Red fluid dripping from bottom of car, is comming from a black cover (maybe transmision oil?)

Is it oil or transmission fluid? The color will tell you, transmission will be red. Best bet is to clean the engine and then watch closely to see where the oil is coming from. Possible locations include Valve cover, bad oil filter seal, leaking heads, bad main seal.

First put something like paper down under the area of the leak. You will also need to see what type of oil it is.....black-oil; red-transmission fluid or power steering fluid; clear-power steering fluid; green/yellow-cooling fluid.....etc.

its either at the back of engine or on the transmision itself it would be a a plug that you ratchet out

The 1998 Chevy Malibu does not have a transmission dipstick. Instead there is a check plug located on the transaxle, near the pan, adjacent to the engine oil drain plug.

Note: the vehicle must be kept level when checking the transmission fluid level.

Place an oil container under the check plug and remove it. Observe the fluid as it drips into the pan, indicating correct fluid level. The fluid level should be at the bottom of the check hole. Double check to make sure the car is level. If no fluid drips from the check hole, some fluid should be added via the red cap. But add only a little at a time until the fluid is at the bottom of the check hole.

this can be very simple to solve,after you've driven the car for,say,20 miles or maybe even 15 miles,place a piece of plain brown cardboard under the motor on ground.under the motor.make sure the engines not running,just slide the cardboard under the motor on the ground.you can even put a big piece under the whole front of car,from side to side. your whole motor is in front,including the transmission. black fluid is oil leak,red fluid is transmission fluid. if your engines burning oil,then you'll be adding oil to your engine constantly. depending on how often you drive your vehicle. just remember black fluids oil leak,red fluids,transmission fluid leak. if your motors smoking black while running, that's oil burning with your gas. you may only have a simple issue,your check engine light on? autozone or advance auto parts store can read the codes for free!! thank you,for choosing fixya.com

Could be power steering fluid, or transmission fluid
If its a dirty red color, than thats what it is.
If its black or brown than it's oil,
don't ignore

If its on the drivers side of the car close to the front check the transmission oil cooler lines. Especially if the fluid is redish in color. You will see them if you look up under the vehicle on the drivers side. There will be to black hoses running between the transmission and the radiator. If they are wet/dripping you found the leak.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_d728a59f986299fa

The mechanics lied to you. Changing the transmission fluid and screen will not cause any car not to run. Just as you need to periodically change the oil, the same holds true for transmission fluid. Though the fluid is black, yoou state that you have no slippage or nothing out of the ordinary. If that is the case, then you do not need a new transmission. Just have the fluid and screen replaced and all will be fine. Make sure to pick up a transmission pan gasket while you get the necessary fluid and screen. Again, changing the fluid will not cause any car to not run. It is safe to perform the fluid change.

If it is trans fluid the cooler inside your radiator must have a leek. Yes it is possible for it to get itno the trans. Check to see if the fluid is milky.

you have to locate the tranny dip stick and pull it out- then get a funnel that will fit down the hole- and slowly pour in tranny fliud. check level by putting dip stick back in (allow time for fuild to drip down out of the tube) make sure engine is running and is warmed up while reading fluid level on dipstick. Make sure it is the tranny dip stick and not the oil dipstick. oil is usually yellow and says oil on it- Trans is usually red.