere above, you'll be able to find the solution to your problem.

Best of Luck,

"00 Buck"

there is a transmission fluid cooler built into the radiator of your truck, which means there are steel lines that run from the side of your transmission up to the radiator, on the passenger side of the truck. the lines are a common leak point due to corrosion. depending on where the leak is, the lines can sometimes be patched, but they sometimes need to be replaced (or fabricated). good luck!

If it is on the passengers side front then it could be coolant.have the cooling system pressure tested.Could be a water pump,intake gasket,or radiator hose.Depending on what motor you have.Hope this helps.Good luck.

It's probably a transmission cooling line that comes from the transmission and connects to the radiator, which cools the fluid, and returns it thru another line in the radiator. It could be loose, but It probably is rusted, based on the fact that it's 13 going on 14 years old, and probably needs to be replaced, as the leak will just get worse, and if the fluid gets too low, u can ruin your transmission. The steel cooling lines are available at any parts store, both the lines should be replaced if one is leaking. Parts for this are cheap, but labor to snake 5 or 6 feet of line ( x 2) from tranny to radiator takes a bit of time. countrycurt0